tithing a way out of poverty

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#21

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#22
Giving isn't a matter of wealth but a matter of faith. If you give that you might get, you are giving selfishly. If you give out of a sense of duty, you only obey the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law. If you give because your delight in God overflows to others, out of you flows rivers of living water.
That is the very truth ... yet we should praise and give thanks regardless of whether we feel or not. We should act in faith regardless of feelings.

... we should give regardless of feelings. Because the Lord says so.

"Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you"
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,003
6,530
113
62
#24
That is the very truth ... yet we should praise and give thanks regardless of whether we feel or not. We should act in faith regardless of feelings.

... we should give regardless of feelings. Because the Lord says so.

"Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you"
Giving and praising should always be done because God doesn't become less worthy depending on our circumstances. But giving is rarely a way out of physical poverty. And yet, it is always a way out of spiritual poverty. The greatest riches are not those from Christ but IN Christ.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#25
Giving and praising should always be done because God doesn't become less worthy depending on our circumstances. But giving is rarely a way out of physical poverty. And yet, it is always a way out of spiritual poverty. The greatest riches are not those from Christ but IN Christ.
Spiritual solutions to spiritual needs are there and abound in scripture. Material solutions are for material needs.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,771
113
#26
God does not say give Copeland $100 and you' ll get a $1, 000 dollars in return.
It is not God who says that. It is Copeland who promotes that idea. Except the $1,000 won't come out of his pocket. He has to buy a mansion or two, perhaps a Lear Jet or two, and who knows what else. Creflo Dollar finally admitted that he was wrong, but refused to apologize for misleading people.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,003
6,530
113
62
#27
Spiritual solutions to spiritual needs are there and abound in scripture. Material solutions are for material needs.
If most people had their spiritual needs met they would find they had far less material need to begin with.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,003
6,530
113
62
#28
It is not God who says that. It is Copeland who promotes that idea. Except the $1,000 won't come out of his pocket. He has to buy a mansion or two, perhaps a Lear Jet or two, and who knows what else. Creflo Dollar finally admitted that he was wrong, but refused to apologize for misleading people.
Nor return any money. Not exactly a modern day Zacchaeus.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,701
594
113
#29
All money belongs To God --as does everything we have----you have it cause God gives you ability to have what you have -----and that includes money -----

To many so called Christians thinks that Jesus was broke --busted and discussed and so should they be to call themselves a Christian -----this is definitely NOT what Jesus taught ------Jesus spoke more about Money then He did Heaven or Hell -----most of the Parables are about Money ------

Tithing is relevant for Christians to do -----does it have to be 10% ----well the Old Testament says so ----the New Testament says give what is in your heart to give ------

I don't think God is so concerned with the amount as He is with where your Heart is in your giving ----do you give because you Agape God and Trust what His Word Promises if you do Give or do you give just because you can tell your friends you give to the Church to puff yourself up ------

God doesn't need our Money !!!!

Tithing is all about showing Gratitude ----Love and Trust in God and all He does for us ---Tithing is about our inward attitude -----

So many Christians have a thing about Money ---it is very sad to see so many Christians be so unfamiliar with God's Word about Money and how Money is to be used ------we like to Judge people we say are preaching on a prosperity Gospel when we our selves horde our money and possessions and have great fear about giving our money out not just to God but to the poor ------

It goes from one extreme to another -----we---- bash --trash ----and judge those who Preach Wrongly about money in OUR EYES --We have no Idea how God Views these people and Only God Knows their hearts and will be the Judge of the Wrongs done by His Money ------

We True Christians need to STOP our petty Judgment on others -------when we ourselves Preach and Teach Wrongly about Money and Wrongly Divide God's Word to Others ------ sending them straight to Hell because our our Wrong Teaching ------

God has no problem with people having Wealth -----it is how they use it -----We are not the Judge of these evangelists who we trash --bash and judge ------God is their Judge not us ------

And this word Prosperity ---

Read and Weep all who hate this word ------ Prosperity ----it is in the Scriptures and it means ----Wealth --riches ---being well off -----

If anyone has a problem with that ---they need to talk to God about it ----
not pass judgment on people WE ONLY THINK WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING ----We Only See and Hear what we Want to see and hear from Kenneth Copland ---and others ------


God sees and hears and knows their hearts --we do not -------


Strong's Concordance
euporia: prosperity, plenty
Definition: prosperity, plenty
Usage: wealth, gain, plenty.

ὐπορία, ἐυποριας, ἡ (εὔπορος, see the preceding word), riches, means, wealth:
to be well off, have means:

DEUTERONOMY 8:18
AMP
But you shall remember [with profound respect] the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore (solemnly promised) to your fathers, as it is this day.

God says This ------to all who Judge blindly


Matthew 7:3-5

Amplified Bible

3 Why do you look at the [insignificant] speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice and acknowledge the [egregious] log that is in your own eye?

4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me get the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye?

5 You hypocrite (play-actor, pretender), first get the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

1685125430646.jpeg
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,404
13,746
113
#30
I tithe because Im content with what I have. I am content with food and rainment. then if God blesses me with wealth I am content with that.

One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor. 25A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. proverbs 11:24
Please define "tithing" as you practice it, and please give your reason for the definition you employ, with Scripture where appropriate.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#31
If most people had their spiritual needs met they would find they had far less material need to begin with.
Not sure what you mean, do you mean they would not have expensive aspirations to care for ?

I believe in being joyful and thankful wherever we are and with whatever we have, even if we have nothing, I have been without anything whatever many, many times especially in the earlier years, not even a change of clothes, not a bed to sleep in. My only permanent possession was an old alarm clock which I would go to sleep listening to the tick tock under a bridge or under a bush.

I BELIEVED in prosperity then just the same as I do now. I BELIEVED God would rescue me, I KNEW He would not, could not fail. It was IMPOSSIBLE to me that His promise would fail. I had not by the way purposely put myself in such dire straits, it just happened. Not once, not twice nor even just three times. It happened again and again.

In those days I learned God's voice, in those days I learned miracles.

Put God FIRST with money. Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness then all you need and seek after will be added unto you.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#32
It is not God who says that. It is Copeland who promotes that idea. Except the $1,000 won't come out of his pocket. He has to buy a mansion or two, perhaps a Lear Jet or two, and who knows what else. Creflo Dollar finally admitted that he was wrong, but refused to apologize for misleading people.
I long for folks to see that it is not the doctrine which is wrong, the doctrine is true. But it is the underlying theology that these preachers hold which is wrong. I don't believe they are crooks the most of them they just have a wrong theology.

It is the freewill theology. [see how people shrink from anything that contradicts the doctrine of human freewill]

If you preach to people who you believe have freewill then you are trying to PERSUADE them, you are trying to convince their minds, you are trying to move their emotions. Your whole intent is to somehow get them to make a decision and to act.

If it's for salvation they must come to the front to be saved
if it's for healing they must submit to laying on of hands or some other device
if it's for abundant provision then they must first give

Then whatever it is the preacher has persuaded them to do [of their own freewill] God will respond with the promised miracle, whether salvation or healing or provision.

They have put their faith in devices, even if they are biblical devices, they are basing themselves upon works of the flesh to achieved what they hope will be a spiritual end. Well God is gracious and merciful, He does sometimes bless such endeavours.

But it is all a step away from simply BELIEVING Jesus. Trusting Him. Believing the gospel. That always works ... though as every saint will soon learn it doesn't always happen the way you think it will happen.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#33
I long for folks to see that it is not the doctrine which is wrong, the doctrine is true. But it is the underlying theology that these preachers hold which is wrong. I don't believe they are crooks the most of them they just have a wrong theology.

It is the freewill theology. [see how people shrink from anything that contradicts the doctrine of human freewill]

If you preach to people who you believe have freewill then you are trying to PERSUADE them, you are trying to convince their minds, you are trying to move their emotions. Your whole intent is to somehow get them to make a decision and to act.

If it's for salvation they must come to the front to be saved
if it's for healing they must submit to laying on of hands or some other device
if it's for abundant provision then they must first give

Then whatever it is the preacher has persuaded them to do [of their own freewill] God will respond with the promised miracle, whether salvation or healing or provision.

They have put their faith in devices, even if they are biblical devices, they are basing themselves upon works of the flesh to achieved what they hope will be a spiritual end. Well God is gracious and merciful, He does sometimes bless such endeavours.

But it is all a step away from simply BELIEVING Jesus. Trusting Him. Believing the gospel. That always works ... though as every saint will soon learn it doesn't always happen the way you think it will happen.
By the way, if I had congregations in India or Africa or Europe I see nothing wrong whatever in asking God and specting Him to provide a jet plane. Just as He provided Jesus with a donkey or boat if'n He needed it.

... if there's no boat oh well just haves to walk upon the water.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,003
6,530
113
62
#34
Not sure what you mean, do you mean they would not have expensive aspirations to care for ?

I believe in being joyful and thankful wherever we are and with whatever we have, even if we have nothing, I have been without anything whatever many, many times especially in the earlier years, not even a change of clothes, not a bed to sleep in. My only permanent possession was an old alarm clock which I would go to sleep listening to the tick tock under a bridge or under a bush.

I BELIEVED in prosperity then just the same as I do now. I BELIEVED God would rescue me, I KNEW He would not, could not fail. It was IMPOSSIBLE to me that His promise would fail. I had not by the way purposely put myself in such dire straits, it just happened. Not once, not twice nor even just three times. It happened again and again.

In those days I learned God's voice, in those days I learned miracles.

Put God FIRST with money. Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness then all you need and seek after will be added unto you.
Most things considered needs are merely wants. We could all get by on far less. When we are actually in the Spirit, we only desire God. We lose our desire for earthly things. Habakkuk 3:17-19.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,256
3,595
113
#35
I long for folks to see that it is not the doctrine which is wrong, the doctrine is true. But it is the underlying theology that these preachers hold which is wrong. I don't believe they are crooks the most of them they just have a wrong theology.
Can you explain what the difference is between "the doctrine" and their "underlying theology?" Are you saying prosperity is a sound doctrine but prosperity preachers distort it? And if they distort the true doctrine, how can you say they're not crooks?
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#36
Most things considered needs are merely wants. We could all get by on far less. When we are actually in the Spirit, we only desire God. We lose our desire for earthly things. Habakkuk 3:17-19.
I think this misses it.

I think God will give us far more abundantly than we ask or think. He will clothe us as He clothes the lilies.

God LOVES to give good gifts, He HATES being treated like a tightwad, it's an insult to Him.

If His will for us is different to His stated will in His word He will faithfully warn us of impending trials and suffering.

I think God is telling us now that there are stormy times ahead.

The sad part to me is that the last more than 1/2 a century have been times of amazing blessing and prosperity for the church but so many, many have missed it through unbelief.

Of Habakkuk I say to you this

It is God's good will that the fig tree blossom and for the vine to bear fruit He has created them for that purpose. God delights in the creation of beauty and abundance and it is for US. In Eden we see what God's desire for mankind is. He has never changed.

... we are the ones who changed.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#37
Can you explain what the difference is between "the doctrine" and their "underlying theology?" Are you saying prosperity is a sound doctrine but prosperity preachers distort it? And if they distort the true doctrine, how can you say they're not crooks?
Yes Paul says doctrines can be held falsely. It is the false application of truth.

I say YOU distort the truth why? because you are a crook? no, but you believe a wrong theology. You believe in freewill.

When you preach [if you ever did] you make it your aim to convince the minds of your hearers and so seek to move their emotions to accept your gospel message.

That's not what God told you do.

He told you to simply tell them the message, the good news, announce it to them. Tell them what? announce what to them.?

That the Saviour has come, God has rescued them, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

It's GOD'S job to convince them, it's HIS job to work their minds and emotions to receive His salvation, it's HIS job to impart the necessary faith.

Salvation is to be made whole, to be delivered from evil spiritually physically and materially. God doesn't want to save people's souls and leave them to starve to death.

Evil came upon us because of sin, Jesus will wash away our sins and then deliver us from evil see.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,256
3,595
113
#38
Yes Paul says doctrines can be held falsely. It is the false application of truth.

I say YOU distort the truth why? because you are a crook? no, but you believe a wrong theology. You believe in freewill.

When you preach [if you ever did] you make it your aim to convince the minds of your hearers and so seek to move their emotions to accept your gospel message.

That's not what God told you do.

He told you to simply tell them the message, the good news, announce it to them. Tell them what? announce what to them.?

That the Saviour has come, God has rescued them, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

It's GOD'S job to convince them, it's HIS job to work their minds and emotions to receive His salvation, it's HIS job to impart the necessary faith.

Salvation is to be made whole, to be delivered from evil spiritually physically and materially. God doesn't want to save people's souls and leave them to starve to death.

Evil came upon us because of sin, Jesus will wash away our sins and then deliver us from evil see.
You don't want to answer my questions. That's fine.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,003
6,530
113
62
#39
I think this misses it.

I think God will give us far more abundantly than we ask or think. He will clothe us as He clothes the lilies.

God LOVES to give good gifts, He HATES being treated like a tightwad, it's an insult to Him.

If His will for us is different to His stated will in His word He will faithfully warn us of impending trials and suffering.

I think God is telling us now that there are stormy times ahead.

The sad part to me is that the last more than 1/2 a century have been times of amazing blessing and prosperity for the church but so many, many have missed it through unbelief.

Of Habakkuk I say to you this

It is God's good will that the fig tree blossom and for the vine to bear fruit He has created them for that purpose. God delights in the creation of beauty and abundance and it is for US. In Eden we see what God's desire for mankind is. He has never changed.

... we are the ones who changed.
The message of Habakkuk is that the just shall walk by faith. I was merely using him as an example of how to live well in little.
I do believe God desires to bless His people, and material blessing is part of that. And you are right...the problem lies in us who desire the gift more than the Giver. But if you don't learn to be content in little, you will not be content with much either. Contentment is first spiritual. And it begins with satisfaction in God.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#40
The message of Habakkuk is that the just shall walk by faith. I was merely using him as an example of how to live well in little.
I do believe God desires to bless His people, and material blessing is part of that. And you are right...the problem lies in us who desire the gift more than the Giver. But if you don't learn to be content in little, you will not be content with much either. Contentment is first spiritual. And it begins with satisfaction in God.
I' ve allus been more than satisfied with my Lord and my lot. :)