We
had been going to our denominational church for many years, and tithed all
that time. We never studied the subject for ourselves; didn't think we
needed to since the "Pastor" is supposed to know. However, I had
begun to feel that helping my daughter get through school was more
important than giving to the "church". They were always taking
up money for the birthday's of the Pastor and his wife, the assistant
Pastor and his wife, the youth Pastor and his wife, and also the pianist.
This is favoritism at it's worst, something the Bible strongly condemns. I
NEVER saw money taken up for poor saints. When we took in a
friend's son for a year (several years ago) and home schooled him with our
son, we had asked the Pastor to mention it to the church so that if anyone
wanted to help us in any way such as donating used clothes, baby-sitting
while my husband and I could get a break, etc. they would be aware of what
we were doing. NOT ONE PERSON from
that church (that we had been supporting with our tithes and offerings)
ever asked what they could do to help. In fact, they never even
acknowledged it in any way. But we just kept on tithing, not knowing we
were robbing our own selves to better help our new guest and his mom. So
several years later when my daughter needed money for school, I began to
send her the "tithe" money, thinking I was doing something
wrong! I could see that the Bible says to support your family, but what
about that curse of not tithing? I decided I would see if I got cursed!!!
Then one day, while doing some research on the Internet (and thank God for
the Internet because otherwise we probably NEVER
would have found out the truth about it and many other errors going on in
Organized Religion), I ran across a website that mentioned the subject. WOW!
I was immediately released from bondage upon finding the truth about it. I
no longer felt guilty for sending the money to my daughter and realized
that I had been doing right all along. I shared the info with my parents
who, too, were immediately released from bondage.
I can say that tithing IS the curse, not
the other way around. The money that we gave prevented us from being able
to provide the breaks we needed (and still do) from dealing with a
disabled child. We could have gone on little vacations like the pastors
get to do frequently on the tithe money they get. Instead, we have been
stressed out almost beyond repair--this is the curse we received for not
being Bereans and blindly following the clergy (Nicolaitans).
Rev. 2:6: But this thou hast, that
thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev.2:15: So hast thou also them
that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
A neighbor, who finally had to give up
her home because of being hearing impaired and being very limited in her
opportunities for employment, was told by her pastor that she was out of
work due to the curse of not tithing. The church only gave some token help
for her and her two children, for a while, until she was told she could
ask individuals for help but not the "Church". In other words,
no more money coming out of the tithes collected for the building and
Pastor's salary. This same pastor now drives a Lexus and bought a
$300,000.00 home instead of allowing the church to build him a home on the
church property. He sold his home, and apparently managed to get the money
they would have spent on a parsonage, and put the two amounts together to
buy his own home (in his name). Several families left the church over it
(as well they should have). Last year he and his family spent two weeks in
Hawaii, while the poor sent him (with their tithes).
We have seen so much abuse go on we just
can't believe that some preachers or missionaries who really are saved
don't get out of this corrupt system. This neighbor's parents also tithe
without question. Apparently from what she said, they tithe around $800 a
month. That would have been enough to help her keep her home from being
repossessed. But no, they give it to their church and think that is
serving God, while totally ignoring 1Tim. 5:8, even after she showed her
mom numerous tithing articles I sent to her. They will not accept the
truth.