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<DIV>I can't say about Baptist churches, I've only visited one occasionally, but
they seem to teach the same as the Methodist denomination I belong to, and a few
others I have visited. Most Protestant churches teach tithing one way or
another. There is a good deal of Old Testament reference to tithing (like
Malachi 3), none I know of in the New Testament. (A friend of mine maintains
this means it no longer applies). Some churches are really up in your face about
it, singing songs about cheerful giving that amount to brow-beating. Some just
teach it, and then people give what they are going to give. Some teach if you
tithe you will be "blessed" (materially) and if you don't you will lose out. My
pastor remarked that if you give with the intention of getting something back,
you have already tainted the gift. There was, in the middle ages, a Catholic
teaching that "one tenth of all you own belongs to the Church." But Catholic
priests were supported by "livings" -- the revenue from estates deeded to the
church by pious nobles concerned for their soul. Protestants have had to collect
the money every week to pay expenses, including some kind of living for the
minister. greenBubble could tell us the original intent of Jewish prophets
teaching tithing, but I think it included storing up resources for troubled
times, not just supporting the priests and the Temple.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Siarlys</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:08:56 -0400 "Discussion of the Good, Clean Funnies
List" <<A href="mailto:gcfl-discuss@gcfl.net">gcfl-discuss@gcfl.net</A>>
writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px">
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I don't drink alcoholic beverages either, I
guess I really like Iced tea the best. It's a southern thing.
No hangover or dead brain cells. I need all I've got.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Question for whoever:
</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What do the Baptist teach about tithing...that is
giving 10% of your income to the church. Since the Lord loves a
"cheerful giver", there is no point in brow-beating anyone to
give beyond what they feel good about. I'm just curious about their
teaching. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Baptist church is very strong in our area and
they seem to have no shortage of funds. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Carla</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>