In many cases, when it came to people with money, God purposely compared Himself with the money, making it known that they that be rich can pretty much barly enter in. Not saying that that is the case here or with all of the Prosperity Preachers, most of whom are unbalanced. But it to say God quite often seperated Himself from money and that if everyone in the body is suppose to be rich, then one would have to assume that the people in the church is barely making it in. because they are seeking riches.

Everyone can’t be rich, becasue then where would be the servants, where would be the poor that God says will always be with us. Why tell us to lay up real riches and treasures in heaven and not here on earth?

The TRUTH is this. Rev. 2 God tells us that He knows our works and how we have keep the faith and holdest fast His name and that He also knows where Saten seat is. Becasue we holds the doctrine of Balaam, who put a stumbling block in front of the people of God; (promising them riches; serving God to get what you want; prophesy good to me and I’ll pay you; prostituting the anointing); EATING things scrificed to Idols, commiting fornications and the Doctrine of the Nicolaitians - which is Lording and not ruling.This is a little legnthy, so I’ll stop here.

I do think it’s ok to make a lot of money and be a christian, I just dont think thats our focal point as Christians. It wasn’t Jesus’s!

One big question why don’t you ask the members to truly testify about what has God down in their lives, spiritual and financially, instead of just being the spirit of the accusser. It’ funny how people don’t realize that ones accussing maynot be even speaking from the spirit but of the flesh, too many people only tell half the story, jealousy, being envyous is a deadly sin, people seek God for understanding, the bible says lean not to thy own understanding but trust in the Lord thy God with all thine heart, oh and Ben Gibert was making $750,000 a year before he become full time pastor, please read the full gospel with the holy spirit leading you, because of the flesh comes no good thing, don’t make the word what you want it to be, examples of God blessing his servants, Job, David, Soloman, Abraham, please research before judging or speaking, because God is watching us all and every man thinks he’s right in his own sight.

Several Reasons:

1) Fear of being in lack
2) Lack of knowledge
3) Erroneous teachings
4) Listening to/amplifying what a person has done wrong in preaching the word.
–Meaning…many hear of what a pastor has done wrong & believe that all who preach it are wrong.

5) Selfishness

Do you agree that most people who go to church do not spend time at home studying his/her bible?

I do agree that lack of truth will discourage trust in God for sure. Also, not excepting what the word of God says encourages lack of trust in God.(Hosea 4:6) Now if a person says he or she is blessed because of his/her giving, but then says it is wrong to give expecting to be blessed in return then that person is in error.

I do feel what you are saying about folks trying to convince folks to give by persuasion. At the sametime not all who teach on giving are doing so. Because of insecurities & lack of trust many point the finger at anyone preaching about prosperity as a “false teacher”….they are in error for pointing the finger.

I do believe that giving, sowing, & reaping are all biblical. The power of words is biblical as well. That is part of a believer’s authority. Jesus gave prime examples throughout the gospels.(Mark 11; Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 17:6; Matthew 22:21)

During my last semester at OSU I didn’t have money to pay for my tuition. Financial aid had ran out. Well, I gave a mother a $50 gift card for mothers’ day. A week later I was going to lunch with a friend & stopped at an ATM and looked at my account balance & I saw that I had $5000 extra. I thought it was a misprint so I called the bank & they told me that it had been deposited that week. God, because of my giving, blessed me with more than enough. That is one of the many times that sowing a seed has brought finance, etc. to me.

Another example, is when I was at Langston University. There I daily ministered the Gospel to people. In doing so I got many saved. Those seeds sown got my own family saved as well. Sowing & reaping works for me. Sowing in faith & not for selfish ambition, of course.

Speaking the word of God is another example of sowing & reaping. I was on medication & spoke the word that by His stripes I was healed & am not on the medication. I had scoliosis from birth…I spoke the word of God over my body & no longer have it.
Proverbs 18:21 & Mark 11:23 have/do work for me…..

With that said, I don’t knock a person if he/she doesn’t agree with that. That’s his/her own choice.

I do believe, according to the bible, that tithing began before the Old Testament/Covenant. In Genesis, when Abram gave tithes to Melchezidek, he was not under any law. The law had not began yet.

(MN: Actually, no it didn’t. Tithing, as defined by the law, didn’t begin until the law. Tithing is a regular, repeated activity, it’s regularity and conditions defined in Leviticus and a couple of other places. That which Abraham did wasn’t a tithe (as defined by the law). And there is no indication it was done ever again. That which Jacob did wasn’t a tithe (as defined by the law). And there is no indication it was ever done again. The tithe (as defined by the law) is to be used to maintain the temple (there wasn’t one with Abraham or Jacob). It was to be brought to the storehouse (there wasn’t one with Abraham and Jacob). It was to be used to feed the priests and levites (there weren’t any with Abraham or Jacob) and it was to be used to feed the widows and orphans of the nation (there was no nation with Abraham or Jacob.

Your argument is exactly the same tired argument the pimps use to PRESSURE the sheeple into keeping their mouths shut and giving up their money. It’s not cheerful giving and it’s not giving from the heart.)

2nd Corinthians 9:7 where it says, “…God loves a cheerful giver…”, is always used by folks to say that tithing is done away with. I disagree because, reading the entire context, it shows that the focus was on the Corinthians being prepared to give what they had promised.

II Corinthians 9:5 says, “So I have decided to ask Titus and the others to spend some time with you before I arrive. This way they can arrange to collect the money you have promised. Then you will have the chance to give because you want to, and not because you feel forced to. ”

The giving being arranged was to the Macedonians. This was giving, not tithing. This doesn’t nulify tithing for us.

Even Jesus spoke on tithing. He never said it is done away with, but He endorsed it. (Matthew 23:23)

(MN: Again, Jesus was telling those under the law to be obedient to the law. We are not under the law. )

When a person tithes he or she is to be doing it as an act of obedience to the Lord.

(MN: At best, if a person tithes they are doing what they BELIEVE to be obedient to the Lord. And the pimps take advantage of the desire [even if misdirected] to be obedient. And this, or course, assumes the person giving the money is even saved. )

I do say that instead of being a “church hopper” or not giving because you don’t agree with what was taught ask questions & search the scriptures.

(MN: And what you will discover is the Christian is told to give as they are led, where they are led, for the purposes they are led. But the percentage doesn’t have to be at least ten percent or no more than ten percent. “As you are led” means exactly that - as you are led by the Spirit. Not as you are pressured by the pastor/friends/ministers/etc. )

Why do people get so choked up on & cling to money? Money isn’t even the issue, the issue for most people is trust….trusting God & trusting another person.

(MN: Money isn’t the issue. Truth and obedience are the issues. If a pastor tells you you must tithe or you are stealing from God, he is not telling you the truth. That lack of truth will encourage a lack of trust in God. )

Folks can say they trust God, but when the fire is turned up their true colors show. When something little like giving pops up what a person TRULY believes shows.

(MN: Nice try. But giving isn’t little. If giving 10% will damage my ability to care for my family and the pastor is busy trying to make me feel like a thief, and the children are hearing him say I’m stealing if I’m not giving ten percent, then it is a big deal. It’s also a really good reason not to hang around a church that preaches tithing.

Doctrine matters. Despite what you seem to believe. )

I do say this though…..that if a person gives & is being blessed that others shouldn’t despise them.

(MN: No one would disagree with you. The only thing I would add is if the person gives ten percent because he thinks God requires it, that person is certainly to be pitied. )

N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

(MN: I’m here to warn the stupid sheeple who are apparently lacking in the common sense you speak of. When the “pastor” tells you you’re robbing God when you don’t tithe, and you just got saved maybe a year ago, let’s face it - that’s practically spiritual child abuse. Once the pimp establishes himself as the Mand of Gawd and God’s mouthpiece, resistance becomes nearly futile. )

(MN: In other words: “touch not God’s anointed and do His profit no harm.” If one thing can be said for the sheeple, it is the fact they are so incredibly and foolishly consistent. You gotta love them - or at least feel sorry for them. )

There are 3-classes:
P.I.M.P.
P.U.N.K.
H.O.

Pimps are
Praisers
In the
Midst of
Problems. (Acts 16:25-26; Psalm 34:1-4)

Punks are:
People
Under
Negative
Kontrol
(Numbers 11:1; 1Corinthians 10:11)

A H.O. is:
Helpless &
Overcome

A H.O. is a christian who always says “if God wills” or “this is my thorn in the flesh” or “God put this on me/caused to happen”….

They are folks who, even if you show them what the bible promises about a thing, they won’t receive it. Many H.O. christians enjoy pity.
A H.O. is just like a prostitute getting pimp-slapped by her pimp. She is working for him & bound by him under his subjection. Many “religious christian” aka “church folks” get beat daily due to erroneous teachings, lack of faith, & just plain stupidity.
A H.O. can be described in Hosea 4:6…
1) they are cut off due to lack of knowledge
2) when knowledge is made available they reject it

God Speed!!

(MN: You are likely right. I have not been keeping up with the geneology of the organization. I do remember though, that it was the father who ran the church in DC and the son (Don) who took over. If there is no grand son, I guess I should be glad - no descendant to carry on the pimping. )

(MN: KJR - She just left because she was jealous of what Gawd is doing in Benny’s life - and because she didn’t have the faith to do the same thing. Oh ye of little faith…and less income. She should exercise her faith and be rich the same way Pastor Benny got rich. )