Maybe they feel they can buy their way into heaven? You know like God is keeping a list of who "tithed" and how much! Its a archaic system but can you really blame religion for taking advantage of the sheeple who still buy into it.

She kept her child clean.. on Buckingham Green.

Man, I heard all that! I live in a pretty small town in Southern Ohio. The town is some $400,000 in the hole, and is doing the following things to "save."
All local cops have been fired, if we need police or 911, we have a 15 minute wait from a nearby city.
No more chemicals in the water, it is un-drinkable.
Turing off all street lights and traffic lights.
Taking down all street signs and selling them for scrap.

Glad I have a gun and know how to use it. Local crime has gone through the roof since these things happened. I am quite sure there are many town like this in America. We have beggars here!

Good thread, star for you OP. I have noticed this too, and all it seems to do is turn people off to Christ. I believe if you're going to call yourself a Christian, you have to make an effort at the very least to do as he commanded from us.

Good Post OP.


I discovered Christianity and Tithing had nothing to do with god when I was young.

Me and my family went to a Christian Church since I was 11. One day one of the members was called out in front of the entire congregation. Aparently the Pastor found out that this member had been giving his Tithes to feed starving kids in Africa.

The Pastor told him something along the lines of, ... God's money should go to his house and all of this BS, ..... the member tried to plea his case, .... but the Pastor threw him out anyway.

I realized then, .. that it was all a money racket... the Pastor didn't have a job, he lived on Tithes, .... god's money !! ... and he had confronted this member and threw him out in front of everyone in an effort to scare the rest of the congregation.

Christianity, ... and especialy televanglisim, .... is for suckers.

There are many churches in our area that have food pantries and shelters for the homeless, one pastor doesn't get paid he works as a butcher, there are some following the true path if you know where to find them, which will be in the inner city among the poor.

Consider this though, A church that provides food for the hungry,, and clothing for the poor, and shelter for the homeless, needs to keep the heat and lights on.

Bad thing is that people hear/see these so called "churches" duping people out of money and then think that this is what all Christians do.

Jesus went to the temple courtyard flippin' tables left and right due to this very thing - making the temple a house of merchandise.

And yes, OP, you are absolutely correct in your "Duper List" - Tbn shows some good programs but I won't watch the channel at all during their week long "money begging fest - "Hurry, hurry, RUUUUUUUN to the phone, HURRY, go NOW....."

I feel sorry for these kinds of people deceiving/scamming others in God's name.

i.e. God is gonna be awful busy come Judgement Day.

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Hi ...I hope you don't include all churches in your assertations that tithing is a racket. The church I grew up in and attended for 38 years had a pastor that worked a public job. The money paid to him helped cover his costs of driving across three counties to visit sick and distressed family members, at home and in hospitals.

I agree with most of your ideas, but remember, there are some good churches out there too. Our tithes cover the costs of our church... heat, lights, materials and lesson books... they also cover portions donated to local missions, rescue and emergency relief missions...some of which are at work in Haiti and Chilie as we read this. We support local kitchens, a food pantry, a local charity that provides the needs of families and single parents. We help support a local relief charity which retrofits distressed homes, provides furniture like beds, cribs, stoves, heaters, etc.

Our pastor is retired and serves our church...for a small salary. He is also compensated for gas. He should be paid something... try answering phone calls at 3am because someone is on the verge of dying, and driving 60 miles one way to the main cardiac unit in the nearest city.

Like you, I question the intent of churches that put so much into windows, gyms, paved parking lots. But, there are some good churches out there... please, don't just label an entire religion or faith or effort because of the trash. There is good and bad in any group, even churches... the Bible addresses this.

Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 7: I will not answer to everyone that calls my name...depart from me, for I never knew you.