twi's error and tithing.

[WordWolf]

It's interesting to note how fast pfal does a 180 when it comes to tithing. 

Christians are not under The Law, we are under Grace.  All our rules come from Pentecost and afterwards...... except for tithing.

The rules quoted are all from The Law, like in Malachi.

One example is quoted that Abraham gave a donation- with nothing saying it was required or even expected. He chose to give it, and he gave it.  That's not proof nor an argument for tithing.  

The only reference in the New Testament?  II Corinthians 9:7.   In the KJV,  it reads:

⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

(For the curious, the NASB reads  "⁷ Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." )

 

vpw used this verse to say that we were required to give 10%- or more!  to "God"- and both he and twi push for twi to be the sole source to receive all that money.

He made no effort to distinguish it from the previous requirement- he called it "tithe"- same as before- which means "tenth." 

But even the verse he quotes says we don't have to tithe!  

If we are REQUIRED to give, the giving is "OF NECESSITY".  ("Under compulsion.")

twi keeps track of their members/"followers" and their tithes/money given under compulsion.  Try giving less than 10% and see how long you go before someone starts giving you static. 

So, after Pentecost, no donations are REQUIRED.  In Acts, there were donations requested at specific times for specific needs at that time.

 

In twi, that's not the final word on the subject.

Suppose you even give 10%.  That's not enough. 

Now you have to "abundantly share." 

Those are donations above the MANDATORY 10%. 

The verses for this....no verses.  "Well, under The Law, they gave 10%, we should do more!" 

 

Wait!

In twi, that's STILL not the final word on the subject.

Outside of vpw, twi, and possibly another group that got this from them, nobody has the sheer nerve to pull this one.

"Plurality giving."

In twi,  that's a thing. It means you sit down, figure out how much you make, calculate how much you need to get by, and subtract that amount from the amount you made.  Then you take EVERYTHING ELSE AND HAND IT OVER TO TWI!

Everywhere else, you can take anything left and invest it, put it towards retirement, save it for emergencies, use it to buy something nice, etc.

That's not recommended anywhere in the Bible.

 

People wondering what difference it makes should learn some of the practical differences it makes.  People in twi are NOT SUPPOSED to save for retirement, invest, etc. They're supposed to hand twi over all that money.   So, when the person gets an emergency, does twi ever donate back a little of that money to compensate! No way! They'll pray for you, but the money is in their hands and not going back.    In twi, you're supposed to distance yourself from family members who are not in twi.....

UNTIL YOU NEED SOMETHING FROM THEM.

THEN you go to them for help to cover for the absence of the money you handed over to twi!

 

If you're in twi, you may HEAR that you're "under Grace", but in many ways, you are NOT treated that way, and that starts with handing over your money.

Lots of people remember that "Christians Should Be Prosperous" (vpw's book that argues you're supposed to hand over 10%)  was required with pfal. Most of us were given a homework assignment right at the beginning of the class, to read it.   As soon as we got the book, we were required to read it. All the pfal material to cover- but the "give us your money" stuff jumped to the front of the queue. 

 

 

[Rocky]

A very insightful post that demarcates the difference between what "the Word" says and the organizational practices, which is the STORY of how the Word is actually communicated by way of do as I say, not as I do.

 

[Nathan_Jr]

WordWolf:

twi keeps track of their members/"followers" and their tithes/money given under compulsion.  Try giving less than 10% and see how long you go before someone starts giving you static. 

 

Ha!

My fellowship commander was faithful to this practice, even though he renounced TWI for deviating from "the original" - the word as it was given to THE Man of God, victor p wierwille. (Bless his heart.)

It had been said that my fellowship commander and his wife lived near the poverty line. They themselves never admitted this. Regardless, I always contributed generously to any social event at their house. (This is just my nature with anyone, and I was ridiculed for it.) If I asked what I could bring, they would answer, and I would provide plus plus - happily, it's just how I do it. Over time, with increasing frequency, I took on the role of host - cooking, cleaning, making cocktails, store runs - in THEIR house. (Later I suspected I was manipulated into this because of my generous nature.)

Now, these parties were by invitation, but they were not optional. If they said what they needed or wanted, I enthusiastically fulfilled the request. And they were grateful, but not enthusiastically grateful. When it came to giving at fellowship, boy, oh, boy!

I usually gave whatever cash I had on me, which wasn't much because who carries cash anymore. However, if I had 3 twenties, a fiver and three ones, I would only throw $8 in the horn. (If I had $60 on me, that money was likely already allocated for another purpose.)

Somehow he knew. Probably because my then wife told him. Or maybe he knew exactly what to expect every week from the other regular attendees, as they always gave the same amount. Likely both are true. He never said anything to me directly, but the subsequent daily emails to "the family" and the next week's fellowship "teaching" were all about tithing, abundant sharing and II Corinthians 9:7. 

The passive-aggressive message to me was clear: I was not a cheerful giver, and God does not love that.

Edited 22 minutes ago by Nathan_Jr