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Steve Simms
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What About Giving?
6 stars|8 comments|November 05, 2008|387 reads
 
6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 6:2 Therefore when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Pastors and TV preachers like to lay the law on people and twist their arms to get them to give to their church or "ministry". They even promise people special blessings for giving to their religious organization. Some claim that if you give to their group you will be given "prosperity" by which they mean plenty of money and other stuff.

Now religious organizations do need support, but not blind support. You need to pray about your giving and give where God leads you to give. Churches use almost all their contributions to build and maintain buildings that are used only once a week, to pay utility bills, and to pay pastor salaries (some of them very large).

The Bible, however, speaks often about helping the poor. Churches are slow to do that. I encouraged a woman who couldn't pay her rent to go to her church (a huge one in Nashville) and talk to her pastor about the church helping her. She came back and told me she couldn't get an appointment with the pastor, but the secretary said they don't have the funds to help. (They own church buildings in three locations.) Could they not help their own member?

Jesus speaks several times about giving alms. That means giving directly to the poor. Why not take some of the money you give to support church buildings and pastor salaries and give alms -- personally give it to someone in need. Try it. It is a real blessing to by-pass organizations and give directly an individual in need.

 
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MarJay HizWay
 MarJay HizWay
November 05, 2008
Good Blog Brother Steve...I agree...We need to be prayerful about where we give our money....We should give it to WHERE it is needed the MOST ;o)
REMARKABLE TERRY
 REMARKABLE TERRY
November 05, 2008
www.newpsalmist.org
Our church is open seven days a week.  We have purchase six plus FEED THE CHILDREN trucks to feel hungry families in Baltimore.  Our outreach is Amazing.  You are right we have to see our giving work for more than maintaing a building.
Steve Kistler
 Steve Kistler
November 05, 2008

Our church isn't as far along as Terry's but we also are trying to help our members to serve the poor and meet needs in the community around us. 

Earl Sorrells
 Earl Sorrells
November 05, 2008
AMEN!
JamesAD62
 JamesAD62
November 05, 2008

Greetings Beloveds:

As a "Church that is in the House" (home Church) we are also known as the "Church that does not want your money".

This concept is quite hard for many to understand as they continually try to throw money at us.

We provide a list of very grass roots/community oriented/personal households with which to provide direct help.

This includes bringing in various goods to distribute directly to those in need such as personal care products, food items,clothing, books, bibles, blankets, heaters, eyeglasses, and the most simple of direct help of support and encouragement.

All believers should be off the 501c3 radar since the true Body of Christ is not taxable.

Imagine if all believers in their homes in every community across the globe and neighborhoods everywhere and of the Body were of such an orientation as the early 1st century Church. Things would be so much different for the better. The state church temples of today would simply not exist.

This is where we all are called to be. Living stones of the living Church with Jesus Christ as the Head.

JamesAD62
------------------------------------
Live Jesus. Be Church.

Minister Of Poetry
 Minister Of Poetry
November 05, 2008
great blog Steve I agree 100% It gets me when the church is asking for a new carpet and my own is threadbare I am not a selfish person at all but I would rather give directly to a person or family that needs it. Love Stu
Steve Simms
 Steve Simms
November 06, 2008
Thanks to all for giving up some fine comments!
Steve Simms
 Steve Simms
November 06, 2008
http://frontporchministry.org/   This is the link to a couple friend of mine who moved into a low-income Nashville community and for the past two years, without requesting any financial help from others, has been ministering to the poor.  The children in the neighborhood love them and so do the moms.  See their video at the link above.