Tithing and other questions
-
Is this compulsory for all churches in Singapore?
Cell group - is this only practised in Singapore?
I'm still uncomfortable with the tongue-ing and praise+worship songs in pentacostal churches like CHC. Am I weird? -
tithing i dun think anybody can force u
cell group is not juz specific to s'pore ... here in Australia... we have bible study classes, fellowship etc
no u r not weird.. everybody has his own way of worshipping. personally i like less charasmatic forms .. maybe coz of the way i was brought up -
a
-
In tithing, is a very simple act of love and obedience and worship.
One of the act in Christian Living.
It is quite simple to answer if you really ask yourself, what do you see Your verbal Praise and Worship and devotion onto God as.
Your answer should go same as it goes to the matter of tithing.
Cheers -
Tithing never was necessary. It was only practised in the past, as mention in the bible, as a form of tradition.Originally posted by nickozw:pertaining to tithing, i guess its necessary for everyone. its a form of giving back unto God what he has given unto you.
Tithing, more than being mentioned many times throughout the Bible, is like a way to show God that you are committed to him and that you are willing to sacrifice that one tenth of your salary to him, and that you wanna tithe this tenth of your salary for the furtherance of his kingdom (or the church), or to help other people.
some verses:
Deuteronomy 26:12
When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.
Malachi 3:8
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.
Anyway, to answer the thread starter's question: No, it is not compulsory. Any church that forces you to tithe is not doing the right thing. -
Then is act of obedience and worship not necessary?Originally posted by shade343:Tithing never was necessary. It was only practised in the past, as mention in the bible, as a form of tradition.
Anyway, to answer the thread starter's question: No, it is not compulsory. Any church that forces you to tithe is not doing the right thing. -
Obedience and worship to who?Originally posted by M©+square:Then is act of obedience and worship not necessary? -
Why not you tell me praise and worship and act of Christian is for who?Originally posted by shade343:Obedience and worship to who?
I think you're missing a very big point here.
This discussion is meaningless without you knowing the objective here.
Cheers -
why not you tell me?Originally posted by M©+square:Why not you tell me praise and worship and act of Christian is for who?
I think you're missing a very big point here.
This discussion is meaningless without you knowing the objective here.
Cheers
-
Like i've said. You don't know the subject and it's objectives.Originally posted by shade343:why not you tell me? -
Ok. Fine. Tell me than.Originally posted by M©+square:Like i've said. You don't know the subject and it's objectives. -
-
Hmm .. not really true.Originally posted by shade343:Tithing never was necessary. It was only practised in the past, as mention in the bible, as a form of tradition.
Tithing is a living tradition, too bad the word is most often associated with Christianity.
The Jewish has the concept of Tzedakah -
The Meaning of "Tzedakah"
"Tzedakah" is the Hebrew word for the acts that we call "charity" in English: giving aid, assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However, the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word "charity" suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and powerful for the benefit of the poor and needy. The word "tzedakah" is derived from the Hebrew root Tzade-Dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism, giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act; it is simply an act of justice and righteousness, the performance of a duty, giving the poor their due.
From http://www.jewfaq.org/tzedakah.htm
So the Jewish "tithing" is much holier and goes much deeper than the Christian one. Everyone complains about the Christian one - that the pastor pockets the money, $$ used to build titanium building etc. And non Christians just cannot understand why tithing is an act of obedience to God. Wah leow .. obey God so that pple can build titanium buildings?
But if you read the url above you realize the Jewish "tithing" is an act of social support. And you don't only give to the Jews, for whether Jews or gentiles, we are still children of God.
"Where there is no bread, there can be no Torah. Where there is no Torah, there will be no bread" (Pirket Avot 3:17). -
More like a practice... or rather a promise make to God that a small portion to be return in aid of speading the words...
-
Tithing is a tradition practiced in the past. If you wish to do it, you may continue to do so. But it is not necessary. I dont like chrches who quote the bible just to get people to tithe. Im ny opinion, that isnt the right way to do things.
-
Dear sgForumers,
Thanks for answering my questions. But something that you all have not covered is:
- praying in tongues
- singing praise and worship songs
I realise that not all churches do the above. Are these limited to pentacostal churches?
And about tithing - is it true that only some churches practise compulsory tithing? (As some of you mentioned - using phrases in the bible to encourage ppl to tithe.)
As for cell group fellowship, does every church practise that? Seems like not all Christians I know attends cell group though they may go to church regularly every Sunday. -
Praying/speaking in tongues, unknown language - Yes most pentecostal practice it. Those which strongly believe in 'tongues' as a doctrine in Christian living are Charismatics.Originally posted by surfbabe:Dear sgForumers,
Thanks for answering my questions. But something that you all have not covered is:
- praying in tongues
- singing praise and worship songs
I realise that not all churches do the above. Are these limited to pentacostal churches?
And about tithing - is it true that only some churches practise compulsory tithing? (As some of you mentioned - using phrases in the bible to encourage ppl to tithe.)
As for cell group fellowship, does every church practise that? Seems like not all Christians I know attends cell group though they may go to church regularly every Sunday.
Singing and Praise and Worship Songs - Not all churches practice the same expression of hymns and verbal worship onto God.
No, it does not restricted/limited to only pentacostal churches.
About tithing - i suggest that you read up more on Charity, offering, tithing?
If church made it compulsory, and believers follow without the condition of the heart to give onto God.
They are missing the whole point of pleasing God and Christian walk completely. And unfortunately, it becomes a ritual and religion.
But for the sake of answering your question. Yes, some sick churches do ask for commitment of 1/10 of payroll from believer.
Those churches which have Cell Group/care group/fellowship are considered cell church. It depends on the function of the church.
I presume you're a christian?
Not all churches practise Cell Group foundation. Every House are specially created by God.
Regarding those Christian who went to CG and not church regularly, you may wish to ask yourself, what is Church to you?
Cheers -
I have a stupid question.
Where do Christians tithe ah? Is it through the "magician bag" .. typically blue or red one? -
Wait till you see spirit slaining. Maybe you freaked outOriginally posted by surfbabe:I'm still uncomfortable with the tongue-ing and praise+worship songs in pentacostal churches like CHC. Am I weird? -
erm.. in the Catholic church the wardens go down the aisle with the bag ... then u juz put ur offering in lohOriginally posted by Icemoon:I have a stupid question.
Where do Christians tithe ah? Is it through the "magician bag" .. typically blue or red one? -
Originally posted by surfbabe:
No lah. Not all churches lah.
Is this [b]compulsory for all churches in Singapore?
Cell group - is this only practised in Singapore?
I'm still uncomfortable with the tongue-ing and praise+worship songs in pentacostal churches like CHC. Am I weird?[/b]
Dunno abt other churches, but Catholic Church dun.
They just pass around the bags during Mass and it's up to the parishioners whether to put in money or not. Sometimes I choose not to put in if I see that the parish is full of rich ppl (eg. Holy Family Church where Minister George Yeo and many rich Eurasians & Peranakan attend. Also OLPS in Siglap which is surrounded by nothing but landed properties where most of the parishioners stay.) These rich ppl often give big donation one. Sometimes during Mass, I can see some aunties dropping $50 notes into the bag. So in this case, I dun give. Keep my money for ppl who need more.
The poorer churches like Queen of Peace and St Stephen, I will sure give one.
Collection for the St Vincent de Paul for the Poor Society, I will also give one, regardless of where I attend Mass.
Those that force ppl to donate, better stay away. If they force further, go ahead and ask them why they need so much money. If they give crap answers like "Oh, being a newly established church, we need to build a new church building" Then tell them to use the existing church buildings even if they may be of other denominations. Tell them money is not to be wasted like that. Need so many buildings for what?
I dun like to sound so harsh or sarcastic. But I am surrounded by ppl who got brainwashed into contributing dunno 10 or 20 percent of their salary every month. And because all these are young ppl who just came out of school, they have very low pay. Hence, after that donation, they are left with just enough for their daily expenses. When their parents need money, they explain that they have no money for the parents cuz part of it goes to the church.
When I was a teenager, I was very involved in the Presbyterian Church (which I still very much love). I seldom donated anything to them cuz I was just a student (no money one!) and they never forced me also. But my family would haunt me to get out of that they didn't mind if I didn't go back to the Catholic. Every month my mom would update me on some sad stories of her friend or our relatives about their children refusing to give parents money after converting.
Eventually she got convinced that the Presbyterians are not as bad as she thought. The pastor even lent me money to pay for my poly school fee and refused to let me pay him back (very nice hor ?
) So I very paiseh, instead of paying him back, I use that money and donate to the church. -
Killer boss wasn't very well off when younger?Originally posted by Honeybunz:The pastor even lent me money to pay for my poly school fee and refused to let me pay him back (very nice hor ? ) So I very paiseh, instead of paying him back, I use that money and donate to the church. -
tithing for me is a way to acknowledge that all i have belongs to God. and i am just a steward of everything i have.it is mentioned in the bible that we shld put aside 1/10 of our first fruit and give it unto God.it is thru faithful tithing that shows u are a good steward of God and that He can trust u to handle other big things?
-
yes you are correct. Not all churches encourage or force people to tithe. What those churches do is that, they put a wooden box with some envelopes at an inconspicuous corner of the church. Anybody who wishes to donate or tithe do so at their own discretion. The church pastors neither encourage nor force the people to tithe.Originally posted by surfbabe:Dear sgForumers,
Thanks for answering my questions. But something that you all have not covered is:
- praying in tongues
- singing praise and worship songs
I realise that not all churches do the above. Are these limited to pentacostal churches?
And about tithing - is it true that only some churches practise compulsory tithing? (As some of you mentioned - using phrases in the bible to encourage ppl to tithe.)
As for cell group fellowship, does every church practise that? Seems like not all Christians I know attends cell group though they may go to church regularly every Sunday.
As for speaking in tounges....Im not sure about it. My friend from CHC is able to do it...but Im sure that every church might have a different view on the subject of speaking in tounges. -
It is mentioned that tithing was a tradition practiced in the past. However, it is not a must. But you can still do so if you wish to.Originally posted by bluewinged:tithing for me is a way to acknowledge that all i have belongs to God. and i am just a steward of everything i have.it is mentioned in the bible that we shld put aside 1/10 of our first fruit and give it unto God.it is thru faithful tithing that shows u are a good steward of God and that He can trust u to handle other big things?