My korean church pastor tells everyone to make an offering every sunday..

United States
February 17, 2010 2:09am CST
My pastor made a sermon about making offerings to churches every sunday and i felt kind of pressured when i heard this sermon. I make offerings time to time but there are times that i dont make an offering. Is it wrong to feel this way? I don't know why but i felt disturbed that he made a specific sermon about offering to God and if you refuse to return what you have recieved you will be judged.. Can someone help me??
7 responses
@hagirl (1295)
• United States
18 Feb 10
We all know what is taught from the bible of giving 10% for a tithe in church of your income..... but that I feel does not mean to not pay your bills, or take the food out of babes mouth..... What about the woman that gave a mit which is equal to about a penny because that is all she had.... Sometimes we have not got enough for the 10% but when we do we are instructed to follow with this rule given by our God in heaven through Jesus....
@hagirl (1295)
• United States
20 Feb 10
I agree; You know I don't give all the time either because I cannot afford after bills have been paid but my pastor and church family treat me the same as the do to someone who has the money to give that 10% or more if financially feasible for them... In fact last Sunday night (which I had not been to church for the last 3 weeks due to sickness and a stressful personal life where I was feeling just down in the dumps (not my spouse but others)) they gave me a birthday party after church just like they would anyone else in the church.... I feel blessed to be at the church I am at..... My husband and I are trying to find property right now or a house with some property and I pray I do find one that is close so I can still stay at the church I am at..... That would be very depressing to me if I would have to change churches
• Philippines
19 Feb 10
Tithing is not the law in the present christian era. Tithing is the law of God to Moses and Israelites. The law of the new covenant is to give from what you can afford with clear conscience and clean heart, no definite amount, and this gift is not supposed to be for the pastors or ministers but for the poor, the sick, and the widowed. If you give to these unfortunate people, then you are giving to the real church of God.
@kd_fmay (554)
• Philippines
17 Feb 10
Hello hanxyoung! God knows our heart. He is fair and just. Don't pressure yourself to give if there's really nothing to give. Don't feel guilty, instead pray that God will prosper your source of income, so that you will be able to give an offering. To be specific I'm talking about money matter, because I guess the sermon is about that. I don't know how exactly the sermon was all about. There are other things that you can offer to God, such as talents, time and so on... If these things included in the sermon, its another thing to discuss..haha Hope I help you think better now! God bless u!
• United States
18 Feb 10
thank you it really did help me. i think im going to pray to God about this issue and hopefully i wont have this guilt in me. it really feels a lot better now that i told someone about this. thank u once again
@kd_fmay (554)
• Philippines
19 Feb 10
You're welcome! You made the right decision. Well, to tell you honestly I've been in that situation before. God knows my heart, I really want to give... so I really did pray and God answered it. Just to quote: "We can't give away something we don't have." Good day to you!
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
18 Feb 10
I don't care what church of TV ministry or what ever it is if they collect money to keep the ministry going then that ministry is not of God. Jesus made it very clear we will n ever need money to do anything we need to do in serving God.What did Jesus tell His Apostles when He sent them out to establish His Church? Jesus told them to not even take any money with them. Look at any church and if the ministry would stop if the money stopped then it was built and is being run by man and God had nothing to do with it. Christian teachers teach that money is the root of all evil and then beg for every cent they can get. This is what I call talking out of both sides of your mouth at the same time. It just isn't right. Read your New Testament and ask yourself this question. Where did Jesus put His Church? Where did He tell the Apostles to go when he sent them lout to establish His true Church? Jesus sent them to the homes of the people that would accept Him as the true Son of God. He didn't send them to some building down the street. The churches we see today are strictly man and his money's work, not God's. Art
• Philippines
17 Feb 10
I guess you already know halfway what is the answer. There will always be a point in our life that we have to question and ask for a solution on matters we are not clear of. First of all I ask you this, what is giving and why do you give? Do you think that the money you give as an offering are properly compensated on Church work such as spreading the good news or support to the workers like the Missionaries of your church? If giving can be of help to support this, then no need to tell you if you have to give or not. But if you are not so sure of the answer, then seek God for help and ask Him how you would give Glory to Him more. We as servants of God should be generous and more giving to others. We don't just give because we are told to. We give because it is in our lifestyle to give with a merry heart. But if you think that you question on what you give, better not give at all because it is your heart that God sees, not the amount of what you can stretch forth to give. We should not be stingy because our God gave all of Himself to us. This does not involve only money, but our time, our life and all that we have. If you can glorify God by being faithful on giving, then be it so. We aim to do what is very best to God right.
@meldred (94)
18 Feb 10
maybe its just a reminder to everyone...maybe he don't mean anything about it because offering is a personal commitment to God...you can give anything you want..it's not all about money..it's also your service, your talent & ofcourse your personal life.If its all about money how about those poor people?they can't give offering that much but i know God knows the heart of the giver.
• United States
18 Feb 10
Instead of feeling pressured about it i think it should be something grateful since God may provide you with 5X the amount or even 10X, however God is willing to help you during hardships such as during financial needs or finding a job. Even though being in a difficult situation for you to do offering every sunday God will provide you with 10x the amount you put into that basket
@nocturn98 (956)
• Venezuela
17 Feb 10
Offering isn't always about money. You can offer your time, your self, your voice... About being judged if you refuse, you will also be judged if you give. Whatever you give to God, it is what you will be given in return. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. -- Luke 6:38