Dear Patty,

Your Question(s): Does the tithes and offering supposed to used for the same thing? Some preachers believe that offering goes to up keep the church and the tithes goes to them. What is your thoughts on this? Also if a preacher does not work how is he supposed survive?

My Answer(s): Thank you for your questions and visiting my web sites. I pray that God bless you in understanding His holy word. You ask, if tithes and offerings are to be used for the same thing? The answer is you should NOT be paying any tithes to anyone. There is NO requirement to tithe under the New Covenant. Therefore, I will only speak to what offerings should be used for. I exhort you to do a study on giving in the New Testament. And please continue to read and study my web site on tithes and offerings, and look for further articles on giving in the New Testament.

As to what are your offerings (giving) used for under the New Covenant? Your offerings should be used to support the upkeep of your meeting place, and other expenses of your congregation as a whole. Not to pay some unknown salary which is beyond your means to pay some self-appointed preacher demanding a right to 10% of your money.

Now, it is obvious why these gospel-peddling preachers claim a tenth of your money as their salary, for they preach from their belly. Most of these preachers would throw you out of "their churches" if you don’t tithe to them. I mean ask yourself Patty, what part of your money would you want for your salary? If you are giving your minister ten percent of your weekly or twice weekly or monthly paycheck on a regular timetable, and only give offerings when the preacher beg for additional money for so-called upkeep of his church or "pet projects". Which would you want for yourself, the tithes or offerings? You see that’s an easy choice for those who are running greedy for financial gain and a large salary themselves.

As I said before, stop tithing and only give for the upkeep of your meeting place and other expenses, if known. And I say if known because there are some greedy and power hunger preachers out there, who will even refuse to tell you what the expenses are. Nor will they tell you the amount of their salary, if receiving a salary from "Your Money". I mean think about this, I want 10% of your income but I am not telling you how much I am using for my personal expenses. Yet, most Christians happily give away their money thinking they are giving to God. And even refuses to question or be concern with the excessive lifestyles of these gospel peddlers. Tell your minister you can only give offerings because of your limited income and see how much love and open arms you receive. He probably will not speak to you anymore.

Finally, you wanted to know if a preacher does not work how is he suppose to survive? You know Patty; I find it strange sometime, yet its not strange. When a person is more than willing to give there hard earn money to some preacher who refuses to work for a living. The answer to this question is simple; the preacher gets a JOB! I mean why is it your responsibility to support a person who refuses to work. Because he has this notion that you should give him 10% of your money, to do what he "claims" God called him to do, that is to preach. In Matthew 10:7-8 it says, "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give" (NIV). Jesus commands preachers to "freely give" what they have received, that is the understanding of God’s word, doing this without demanding those preached to give them 10% of their earnings. The minister should be content with whatever offerings he receives from those preached to, maintaining the meeting place and other expenses with these offerings, and getting a JOB if he wants a salary to survive.

The Scripture says, "if a man will not work, he shall not eat" (1 Thessalonians 3:10). Do you think these verses in 1 Thessalonians 3:6-15 only applied to Christian’s members only? Well, Paul and Barnabas believed these verses applied to them as well, if the offerings were not sufficient to support them. Please, read my articles on 1 Corinthians 8, 2 Corinthians 9 and 1 Timothy 5:17-22 at my web site on Tithes and Offerings. All Christians have the responsibility to work for a living, and not depending on other Christians to support them with 10% of their money. If your minister feels he do not have to work, then neither shall he eat with that attitude.

I exhort you to read and study God’s holy word, and not just depending on some self-appointed preacher to tell you what God says. I pray that you continue to seek understanding, testing all things in this evil and adulterous world with the Holy Scriptures. And remember just because everyone is doing or believing something do not make it right. For each one us will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ Jesus, yes all who have live must give an answer for what they have done. Again, I pray that God continue to bless you and your household. Amen. Praise God.

In Christ love,

Ron Davis, minister of Christ Jesus