Anyone else?
Posted on February 17th, 2005 by Reformed Pope into the Tithe categoryIt appears that CBC’s policy on requiring people to tithe is quite a hot issue with many bloggers. So far we only have one ex-CBC employee claiming this to story to be fact. I would like to hear from more employees.
They may all still be on a media fast, but I would like to welcome any current employees to offer an up to date perspective. A new point of view is always welcome; after all this bitterness is really dragging me down.
Also, if anyone feels that their job is in danger because of a lack of giving please contact us here at City Business Church. I can think of at least one lawyer who would love to represent that case.
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February 17th, 2005 at 8:50 pm
I was a CBC employee in the late 90s. I tithed irregularly during that time and rarely for a full 10%. Mainly because i would forget… and sometimes because my bills ate it all up.
I was never confronted though. And after 2 years I moved on to a different job that paid industry standard wages (several $$ more per hour) and included amazing benefits and 21 days of paid vacation a year not including holidays.
Actually getting paid what i was worth was encouraging… so i bacame a regular tither… I’ve even got one of those tithe numbers : )
Tithing is the right thing to do. My issue with tihing is more one of disipline and modivation.
I encourage anyone reading this blog to remember Psalm 1:1-3. Prosperity is tied more closely to your attitude and relationship with God and his laws. than with simple money and how man might use it. If tithing is a Biblical law then we should delight in it because it is His law. And since it is God’s money we should not fall prey to ideas that would cause us to hold on to tightly to the things of this world. I still struggle with being a consistent tither. however i do make an effort and belive in God’s blessing for me and my family.
Psa 1:1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
February 17th, 2005 at 10:45 pm
To anonymous,
Good job on getting a new job that pays well, and bless you for the time you spent working and serving the church. I am sure that had it’s own rewards even if it wasn’t always money. It’s nice to know that cbc didn’t challenge everyone’s tithe record. We know it’s not all bad.
I can remember sitting in meetings and hearing PF say that they definately look at what you’re tithing and don’t think it dosen’t matter. Talk about feeling the pressure to perform. There was alot of pressure there to feel like you’re being watched and judged by what you give. How hard is it to give to purely to God when you know that someone is keeping track and watching? It adds alot of pressure, even the best have to struggle not to please man. I was in a service once where they talked about the kind of cars people drive,and one of the leadership team said, ” I can’t help but notice that the biggest givers also drive the nicest cars”. I wonder how that elder knew who the biggest givers were? Since according to Jesus the widow who gave only a few pennies was the biggest giver because she gave out of her need not out of her abundance. Well I hate the whole thing. It makes me want to vomit. You quoted Ps.1
In verse three it says alot of wonderful things, but the scripture ” bring forth fruit, leaf not withering.Whatever he
does shall prosper” If you read that for only finacial gain you are missing so much. The finacial gain is the least of it, it should be the least of our desires. It is where I have been so sickened by the church because it is all that is being offered. Like wealth is the big reward. Its not. Knowing Jesus, walking in His kingdom, fellowshipping with him and enjoying him is the great reward,. Righteousness, peace and joy these are the things we really want to prosper in. Well thanks for reading.
Mac
February 18th, 2005 at 12:28 am
Ahhhhh Mr. Pope, but now you’ve changed the question. Should CBC, or any church, be allowed to require its employees (or servants, volunteers, whatever) to tithe? Should they be able to ask that their employees uphold their standards by not drinking, “dancing”, or old-school not going to theaters? To me this is more of a political question than a religious one. Is it fair that a church expect someone in leadership to have a specific sexual orientation? These are all “moral” standards that the church believes is right. Personally, my political opinion is that CBC has as much right to decide what standards they want their employees to uphold, as much as Hooters can decide which physical attributes they want their employees to have. To me the question of what CBC should be allowed to do (or face your lawyer), or what we as a Christian body expect from them, are two entirely different issues.
Thank God we have a free will, and freedom. When my conscience finally had enough and I realized how wrong everything was, I was free to walk away, find a new job, and associate with a new group of people. If you are still working there, that is your choice. You should be paying your tithe, not drinking, and following any other laws that haven’t been lost to culture, because that is what you agreed to do. If you don’t like the rules, don’t sign up.
Or maybe that’s just me?
Anyway, things are starting to sound a little serious around here, better lighten it up
February 19th, 2005 at 11:04 am
I heard 2 stories recently about current CBC employees being called into the church office because they were not tithing a full 10%.
There is no question that they keep a close eye on giving and who is giving it.
I guess, if you buy into their stories about tithing to keep the curse of God off your life then you probably shouldn’t have a problem with any of it. They way they teach on God it really shouldn’t surprise anyone.
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
April 18th, 2005 at 6:16 pm
I can vouch for this! My mother used to work at that damn school and was called in because they knew that my parents were not tithing the full amount, as required by CBC. My dad felt like he couldn’t tithe from his check, because he needed to support the family, but my mom went ahead and tithed from her CCS check because she had to. This wasn’t good enough for CBC though. They figured that my parents should be tithing more, since they both were working. Since when is tithing anyone’s business besides between God and the tither? City Business has become so corrupt!
You know, my mom was eventually fired from that place (you might be able to figure out who she was) because she went to another church, which was actually somewhat affiliated with CBC. The church was in the red and PF decided that someone had to be cut from the school. So, who do they pick? A person who devoted many years there and grew up in the church. The school told her that she was picked because they THOUGHT that she would retire soon anyway, and they figured that my parents could afford a lay-off, as compared to some of the other people working there. However, we know that the real reason was because of changing churches, as she had just spoken to the principal not to long before the firing, about the change.
CBC doesn’t realize or even care about the impact that they have on peoples lives. They just beg for people’s money and when they figure they can’t squeeze anymore from them, they just throw them away.