Living on Church Welfare
It has long been my opinion that church pastors such as Herbert W. and many thousands of others, live on church welfare, or at least did before they passed from this life. Somehow it does not seem right that those who lead others live from tithes and donations, while real men work for a living and support their own families. I can never forget a Friday night Bible study in Pasadena, when as was the custom, one of the members with a very large family, sent forward a question about paying "3rd tithe", when he had a very large family and had a hard time feeding his clan of nine children, wife and himself on his wages. Garner Ted in his cold-hearted reply to that question stated that "if you have to starve to death, you pay the 3rd tithe." That was a real revelation about the character of GTA. Of course GTA didn't really "work" for a living, but lived from the financial sacrifices of the doctrinally indoctrinated.
There are many who think they are "called", "anointed" and "appointed" by God or Jesus Christ to "pastor" others and as a consequence they believe they have a "right" to your pocketbook, not based upon anything taught by Jesus, but certain comments made by Paul or those who put words in the mouth of Paul. Jesus actually said to His disciples "freely you have received freely give" and I take that to mean, don't go out and merchandise the name of Jesus Christ for your own welfare. Of course the world of churches would not even exist without the false tithes and offerings, which are the means to a free lunch for life for the "pastors" and often much more than just food on the table, but luxuries, perks and financial benefits of living the life of kings and queens in the earth for many.
One "pastor" I sent an email to some years ago had the retort that "tithing" was the means that Jesus established to "preach the Gospel to the world." Naturally that is the excuse they all have. It is much easier to respect those who work for a living than those who live on donations, tithes and offerings. Governments of men are really no different than man-made religions, because those who work for government live from "tithes" (taxes) as do preachers and think it is perfectly a moral right. Does it not seem strange that those who demand your money, are the very ones who control your thinking and think they have a "right" to rule over your life? Many who work for government in all of its myriad forms also think they have a "right" based upon certain verses in the Bible, such as Romans 13. Of course many in government are also "Christians" and their rule book is the "Bible" as they interpret it. "Obey the rulers" is rubber stamped into the minds of millions and etched in stone in the thinking of many the world over.
If there were no FEAR, it is doubtful that humans would see things as they do. In the church world, many also think they will be financially "blessed" if they pay tithes, keep the Saturday Sabbath and so forth. Most people who think this way have tunnel vision, because the world has many who are financially well off who do not go to church, pay tithes or bow to "pastors." In fact there are no doubt many millionaires and even billionaires who are most likely atheist, or who do not go to church, pay tithes or otherwise pretend that their wealth has anything to do with "sowing a seed" into any preachers ministry. Many church goers have a two fold sense about tithing and "Biblical" law keeping. On one hand there is the belief that if one "obeys" the rules of tithing and keeping the Sabbath or going to church, they will be "blessed" and the reverse side of the coin, is the FEAR that to not do so is to incur curses. I have no personal doubt that God does not micro-manage the lives of anyone. You simply reap what you sow and if you are smart and able to financially prosper in this world, then it is not the consequence of "tithing", but of sound business or financial decisions.
One man I read about some years ago and who worked for some mega-church group, donated $200,000 over a period of time and wound up bankrupt. Naturally he became bitter when he came to his senses about the whole idea of "sowing a seed and reaping a harvest." Guess who reaped the harvest? There are those who will swear that they were financially blessed as a result of "sowing a seed" or some similar act, but I would suggest that it is purely coincidental and had nothing to do with sending some preacher a check. Some will say they received an unexpected check from some insurance company or some other similar situation and tag that to something they did to "serve God." It is really amazing how so many church goers connect their dots in life.
Living on church welfare is in my opinion a disgrace and a deception to those who are taken advantage of by the slick salesmen who stand in pulpits, grinding out their own private "Gospel." On one website I know of, the preacher who is a former "Senior Pastor" of a major church group, but who resigned to be a "Father" to young pastors to bring "revival", pronounces a "blessing" on those who tithe. And he even has a "2nd blessing" on tithe payers. That is ridiculous as if this man could pronounce a "supernatural" blessing upon people who send him donations, while he lives on church welfare.
Real men work for a living and support their own families.
Van Robison
