Another Tithing Thread

[SeattleSun]

My advice is don't give it to a TV evangalist who has a multi-million dollar home, a million dollar salary, drives around in a mercedes benz or roles royce and has a $40,000 dollar watch, all from the donations of the believers. Give it to those in need, not in greed.

Amen to that! Every year, Ministry Watch publishes their donor alert list. Here's 2008:

http://www.ministrywatch.com/pdf/MWD...of_30_2008.pdf

MinistryWatch.com in its role as a donor advocate developed this format to highlight a sampling of ministries with issues important to donors, such as being
non-transparent, high salaries, misleading marketing efforts, revocation of tax-exempt status, ties to cultic practices, investigations under way, and more.
Any one ministry does not necessarily cover all these issues as there is a wide spectrum of issues. Most donors expect charitable organizations to act on
behalf of others and not for greed, personal aggrandizement, or other reasons; however, ministries are operated by human beings who are subject to the
shortcomings common to man, including what some may call the “principle of ethical entropy”, or as Christians call it, sin. Donors do not always have the
power or know-how to pursue accountability; however, each donor can do their part by making an informed giving decision by looking at various factors and
issues.
No one is able to give to every ministry that one values as we are not possessed of unlimited resources. It is best to make an assessment of our options
and make discerning decisions. When making that assessment, we came across both the good practices and those operations less than ideal for donors.
MinistryWatch.com’s assessment looked at the following seven areas when considering this list of 30:

(1) Transparency, (2) Truth Claims, (3) Values, (4) Sampling of Issues, (5) Resourcefulness, (6) Red Flag Issues, (7) Consultation

.
A fuller explanation of our evaluation criteria is on page five. We commend donors for assessing various factors in making giving decisions. Our list here

may not be part of your criteria. At a minimum, we hope that you become informed and give your limited resources where you think they will be used best.

Good resource, but use your own discernment.

[amazzin]

What was uncalled for? I don't have a beef with the church. Is that not what a lot of churches do? Is that commanded in Scripture?

Just stop it. It is obvious you don't know what you speak of

[crystalbrite]

My advice is don't give it to a TV evangalist who has a multi-million dollar home, a million dollar salary, drives around in a mercedes benz or roles royce and has a $40,000 dollar watch, all from the donations of the believers. Give it to those in need, not in greed.

I just have to agree, Chad. I know a lot of those ministries do a lot of good works, but they do seem to live in uncommon oppulence.

[chad]

Yeah, I know what you mean. It's a pitty they were not more transparent with what they do with thier money.

For example, If I knew that the money I give to a particular ministry; was going to go towards a $40,000 dollar watch for the preacher or to buy a roles royce or mercedes for themselves - I wouldn't give the money to them. I would give it to a ministry in need.

I just have to agree, Chad. I know a lot of those ministries do a lot of good works, but they do seem to live in uncommon oppulence.