giving under compulsion?

[Pamelasv]

2 Chorinthians 9:7

Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

So what exactly is giving under compulsion, and why is it wrong?

Edited February 11, 2015 by Pamelasv

[ncn]

2 Chorinthians 9:7

Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

So what exactly is giving under compulsion, and why is it wrong?

 

Tell us what you think. 

 

I say this because, it's important how posts are constructed. 

When a thread is framed in a teacher/student format, it will be closed.

Please be careful on how you post. 

 

Present your thoughts first and open it up for a discussion.

That is the difference between teaching and discussing.

 

God Bless Nigel. 

[Guest shiloh357]

I know of churches where your giving is  a condition of continued membership.  If the giving falls off, they will counsel you.  If you don't start giving, they will revoke your membership.  At least that is how they used to be.   To me, that's an example of compulsion.  That's wrong because it means that homeless and unemployed people are for all intents and purposes not eligible for membership.

 

Another example of compulsion are the televangelists that tie the blessings of God to how much money you "sow" into their ministry.  They prey on those who are desperate, needy and willing to latch on  to anyone who will give them some hope.  The notion that God won't bless me if I don't give is both an example  compulsion and emotional manipulation.

 

It's wrong because it causes people to "sow" money that is needed for things like medicine and bills.   It leads to an irresponsible handling of money and give a false hope based on empty, futile promises.

[Guest LadyC]

a lot of churches don't make giving compulsory really, but they use guilt and condemnation. they will get up there every sunday before the offering plate is passed, and give a mini-sermon on how we are supposed to be giving 10% of our first fruits (and often go on to specify that means the church gets paid before the first bill does out of each paycheck), and that if you aren't giving 10% you are lacking faith. i've even heard it preached that God says in the bible to TEST Him on this issue. a prayer might be said at the end of the mini-sermon asking God to bless those who tithed, and to also bless those who couldn't afford to tithe.

 

it seems in those churches, tithe is never equated with the storehouse... even if the church has a benevolence fund or a food bank. giving to that should be above and beyond the tithe, not in lieu of the tithe. but my personal understanding of the scripture is that the tithe was to go into the storehouse... to feed not only the priests and their families, but also to feed the widows, fatherless, and homeless. i never felt any guilt over directing my tithe into a foodbank ministry (within the church or outside of the church)... but i've sure felt the looks of disapproval.

[ayin jade]

Using guilt and condemnation to force giving is making it compulsory. 

[Guest shiloh357]

The Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver.  It should never be something people are guilted  into doing.  They need to be led by the Spirit in their giving.

[Guest]

a lot of churches don't make giving compulsory really, but they use guilt and condemnation. they will get up there every sunday before the offering plate is passed, and give a mini-sermon on how we are supposed to be giving 10% of our first fruits (and often go on to specify that means the church gets paid before the first bill does out of each paycheck), and that if you aren't giving 10% you are lacking faith. i've even heard it preached that God says in the bible to TEST Him on this issue. a prayer might be said at the end of the mini-sermon asking God to bless those who tithed, and to also bless those who couldn't afford to tithe.

 

 

Gotta love all that guilt tripping and emotional manipulation used in places like that. The old: "Salvation is free, but after that you have to pay your protection money - or something bad will happen to you, etc." line. Sounds like the old protection money rackets the mob used to run (and may still for all I know.) It makes God sound like some cosmic Mafia Don instead of our Heavenly Father.

[Ezra]

So what exactly is giving under compulsion, and why is it wrong?

Giving under compulsion is to make an offering to God grudgingly. If that is one's attitude, it is better not to give at all.  Because God has freely given to His children everything that He has given in Christ (His "unspeakable" or indescribable Gift), the proper response is a response of gratitude and liberality.  Furthermore, all the possessions of a believer are actually God's. Therefore we are simply returning to God what He has freely given to us, but with a thankful and grateful heart.  Therefore we are to give as the Holy Spirit directs, and ask God to show us how and how much to give to Him without calcuation and compulsion.

 

Unfortunately, there are many churches where Christians are manipulated into giving, and the offerings are not used as God intended.  There are also those who make merchandise of the Gospel.  Then it is up to Christians to address those who abuse or misuse what rightly belongs to God. Or move on.