Leave Your Pastor - Андрей Викторович Шибанов
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Contribution
Tithes are given to God by helping the poor, but a contribution is collected for supplying the needs of believers. It is a one-time money collection, a relief rather than a monthly obligation. Paul in his second letter to the church in Corinth spoke about the need of giving. He asked the church in Corinth to contribute money for the needs of believers in Jerusalem:
So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. – 2 Corinthians 9:5
Believers also used to sell their possessions and distribute proceeds to those in need:
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. – Acts 2:45
You must not collect contributions to pay salaries to the Antichrist: church leaders, pastors and priests. Act of paying a salary to a church leader is an attempt to buy a gift of teaching. God gives revelations to disciples of Christ freely. Why would you pay a person for him to teach you? Do you assume that by paying that person, God will speak exclusively through him? You are mistaken, God speaks through whom he wants to speak. In fact, God will never speak through a person who turns teaching God’s word into a fortune.
But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! – Acts 8:20
The people whom you can support with money, food and homestay are evangelists who travel to proclaim the gospel, not the Antichrist among you: church leaders, pastors and priests:
Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. -1 Corinthians 9:13-14
Neither you must give your money for construction or renting temples. Disciples of Jesus Christ must meet at public places freely, no need to collect money for that purpose. Public places are good for fellowship and homes are good for breaking the bread and prayers. Give your contributions to those in need and God will abundantly bless you.
For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. – 2 Corinthians 9:12
Example of manipulation with tithes and contributions
I have observed that believers use terms tithes and contributions interchangeably. They do not find a difference between these terms. According to the false doctrine, all tithes/contributions are collected regularly and used for staff salary, rent and food. They collect tithes/contributions and spend it for themselves. When they help the poor, each member does it from his own pocket after tithes/contributions are paid to the organization. They help poor people very little because they have already spent 10% or less of their income for themselves. I have encountered a group which collected a good amount of money for believers in Pakistan, Yemen and Sudan, but the money they sent was not for the food. The money they collected had been spent for the construction of temples despite of obvious need in these countries affected by war.
Persecuting prophets
And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy… – Acts 2:17-18
God always spoke through prophets and even now He continues to speak to believers through them. Jesus Christ and John the Baptist were not the last prophets as some of you have assumed.
There were prophets before Jesus walking on earth, at the time of Jesus and after His resurrection as well, so they are present among you even now. Prophets teach believers obedience to God. To prophesy means to predict, to reveal by divine inspiration or to speak as a prophet. It is not a sin to say “I have a message from the Lord” and whoever receives revelations from God must deliver it to people. These Scriptures talk about the gift of prophecy and prophets:
Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. – Acts 15:32
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if