Posted on 02/12/2015 6:21:37 AM PST by Gamecock
When David Lee Richardson wrote a book that essentially implied tithing is a rip-off, I guess he didn’t think the consequences all the way through. Especially since the church he held a leadership position in, was none other than the Dallas, Texas mega-church, The Potter’s House, founded by public figure Bishop T.D. Jakes. Now, after being stripped of his title and told that he and his family are no longer welcome at the church, Richardson has filed a lawsuit.
The church has a congregational attendance rate of 17,000 and is home to familiar names like Sheryl Brady, Joby Brady, and Mark Jeffries.
Richardson’s book, “Sunday Morning Stickup: What Your Pastor Doesn’t Want You To Know About Tithes,” – yep, that’s the title, is a self-published work.
Richardson took to Collin County Court on Jan. 27 in order to sue The Potter’s House. He claims that his book, published in March of 2013, made no specific references to The Potter’s House or any of the church officials.
Richardson, who says he held a position of leadership at the church and primarily attended the north campus in Parker, says he was summoned to a meeting with two of the church pastors after posting the cover of his manuscript on his Facebook page.
“Plaintiff was advised that he was being asked to resign as a leader in the church and was officially stripped of his ordination license which he held for more than 20 years,” the court complaint stated.
“Defendant Pastor Brady expressed to plaintiff that she had no respect for him due to him writing the book. She went on to express that she makes no promises that she would read the book and she also expressed that leadership’s decision was based on the cover.
“Plaintiff was advised that defendant, Sheryl Brady, had spoken with T.D. Jakes prior to the meeting and was asked if she could strip plaintiff of his license and T.D. Jakes told her ‘yes.’”
Though Richardson’s membership to The Potter’s House was not revoked, he was not allowed to hold a leadership position, and could only attend under certain conditions.
“Jeffries told plaintiff that if plaintiff continued to attend church at The Potter’s House North, plaintiff would have to sit in the back if plaintiff sat in the middle section of the sanctuary,” the complaint stated. “Jeffries also pointed out a pillar to plaintiff and let plaintiff know that if plaintiff sat on the right side of the sanctuary, plaintiff would have to sit ten rows behind the indicated pillar.”
Richardson claims that on one occasion, on Jan. 27, 2013, he and his children were physically escorted out of the service by four police officers. The incident was a source of embarrassment and grief for him and his children.
“Once outside, plaintiff was told that earlier in the week the decision had been made to revoke his membership and he was no longer welcome at the church and if he returned he would be arrested for criminal trespass,” the document read.
Richardson is seeking punitive damages for negligence, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, assault, battery, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
I tell people that tithing is an old testament thing.
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Right, because we all know that little elves come in the middle of the night and build the churches, pay their bills and leave buckets of gold for missions.
You could attend a local church without tithing to them and then donate to St Jude’s Childrens Hospital.
You can't toss someone out for being black, but you could toss them out if they were trying to promote black liberation theology to your congregation. You wouldn't WANT to toss someone out just for being gay (you would want them to hear the Word and get saved), but you could toss them out if they were trying to promulgate the teaching that homosexuality is not a sin.
The principle of tithing is “God wants your money so give it to me”.
God doesn’t need our money. Everything is His. I think John Piper’s explanation is a good one.
Romans 11:35-36
And that is why Paul says in verse 36, “For from him and through him and to him are all things.” And this truth leads to the truth of verse 35, “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
Answer: Nobody. In other words, you can’t give to God anything that is not already his. If you could, he would owe you. But you can’t. So he doesn’t owe you anything. And never will. All things are from him and through him. He is absolutely free.
Wouldn't that be like eating dinner at a steakhouse, then sending some money to McDonald's to pay for it? Shouldn't you pay for your meal where you are actually fed?
If the church you attend is not deserving of your financial support, then find another church, because you obviously are not getting anything from the church you now attend.
But you don’t tithe to God. You tithe to a church. A tithe is an obligation.
“You are not a Christian, are you?”
Because I don’t agree with tithing? Let me introduce you to something called the New Testament.
So is stoning adulterers.
Actually, I believe the bar is higher in the NT. But Christianity is a “spirit of the law” religion, not Letter of the law. Tithing is a “letter of the law” thing.
And in case you missed it, Jesus did address the adultery part. Without sin? Throw the first stone.
I prefer to make offerings in the amount I can afford, where I can afford it - not necessarily a Church. And here is why:
In today's modern Church, parishioners are asked to pledge a tithe of certain amounts per year, given in weekly increments or all at once (at least my former church did).
Paying tithes, normally 10% or more of income, are a binding contract between you and the Church. I found this out when I became unemployed, could not meet my tithe and was sent a BILL, along with an admonishment, from the Church.
Those greedy monsters didn't care that I worked the food kitchen, cleaned the sanctuary every Saturday, served at socials and weddings - gave my TIME. Nope, none of them could help me find work in the depressed economy no way! They sent me a BILL and said they could send it to “collections” if it was not paid!
Well, I paid their bill as soon as I could, skipping lunches, having noodles for dinner, cutting all “frivolous” expenses.
I will never join another Church again. I visit one with my elderly neighbor on occasion - it makes her happy. But, there are other, better ways to give to God. Churches just want your money for their new parish hall, parking lot, the pastors $300,000.00 home...
I prefer to make offerings in the amount I can afford, where I can afford it - not necessarily a Church. And here is why:
In today's modern Church, parishioners are asked to pledge a tithe of certain amounts per year, given in weekly increments or all at once (at least my former church did).
Paying tithes, normally 10% or more of income, are a binding contract between you and the Church. I found this out when I became unemployed, could not meet my tithe and was sent a BILL, along with an admonishment, from the Church.
Those greedy monsters didn't care that I worked the food kitchen, cleaned the sanctuary every Saturday, served at socials and weddings - gave my TIME. Nope, none of them could help me find work in the depressed economy no way! They sent me a BILL and said they could send it to “collections” if it was not paid!
Well, I paid their bill as soon as I could, skipping lunches, having noodles for dinner, cutting all “frivolous” expenses.
I will never join another Church again. I visit one with my elderly neighbor on occasion - it makes her happy. But, there are other, better ways to give to God. Churches just want your money for their new parish hall, parking lot, the pastors $300,000.00 home...
sorry for the double post!
I'm old school. I believe not giving 10% is a sin, we can't expect God to bless us (though He may) while we are being disobedient. The root isn't numbers and $, it is are you giving Lordship over God in this area or do you not trust Him when it comes to $.
Since I can't give directly to God, I give to him through a man made institution. As such, it is my duty to be a wise steward and do my best to make sure the money goes where I know it is being used wisely. For most of us that will be the local church, where the budget is an open book. While I give some support to Samaritans Purse, I'd never send money to a TV preacher.
As for the current health/wealth “God is a big ATM” O$teen style lifestyle, it has no basis in scripture. Jesus and none of the disciples lived a life of wealth and comfort preached by these charlatans. I've gone on mission to some of the poorest places on the planet and there met some of the greatest men and women of Faith who are not “Living Their Best life Now” according to the health and wealthers.
Just write Ichabod across the doors of their churches and be done with it.
No, because you don't seem to know what Jesus taught about giving and about the proper relationship between God, man and money. People who get hung up on the idea of tithing generally have other issues dealing with God and money.
If you don't want to give, don't give. If God has your heart, He already has your money. If He doesn't have your heart, He doesn't want or need your money. God owns everything in the first place. If there is a need, He can find someone with his heart right and with a right attitude about money, and can bless him so that he can give.
This guy sounds like a whiny baby.
ph
Interesting - I have never attended a church that did that. Tithes were supposed to be the "first fruits of your increase". In other words, if you increased your wealth, you gave a tenth to God as a thanksgiving offering. So if you made $100, you gave $10. If you raised goats and had 10 new goats added to your herd, you gave one.
The Bible talked about "bringing the tithe into the storehouse". The priests that served in the temple did not hold other jobs, so the tithe was used to support the priests and their families so they could serve God full time. That is why the tithe should usually go to the local church you attend - the money to pay for the building, utilities, and the for the pastoral staff needs to come from somewhere, doesn't it?
Paying tithes, normally 10% or more of income, are a binding contract between you and the Church. I found this out when I became unemployed, could not meet my tithe and was sent a BILL, along with an admonishment, from the Church.
WHERE did you go to church? I have been in church for 40 years in several different states and in different denominations, and I have NEVER heard of that. I would have run from that "church" as fast as possible!
Membership Revoked?
Ouch!
So much for coming to the stream and drinking in the spirit of good will and works.
This was the Episcopal Church circa 1980. I know where the Church has gone down to now days, so unless you think this mind set was simply a precursor to the Episcopal Churches corruption, I'll tell you one more story.
After I left the Episcopal Church, I began to miss Christian fellowship, and felt a longing to hear the Word. I decided to attend the Southern Baptist Church that I went to in my childhood.
Service started with the usual greetings and hymns and opening prayers. I was so thankful to be home and I could hardly wait for the Pastor to deliver his sermon; I just knew it would feed my soul no matter the subject.
Surprise, surprise! There I sat, unemployed, no prospects, growing depressed and needing Gods Word and what did the Pastor preach about for over an hour? The DEADBEATS in the Church who were not tithing and giving enough; yeah, he had all the scriptures about tithing down pat, alright.
The day I slithered out of that Church was the day I decided I didn't need to "go to" Church. I am well able to give to charities or the needy without the church acting as middleman.
The Lord is present wherever two or more are gathered in His Name, so I do not require a middleman for that either; I am well able to accomplish this in my own living room.
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