"Tithing is just how the church manipulates people for money"
How it sounds in your head: I've heard people say churches are just businesses and pastors get rich off offerings. Maybe tithing is just a guilt trip to fund buildings and salaries. It feels like a scam.
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."
-- Malachi 3:10Source: Cynicism from observing abuses, enemy using bad examples to poison good principle
She's seen news stories about TV preachers with mansions and jets. When leadership abuses something, it's easy to throw out the whole concept as corrupt rather than see the pure principle underneath.
They were in 'deep poverty' and 'great trial of affliction,' yet gave BEYOND their ability with 'pleading' to be allowed to give. Paul celebrated their INSTANT abundance of joy in extreme poverty - their generosity wasn't manipulation, it was overflow of grace they couldn't contain.
I REFUSE the lie that tithing is manipulation! IT IS WRITTEN that God says 'TRY ME' and see if He won't open windows of heaven I cannot contain - that's not guilt, that's INVITATION to partnership with a generous Father. Yes, some abuse it - but Abraham tithed before there were buildings or budgets, purely responding to God's goodness. The Macedonian churches were in deep poverty yet BEGGED to give - that's not manipulation, that's grace overflow. IT IS WRITTEN that it's more BLESSED to give than receive - God's not taking FROM me, He's giving TO me through my generosity. I am Abraham's seed, and the BARAK blessing flows through open hands, not clenched fists!
The Father isn't using tithing to fund His agenda - He's using it to unlock YOUR overflow, to prove He's your source, to position you for windows-of-heaven blessing. Don't let bad leaders rob you of good promises. His invitation stands regardless of human abuse.