"Tithing to a church is just funding pastor salaries and building campaigns."
How it sounds in your head: I see the new sound system and the senior pastor's car. My 'tithe' feels more like funding someone else's lifestyle than Kingdom work. I'd rather give directly to people who need it.
"Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account."
-- Philippians 4:17Source: religious abuse, financial scandals, cynicism from seeing church mismanagement; enemy's strategy to cut off covenant blessing through offense.
Church financial scandals are real and documented. It feels more authentic to control where my money goes than blindly fund an organization I don't fully trust.
Gave repeatedly to Paul's ministry even though THEY were in poverty themselves—didn't audit Paul's spending or demand receipts. God's response: 'My God shall SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED according to His riches in glory'—immediate supernatural supply promise to the GIVERS.
I REFUSE the lie that church leadership's imperfection invalidates my covenant obedience. IT IS WRITTEN that the FRUIT of my giving abounds to MY account regardless of how it's stewarded. I give to GOD, not man's organization. The Philippians gave from poverty without auditing Paul, and God supplied ALL their need. IT IS WRITTEN to bring tithes to the storehouse—I honor God's instruction and trust HIM with the results. I'm under the BARAK blessing that doesn't depend on perfect recipients—Abraham gave tithes without a 501c3 audit. My obedience releases Heaven's windows, period.
Your Father sees your heart and rewards YOUR obedience independent of others' stewardship—He's not waiting for perfect churches before He blesses obedient sons. The prodigal's Father celebrated his RETURN, not his record-keeping.