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| The Love Of Money Is The Root Of All Evil 1 Tim 6:10 |
Tithe and Offerings:
I do not have a problem with tithe, offerings, home offerings, world missions, building funds, revival funds or any other "needs" that require giving. I do have a problem with the way these funds are extracted out of the member with a giving heart. First of all they say, "All Christians pay tithe and give in offerings". This is a lie that is not supported by scripture. Those ntcc pastors that preach this as scripture are simply lying to their congregations and taking the blessing of giving away from the giver. Not only do they preach that all Christians pay tithe and give in offerings, they also use pressure tactics to extract money. "If you don't pay tithe, you will never be blessed." ... "If you don't pay tithe you will die and go to hell." What a mind game. Those of you ntcc pastors that preach this doctrine of condemnation please show us some scriptural references that support your claims. Could it be that your love of money outweighs your responsibility to preach the truth? Do you not believe that God is going to hold you accountable for everything you preach? I'm trying really hard to understand this. Is this one of those things that "God has to reveal to us"? Is it a new revelation that is being kept a secret from the rest of us?
"It's Got to be Revealed to You!" The Mystery of the Disappearing Escrow Funds:
I've kept church books at ntcc under several pastors; and I know about the escrow funds. In the trucking industry as an owner operator, when I lease on with a company, they require me to contribute to an escrow fund. This fund is deducted weekly out of my pay and put in an account. This fund is collected to cover any unpaid expenses that the company would incur if I damaged property or freight or were to quit with a negative balance. It's usually about $2,000.00 and when that figure is reached it sits in that escrow account until I quit working for that company at which time it is refunded to me. Just out of curiosity, how many pastors have contributed to the ntcc escrow fund? How many of those have received a refund of that money when they left to another work? If the answer to the latter question is zero, where did all of that money go? Is that something that "has yet to be revealed to us"? I think the only reason that you are allowed to get away with this is that all that have given into this escrow are afraid to question the leadership. If they were to question the leadership, they would certainly die and go to hell. It would be quite a class action lawsuit if all of the contributors sued ntcc for those funds plus interest!
Runaway Giving with no Runaway Truck Ramp:
Many times in the servicemen's homes brethren gave way more than they could afford. Us New Testament Christians lived from payday to payday. After we gave tithe, offerings, home offerings, World Missions, Sunday Night Budget Offerings (can you believe we actually had budget offerings?), Building Funds, Revival Funds (to help out a rich board member with fuel expenses in their $300,000.00 motor homes. I remember any time the question was asked, "What kind of mileage does that thing get?", the standard ntcc answer was, "If you can afford to own one, you don't worry about the gas expense to drive it!" Well of course not, that money was being supplied by the members!) and any other offerings that they could dream up, plus the gas money you spent driving back and forth hauling people around for the "work of God" and the wear and tear on your car for the "work of God", and the money you spent on wingtips and white shirts, and the money you spent on paisley ties, and the money you spent on paying for your new "converts" Sunday brunch at the steak house (which was expected) and the money that some pastors actually had the audacity to teach that their members should spend on paying for the pastors' brunch at the steak house on Sunday. And the collections to buy 'pastor' another Rolex, because the ingrate wasn't satisfied with the model you already purchased him. And the collections to buy 'pastor' another diamond cluster, pimp daddy, pinky ring. And the collections to buy 'pastor' another new Cadillac since his last one had 50,000 miles on the odometer, or it was a new year, or mamma got tired of last season's color, whichever comes first.... I know that was a run on sentence; but do you get the picture?
ntcc is a run away money grubbing organization!
The End Result: Broke and Broken!
I remember doing the books for a church in Georgia; and things just didn't seem to add up. The 'pastor' was full time without enough members to support him. I was asked to get loans to support the work of God; because, even though I was giving a large amount to the church as an E-6 (Staff Sargent) in the Army, the church was floundering. I got myself in debt to help out but still this wasn't enough. I later found out that the 'pastor' was keeping a second set of books that he would show to board members when they came by. I knew the books were not right but did not have any evidence and wasn't going to rat him out without knowing what I was talking about. The preacher left the org prior to the next conference; and I had to go to a board meeting to explain what I knew about this. I wished that I had the intestinal fortitude to ask them about their irresponsible handling of money; but instead I told them everything they wanted to hear about this situation. Eventually I ended up in financial ruin and left the army under other than honorable circumstances because I blindly followed this cult and believed in its leadership. There are different levels of loyalty in which people pledge their lives to the borg, on a scale of one to ten, I was a twelve.
All I can do is learn from my mistakes and warn others. The ones that pledge the most of their finances, time and loyalty to this bunch are the ones that get hurt the most.
Vote Anonymously On This Post By Clicking On The Lettered Boxes Below:
A) Sounds Like A True Description of ntcc.
B) ntcc Sounds Like A Cult.
C) I Read This Post.
D) ntcc uses people.
E) ntcc guilt trips sincere members into giving beyond their means.
F) Create Your Own By Leaving A Comment: Example: "F" I'm afraid to get caught commenting on this blog.
G) Glad To Be Out of ntcc.
H) Create Your Own: Example: "H" ntcc should report all church finances including board member salaries, reimbursements, and expenses openly to all for review quarterly.
I) I'm Thinking Of Leaving ntcc
J) Create Your Own
**You Can Choose Multiple Answers**
