City Harvest's founder Kong Hee & 4 others arrested/charged
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shinri:
It is called tithing. Based on New Creation's membership which is even bigger, this tithing is very significant for them to be able to invest in a good church premise.They call it \"donor funds\" but is it really voluntary?
I once had a colleague who belonged to that church and she mentioned 10% of her pay each month is transferred to the church by GIRO..
So I asked her, why 10%?
10% seems a lot to me.. If on average, 1 person earns about $1.5K, so \"donate\" about $150 to church, then multiply by 30,000 people..
wow.. $4.5 million already!
Not to mention, only for 1 month.. if 1 year then $54 million... :yikes: -
ksi:
The 10% amount is based on an Old Testament practice of giving 10% of your produce. But bear in mind in that day's context, the tithe was not only used to maintain God's temple, but also for day to day running of the community i.e. your modern day income tax.
It is called tithing. Based on New Creation's membership which is even bigger, this tithing is very significant for them to be able to invest in a good church premise.shinri:
They call it \"donor funds\" but is it really voluntary?
I once had a colleague who belonged to that church and she mentioned 10% of her pay each month is transferred to the church by GIRO..
So I asked her, why 10%?
10% seems a lot to me.. If on average, 1 person earns about $1.5K, so \"donate\" about $150 to church, then multiply by 30,000 people..
wow.. $4.5 million already!
Not to mention, only for 1 month.. if 1 year then $54 million... :yikes:
This amount is still recommended today by many churches. But of course this is voluntary, and beside there are other ways to give back to the church beside monetary contributions, e.g. serving in ministries, cooking refreshments, flower offerings, etc. The issue with CHC was that the church was quite strict in enforcing this 10% rule. Although yes technically it is voluntary, if you are in a CG, if you late or do not pay your tithe, there is emotional repercussions from your leaders and members if you get what I mean. -
Compulsory at 10%? This is a contribution or taxation?
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Read that he stay in orchard road and use the $ to fund his wife’s singing career…
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Dreamaurora:
If truly voluntary, then still ok, but I agree CHC seems to be rather strict in this aspect.
The 10% amount is based on an Old Testament practice of giving 10% of your produce. But bear in mind in that day's context, the tithe was not only used to maintain God's temple, but also for day to day running of the community i.e. your modern day income tax.
This amount is still recommended today by many churches. But of course this is voluntary, and beside there are other ways to give back to the church beside monetary contributions, e.g. serving in ministries, cooking refreshments, flower offerings, etc. The issue with CHC was that the church was quite strict in enforcing this 10% rule. Although yes technically it is voluntary, if you are in a CG, if you late or do not pay your tithe, there is emotional repercussions from your leaders and members if you get what I mean.
I then asked my colleague back, if earn only $100 still must give $10?
She said yes, to which I further questioned her, even if this $100 is just barely enough for daily necessities?
Then I asked, how about $1? Must give 10 cents still?
Then she remained silent.
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shinri:
Oh my, that's a different form of taxation!
If truly voluntary, then still ok, but I agree CHC seems to be rather strict in this aspect.Dreamaurora:
The 10% amount is based on an Old Testament practice of giving 10% of your produce. But bear in mind in that day's context, the tithe was not only used to maintain God's temple, but also for day to day running of the community i.e. your modern day income tax.
This amount is still recommended today by many churches. But of course this is voluntary, and beside there are other ways to give back to the church beside monetary contributions, e.g. serving in ministries, cooking refreshments, flower offerings, etc. The issue with CHC was that the church was quite strict in enforcing this 10% rule. Although yes technically it is voluntary, if you are in a CG, if you late or do not pay your tithe, there is emotional repercussions from your leaders and members if you get what I mean.
I then asked my colleague back, if earn only $100 still must give $10?
She said yes, to which I further questioned her, even if this $100 is just barely enough for daily necessities?
Then I asked, how about $1? Must give 10 cents still?
Then she remained silent. -
Unless you hold an office in the church, they will not check whether you tithe or not. Tithing means giving your first fruits to God and the least is 10%. If you can, you may tithe more just like Colgate founder who tithe 90% which we call reverse tithe. I didn’t tithe until many years after I become a Christian. It is voluntary and personal relevation. DS3 tithe more than 10% cos he rounds up to the nearest dollar. Deuteronomy 12v11 "then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the Lord." It’s not that God needs our money but we do it as a duty cos the money will be used for the various ministries. Malachi 3v8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!But you say,‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation. 10 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." Besides tithes, we give offerings but there’s no compulsion cos nobody knows how much you give. Besides money, e.g. doing church work is giving time to God. Once I feel uncomfortable, I won’t give. Pastor Kong Kee usually gives a short ‘sermon’ before collecting offerings which seems to ‘force’ you to give. I won’t go for that. As pastors and teachers they will be held responsible to God so we also can’t give the excuse that as funds are misused, we don’t give. I answer to God and let them answer to Him lor. -
Lilac66:
Reminder from our DPM, Mr Teo:CNA news
SINGAPORE: Five members of City Harvest Church (CHC), including its founder Pastor Kong Hee, have been arrested for alleged criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts of the church.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean has stressed that the charges filed by CAD are against the five individuals from the City Harvest Church regarding the use of church funds.
He said the charges are not filed against CHC itself and the church is free to continue its church services and activities.
Mr Teo added that CAD carries out investigations when it receives information that a criminal offence may have been committed.
CAD had previously investigated the National Kidney Foundation and Ren Ci.
- CNA/al/wm
- that the charges filed by CAD are against the five individuals from the City Harvest Church regarding the use of church funds, not against CHC itself
- that CHC is not the only institution being investigated, NKF & Ren Chi also had theirs before -
concern2:
Oh my, that's a different form of taxation![/quote]only if the church is hell bent on collecting the tithe. I am in a methodist church and although tithing is encouraged, no one will come to me with a pitchfork if I do not tithe. Sometimes I give more, sometimes I give less, but most importantly i give with a cheerful heart knowing that my money will be put to good use to further god's purpose such as maintaining church building, charity outreach, missions etc. The sad thing is some churches pervert the purpose of tithe and offerings, so you may hear someone give tithe because 'god is going to bless me back 10x financially' or out of peer pressure.
If truly voluntary, then still ok, but I agree CHC seems to be rather strict in this aspect.shinri:
[quote=\"Dreamaurora\"]
The 10% amount is based on an Old Testament practice of giving 10% of your produce. But bear in mind in that day's context, the tithe was not only used to maintain God's temple, but also for day to day running of the community i.e. your modern day income tax.
This amount is still recommended today by many churches. But of course this is voluntary, and beside there are other ways to give back to the church beside monetary contributions, e.g. serving in ministries, cooking refreshments, flower offerings, etc. The issue with CHC was that the church was quite strict in enforcing this 10% rule. Although yes technically it is voluntary, if you are in a CG, if you late or do not pay your tithe, there is emotional repercussions from your leaders and members if you get what I mean.
I then asked my colleague back, if earn only $100 still must give $10?
She said yes, to which I further questioned her, even if this $100 is just barely enough for daily necessities?
Then I asked, how about $1? Must give 10 cents still?
Then she remained silent. -
Guess it makes sense, since if you’ve asked for something, you ought to return in favor. It just beats me that there is actually a figure tagged to it, like 10%.
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