Why I Will No Longer Pay Tithing

[_zeezrom]

The 1st commandment is to love God. That goes before loving other people. If God asks you to build investments in His name, what will you do to show your love according to the 1st command? Why, you would invest in a well diverse investment portfolio to grow capital of course!

[_why me]

But would you agree that the mall is taking it to another level? I can't think of another example of the prophet acting so blatantly like a salesman before.

The Mall is providing many jobs for people who need jobs. If you were working at the mall, you would be grateful for the mall. The mall has also provide people to open their own businesses. Not bad really. And downtown salt lake is not a blighted plot of land. At least, these people have their dignity in a time when work is in short supply.

Joseph, Christ's father was also a businessman. He owned a carpentry business and Jesus helped his father with the business.

[_why me]

Oh I don't know, His ways are not our ways and all that. In addition to hotels, God also does seem to take a peculiar interest in ship building. He even designed a functional wooden submarine. Amazing!

How many jobs are created by church investments and holdings? Many. I see no problem with job creation.

[_bcspace]

I have a hard time understanding why you paid tithing at all in the first place.

No crap. Why any of did is an unsolvable riddle.

Not at all. I know why I continue to pay tithing.

[_Drifting]

Not at all. I know why I continue to pay tithing.

So you can puruse the merchandise in Tiffney's whilst basking in the glow of knowing that you helped pay for it?

[_Bob Loblaw]

Not at all. I know why I continue to pay tithing.

Because you haven't figured out that you're being taken.

[_Cicero]

Joseph, Christ's father was also a businessman. He owned a carpentry business and Jesus helped his father with the business.

Ah yes, I guess that the various folks responsible for creating the four Gospels neglected to include the part where Jesus hawked wares for his Dad. I recently saw a King Tut exhibit and the heiroglyphics there inspired me to bring forth the following lost parable (let's call it Cicero Matthew 1):

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and asked each of them to find and hire the best carpenter in all of Palestine.

And each straightway took his journey.

The first servant travelled to Jerusalem and foolishly hired Joatham, who being a big city carpenter doth charge an exorbitant amount for his services.

The second servant travelled to Capernaum and foolishly hired Zorobabel without first checking Esther's List, which containeth many negative reports concerning Zorobabel and his shoddy furniture.

But the third servant was wise and travelled to Nazareth and hired Joseph and Sons Carpentry, which for over thirty years hath delivered the best quality furniture for the lowest prices.

After a time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

And the lord said unto the first servant: Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knowest that the carpenters in Jerusalem charge more than anywhere else. Thou oughtest therefore to have hired Joseph and Sons and carpentry, where thou wouldest have saved thirty percent during their annual Passover sale.

And the lord said unto the second servant: Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou hast delivered unto me chairs that causeth my ass to fall onto the floor when they breaketh under my girth, which doth bring forth a whole host of spinal and hemorrhoidal afflictions upon me. Thou oughtest therefore to have hired Joseph and Sons and carpentry, for behold, they doth have an A grade and Super Service Award on Esther's List.

And the lord said unto the third servant: Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hath indeed located the finest carpenter in Palestine. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

For all that shoppeth at Joseph and Sons carpentry shall have an abundance of high quality products at low prices, but those that shoppeth elsewhere shall be cast into outer darkness where there shall be weeping and wailing and an abundance of slivers forever and ever more, amen.

[Guest]

I see no problem with job creation.

You obviously didn't read my OP. I don't have a problem with the church investing in businesses per se or with job creation, but if you really think that job creation was the primary reason they poured billions of dollars into the mall, then I would like to talk to you about being in my downline in whatever MLM/Ponzi scheme happens to be hot in Utah at the moment.

[_Cicero]

I have a hard time understanding why you paid tithing at all in the first place.

I believe that my OP indicates an evolution of my thoughts and beliefs over time as new information has become available to me, which obviously is a difficult concept for you to understand.

[_Bob Loblaw]

I believe that my OP indicates an evolution of my thoughts and beliefs over time as new information has become available to me, which obviously is a difficult concept for you to understand.

bcspace seems to be about scoring cheap points, not about understanding.