Sep 18 2003

MODERATOR: I have recently heard figures reporting that church-giving in the USA has dropped by TWO-THIRDS just over the past year! That is an astounding decrease. Rick Joyner wrote recently: "There is presently a shocking malaise that has come over the church. A Gallup poll revealed that tithing was down nearly two-thirds in just the past year. Just two years ago, right after the 9-11 attacks, church attendance broke all records. Now it may be hitting its lowest levels per capita in United States history...."

Below is an email from California relating to this: ***********************************************************

From: "Tim Wirth" <nogoofyzone@hotmail.com>

I am now in California with the saints out here. People are really starting to exit the church buildings because as the economy gets tighter the offering money gets less and you hear the preachers really put the hammer down because many of them live very wealthy lifestyles which are now in danger.

I have also been dismayed at hearing preaching that suggests if we don't pay God He will not protect us. Now I believe you should give but Paul plainly set up the rules for the New Testament churches in I Corinthians 16 and 2 Cor 8-9. I think people see the pastor driving a Jag and they are having a hard time paying the light bill - and I think its a poor witness and I see this all through the Charismatic church. Plus where is God's grace in all this? There is a lot of the seed preaching that states if you want God to save your loved one you had better give God something to work with. Its funny (not really) but the original reason Martin Luther got ticked off at the church was because they were extorting money from the poor with claims of getting your loved one out of Purgatory etc. Same lie - different package. And it makes it tough for all the ministries that have good hearts and do good in the community because everyone is getting turned off from the church.

-Tim Wirth.