When I started my story I ended with having to give up my home. I had a large home, a beautiful home, but that isn't the ntcc way. . . . . well for the minions anyway. They require you give all you can and then they require more. I was preached at over and over because I was working. We finally agreed that I would give up my job of 7 1/2 years to be "Right with the Lord". Well I know now that wasn't what God said to do. They wanted me to be submissive and working sure wouldn't be the way to do it.
After quitting, I was encouraged to attend every service, go out during the week door knocking, go out on the weekend door knocking, go to women's studies and prayers, etc. If I didn't go, I needed to be seriously sick or in the hospital or dead. Otherwise, I was likened to a sinner. The pastor's wife always had a way of shaming you if you said I won't be able to make it today. Our schedule for the most part was: Monday night prayer, Tuesday morning women’s prayer & door knocking, Wednesday bible study, Thursday morning women’s prayer and likely more door knocking, then service followed by prayer, Friday was sometimes off and sometimes door knocking, prayer or something. We all know Saturday is more door knocking & church service and Sunday 2 services. Ok, even as a stay at home mom, is that not exhausting? That schedule was more than what a lot of churches were doing!
The person I was with at that time turned out to have more interest in children than he did adults so of course, he's in prison (this has been shared some on other blogs). I ended up back at work. While working, they still wanted me to keep the schedule (except during the day which I no longer could due to working). I'd get hit with tithe, offering, missions offering (which we also know they don't get all the funds we give to the missions) budget offering, offering for the traveling guests that always came and give some more . . . . give until it hurts because "ALL Christians pay tithe and give in offerings" and Gawd "Loves a cheerful giver". I’m not saying I don’t want to pay tithe and give in offerings but this was wrong!
So I’d like to reflect on what the bible says about a few things here: (NIV Provers 14:31) Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. (Or KJV says it like this: 31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.)
AND Provers 17:5 says this (KJV) Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
(NIV version: Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished).
Two things I want to share from these 2 verses – #1 we (or at least I felt so) like we were mocked for being poor (HELLO – THEY HAD ALL OUR MONEY)! And #2 they mocked the homeless people. They didn’t want us feeding the poor or giving anything to them. I always heard “We weren’t called to build no soup kitchen”. WELL back up – did you read these versus? Because there are more! And while you’re NOT building a soup kitchen, and while you are mocking the poor, did you read what came from the word of God above? Also, my bible tells us to go out into all the world and preach the gospel. It didn’t say to the rich, the wealthy, those who are willing to work hard and give you all their money. The poor and homeless deserve to hear the good Word as much as anyone else.
So they LOVE to use 2 Corinthians 9:7 about God loving a cheerful giver BUT what about 2 versus below? What about (2 Corinthians (9:9-15): 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (Or if NIV helps you here: 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!)
SO this shows me a couple of things - #1 in 2 Corinthians they willingly scattered what they had to the poor – up to the challenge ntcc folk? Why don’t you? How about you Mr. MCK – wanna give a bumb a ride in your car you bragged about to my son? No? You don’t want to be blessed by God? You Davis? You Olson? You see here it says they were blessed. You preached it and many believed it. And I do believe because those who had their faith in God where blessed but most had a false hope in ntcc. #2 others would be able to praise God if ntcc had faith and a heart to do the same. It says here in the scriptures ntcc likes to look over. They don’t want the poor, they don’t want to give to the needy because how would they have their mansions? This shows me their faith is in manna and not on God.
If you’re still in ntcc or hopcc, I hope and pray you’ll find hope and healing and realize God isn’t the way it is preached on you in these cults. God is a God of Love and mercy. Step out and reach out to any of us and let us help you. We will keep sharing our stories in hopes to help one more. He is waiting to have a real, loving relationship with you. We’re here to help you!
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And I have to add that I know this was something God wanted out there for someone to read. I started this Friday (I didn't really have time but felt the need. I didn't know where I was going to go with it but quickly ended up on the tithing and giving part and had to stop as I ran out of time). When I want to church this weekend (NOT ntcc) the topic had to deal with tithing. Now I must add they don't force it down your throat and it's only preached there maybe once every couple of years (I've been there 2 years and I haven't heard it before). Anyway, this confirmed I needed to finish this. And I really like how it was presented. He ended it with if you disagree, you go with what you feel is right in your heart (WHAT?!) He presented it as a challenge, if you don't tithe, test God and see. What a blessing this was and what a blessing it is to have such a man of God as a minister! I love the church I attend and I thank God for them!
And the pastor stated if you don't agree, if you don't give, they won't treat you different. Can any of you imagine that? God loves and treats us the same no matter what and a man of God would too?! Yes, God and the real men of God want you to do what is right and want to be there to help you along but they aren't going to stop loving you, shun you, brow beat you, preach down at you, etc. if you don't.
That's because salvation is a free gift. If you had to pay for it, it wouldn't be free. Nobody paid Jesus to go to the cross and die for our sins, but he offered himself willingly, not for one class of people, but "WHOSOEVER". Giving is a by-product of salvation and was never intended to be a prerequisite to going to heaven.
Now there are some very stingy people in the upper echelon of the ntcc. They will squeeze a nickel until the Buffalo moos. When they open their wallets, George Washington has to squint because he hasn't seen the light of day for a real long time. When's the last time you seen Davis or Olson peeling off a few twenties for a brother in need? Their to busy building their own personal kingdom.
If they really loved God they would lead by example and give something back to their community. They don't even have to go find a homeless person or a "bum" on the street. They have created a poverty class of their own. Most of the members in the ntcc are living way below the poverty level because they are broke all the time. They eat Ramen dinners and shop at kook stores. They budget themselves a small amount for groceries so that they can give in excess to the rich. In the ntcc, church members are doing the direct opposite of what the bible tells them to do. They are giving their money to the rich, not the poor.
You'd be much better off giving your money to a homeless person, or paying your tithe to a homeless shelter. When you give your money to the ntcc, you are supporting the very people that Jesus warns you to steer clear of. If giving your money to a rich hypocrite was a prerequisite to going to heaven, then Jesus would have taken up collections for the Pharisees, and there would have been no need to die on the cross. The ntcc does everything opposite to that which Jesus did and they wonder when the blessings will come.
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