House Church Talk - TITHING DROPPED BY TWO-THIRDS??

[jim pierceall]

>
> This, from a secret pal of the list ... I would be interested in seeing
> the original writer's sources.     --- David Anderson, mail forwarder
>

Couldn't support this report as having "legs" - from all of the building
that continues to go on around here....  O;>)

Maybe, tithes are down in the established IC's...  as their members run off
w/ visions to built new and improved barns...  With new titles for the newly
generated office holders...

Kind of reminds me of those missionaries that report all of those delicious
numbers of "converts", as they make their way across foreign lands...
Africa seems to be a favorite!  w/ more numbers than people... ha!

What shall we call it - "irrational exuberance"?  <wicked smile>

I remember being taken in by one very recognizable TV Star - Evangelist -
who very craftily framed his words w/ pictures, leading many to believe he
was really really ministering on the streets of Jerusalem...  Large crowd of
a meeting accompanying the script...  Large crowd singing songs, hands
raised in praise, speaker in white suit leading the converts...  Wow!  Who
could argue w/ those pictures???

Turned out to be a large TOUR of the Holy Lands that he hosted, as "tour
guide"...  He had but brought his own " reaffirming audience"...

On this actual tour (billed as ministry in Israel) - an obscure disciple
that was doing the real work, on the streets of Bethlehem, heard he was in
town. Hoping that maybe, as Paul on the Isle of Malta, could cause quite a
stir ?  One or two even small miracles, might really be an encouragement for
these "outcast brethren".  Thinking this would be super great for this
"notable" to come over and speak to the motley crew, that had taken on a
form of non-professional christian community, in this Palestinian town. -
17 or 18 actual - w/ 1 or 2 of those being Arafat plants to spy out, as to
what these Christians were about .

Anyway - when he finally reached him by telephone, the Star declined, saying
his agenda was rather full up - and referenced his "security detachment"
wasn't really trained for places like Bethlehem, where terrorist might cause
an international incident...  After-all TV Stars have to be careful...

Sorry I strayed from the original intent...

JimP - kentucky

Who was it said:  Figures don't lie, but all _____ tend to use them... ?
O;>)





> > 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:
> > ***********************************************************