FC (Functional Church) Ideas Part 2

Idea #3 is a touchy one. you might not want to keep reading, or do, it's up to you. But I warned you. Alright, so here it is...

#3 Tithing-The early church did not support pastors' salaries, huge buildings, operating costs, or programs. It wasn't until the 4th century under Constintine that Christian leaders began to advocate tithing as a Christian practice to support the clergy. But it did not become widespread until the 8th century (Pagan Christianity Ch. 9). So, 700 yrs after Christ we set up a tithing system to the clergy.

There has to be reform to the way our "tithing" system works because when you use it to pay pastors' salaries you are elevating their position above the rest of God's people, creating a clericial caste system. The Body is divided into those who have the knowledge and calling (clergy) and those who don't (layperson). The pastor and his staff become paid Christians, and cause the Church to fall into passive dependency on the "professionals".

Didn't Jesus do away with the old system (Heb 8:13) and bring in the new covenant? Isn't the priestly system done away with? Aren't we all priests (1 Pet2:5)? If Christians today became functioning priests in God's house, why would we need to pay church staffs??? Read that last line again.

Christians in the US give between $9-$11 billion dollars a year on church buildings (Barna Group). Buildings...What!? What if we actually used that money to give to the poor, the needy, the orphan and the widow? What kind of impact could we make on the world!

Just a thought...