oldiesman

Actually, the thought of paying the tithe to insure protection from God came first from Dr. Wierwille, in Christians Should Be Prosperous. Here are some notable quotes: As long as the people tithed, they prospered in everything. When they withheld their tithe or tried to substitute second-rate offerings, when they became stingy with God and refused their rightful offerings to Him, they became afflicted, oppressed, diseased and defeated. Whatever our life's calling may be, we can prosper only as we return to God at least a tithe of all our increase. Then we have His divine protection as well as His manifold blessings. Tithing is our minimum financial insurance, health and accident insurance. Malachi 3:11 is not only for the farmer. The devourer for your sake will be rebuked too; he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, nor will he destroy anything else if you will stand on God's promise and claim it by saying, "In the name of Jesus Christ I claim these blessings, I claim this prosperity, I claim this goodness." You claim it with your mouth by believing it in your heart. Don't pray for prosperity if you don't tithe.Concerning the last quote, I believe everything works that VP said except the last sentence.

Have a nice weekend, everyone.

Yes, you're taking this too far... Do you have a Type A personality? Relax...

Why must it be run by TWI, why not run by the Wierwille's themselves? I would contribute to that, sure.

Rascal, you have a way about your writing that is very accusatory. As you may recall, I was commenting on Ginger's post about victim mentality and I conferred with her that it existed, then quoted something from Naomi Judd. You're taking this way too far. I'm just expressing an opinion. If there is such a thing as victim mentality and being a wound addict, and it doesn't apply to you, FANTASTIC! I'm very glad.

Oaks, had the statement been "I complied through fear", it would have been saying that that person, speaking for herself, complied through fear. By saying "we", it infers that all of us, every one of us, not just that person, complied through fear. That statement does not apply to me, at least not to any great extent, which was why I spoke up. Perhaps if folks would just relay their own experiences and not speak for others, we'd all understand each other better? I don't need folks to try to psycho-analyze what I experienced...I know myself what I experienced.

On second thought Tom, please keep quiet, ok? Perhaps you should take a break from Greasespot?...I will feel a whole lot better if you do. lol...

Tom, so then I should just be quiet when somebody says "we complied through fear ... " etc.? It's not a true statement from my viewpoint and doesn't apply to me, so should I just be quiet? That's what you're asking me to do. I don't want to beat a dead horse, but again state my viewpoint that I think the open exchange of ideas is best for everyone. What happens if, when somebody says something I don't like, I ask them to be quiet? lol...

Tom, like everyone else, I have significant time invested in TWI, and I'd like to continue to express my viewpoint about it. That's the best answer I can give you at this time.

Rascal, I view "spitting out the bones" as a good thing; you view it as a bad thing. Our experiences with TWI were so very different that I don't know if we'll ever have agreement whether TWI was a godly organization or a devilish organization. To be fair, I think it was both at the same time.

I think this is where they blow it. They should just offer the class to interested believers who have completed the other class requirements, like it was in TWI-1.

Zix, I'm not sure how more circumspectly i could express myself on this thread, except to just be quiet.

The open exchange of ideas is what Greasespot is all about. Sometimes things are said that cut into my heart like a knife, as well. But that's all part of participating in a public forum. No viewpoints are immune from scrutiny and examination. If that changes, I'm sure Pawtucket will let us know.

Abigail said: In other words, I should just be quiet and not express my viewpoint? OF COURSE it's up to others decisions. ALL I AM DOING is expressing a point of view.

Again, I think being manipulated by TWI, if one views it as such, is one's own perspective of how they viewed it then, and how they view it now. I don't think I ever allowed myself to be manipulated, at least to any great extent, and there's lots of folks like me. Here's what John Lynn said, which I tend to agree with:

I think this is too general a statement for everyone. Personally, for me, it doesn't apply. Experiences vary.

At one time, you could have been missing twig for months, and still attend the Advanced Class. No more.

I'm so glad I was never a part of TWI-2.

Mal 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Mal 3:9 Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.

"Christians Believe The Preposterous" but, in fairness I'll say that when I was involved in TWI-1, folks had the option not to tithe and still be around and get blessed. That happened to me for years.

Insurgent, I thought they changed and now don't bother folks who buy cars and houses?

Christians Continue To Believe The Preposterous

Yes, when you have some leisure time, go to the Barnes & Noble Self Improvement section and explore the reams of books on Self Improvement. Lot's of goodies there. If you think you're mentally ill, consult a physician and have a medical examination.

Steve, I do actually characterize CSBP as junk science. For instance, the series of tithing "laws" that are supposed to work with mathematical and scientific precision, are as follows: The Law of Prosperity God's Basic Law of Prosperity The Law Of Proportionate Giving God's Immutable Law of Prosperity God's Law of Supply The Law of Systematic Giving God's Absolute Minimum Law of Financial Liberty, Prosperity and Abundance The Proportionate Giving Principle The Law of the Renewed Mind Financially The Law of Receiving Prosperity

Linda Z, I still think victim mentality can be overcome, if someone who engages in it desires to overcome it. That's a big point of her book and why she's overcome. That's my vote, anyway.