Texas court rules against polygamist removals

Sam, show me a man that's not a victim of 'martial extortation' and I'll show you a single man.

And so that makes it OK for churches to pile on in marital extortion?

You'll have to go back and find me a post where I speak of marriage and the church Frank.

I'm not saying I haven't mentioned it but it's not been part my argument either for or against gay marriage.

After Donnies graduation, I'm taking them all out for dinner so you've got time.

Your comment about marital extortion next followed Sam's about church membership and tithes and "marital extortion". I supposed that it was related. But if not, and it was just the usual "thread drift", then I misunderstood.

If you can't read my post and get the gist of it, then you're getting old Frank.

We're all "getting" old, Aaron. Zig may have more experience at it, of course

SheikBen wrote:We're all "getting" old, Aaron. Zig may have more experience at it, of course

Now that's for sure, guys. And I feel it in my bones a little more every day.

But now my mind is almost as good as it ever was- I think- but I just can't remember for sure. Uh, what year is this, anyway?

Aaron wrote:Sam, show me a man that's not a victim of 'martial extortation' and I'll show you a single man.

AAAWWW ..... Aaron, .... now youse knows that the real honest-to-goodness 'martial extortation' doesn't kick into high gear until the hubby becomes a single man again.

But anyway Aaron, ..... you didn't address my reply to your comment, to wit:

SamCogar wrote:
And the son, .... actually the husband, ... had the choice to either donate that CONFIRMED 10% ..... or be denied Membership in the Church that his wife was a long time Member of.

Extortion by the Church, ........ or not?

.

Everything we do in life Sam has some form of extortation to it. Yes, the church 'extorts' for tithes, your job 'extorts' for job security, your social settings 'extort' for pleasure, and on and on and on.

As to that church, my first question would be, what's the demonination? I've been in a few different churches and seen a few different tatics. The one time I was ask if I tithed as God instructed, I responded to the questioner to ask God, he knew the answer. I was never offered membership to the church for some reason even though I attended for almost 4 years.

ziggy wrote:

SheikBen wrote:We're all "getting" old, Aaron. Zig may have more experience at it, of course

Now that's for sure, guys. And I feel it in my bones a little more every day.

But now my mind is almost as good as it ever was- I think- but I just can't remember for sure. Uh, what year is this, anyway?

Thursday, I think.

SheikBen wrote:

ziggy wrote:

SheikBen wrote:We're all "getting" old, Aaron. Zig may have more experience at it, of course

Now that's for sure, guys. And I feel it in my bones a little more every day.

But now my mind is almost as good as it ever was- I think- but I just can't remember for sure. Uh, what year is this, anyway?

Thursday, I think.

Thanks. But I had already figured it out when I realized that yesterday was October. So you see, I eventually get it right; it just takes a little longer than it use to.

It's like John Wilkes Boothe once told me, or was that Twain, or Hemingway ........................... ?

Why do I have a headache?

SamCogar wrote:

Aaron wrote:Sam, show me a man that's not a victim of 'martial extortation' and I'll show you a single man.

AAAWWW ..... Aaron, .... now youse knows that the real honest-to-goodness 'martial extortation' doesn't kick into high gear until the hubby becomes a single man again.

But anyway Aaron, ..... you didn't address my reply to your comment, to wit:

SamCogar wrote:
And the son, .... actually the husband, ... had the choice to either donate that CONFIRMED 10% ..... or be denied Membership in the Church that his wife was a long time Member of.

Extortion by the Church, ........ or not?

.

Such a church is unworthy of members.

I believe this is in direct contradiction to the Scriptures.

2 Corinthians 9:6 "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

In ancient Israel, the Tithe was a tax imposed by a Theolocracy that funded a host of governmental and religious functions. I am convinced that a flat tax of 10% on all income without exception would work in the United States. But at any rate, we do not function in a Theocracy and neither does the church necessarily administer social welfare programs (and I doubt very much that the offensive Baptist church being mentioned is terribly concerned with social welfare issues. I bet a dollar to a doughnt the phrase "let's not make this a better world to go to hell from" is bantered about regularly).

If a Christian wants to honor God with 10% and more I believe he or she does a wonderful thing that God will honor with a bountiful harvest (bounty in many ways, including financially). However, I do not believe that Christians should give under compulsion, and a church that tries to extort its members does a disservice to the whole Body of Christ and makes us look bad. The Gospel offends sinful humans--it is not wise for us to add our own petty offenses on top of it. The Gospel is necessary, our invented practices and rituals are not.

I can't speak for all Catholic parishes, but I was a member in 3 different ones in my adult life before leaving the church. Nobody ever spoke to me, or anyone else I know for that matter, about how much money I was donating.

They would ask if we wanted budget envelopes. They would ask for peldges to the annual Catholic Charity appeal. I collected for that for a few years. We were instructed to ask those on the list if they would consider making a single donation, or better yet to commit to a monthly pledge.