----- Original Message -----

From: C

To: bellringer@fourwinds10.com

Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 10:46 AM

Subject: church tithing

Hi Patrick, i enjoy all your update from day to day,i have a question, i like to know what is your wiew on the church tithing, i belong to a small church where to my point of wiew they mistreat the Pastor terribly, and i wonder if it is wrong for me not to pay the tithing like i suppose to, but unstead i help the Pastor when i see is utility are about to be cut or other poor soul who need something .I just joint this church and i see that they have plenty money to paid the church bills,also i feel that god do not use money. Please let me know what do you think about that. by the way i am in the prOgram,and i know i will help a lot of peoples and mother earth too . Peace &love C

(Response)

FROM: Patrick H. Bellringer

TO: C

DATE: July 14, 2006

SUBJECT: Reply

Dear C:

Thank you for your letter and question about church tithing.

The Bible repeatedly states that a tithe, meaning an amount equal to ten percent of your earnings, salary or profit, is to be given to the religious leaders (Old Testament), Pharisees and later "Church" (New Testament) or to the poor or to "God" whatever, that may mean. Please understand that the original Truth in the Bible has been twisted to mean whatever those in authority, who re-wrote the Bible, want it to mean.

Religion always sets rules to control their converts and, of course, to make money. All religions are in the money game, right down to your local parish, synagogue and church. Why would God set limits or requirements, depending upon your perspective of a tithe, on the amount of help you give. Nowhere in the 18 Laws of God and Creation, given to us by Creator God Aton of Light, is there a law pertaining to tithing.

Christianity has become so corrupt today as to assess an amount, such as in the Roman Catholic Church, that each family or each person must pay to the Church to remain members in good standing. The church hierarchy in some protestant churches, such as the United Methodist Church, assess each local church an "apportionment" fee, which the local church must pay to the Annual Conference to remain in good standing. This amount is beyond the local church's expenses and often creates a financial hardship for the members.

There is a stigma generally within Christianity that you are considered an outcast or a second class member, if you do not give at least ten percent of your income to the "church". It is interesting that Esu Immanuel responded to the "tithe" in a different way. In the Bible in Mark 12:41-44 we read: "And he (Esu Immanuel) sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which makes a penny. And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those, who are contributing to the treasury. For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living'."

Religion has always been a business based on money, power and control. The cathedrals, mosques, temples, and beautiful churches tower above the towns and landscapes as evidence of this. The hugh sums of money needed to build these structures could have been better used to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, and heal the sick, the true mission of the "people of God".

There are an increasing number of good people today, who are not a part of organized religion, but who are the true church in giving, loving and helping their fellowman. In this context the tithe is meaningless, for they do whatever it takes. I suggest that the clergy today need to get out into the work-a-day world, get a real job and support themselves and their families. The church buildings stand empty most of the time and are of little value to the community. This entire system would collapse, if people would stop supporting it, and choose instead to help their neighbor in need. Building communities of caring people ourselves, not paying someone to build bigger churches, will usher in our Golden Age of Peace.

In Love and Light,

Patrick H. Bellringer