59 replies to this topic

[BigDMcGee]

So this was in DN's "here's an awesome website to check out" and there was this new post, that I found to be hilarious.

Hello DN. I would love just to sit down and talk to you about a variety of issues. However that may never happen. So I have to do this in a very impersonal way, via "forum"

I am a Youth Pastor and have been for about 17 years now (recently resigned). This is actually none of my business but it has been heavy on my heart for a while now and I hope not to offend you in anyway.

You must remember "man looks on the outward" (1Sam. 16:7) so I don't know your heart.

There are two things that I hope you are doing, that I haven't heard or seen you speak about.

1. Are you going to church and being taught? (Heb. 10:25)

2. Are you paying your tithes? (Mal. 3:8)

As a CHRISTian I hate that you got divorced. Because God HATES divorce. (Mal 2:16)

I hope I am not over stepping my bounds, I just want to make sure I get to play you in a "big tournament" in heaven someday.

KODkid

p.s. I'll be in Vegas March 28-April 2

maybe we could sit and chat, if you could fit me in your schedule

The first thing he asks is, is DN going to church and being taught. And that's fine, I guess. A big part of being xian is finding a community and what ever.. but call me skeptical at this guy's intentions, I suspect he's trying to position himself into the ( lucrative) position as DN's personal spiritual adviser

then comes BANG question number 2, are you tithing. That's the second fcking thing you have to ask ,is DN caught up on his god tax. This tells me your heart and mind are right in the right place. jesus h christ, you don't even try to make it subtle, that's what I can't STAND about xianity, is the vast amount of sleaze ball preachers, that are essentially a cross between con men, beggars and mafia shake down artists, using God for spiritual extortion. I mean, couldn't you ask him how his day is, how his walk with christ is, something like that? YOu really have to hit up the tithing in the first thing you say to him? really?

then, he gets judgy and sanctimonious about the divorce. Religion has kept more people in more bad relationship ( not to mention oppressive and abusive ones). I see nothing what so ever that is moral about insisting that a person stay in a loveless marriage, an abusive marrige, a marriage where people cheat, or any other marriage where the people don't want to stay married. Why on earth is that right? because god says so? I didn't except that answer when my parents used it when I was seven, and I certainly don't accept that now.

and then, here's the real kicker " I hope I haven't overstepped my bounds (He hoped no such ****ing thing) I just want to make sure I play you in that " big tournament" in the sky.

Remember what I said about spirtual extortion? Case in point. Trying to guilt DN into paying his god tax, to make sure he makes it to heaven. Paulie Walnuts would be proud of that maneuver.

Then this douchebag has the gall to tell DN when he's going to be in vegas, and presumes that DN's going to give a shit about him, and will be eager to set up a meeting with him. Well, I can't speak for DN, but he's a professional gambler, so I'd hope he'd be able to spot a hustle when he sees one. He has too much class to say this, but I certainly don't. **** off you shyster douchebag. You give your religion a bad name.

[TheCinciKid]

Good post. This is the sort of thing that really annoys me about organized religion.

[BigDMcGee]

Good post. This is the sort of thing that really annoys me about organized religion.

thre are alot of good people in organized religion, and alot of good preachers who are doing, in their own misguided way, what they think is best, and do a great deal to make the world a better place.


but using emotional black mail to extort money out of people does not make the world a better place, and it's so sad. there's nothing I hate more than people who use religion as a con, who prey on the weak and the stupid, who prey on people's pain and fears. Being a Con man preacher, unfortunately, is an incredibly easy thing as unless you are exceptionally greedy and or stupid, you will never commit a crime. You will just beg and extort people's money from them, and not pay a nickel in taxes for the effort.

[TheCinciKid]

thre are alot of good people in organized religion, and alot of good preachers who are doing, in their own misguided way, what they think is best, and do a great deal to make the world a better place.
but using emotional black mail to extort money out of people does not make the world a better place, and it's so sad. there's nothing I hate more than people who use religion as a con, who prey on the weak and the stupid, who prey on people's pain and fears. Being a Con man preacher, unfortunately, is an incredibly easy thing as unless you are exceptionally greedy and or stupid, you will never commit a crime. You will just beg and extort people's money from them, and not pay a nickel in taxes for the effort.

I completely agree with everything you just said here. I'm certainly not condemning everyone who adheres to an organized religion, but I do have the same gripes that you seem to here.

[Balloon guy]

Titheing is not a money raising technique.

It is a way to keep money from being your master.

You can't outgive God. But you should also be wise in who you give it too.

I didn't see where this guy was asking for money himself, more making sure DN is doing something that in the Christian church is like taking a test to a college student. You should be expected to do this, if you are going to the school.

Your kneejerk reaction is understandable because many people do try to use God's plan of the tithe and use it for personal gain.

Do you really think they are going to get away with ripping off God?

Might want to stick to stealing from drug dealers and pimps, they can only kill you.


At the end of the day, being a generous person, and obeying God's plan for your life regarding money is way +EV. 10 percent goes to God, the rest you need to be responsible with. But never let money be your master, you cannot serve two masters.

[speedz99]

Titheing is not a money raising technique.

But it can be used that way by assholes, and I'm sure you know that.

The post looks suspicious to me, but I suppose there's a chance that it's just some random nutjob who really is just looking to save DN's soul, not search his pockets.

[BigDMcGee]

Titheing is not a money raising technique.

It is a way to keep money from being your master.

You can't outgive God. But you should also be wise in who you give it too.

I didn't see where this guy was asking for money himself, more making sure DN is doing something that in the Christian church is like taking a test to a college student. You should be expected to do this, if you are going to the school.

Your kneejerk reaction is understandable because many people do try to use God's plan of the tithe and use it for personal gain.

Do you really think they are going to get away with ripping off God?

Might want to stick to stealing from drug dealers and pimps, they can only kill you.
At the end of the day, being a generous person, and obeying God's plan for your life regarding money is way +EV. 10 percent goes to God, the rest you need to be responsible with. But never let money be your master, you cannot serve two masters.

Okay, All valid points. I just question the sincerity of a guy who comes into a thread that has exactly zero to do with tithing, and immediately starts asking dn about it, and starts in with the spiritual extortion. Call me a cynic, but anyone who starts talking about god, and without taking a breath starts talking about giving money, well.. I find that person highly suspect.

[kodkid]

So this was in DN's "here's an awesome website to check out" and there was this new post, that I found to be hilarious.
The first thing he asks is, is DN going to church and being taught. And that's fine, I guess. A big part of being xian is finding a community and what ever.. but call me skeptical at this guy's intentions, I suspect he's trying to position himself into the ( lucrative) position as DN's personal spiritual adviser

then comes BANG question number 2, are you tithing. That's the second fcking thing you have to ask ,is DN caught up on his god tax. This tells me your heart and mind are right in the right place. jesus h christ, you don't even try to make it subtle, that's what I can't STAND about xianity, is the vast amount of sleaze ball preachers, that are essentially a cross between con men, beggars and mafia shake down artists, using God for spiritual extortion. I mean, couldn't you ask him how his day is, how his walk with christ is, something like that? YOu really have to hit up the tithing in the first thing you say to him? really?

then, he gets judgy and sanctimonious about the divorce. Religion has kept more people in more bad relationship ( not to mention oppressive and abusive ones). I see nothing what so ever that is moral about insisting that a person stay in a loveless marriage, an abusive marrige, a marriage where people cheat, or any other marriage where the people don't want to stay married. Why on earth is that right? because god says so? I didn't except that answer when my parents used it when I was seven, and I certainly don't accept that now.

and then, here's the real kicker " I hope I haven't overstepped my bounds (He hoped no such ****ing thing) I just want to make sure I play you in that " big tournament" in the sky.

Remember what I said about spirtual extortion? Case in point. Trying to guilt DN into paying his god tax, to make sure he makes it to heaven. Paulie Walnuts would be proud of that maneuver.

Then this douchebag has the gall to tell DN when he's going to be in vegas, and presumes that DN's going to give a shit about him, and will be eager to set up a meeting with him. Well, I can't speak for DN, but he's a professional gambler, so I'd hope he'd be able to spot a hustle when he sees one. He has too much class to say this, but I certainly don't. **** off you shyster douchebag. You give your religion a bad name.

First I would like to thank you for starting a post about me. Obviously I am not someone that should just be dismissed and forgotten about, but rather struck a chord with you and made you really want to show your disdain.

I made a poor choice of words when I said "I hate that you..." what I should have said is that it saddens me. I wasn't being judgmental.

You must also remember, for the second time, I didn't ask him for any money.

And also those were not my thoughts on the issues. I did put the scripture reference.

And I must also remind you that the post wasn't addressed to you, so I wouldn't expect you to understand it.

I'm not sure why you hate me so much and attack my character and integrity. But you have a right to your opinion and I will respect that.

Have a good day (since you won't let me say "God Bless",
Kodkid

[kodkid]

I completely agree with everything you just said here. I'm certainly not condemning everyone who adheres to an organized religion, but I do have the same gripes that you seem to here.

Yes, there have been some "preachers" that have given others a very bad name. Not everyone is out for pure financial gain like Robert Tilton and others.

But for every bad one there are 500 genuine ones.

[BigDMcGee]

First I would like to thank you for starting a post about me. Obviously I am not someone that should just be dismissed and forgotten about, but rather struck a chord with you and made you really want to show your disdain.

I made a poor choice of words when I said "I hate that you..." what I should have said is that it saddens me. I wasn't being judgmental.

You must also remember, for the second time, I didn't ask him for any money.

And also those were not my thoughts on the issues. I did put the scripture reference.

And I must also remind you that the post wasn't addressed to you, so I wouldn't expect you to understand it.

I'm not sure why you hate me so much and attack my character and integrity. But you have a right to your opinion and I will respect that.

Have a good day (since you won't let me say "God Bless",
Kodkid

No, you did not ask for money. You did ask for a meeting with a person you know exactly not at all, after you'd posted on his website a grand total of 10 times, very presumptions. Forgive me if bringing up tithing in a thread that has exactly nothing to do with it, and then being sure to point out that you're just trying to make sure he gets to heaven, seems, I dunno, more than a little suspect to me.

And please, don't patronize me, I know the post wasn't addressed to me, I understand it just fine.

[Balloon guy]

Okay, All valid points. I just question the sincerity of a guy who comes into a thread that has exactly zero to do with tithing, and immediately starts asking dn about it, and starts in with the spiritual extortion. Call me a cynic, but anyone who starts talking about god, and without taking a breath starts talking about giving money, well.. I find that person highly suspect.

For sure there are many people out for the money.

Many get corrupted by the money.

But from my side, Jesus' story about the widows mite is the best thing to remember about, it's not the money, it's the heart.

And the guy responded about not wanting the money for himself. Had he then I too would have been suspicious, but comeon, you really think DN had his checkbook out and was asking Patty to fill it out for him to give this guy moola?

I had a pastor that once had to deal with a few very wealthy people that asked him about giving some serious money to God. He told both of them that the first thing is that they would not be allowed to give any money to him or his church. He knew that they could get to feeling they were being conned so he closed that door right away. I always respected him for knowing that and doing what he did. this is the type of people that God picks to lead His church. Some get pulled into the love of money or sex, but most are good souls.

[BigDMcGee]

For sure there are many people out for the money.

Many get corrupted by the money.

But from my side, Jesus' story about the widows mite is the best thing to remember about, it's not the money, it's the heart.

And the guy responded about not wanting the money for himself. Had he then I too would have been suspicious, but comeon, you really think DN had his checkbook out and was asking Patty to fill it out for him to give this guy moola?

I had a pastor that once had to deal with a few very wealthy people that asked him about giving some serious money to God. He told both of them that the first thing is that they would not be allowed to give any money to him or his church. He knew that they could get to feeling they were being conned so he closed that door right away. I always respected him for knowing that and doing what he did. this is the type of people that God picks to lead His church. Some get pulled into the love of money or sex, but most are good souls.

No, I don't think DN had his cheekbook out at all, I just find guys like kool to be distasteful, and was voicing my scorn.

Your pastor was a good guy for doing that. Better than say, the catholic church.

[Southern Buddhist]

For me, it's not the money angle at all. It's the up-in-your-face-ness and the complete invasion of privacy. Christians are supposed to lead by example and by sterling character, not by barging into your life, inviting themselves over, and asking deeply personal questions, and then excusing that otherwise inexcusable behavior with "I was just worried about your soul." I wish more Christians would grasp the fact that if you're talking to someone about God and they DID NOT ask you about it, you're not saving their souls. You're just annoying them, and probably lowering their general opinion of Christians to boot.

"You don't understand..." I think we all read English here. We understood fine. As BigD said, don't patronize us. "Hamlet" wasn't addressed to me personally, but I understand it.

"God HATES divorce." [But he apparently loves concubines, since there are so many of them in the bible.] I think Daniel might own a copy of the Bible. And hey, he knows how to read, too. So let him read it himself and spare us the God-ventriloquist act.

Just as a final vent, I am blissfully immune to this, since I'm not a christian, but it seems they reserve their absolute nosiest nitpicking for each others' souls. It's never, hey, you're a believer? Great, way to go! See ya in heaven, I'll be the one with the harp. No, it's always, you're a believer? what's your sect? what are you being taught ('cause whatever it is, I'll tell you why it's wrong)? do you tithe? you're not divorced or anything, are you, 'cause that's just plain evil? you're probably not doing it right, let me talk at you for hours and tell you why.

Hell's bells, if I did believe in Christ, I'd still convert -- just to get away from his other followers!

[BigDMcGee]

That's why if any obnoxios born again asks me if I'm xian, I say yes,, i was raised baptist, so it's easy for me to fake. there were these two guys from my high school. Well, really from my juinor high, they dropped out of high school pretty quick. they wer ethe biggest douche bag loser drug using fighting horrible white trash dudes i knew. Just crusing for a life time of low level crime nad what ever. Well, apparently they took acid one time, saw the devil, and instantly converted to xianity. And not just like a normal kind, but an obnoxious street preaching kind. I was happy for them, because a choice between a life of a degenerate criminal, and a life of an obnoxious street preacher is still an easy choice. But I literally couldn't believe it, when I heard it, I was away at college when I heard. So for a couple years, when ever I was home, I'd always be secretly hoping to run into them, just to see it for myself. At this point, I was pretty much an atheist. So I did run into them.. they made a big deal of appologizing to me for being dicks (Which they were, but they'd never really done anything to me) and then they asked me if I was born again, and I assured them I was, and they said it must be hard to be a psychology major in a secular college, and keep the faith, and I said it was, but the lord is my strength, and we shook hands, and god blessed, and I was laughing about it for years to come, telling that story to every person I ran into in college. It would be like, if Spicoli had a really violent streak and was penchant for petty crimes, and finding out that spicoli was born again. The reason I lied, is these guys were super gun ho, like they yelled at high school graduations, telling people they were going to hell, super fire and brimstone stuff. Ididn't need the harass, I didn't need to be yelled at.

For me, it's not the money angle at all. It's the up-in-your-face-ness and the complete invasion of privacy. Christians are supposed to lead by example and by sterling character, not by barging into your life, inviting themselves over, and asking deeply personal questions, and then excusing that otherwise inexcusable behavior with "I was just worried about your soul." I wish more Christians would grasp the fact that if you're talking to someone about God and they DID NOT ask you about it, you're not saving their souls. You're just annoying them, and probably lowering their general opinion of Christians to boot.

"You don't understand..." I think we all read English here. We understood fine. As BigD said, don't patronize us. "Hamlet" wasn't addressed to me personally, but I understand it.

"God HATES divorce." [But he apparently loves concubines, since there are so many of them in the bible.] I think Daniel might own a copy of the Bible. And hey, he knows how to read, too. So let him read it himself and spare us the God-ventriloquist act.

Just as a final vent, I am blissfully immune to this, since I'm not a christian, but it seems they reserve their absolute nosiest nitpicking for each others' souls. It's never, hey, you're a believer? Great, way to go! See ya in heaven, I'll be the one with the harp. No, it's always, you're a believer? what's your sect? what are you being taught ('cause whatever it is, I'll tell you why it's wrong)? do you tithe? you're not divorced or anything, are you, 'cause that's just plain evil? you're probably not doing it right, let me talk at you for hours and tell you why.

Hell's bells, if I did believe in Christ, I'd still convert -- just to get away from his other followers!

[Balloon guy]

That's why if any obnoxios born again asks me if I'm xian, I say yes,, i was raised baptist, so it's easy for me to fake. there were these two guys from my high school. Well, really from my juinor high, they dropped out of high school pretty quick. they wer ethe biggest douche bag loser drug using fighting horrible white trash dudes i knew. Just crusing for a life time of low level crime nad what ever. Well, apparently they took acid one time, saw the devil, and instantly converted to xianity. And not just like a normal kind, but an obnoxious street preaching kind. I was happy for them, because a choice between a life of a degenerate criminal, and a life of an obnoxious street preacher is still an easy choice. But I literally couldn't believe it, when I heard it, I was away at college when I heard. So for a couple years, when ever I was home, I'd always be secretly hoping to run into them, just to see it for myself. At this point, I was pretty much an atheist. So I did run into them.. they made a big deal of appologizing to me for being dicks (Which they were, but they'd never really done anything to me) and then they asked me if I was born again, and I assured them I was, and they said it must be hard to be a psychology major in a secular college, and keep the faith, and I said it was, but the lord is my strength, and we shook hands, and god blessed, and I was laughing about it for years to come, telling that story to every person I ran into in college. It would be like, if Spicoli had a really violent streak and was penchant for petty crimes, and finding out that spicoli was born again. The reason I lied, is these guys were super gun ho, like they yelled at high school graduations, telling people they were going to hell, super fire and brimstone stuff. Ididn't need the harass, I didn't need to be yelled at.

You ever meet a former smoker?

I know many people that I am embarressed that they are in the fold.

But I had a guy once make a great point. We shouldn't be comparing them with others, we should be comparing them before Christ and after.

According to your own words they are better off. But they are still annoying. But they were annoying before, so they are better for the change?

Doesn't mean you have to want to be their buddy, but I'm sure you see the point.

I personally will never join Rotary, cause they recruit and one of the guys was really over the top in getting me to join. Made me uncomfortable. Sure they cured Polio, but what have they done lately?

[BigDMcGee]

You ever meet a former smoker?

I know many people that I am embarressed that they are in the fold.

But I had a guy once make a great point. We shouldn't be comparing them with others, we should be comparing them before Christ and after.

According to your own words they are better off. But they are still annoying. But they were annoying before, so they are better for the change?

Doesn't mean you have to want to be their buddy, but I'm sure you see the point.

I personally will never join Rotary, cause they recruit and one of the guys was really over the top in getting me to join. Made me uncomfortable. Sure they cured Polio, but what have they done lately?

They were much worse than annoying before, they were low level criminals that were on the fast track to being violent criminals.
No, I absolutely am glad they are born again, they needed it, their life was headed to the sewers. I talked to two different frineds about this, one that was christian, and the other was agnostic. They both didn't like their conversion, the religios friend thought they were down a false path, and my agnostic friend thought they were annoying and intrusive. To my xian friend, I said" Hey , they were headed to hell anyway.. at least they got a shot now.. they are living much better than they were" to ehich he reluctantly agreed. To my agnostic friend, I said "hey, better off on the street corner than stealing my car stereo, or in jail were we have to pay for them. They are annoying now, but annoying is better than criminal.

I'm all for any way a criminal can trick his mind into wanting not to be a criminal, be it psychology, religion, a 12 step program, or fear of prison.

[Loismustdie]

For me, it's not the money angle at all. It's the up-in-your-face-ness and the complete invasion of privacy. Christians are supposed to lead by example and by sterling character, not by barging into your life, inviting themselves over, and asking deeply personal questions, and then excusing that otherwise inexcusable behavior with "I was just worried about your soul." I wish more Christians would grasp the fact that if you're talking to someone about God and they DID NOT ask you about it, you're not saving their souls. You're just annoying them, and probably lowering their general opinion of Christians to boot.

"You don't understand..." I think we all read English here. We understood fine. As BigD said, don't patronize us. "Hamlet" wasn't addressed to me personally, but I understand it.

"God HATES divorce." [But he apparently loves concubines, since there are so many of them in the bible.] I think Daniel might own a copy of the Bible. And hey, he knows how to read, too. So let him read it himself and spare us the God-ventriloquist act.

Just as a final vent, I am blissfully immune to this, since I'm not a christian, but it seems they reserve their absolute nosiest nitpicking for each others' souls. It's never, hey, you're a believer? Great, way to go! See ya in heaven, I'll be the one with the harp. No, it's always, you're a believer? what's your sect? what are you being taught ('cause whatever it is, I'll tell you why it's wrong)? do you tithe? you're not divorced or anything, are you, 'cause that's just plain evil? you're probably not doing it right, let me talk at you for hours and tell you why.

Hell's bells, if I did believe in Christ, I'd still convert -- just to get away from his other followers!

Maybe stop being such a baby? I can't rememeber the scripture but there is one that is close.

[Loismustdie]

For me, it's not the money angle at all. It's the up-in-your-face-ness and the complete invasion of privacy. Christians are supposed to lead by example and by sterling character, not by barging into your life, inviting themselves over, and asking deeply personal questions, and then excusing that otherwise inexcusable behavior with "I was just worried about your soul." I wish more Christians would grasp the fact that if you're talking to someone about God and they DID NOT ask you about it, you're not saving their souls. You're just annoying them, and probably lowering their general opinion of Christians to boot.

"You don't understand..." I think we all read English here. We understood fine. As BigD said, don't patronize us. "Hamlet" wasn't addressed to me personally, but I understand it.

"God HATES divorce." [But he apparently loves concubines, since there are so many of them in the bible.] I think Daniel might own a copy of the Bible. And hey, he knows how to read, too. So let him read it himself and spare us the God-ventriloquist act.

Just as a final vent, I am blissfully immune to this, since I'm not a christian, but it seems they reserve their absolute nosiest nitpicking for each others' souls. It's never, hey, you're a believer? Great, way to go! See ya in heaven, I'll be the one with the harp. No, it's always, you're a believer? what's your sect? what are you being taught ('cause whatever it is, I'll tell you why it's wrong)? do you tithe? you're not divorced or anything, are you, 'cause that's just plain evil? you're probably not doing it right, let me talk at you for hours and tell you why.

Hell's bells, if I did believe in Christ, I'd still convert -- just to get away from his other followers!

Maybe stop being such a baby? I can't rememeber the scripture but there is one that is close.

[herokid7]

Been away awhile...new job, more classes, yada, yada. Here's my take on this thread. I don't like the way Kod posted that either. I recently blogged on Myspace (link at bottom of page, hit me up for an add if you want to read it) that I don't call other people's sins out unless I'm asked my opinion on what is they are doing. Because:

1. If I don't have that person's respect they won't listen to me anyway, a relationship is needed before you can really show someone the wrong in what they are doing and have them actually think about what you said and possibly agree with you.

2. Jesus said before you remove the speck out of your brother's eye, remove the log from your own. In other words, focus on your faults not other people's.

Having said all that, if Kod had posed those questions to me I would have felt insulted, as a Christian. I would've also found it annoying because a simple look through DN's blog archives would've shown that he has talked about those things before. And to me Kod's post did seem like it was a way for him to just try and meet DN. So, no, I didn't like the way he went about that post.

As for the whole money thing, I think Balloon Guy hit the nail on the head. Titheing is a requirement for Christians. Not because the church or any preacher said so, but because God said so. No church that I'm aware of will kick you out if you choose not to tithe. That's your decision, to obey God or not. And of course many preachers steal from God, when they take more out of the collection than they are allowed, and many more try to become rich off of God's name by selling all that crap you see on TV. But, I'm pretty sure those guys will get what is coming to them. See, most Christians live by the "reap what you sow" thing. Which can be a positive thing or a negative thing. If you sow a lot of bad things, well you'll reap bad things, sow good things, reap good things. It's just the Christian version of karma, really. Here's one thing I know, the people I know that are good tithers, seem always to have enough to take care of themselves, and at times they don't, it always seems like something happens that enables them to take care of themselves. A guy at my church claims that he was out of work and he felt like God asked him to give a girl who needed money for school his last $200. He obeyed God, and wondering what he was going to do for money now, went home. On his answering machine was a man calling for him to do a job for him that paid $10,000. That's reaping what you sow in action.

And to the OP, I hope you know that Christians don't mind if you hate preachers....most Christians hate preachers, too. Hell, I hate preachers and I'm one of them. But, until you have met EVERY preacher, I mean EVERY ONE, let's try not to group them all together...that's what we call stereotyping.

[BigDMcGee]

Been away awhile...new job, more classes, yada, yada. Here's my take on this thread. I don't like the way Kod posted that either. I recently blogged on Myspace (link at bottom of page, hit me up for an add if you want to read it) that I don't call other people's sins out unless I'm asked my opinion on what is they are doing. Because:

1. If I don't have that person's respect they won't listen to me anyway, a relationship is needed before you can really show someone the wrong in what they are doing and have them actually think about what you said and possibly agree with you.

2. Jesus said before you remove the speck out of your brother's eye, remove the log from your own. In other words, focus on your faults not other people's.

Having said all that, if Kod had posed those questions to me I would have felt insulted, as a Christian. I would've also found it annoying because a simple look through DN's blog archives would've shown that he has talked about those things before. And to me Kod's post did seem like it was a way for him to just try and meet DN. So, no, I didn't like the way he went about that post.

As for the whole money thing, I think Balloon Guy hit the nail on the head. Titheing is a requirement for Christians. Not because the church or any preacher said so, but because God said so. No church that I'm aware of will kick you out if you choose not to tithe. That's your decision, to obey God or not. And of course many preachers steal from God, when they take more out of the collection than they are allowed, and many more try to become rich off of God's name by selling all that crap you see on TV. But, I'm pretty sure those guys will get what is coming to them. See, most Christians live by the "reap what you sow" thing. Which can be a positive thing or a negative thing. If you sow a lot of bad things, well you'll reap bad things, sow good things, reap good things. It's just the Christian version of karma, really. Here's one thing I know, the people I know that are good tithers, seem always to have enough to take care of themselves, and at times they don't, it always seems like something happens that enables them to take care of themselves. A guy at my church claims that he was out of work and he felt like God asked him to give a girl who needed money for school his last $200. He obeyed God, and wondering what he was going to do for money now, went home. On his answering machine was a man calling for him to do a job for him that paid $10,000. That's reaping what you sow in action.

And to the OP, I hope you know that Christians don't mind if you hate preachers....most Christians hate preachers, too. Hell, I hate preachers and I'm one of them. But, until you have met EVERY preacher, I mean EVERY ONE, let's try not to group them all together...that's what we call stereotyping.

i hate any preacher who preaches about tithing, and any preacher who passes around a collection plate, hows that? As long as preachers as conning people I will hate them. and it doesn't matter to me if they are conning themselves or not along with their flock. I hate you, and your innane propoganda posts.