What would you think? (Full Version)

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Gracebeliever -> What would you think? (7/17/2008 5:20:15 PM)

Is it possible for someone to be truly saved and have the heart of a miser? I say this because I know of a person who not only watches his money, but keeps records of every penny he has given to anyone, even his own children. Not that it's a bad thing, he is to be commended for that in a way for being careful and keeping a good record of his money but he is very stingy and puts money ahead of anything else.
When his elderly mother was still alive and living with him and his family, he made sure that she paid her share of the rent and gave him the exact amount back when he went to the store for her to by food or anything she needed. I heard him haggling over 30 cents she owed him. What really bothered me is that she also payed him her tithe (he's a preacher and she was a member of his church when still living) every week. He made sure of that. Everyone in his house had to pay him something. Of course he called it giving to the Lord. He gave his daughter a hard spanking once for spending money that he thought should go to paying bills. She was 16 at the time and living at home with her baby and used her money to buy the baby something it needed but he thought it should go to pay for their food and rent. (how would you like to have a dad like that?) Any way, that is just a few examples I have seen of this mans stinginess. I have also seen him take advantage of situations to get what he wanted and then act as if he was doing right with God. Can this person truly be a child of our gracious Lord who gives us freely all things to enjoy? He also hates the idea of salvation by grace alone as he loves the idea that he is earning his Salvation by his "good" works. By good works I mean doing things he thinks impresses God and his fellow man. Being a preacher, visiting the sick and doing funerals. I feel sorry for him for being the way he is but he has closed his heart to the idea that Salvation is a Free gift of God, Not of any works we can do.



Szaftoo -> RE: What would you think? (7/21/2008 11:37:58 AM)

I am replying to this post and some of your others and hope I don't offend.

It appears your life isn't as fulfilling as it could be because of the amount of time and energy you put into the affairs of others. This pastor may be out of line in how he handles his finances, but that is really none of your concern. If you feel there is a problem, pray for him and his family.

It's physically and mentally draining to spend time worrying about things you have no control over. Be satisfied with your own life and make it as good as possible.



OneJohn410 -> RE: What would you think? (7/21/2008 10:51:26 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Gracebeliever

Is it possible for someone to be truly saved and have the heart of a miser?


Yes. That's for God to determine, and everything is possible for Him.

quote:

(how would you like to have a dad like that?)


No thanks. There is a lot of debt being reported, however, and parents are a child's primary source for knowledge and direction after that received from God's Word, so an education about money from parents could be a gold mine in itself later in life.

quote:

Can this person truly be a child of our gracious Lord who gives us freely all things to enjoy?


Again, that's God's call. Others can love him, or hate him, yet I'm in no position to judge him.

quote:

He also hates the idea of salvation by grace alone as he loves the idea that he is earning his Salvation by his "good" works. By good works I mean doing things he thinks impresses God and his fellow man. Being a preacher, visiting the sick and doing funerals. I feel sorry for him for being the way he is but he has closed his heart to the idea that Salvation is a Free gift of God, Not of any works we can do.


You have certainly been blessed in being able to see a rightness and wrongness that perhaps others cannot see as easily, or can express as clearly. Discernment. The catchphrase hate the sin, love the sinner can get slapped on things like this. You may get a thousand replies of excommunicate him from the church! What a terrible pastor! from this site and they are not going to help you know what to do, think, or feel about this situation. Praying about it, and perhaps counseling with someone in town who can receive your observations in an unbiased and mature manner and talk with you about it may be the next thing to do. As the post before me pointed out, we don't know how this relates to you except that you know some of the family members and claim to have heard the things that trouble you.

Listen for the Lord- don't look to gain much strength from an anonymous bunch of folks about the properness of someone's salvation.

In Christ,
OneJohn410



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