Let's consider tithe for a moment here. I'm not writing this article to defend or refute the doctrine of compulsory tithing. Some folks believe that tithing is a New Testament biblical mandate while others maintain that there is no New Testament scriptural evidence to validate such assertions. Either way, people will believe what they believe and that is not going to stop. What we do know is that the New Testament Christian Church leadership teaches that if you don't pay tithe, you are certainly going to hell when you die. Where this article is concerned, I'm fine with that assertion.So lets look at who the New Testament Christian Church leadership teaches that you should pay tithe to? The pastor of your church, am I right? In the Old Testament, the children of Israel payed tithe to the Levites because they weren't otherwise given an inheritance by the Lord. That seems to be the model that the NTCC has adopted. Having said that I have a few questions. Who does RWD and Kekel pay tithe to? I doubt Kekel writes out a tithe check and gives it to RWD so lets assume Kekel and RWD make tithe checks out to New Testament Christian Church INC, a Missouri Corporation, and lets assume that the checks are deposited into a corporate account in Graham or St. Louis. OK, I'm find with that. Well who controls the money in that account? That's easy, RWD. And what do you suppose that money is spent on? Whatever RWD wants to spend it on. The extremely nice RVs he enjoys, more rental properties? Maybe the property that he had previously placed in the NTCCs name and gifted to the Kekels? I don't know and neither do you (unless you are RWD or Kekel) but it gets spent on something, and for certain that something is a direct benefit to RWD and Kekel? New song books or nice pews for the chapel in "GRAHAM". Upgrades to all the NTCC property in "GRAHAM". We don't know because contrary to the way money is meticulously monitored in the NTCC satellite churches, there is no financial transparency or system of checks and balances in Graham. Do you suppose tithe money sent to Graham from Atlanta or Ft. Hood was used for the church in Atlanta or the church Fort Hood for example? Of course not so that brings about my next question.
If RWD and Kekel basically pay tithe to themselves i.e. to accounts which they have control of, why don't other NTCC pastors do the same? Davis is not a Levite or a son of Aaron so why pay him tithe when you are the pastor of your own church? Because he is the quote, "senior apostle"? Where in the Bible does it say to pay tithe to the "senior apostle"? Certainly not in 2 Corinthians because Paul, (who was the senior Apostle) physically present with the church in Corinth for 1 1/2 years, (Acts 18:11) didn't accept a dime from that church and more importantly he refused to, (2 Cor 11:9). So if the church in Corinth was not required to pay Paul tithe and Paul was right there with the Corinthians ministering for 1 1/2 years, why do you NTCC pastors send your tithe to Graham Washington to be controlled by RWD who doesn't minister to you at all? Come on let's be real, you might even talk to the guy maybe once every 6 months if that?
So here is my point and please NTCC Pastors, be open minded. Why do you send tithe to Graham when Kekel/RWD and the NTCC INC have their own "church" accounts which are supposedly funded by their tithe, their church members tithe and the tithe from ministers who live there? RWD wouldn't fund someone else's church in a million years so why do you? Your tithe should stay in your own church account that you and your church have control of. That way you wouldn't have to call Graham to ask permission to buy this or buy that and you wouldn't have to ask permission to spend more than $50. RWD would never do that so why do you? I know the answer the NTCC leadership gives because I've been told this by NTCC leaders. You NTCC pastors don't have control of the money that you bring into your church because the NTCC leadership doesn't trust you! Ok that's fine but conversely, why should you trust them to do right by the money that you send to Graham when you could just keep it right in your church? Trust is a two way street Brother!!! You can't say that keeping your tithe money in your church is wrong, from a doctrinal standpoint because that is exactly what RWD and Kekel does. They wouldn't control my escrow account either, not for one second, but that is a "slightly" different subject. Once you become a pastor, your tithe should stay in your church, period. If you want to make sure that your tithe is given as unto the Lord, then deposit it into an account that will only be used to purchase things for YOUR church or to be used as charity for the poor, fatherless or widow just like the Apostles did in 1 Cor 16 and Romans 15:26.
If I were an NTCC pastor, there is no way on God's green earth that I'm taking any of the money that my church members gave in good faith and send it to Graham Washington so the Kekel's can use it to get another mansion when the first one they had wasn't good enough. You NTCC pastors are getting duped.
Chief
227 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 227 of 227Anonymous asked...
What was the purpose for such expensive rings? To be seen and noticed? Why else do you opt for such nice diamonds? His ring has big diamonds also.
Chief said...
Ramirez would preach you under the pew for wearing jewelry but he has a wedding ring loaded with diamonds. Anonymous was right. What is the point in all those diamonds? To be noticed, plain and simple!!! Hey, I have diamonds in my ring as well and I wanted diamonds for a reason. So the ring would stand out; BLING pure and simple. Why else do you get diamonds? Why not a plain little wedding band if it's only about a symbol? The difference between me and Ramirez and between me and all the rest of those hypocrite NTCC preachers is that I'm not the one preaching against jewelry while simultaneously going out to purchase a big fat diamond or diamond cluster ring like Ramirez or Mayers. I'm not the big fat jerk like RWD who in conference blasted and humiliated two sisters openly who unwittingly came to conference with jewelry but RWD the jerk won't say a word to Ramirez or Mayers about their "BLING".
Nothing but a bunch of double standards as usual in the NTCC. And "for crying out loud", if it's ok to have a nice wedding set, "for crying out loud" it's ok to wear other jewelry such as other rings or a necklace. You can't pick and chose what the scripture means. Is it Ok to wear broaches that have jewels? I see plenty of sisters sporting those! What about jewels in your shoes? I've seen those in the NTCC also! Y'all NTCCers are hypocrites who advocate wearing these bling rings but say it's a sin to wear a necklace or other finger rings.
Chief
You have to wonder where does an ntcc minister get that kind of money to buy nice jewelry like that? That kind of money doesn't grow on trees, does it? Does tithe and offering money go towards rings like that? I thought that tithe and offerings went towards the work of God. Hmmm, I can't imagine an ntcc minister working a job and saving that kind of money to spend on rings. Why would you display a picture like that on your facebook page, anyway? So that your flock knows what they are being fleeced for?
If Joe Shmoe and his wife had rings like that, I'd say, "Good for them". They aren't preaching at people day in and day out, telling them to pay tithe or burn in hell. I think that ntcc preachers and their wives have serious delusions about what Christianity is all about.
I spent a year with the Ramirezes and there definitely was some good memories. I don't hold any grudge against them or any other ntcc preacher but when you look back on the whole experience, you see how wrong it all was. I hope one day they will find their way to freedom. I know that while I was in, I had a defensive attitude and would have defended them for having a nice wedding set. That's how we were in the ntcc. We accepted the wedding ring exception without questioning it. There were so many things that were cut and dry with no wiggle room whatsoever. We witnessed folks being raked over the coals for little things and overlooked the double standards. To be fair to the Ramirezes, perhaps the rings were purchased with inheritance money or something of that nature that we do not know about. That doesn't make wearing rings like this right, when you know good and well that if a regular church member showed up with a necklace on, they would get blasted. What's the difference?
We hold out hope that more preachers and members will leave the ntcc when they wake up to the double standards. There are many exceptions that the ntcc makes to what they call biblical teachings. Here is a list of a few that come to mind:
1. Prejudice - The n-word is exception to policy it is used by RWD and others. But they will blast a black Sister for having a "fro".
2. Make-up. I've heard preachers blast sisters for wearing "clown make-up" and "painting their faces". Come to find out that the hypocrites in Graham allow their wives to wear foundation and wrinkle cream.
3. Lasciviousness - Members, their wives and kids, all had to dress to "holiness" standards, while Kekel's kid wore shorts and tight football pants. Some preachers wives have been seen working out in spandex and other clothing items that were forbidden.
4. Jewelry - Wedding rings, broaches, clothing and shoe jewelry fall under the exceptions rule, but necklaces and devil stirrups will get you publicly scorned.
5. Women working - if you are in the missionary field it's okay. Exception to policy. No scriptures apply. If you are trying to support a family off of one income in a stateside church, you get plowed and scorned if you are a woman with a job. How hypocritical.
We can talk all day about this, but the ntcc'rs will make excuse after excuse when their behavior comes into question. It's your behavior that they are concerned about. Two sets of standards and don't even think about questioning them. The scriptures only apply when it's convenient for them
DnA
If all I can wear for jewellery is a wedding ring, I want the best I can afford. As a woman, most ladies want a nice wedding ring, Tanyas ring is I would say a 3 carat diamond. Do you think it is a cubic ziconia, I doubt it very much. Kekel once said over the pulpit diamonds are a "waste of money", but his wife wears what appears to be a 3 carat diamond ring. Fake??? I doubt it...
Anonymous said...
If all I can wear for jewelery is a wedding ring, I want the best I can afford.
Chief said...
I don't blame you but where in the Bible does it say, "Thus saith the Lord, thou shalt only wear jewelry if thou wearest a wedding ring and an engagement ring or a wedding ring and two engagement rings which blingest"? 1 NTCC 6:66?
Once again, I have a bling wedding ring with diamonds but I'm not preaching against jewelry. My ring has diamonds because I wanted it to be flashy, plain and simple, and that is no different than any other jewelry. The NTCC is full of it.
Eze 16:1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 11: I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
12: And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
13: Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
14: And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
Chief said...
Really? It's such a sin to wear jewelry? Someone forgot to tell the Lord before he decided to adorn the children of Israel with every type of jewelry you could dream of! Oh, the NTCC leadership likes to quote the old testament when it comes to tithing but forget about the countless scriptures which clearly show jewelry being worn by the children of Israel and such adornment was advocated by the Lord.
The priest had expensive jewels all over his breast plate for crying out loud.
I forgot, silly me. The NTCC does approve the wearing of jewelry and expensive flashy jewelry at that, as long is it is in the form of a wedding ring or a broach or engagement ring or even two engagements rings because the sister needed an upgrade in the form of a large diamond cluster ring like my old pastor's wife.
Either wear jewelry or don't but stop straddling the fence. Bling, Bling, Bling.
Chief
By the way, I didn't just start to feel this way. My wife and I felt the same way while we were in the NTCC. A pastors wife gave her a broach and she wouldn't even wear it. If it's a sin to wear jewelry then don't wear any but I can't stand the double standards that can in no way be justified by the Bible. Personally I don't believe it is a "sin" to wear jewelry but it you teach that it is sin, then don't go purchase a wedding ring with thousands of dollars worth of diamonds in it. If it's no more than a symbol of you marriage, then wny do you have to be flashy about it? Because it not "just" a symbol of your marriage, it's more, it's jewelry.
Chief
Let us not forget the brief diamond pinky ring fad that swept the ministry back in the late 70s and early 80s. It was ignited by RW wearing one (pimp ring, pimp car, pimp crib...hmmmm...). I remember Ashmore and Blumenthal having them too; there were probably others. So the "no jewelry" rule hasn't always been that solid (at least for the men).
Ys, I suppose a woman and her husband can wear simple gold wedding bands. But, that is so boring, if all I can wear in the form of jewelery is a ring, bring on the bling... Not only do I need to dress boring, have plain hair, no makeup and no style at all, yeah, I want a nice ring, so what. At least give a woman that, lets face it, they take everything else from you. Sorry if I sound angry, I am not. Just speakin plain.
Here you go Don... 10 Reasons to Tithe
Law of Tithe
the lie of the tithe
Exposing the lie of the tithe
network 23
Anonymous said...
At least give a woman that, lets face it, they take everything else from you.
Chief said...
Once again, I hear you but in this case that is not the point. What I'm saying is that nothing in the form of jewelry should be "taken" from the women because it can't be justified with the Bible and the women shouldn't put up with it and neither should their husbands. Don't just stop at a wedding ring, wear jewelry because that is exactly what a diamond laden wedding ring is; JEWELRY.
They can no longer take anything from me or my wife because we left their stinkin church and I bought her a nice ring for her birthday. Silver, gold, diamonds and onyx and it ain't no different than sister Mayers bling cluster ring. My wifes necklace is no different then her brooches either. I want someone to tell me and provide biblical justification that it is a sin to wear a necklace but not a sin to wear a brooch. What is the difference? And don't tell me that one is worn on your clothing and one is not because when my wife wears a turtle neck, her necklace is also worn on her clothing. Not only that, where in the Bible does it say that it's a sin to wear jewelry on your skin but not a sin to wear jewelry on your clothing?
By the way, I just looked up the definition of brooch: "A brooch is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments"
Chief said...
Notice it said a "jewelry" item. I could care less what it attaches to; it's still jewelry by definition. If it's a sin for women to wear jewelry, and wearing jewelry will send you to hell, then all you NTCC women who wear brooches are going to hell.
Double standard hypocrites is what the NTCC leaders are.
Chief
Beyond jewelry, I noticed that alot of the NTCC women may not wear jewelry and etc but they have a prideful spirit. Tanya had to have the best. I used to catch her looking at women up and down, like competition (like some women do). She also looked like she wore makeup. For her to be Christian and dressed according to NTCC standards she was borderline. She could stand for someone to have "better" than she did. She likes to be a trendsetter....for NTCC.
And She coudn't sing. I was so glad when I found a Church with good singing. I couldn;t understand how she would sing (and mess up some good songs) and people would really get into it. There were so many people with talent at the Church that could have sung and gave God the glory but she had to be the center of the "show".
Women who wear jewelry don't have their heads up their butt as far as Tanya. She should try wearing a necklace. It might make her act like she is not better than everyone else. When she looks those women up and down, they should ask her to stop or ask her why is she looking at them so close. The whole ntcc mentality stinks. Tanya, Roger Davis, and Mike Kekel are some stuck up brats. I don't know which one is more stuck up of the three? They not only think they are so much better than everyone else, they act like it and it is obvious. The ntcc is really not a good church.
Anon said...
I don't know which one is more stuck up of the three?
Chief said...
ha, ha. It's a close race. All three are quite stuck up. They do act like they are much better than everyone else and it's also clear they feel that way. You can tell in Mike's writing, you can tell in Tanya's looks, and you can tell in everything RWD does. RWD... "I can't remember the last time I sinned". That tells it all. No real sincere Christian on the earth would ever make that statement.
Chief
Anonymous said...
Here you go Don... 10 Reasons to Tithe
Law of Tithe
DnA said:
I asked for one scripture in the New Testament that mandates tithe, and you article which was quite extensive does not list 1 scripture that places a person in hell for not paying tithe, neither is it mandatory. It makes a compelling argument for giving to the church, but none of the NT references make it mandatory. Nice try though.
Chief was right. You ntcc'rs use the old testament to justify paying tithe which had nothing to do with giving money to a corrupt organization, but you overlook the Old Testament scriptures that go against your New Testament Jewelry false doctrine. Wake up and smell the coffee. Stop drinking ntcc Kool Aid. If you are in the ntcc and you are reading this, you are being played for a fool by the ntcc leadership. If you can't see that, you are blind. You ntcc'rs don't know what's in your bibles. You don't read them. You don't believe the bible. You reject knowledge and believe lies. Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself and stop trying to force folks to live by the Old Testament law. Get your nose in the book.
DnA
Love thy neighbor, that is so true, too bad the NTCC doesn't know what that means. I was a member in Graham in the NTCC for 13years, and do you know what, I never felt a true connection with anyone there, it was all so scripted and fake. And of course, as a member the "sisters" never really could have much to do with me. It is set up that way, I found out later. But, it had me questioning why can I not make friends in a church where they preach love for your sisters and brothers in the Lord. I now know why, there was never any real friendship or love there to begin with. You can't make what is not there. So sad.
ha ha,
reminds me of ntcc
http://youtu.be/TT4tYpFNQrc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PEoRw9V7Iw
this one sounds like you-know-who
Wow Double D,
That's just like the Ntcc. How dare someone have a birthday party for their toddler without consulting with the Elders of the Jehovah Witness church. Can you recognize the condescending attitude of the "Elder" towards the former "Witness"? This is not what Christianity is all about and and this is exactly the same way that the ntcc reacts to rediculous accusations.
I wish people in the ntcc can see what they are subjecting themselves to. I understand what they are going through. We all know because we went through the same things. Christianity is not about subjecting yourself to a bunch of controlling rules. It's not about being a blessing to the "Man of God" by cleaning his house or washing his car or recreational vehicle. It's not about raising your young child not to be allowed to have a birthday party, or allowing only one Christian toddler to attend.
These people are sick from the neck up. The head is diseased and the rest of the body is being infected. The next time the ntcc presents you with a rule or a policy that doesn't make sense, pray about it, and seek an answer in the bible. See if you can find a precedent for it in the New Testament. You don't even have to do that, just use common sense and ask, "What would Jesus do"? Not "What would Davis or Kekel do"? The more control a person exerts over you the less control you have over your own decisions. I don't believe that God wants other people to do all your thinking for you. He gave you a brain, but you have to use it.
DnA
Oh, I finally found a scripture in the New Testament about tithing. I just happened to be reading Luke 18 and I stumbled across verse: 12
"I fast twice in the week, I pay tithes of all that I possess."
I believe this is the only New Testament example of someone paying tithe of "ALL" they possess. I can receive correction and admit when I'm wrong so feel free to post another example on here if there is one to be found.
The only problem is that this is a reference that Jesus made of a Pharisee that Prayed these words to God. Although there was no proof that the Pharisee who prayed these words actually gave 10% of everything he owned, it does establish an expectation among the Pharisees that giving 10% of all your possessions was praiseworthy among the religious hypocrites of that time period.
To bad Jesus had to come along and say that this man was not justified, but the publican that prayed, "God be merciful to me, sinner" went to house justified. Although it doesn't say so, I would have to believe that this publican had never paid a dime of tithe in his life.
In another verse shortly after this one, another Pharisee was bragging about how he kept all the commandments from his youth up, and Jesus told him to go sell all that he had and give to the poor. He didn't tell him to sell all he had and pay tithe to the Pharisees or to the ntcc. He said give it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. If you ntcc'rs were to take your tithe (10%) and stop giving it to the religious hypocrites in Graham, but use it rather to help someone in need, you might find what Christianity is all about.
When the Pharisees in Graham ask you how come you haven't sent your tithe to them, you can tell them that they are a bunch of hypocrites and the bible clearly doesn't advocate making a bunch of lazy self appointed super apostles rich, while doing absolutely nothing for the poor. Tell them to get their nose in the book, get on their knees and find out what God really requires of Christians. Show them the scriptures in the bible that clearly speak of what giving to the church to help the poor, the widow and the fatherless, and orphans are all about. Ask them to show you in the bible where it talks about sending your money to bunch of rich pompous religious hypocrites that are spending it on their own selfish interests, while people in the ministry can't use their own tithe money to help those in their own congregations that are in need.
Keep it in your Church, Davis and Kekel do.
Double-D,
The 9.5 minute phone call/letter video sounds eerily similar to conversations Deb and I were having with Rev. Olson in the few months leading us to our leaving Korea.
The letter the man references, is spot on with a letter I sent (except I did not ask to have legal council present). We are also still waiting for a response (almost 5 years).
Eerie.
Gregory
Changing the subject for a minute, why is it ok for a unmarried "sister" in the NTCC, Graham specifically, to work but a married woman, ministers wife or not is "prostituting" herself if she works on a job? I have heard that in Graham they have said this over the pulpit, I cannot say I have ever heard it, but, nonetheless apparently it was said. So a single woman, can work and she is not "prostituting" herself but if married she is? What gives here?
Because the Bible says so. Haven't you read? 1 NTCC 6:666 Thou shalt not work if you are a woman unless thou aren't married. Under such cases thou shalt not work unless thou hast special permission from the NTCC leadership to work as a married woman in Korea or as a married woman renting apartments like Ms. Merz. Under such cases shalt thou work for only under such cases is it not an abomination unto the Lord thy God.
Chief said...
Can you detect my sarcasm? Well that is about the size of it with the NTCC. Married woman have a history of working in Korea (outside the house). I emphised that because the NTCC leadership has made a practice of claiming that it's ok for a married woman to work as long as it's not outside the house. Of course she can do everything outside the house that the NTCC can possibly dream up and she can work outside the house as long as she is in Korea or owning and renting real-estate.
The NTCC is so full of it, it's totally unbelievable and they can't even remotely back their cooky doctrines with the Bible. The only scripture they even try to use to back the (woman not working outside the home) doctrine is Tts 2:5 and that scripture means that a (YOUNG) woman should be a good house keeper or domestically inclined. That means that a young woman should have the inclination to spend time around the house. My wife spends plenty of time around the house. On the weekends, in the mornings and after she gets home from teaching school and she is a good house keeper.
If you want to make that mean that a woman can't leave her house at all, then she has no business going soul winning, spending so much time in church or running around doing every errand that the NTCC can possibly dream up for her to do, to include cleaning the Kekel's house. The NTCC doesn't have a problem with a woman spending time away from her home as long as it suits their purposes. Without doubt during certain times, my wife spent more time away from our home when she was with the NTCC then she does now that she is not. Church all through the week and all through out the weekends, soul winning during the week and weekends, music practice, women's Bible study, Sunday school meetings etc, painting the church, cleaning the church, etc, etc!!! I'm not certain that she is away from the home more now that she is teaching school? It's an outright double standard and I hate it like Jesus hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. Rev 2:6.
Chief
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML2Oa4Oigvo
1. Rearranges Marriages.
2. No accountability...
3. "Infallible" leader...
4. Leave your family...
5. A "compound" for the "faithful...
6. Outrageous claims...
sound familiar?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qCDewXjWKQ
Many of you know this--- How Cults develop ....
More on tithe after all that's what this post is about. Remember Zacchaeus, the man that was little in stature? He climbed up into a sycomore tree to see Jesus and Jesus looked up and saw him. Jesus told him to come down. saying, "for to day I must abide at thy house." Of course all the religious hypocrites and ntcc'rs of that day start to murmur that Jesus was going to be a guest with a man that is a sinner. Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord: Behold Lord the half of my goods I give to the POOR; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
Jesus said unto him, "You can not build a church with the poor and you are supposed to pay your tithes and give offerings to the ntcc hypocrites, oops, I mean Pharisees."
Nope that's not what Jesus said, but rather he said, This day Salvation is come to this house, forso much , as he also is a son of Abraham.
Salvation and Christianity has absolutely nothing to do with giving your money to a bunch of wealthy fault finders who will tell you not to eat with sinners and that sin will rub off on you. Don't spend any time with those pants wearing women and those devil stirrup wearing Jezebels. And don't give your money to the poor for they are just going to use it to get drunk and high with. No, you need to give your money to Davis and Kekel so they can insure that it goes to the right place. You are too stupid to figure that out for yourself so you need some religious Pharisaical hypocrite to appropriate your money for and make the decision on whose $360,000 recreational vehicle it's going to go towards.
DnA
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