This thread is focused on money.  The church isn't.  Please remember that throughout this discussion.  If the church is focused on money, it's probably a bad idea to go there anyway.

J, wasn't trying to attack you just pointing out to others.  My apologies if you felt the need to be on the defensive.

If all my church believed was that you had to give them 10% of your income it would be pretty silly, you know?

Apology accepted.

Anyway, you don't sign up to Columbia House and then say, "Wait, I didn't know I had to buy all this stuff!"  They tell you before you sign up.  Churches should tell members what's expected of them, and they should require it.  I'm not saying that if you miss one week all hell should be set loose upon you and your next seven generations.

and what's expected?  The Lord loves a cheerful giver.  That's it. 

It shouldn't be about the church and the giver.  It should be about God and the giver.  The church needs to make due with what they receive just like we make due with what we receive. 

When churches focus too much on the financial trouble is brewing.  They need to be working on the hearts and the minds of their people.  When they do that the finances fall into place.   We give out of a grateful heart wanting to further the work of God.  Otherwise the church is focusing too much on the externals when it should be about the business of the internals. 

I also would have much rather discussed this privately, but I understand what you're doing and why, and who you think you're protecting from me and my twisted sense of right and wrong.

The thing is, you don't need to!  Because either she feels convicted and should have been tithing anyway, or she knows I'm wrong and won't care two squirts of owl shit what I have to say on the matter.  Either way, I know what happens in my life when I tithe vs. when I don't, and that's proof enough to me.

As for my loans and charity, yeah, I know that giving to you ceased to be charity.  But I didn't lie about why I wanted it returned.  I had just found out we were pregnant again and was freaking out.  I freak out a lot.  Anyway, you know the rest of the story.  I ask for it back, I calm down, the wheels of selfishness start turning... and here I am.  A sinner, just like everybody else.

Used by God.

You challenged Him to pay me back directly.  He has done so, so aren't we square?

Sorry, I forgot this was a private matter.  "Yet" was not in any way shape or form trying to make it sound like you should have already paid me back.  I understand the timetable you had presented, and didn't expect anything any time soon.  Apologies to you if the community here thought that that was what I was trying to say.

Then don't repay me.

Or I can do that.  It doesn't matter as long as it gets where it needs to.

Okie dokie.