Christ lived a life of poverty and chastity......why are religions amassing wealth and power?
Who says Christ lived a life of poverty? He can pay tax coming from a mouth of a fish. Can feed 5 thousand with 5 bread and 2 fish. Received a gift of gold and other precious stuff when he was born. Who can say He is poor? He doesnt lack anything but lived a life of modesty. And so is the same for all those who will believed in Him ... they will not lack anything.
Life of Chastity? Nothing is directly mentioned but He is telling prostitutes,adulterers,fornicators to repent and sin no more otherwise it will lead to Hell. Now it doesnt make sense if Jesus doesnt practiced what He preached.
Why religions amassing wealth and power? Because there are church leaders who are not good stewards. And they will be accountable before God on judgement day. All should be used for the furtherance of God's kingdom. For the purpose of reaching out and preaching the good news to all nations.
^all......i even heard a pastor saying pag hindi ka nagikapu, ninanakawan mo ang Diyos......
Because it is written in Malachi 3:6-12 (New King James Version),
“For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Yet from the days of your fathers. You have gone away from My ordinances
And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,”
Says the Lord of hosts. “But you said,
‘In what way shall we return?’
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,Even this whole nation.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
that there will not be room enough to receive it.
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the Lord of hosts;
“And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts."
So it is for your good that you give 10%. God had promise to stop the devourer, bless your finances and open opportunities in your life. Without tithing, your finances are not blessed by God and prone to problems. Proverbs 10:22 also says "The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it." I have experienced this promise so I can really relate and testify that it is true.
And most of all Tithes and Offerings is God testing the condition of your heart regarding material wealth.
Now some may say, this is just for Israel (or in the Old Testament). Well, Cain and Abel gave offerings. Abraham gave tithes even there is no Israel yet. New testament believers gave offerings and gave even all they have. And notice the verse 6 says, the Lord do not change. It is God's principle that still applies today if you want your finances to prosper. Now, who wouldnt want to prosper?