5 Biblical Financial Principles for the Church: 5 Financial Red Flags in the Church

There are so many great churches out there who are transparent, responsible, and wise with the finances God has entrusted to them. Unfortunately, finances are also one of the top down falls for churches as well. Here are five financial red flags to look for in a church.
(Article) 5 Financial Red Flags in the Church:
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[@phillippalmer5962]

I completely agree with the money thing, for example, when I and my family got baptized, we had to pay 30 dollars every Sunday just to stay a member at that church... thank you, Mark, for finally opening my eyes!

[@ApplyGodsWordcomMarkBallenger]

👍

[@MichaelColeman-x4c]

That's horrible! Leave that church!

[@peterforbes2678]

That's bullshit never heard that one What scripture is that ?you need to LEAVE.

[@anointed1302]

Love ❤️ this Pastor Mark for such spiritual insight!!!

[@ApplyGodsWordcomMarkBallenger]

👍

[@yoelkanchelov1898]

Great video Mark! I grew up on prosperity gospel and only after I became a young adult saw how unbiblical that was. Had to do a lot of relearning about God's nature. Thank you!

[@ApplyGodsWordcomMarkBallenger]

So glad God showed you the way out through his truth :)

[@StormChasingNinja]

Hm.... I watched the video you just uploaded today, and then I watched the playlist this video is on. This morning our church, well, we are all in confusion about a decision that the Pastor is trying to slip under the radar. Idk... things are very tense right now. Please pray for our church. And me because I work there!

[@latreases.jonesjr.459]

Thank you for this Mark.

[@sarahkybanez800]

Thank you sharing this in Facebook 👍👍

[@ApplyGodsWordcomMarkBallenger]

Sure! God bless :)

[@MightyMouse11]

Good video. I used to attend a Calvary chapel in Whittier and pastor often spoke about his friend with some luxury car. Or he spoke about how expensive his watch is. I would see him and wife drive to church with luxury cars and lived in a very nice city in Orange County.

[@anthonyenos2835]

Remember politics are in the church,if youre single,not married your looked upon with suspicion.Judgement always comes out when people speak.Listen to the words that are spoken.

[@dgh5223]

People who give should know how the church is spending JESUS money. 😊

[@hannahlangford936]

Hello! I’d love a video focused on judgement towards others, I’m having trouble figuring it out. Thanks 😊

[@ApplyGodsWordcomMarkBallenger]

Hi Hannah Langford, I cover that here kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3mwZImJjcZ_n7M

[@abiweiler3792]

Could you do a video talking about the difference of Grace and Mercy?

[@ApplyGodsWordcomMarkBallenger]

The quick answer is that mercy is being spared punishment we do deserve. Grace is being given a gift we do not deserve. God grants us mercy by sparing us of punishment through Christ, and he grants us grace by giving us the gift of new life with him through Christ. Maybe one day I can do a video but I hope that helps :)

[@shokitsadiq9782]

BLESSING

[@22vanillalatte]

Thank you Mark for another great video! May God bless you for making these much needed videos. I pray so that people can see this and leave those ‘churches’! They are being deceived! Just the other day on the news, I saw that this pastor (really a false prophet) asked the church members for more money b/c he needs another private jet. He already has 3 jets. A Pastor DOES NOT need a private jet! A real church leader is humble. Do they forget that Jesus was born in a manger?

[@ApplyGodsWordcomMarkBallenger]

I saw that too, terrible witness....

[@octaviousmckenzie2362]

Wow I didn't know that

[@ApplyGodsWordcomMarkBallenger]

👍

[@annabellewilson1285]

Thats true,

[@TheRaniraju]

Trul😊

[@rosem.3533]

Thank you Mark! Question regarding tithing...Do you have a video in it? What do you think when a church says that tithing is the path to financial blessing (using Malachai 3:10)? Does tithing apply to today or was it in reference to the Levite priests?

[@ApplyGodsWordcomMarkBallenger]

Good question, I don't have anything on that yet but the New Testament does not say to specifically give 10%. That was the custom from the OT that the church has traditionally used. However the New Testament does command Christians to support their local church (Galatians 6:6). How much? All the NT says is that God wants a cheerful giver, 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." I hope that helps!

[@rosem.3533]

ApplyGodsWord.com/Mark Ballenger. It does! Thank you.

[@dgh5223]

Tithes in bible wasn’t about money but produce grown and one time was spoils from war. They actually gave 3 different tithes from produce which added up to about 23%.

[@RPHTX-dz7fl]

So is Joel Osteen failing his church?

[@timnewman8690]

RP2017 HTX Joel olsteen is a false teacher

[@ErnestoVazquezChoby1000]

What really gives it away is 1. The church has a strong marketing strategy, 2. The church has multiple "campuses" 3. Weaponizes biblical passages to threaten you for not giving complete thithe, "God will kill you if you dont thithe", 4. you get constantly reminded you need to thithe, 5. There is "faith goals" where you are encouraged to thithe more for different causes. Remember, christians follow Jesus and his gospel, not pastor or an agenda. Jesus was not concerned about finances, he was concerned about salvation

[@lanihubbard6179]

I know we should be honouring the Lord with our income , we are to be giving people . Can you please give me scripture in the New Testament that speak of the command to Tythe 10% of our income. I know the Old Testament has a few scriptures but I do not see it in the New Testament.

[@DS11129]

There is not one. Many churches want to use tithe as a way to give and more specifically not 10% overall to all the charities but 10% directly to them. If you want to donate to other sources than it must be above the 10%. Yet in the NT the only verses we see are to give generously as Paul tells us or even Jesus with the widow. Today we can even see that with the rich who may give a million dollars but it is less than 1% of what they have vs. say you or me that may give $10K and that could be well over 10% for us. In the OT tithe was used for materials and not really money. It was to take care of the people. Example is storing up grain for 7 years. Which goes into the fact that it was not always a tithe. And in the end the OT was to help everyone. Today we have many sources that provide that role to include the government. My belief is to give from the heart and not a number. You get stuck on a number and it is no longer from the heart. If you feel to give x amount give that much even it may be more than you planned or less than less. But let it be from the heart and not because some false doctrine told you something else.

[@kimberlymortenson9513]

I’ve noticed a strange thing in some churches, regarding giving. Small gifts are assumed to be given out of scarcity and large financial gifts are presumed to be given out of wealth, and therefore described as “unimpressive”. Don’t get me wrong…no one should be giving with the expectation of thanks or impressing anyone (It all belongs to God anyway!), but how foolish to disrespect generous givers! I realize that the poor widow in the Biblewho gave all she had is a beautiful, beautiful thing…but these strict assumptions, based on anything but knowledge of the givers, is dull-witted. It’s like assuming disabled people are pure of heart or that educated people are always arrogant and uneducated people are usually humble. I’m glad God cares about TRUTH and examines the heart, because people’s uninformed assumptions, especially when spoken, can be so discouraging.

[@shyboyfso]

Pastors wearing fancy suits,jewelry drive fancy cares and same for church members ask for money in tithing,but not thrilled when needy people ask for money financially. Anyone can pray how about assisting needy financially. Church people not that much better than regular people !

[@shyboyfso]

I meant cars not cares

[@supersmart671]

Tithe is biblical?