With Holy Men going around pointing their fingers every which way — Gays! Abortionists! Democrats! — to identify the ‘guilty’ party being punished by some god or other with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, Tom Rich decided to have some fun and announce that Jacksonville, Florida, pastors had declared a ‘tithing vigil.’ Ante-up your 10% right now and — Who knows? — He might send Irma in some other direction. Or, maybe, park the storm over Cuba and let it spin like a colossal stump-grinder till it’s out of energy, or something like that.
Jacksonville, FL (WD) – Watchdog Press has learned megachurch pastors in Jacksonville, Florida will hold Thursday what they are calling a “tithing vigil” to prompt the Lord Jesus Christ to steer Hurricane Irma away from Jacksonville.
“I have known for some time that the terrible rate of tithing among church members will eventually bring our city to destruction,” said Stuart Weems of Collaboration Church. “The Lord’s patience can only be tested so long – and now it looks like we will be paying the price unless His people belly up to the pew and pay their tithes.”
What do you know? Mac Brunson (First Baptist Church, Jacksonville) actually did tells his peeps to get their money in electronically before fleeing for their lives. Go to the last two minutes:
So far as I can tell, FBC-Jax is doing the right things, providing shelter to the needy and a protected place to park cars. Good for them. But tying it to a money beg is crass. After all, it costs next to nothing to open the parking garage or let people sleep on the floor of the church, and the food is all donated and tended by volunteers. Nor, of course, will the church now be absorbing the cost of transporting the stuff to Houston. It’s nice to be nice, but that shouldn’t be a cynical cover for opportunism.