Myth: God hates the rich and loves it if people are poor

Blessed [be ye] poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed [are ye] that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed [are ye] that weep now: for ye shall laugh...

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. (Luke 6:20,21,24,25)

But in context Jesus is talking about those who are persecuted for the Kingdom of God’s sake vs the rich and powerful who oppresses the poor persecuted believers. See Luke 6:22,23,26,27 : All verses in between is about persecution the “enemy”. Also compare this with Matthew 5:3-12 where Matthew understood it as “spiritual” poverty and wealth which some modern translations like the Message translates as “humbleness” vs “arrogance”.

Riches and possessions, and the power to enjoy them... is the gift of God -- Ecclesiastes 5:19

Myth: You must pay your local church 10% of your income

Many preachers claim that they are entitled to at least 10% of their congregation's income because they teach that the Tithing sacrifices of the old Testament still applies today. They need these funds to pay the church's taxes, ministers' salaries, church building expenses and so on.

The excessive funds are often spend to erect expensive church buildings, sometimes to fund a luxurious lifestyle of the leadership.

However, we read that the first believers meet in houses (Acts 2:2, Acts 5:42, Acts 20:20, Acts 28:30) and at the existing public temple (Acts 5:42) and their leadership lived a very simple life (1 Corinthians 9:18). They often laboured to earned their own income (2 Thessalonians 3:6-10), received donations (Luke 8:2-3, Philippians 4:15), but never claimed Tithes.

They were content with what they had (Philippians 4:11-13) and did not preach financial prosperity. Instead, they were concerned about saving lost souls.

Myth: You should only donate, never lend to the poor

Often believers think that donations are the only option to help those in need. This could potentially lead to a hopeless situation if nobody can afford the amount required.

However, believers are also allowed and even encouraged to lend money to the poor, with the purpose to help. This act is also considered "generous", except if you lend money with the purpose to oppress them by manipulation or enslavement (Proverbs 28:8). The purpose should be to help the poor not yourself.

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. -- Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (ESV)

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. -- Psalm 37:25-26 (ESV)

A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he will never be shaken. -- Psalm 112:5 (NKJV)

However, when it comes to strangers:

Don’t loan money to a stranger unless you are given something to guarantee payment. -- Proverbs 27:13 (CEV)

Myth: Full-time preaching is a high income profession

Professional preachers are quick to refer to this scripture:

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” -- 1 Timothy 5:17-18

Paul, the author who supposedly wrote 1 Timothy, said elsewhere:

He (Paul) went to see them (Claudius and Priscilla), and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.

...

Now from Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them:

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia.

...

I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed mto give than to receive.’” -- Acts 18:3, 20:33-35 (ESV)

In other words, unlike 1 Timothy 5:17-18 which seems to imply that some leaders who "labor in preaching and teaching" have the right to claim a "double" salary, Paul states here that he is "working hard" (possibly by making tents) to be independent of the church's donations.

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.

What then is my reward?

That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

-- 1 Corinthians 9:13-18 (ESV)

Clearly Paul does not condemn "those who proclaim the gospel" from "living by the gospel".

One may argue that a preacher in church is someone that "proclaim the gospel", but then one needs to define what does "proclaim the gospel" mean:

• Does it include preachers who reciting a sermons in private church meeting?
• Is it exclusive to full-time missionaries who publicly announce the gospel to the lost?

Neither Jesus, nor Paul, demanded a double salary from anyone.

In the context of missionary work, Paul admits that he accepted donations, but note that his "support" was no mean for a luxurious or convenient lifestyle, but that he dedicated it for a very specific mission:

Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge?

I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. -- 2 Corinthians 11:8-9 (ESV)

Note, that Paul consider it "robbed" if the "support" is wasted on any other purpose than his mission which in this case was to "serve" the Corinthians.

Paul also urged the Thessalonians:

But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. -- 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 (ESV)