Health Savings Account-Health Savings Account Info

Pitso asked:


Religion is always a very sensitive subject, particularly to the conservative and Christian fundamentalists, but however sensitive, certain things need to be subjected to scrutiny and let out in the open for the brainwashed to see the light.
Christianity, given the proliferation of televangelists and charismatic evangelists, has transformed to become some means of social control mainly of the psychologically weak; those who easily find themselves falling into the trap laid before them by religious charlatans, swindlers and false prophets whose sole aim is to mislead, con their faithful followers and enrich themselves. These are followers who are prepared to readily give up their intellectual and emotional independence in favour of faith in these false prophets who abuse the name of the Lord in order to advance their sinister aims.
“The Spirit tells me – Fidel Castro will die – in the 90s. Oooh my! Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed. But there will come a change in his physical health, and he will not stay in power, and Cuba will be visited of God.”
“The Lord also tells me to tell you in the mid 90s, about ‘94-’95, no later than that, God will destroy the ********** community of America. [Audience applauds] But He will not destroy it — with what many minds have thought Him to be, He will destroy it with fire. And many will turn and be saved, and many will rebel and be destroyed.” These are the false prophecies of some dubious character, Benny Hinn.
I have always remained suspicious of any man standing in the pulpit who, instead of preaching the Gospel, dedicates a substantial amount of time to play on the faith of the congregation to swindle them of their money.
Tithing is the Gospel that is preached ad nauseum with the sole objective of subjecting congregants to overwhelming guilt if they do not “give to the Lord”. Something I have always been troubled by – the concept of giving to the Lord. Am I giving to these charlatans who pose of men of God or am I giving to God? Contributing to church coffers should never be through coercion and brainwashing but should be done willingly out of the goodness of one’s heart; and that contribution should never be redirected to finance the extravagant lifestyles of church leaders but help the needy communities. Of course these churches will set up charity organisations as a front to their real intentions – charities — which only receive a fraction of what the congregation contributes; the rest going to Swiss accounts and financing the purchase of Ferraris, Louis Vittons and Armanis. This is despicable!

Roseline Veneman

?Beans 4Brains™ Vodka Martini II asked:


We JUST got into an argument and she is of the opinion that the “health and wealth” teachings of certain unnamed televangelists is an okay philosophy to have. And i say it isn’t as it’s unscriptural.

What started the ‘discussion’ was a ministry letter that she received, and then we started talking about how the Government had some of the telemarketers … i mean televangelists (LOL) investigated not too long ago. And about how some made their financial statements (records) public and accessible, while others declined for quite some time.

Anyways, i said that, while i agreed on certain verses (there in the Bible) and that they (as a corporate group) “preach on” the fact of that matter is, that i firmly agreed with the Government’s investigation of them because SOME of them DO abuse the gospel as a means of financial gain. This is just fact. AND more importantly God never promised us money (wealth) IF we put our faith in Him. That’s a perversion of scripture! And it makes me angry.

So she said that she agreed with the philosophy and then started on a bunch of other junk (i will not say herein) SO i said, that it was a load of crap because Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and he was born poor and he died poor. Having “our needs met” is not the same thing as being “wealthy” and i am disgusted because most of these so-called preachers have turned the gospel into a get rich quick scheme for themselves.

While it’s not everyone, it IS a good portion of them and i think that it is wrong; and i think that they SHOULD be investigated. That way IF they are misusing the gospel to get themselves rich, it’ll be found out!

I am a Christian (so no preaching at me to ‘get saved’ because i disagree) But my point was, Jesus came to save souls, not to give people a bigger bank account. And that the teaching (generally) while it DOES touch on key verses that we CAN put our trust in (as God does not lie) the whole concept of “prosperity teachings” and “health and wealth” gospel is nothing more than poison to the Church (corporately) and is like a slap in the face to Christ Crucified, and is completely unscriptural. God never promised us a buttload of cash. He promised us “healing” and “peace of mind” and “to be well” and yes, even “prosperous” BUT not in the sense that these false teachers are teaching, and it makes me angry because they’re using the House of God, the Body of Christ and the purity of the gospel message to make themselves rich, while those that are giving can’t even afford to take care of themselves. So (MOST not all) of these type of preachers are not only abusing the gospel, they’re abusing the Church (corporately) and they’re making a disgrace and a mockery of what Jesus did for us on the Cross.

Anyways …. I am more upset because wrong teaching poisons and destroys the Church; and the spiritual lives of the Body. And while i agree that on SOME things she is correct, on other points she is not. Jesus never promised us a “pay off” if we chose to serve him. And i am afraid that even her tithes and offerings are going to the wrong place, and that it will ruin her emotionally and spiritually IF any of these ‘preachers’ proves to be a fraud. (Which, i have already bet money on some of them). It isn’t all of them out there, but some. And i just have a real problem with the gospel being ********* for financial gain.

I mean you’re a preacher for godsakes, why in the hell do you need a private jet? Take the damned bus like everyone else! (( I am not against giving, and i believe what the Bible says, but Do you hear (understand) what i am saying?)

……. So HOW do i unpoison her?

xoxo
?
I believe in practical application of the Word. And i am all for having faith, but some things are a matter of common sense, and not a faith issue.

Anyways, i am more disturbed because it seems recently that she, though she has always been one that has had common sense and a good handle on the Word of God with valid, scriptural teachings (personally and as per advice to myself and my siblings), lately she’s been actually listening to a lot teachings that aren’t actually scriptural, and actually defending a lot of these type of teachings, with no regard to even hear me out, and i just can’t understand why she would stop using her brain all of a sudden. (that’s how it seems anyways). It’s bothering me because she was never like this when i was growing up.

I believe in tithing and giving, but … not in the way that a lot of these false preachers claim that people should. God gave us a brain to use … so i use mine regularly.
EDIT: ^ ^ ^ I know this is long (sorry!)

I am a Christian. That will never change.
BUT my thoughts are, her efforts aren’t in vain because God sees the heart; and i know all about tithing and giving (so i am not against that) what i am against is what MOST (not all, because it isn’t all of them) of them preach.
I’ve “obeyed” and supported a ministry here and there as i could. But i am not going to be foolish either.

*sighs* My mom’s not dumb, and she knows the Bible … but i just don’t get her lately. She should know that these teachings are anti-scripture. That’s not what the Bible says! And in her fairness, she has always been a giver … (she’s always given out of her need, to anyone she could, she’s just like that) but i just don’t understand why she is defending a philosophy like this?
*sighs*
EDIT: no, no, no … i am not saying that i think that a person has to be “poor” in order to be a christian. That would be stupid (and a false doctrine also!) I am just saying that tithing and giving are scriptural … paying for a preachers Mercedes isn’t. And their using of the gospel to make themselves rich is what i have a problem with.

Also, you’re wrong …. Jesus was not rich when he died. YES his “needs were met” but he certainly wasn’t rich. That’s crap …. read your Bible. xoxo
EDIT: Matthew 17:20 is about salvation and the will of God, not about believing anything that you want and having it automatically come to pass.

THANKS ALL who answered, even if i disagree!!
edit: LAST THING!! that i want to say (for the record):
My mother is no fool. She knows the word, and has (like i said) ALWAYS been a giver. I too know the word, so i just don’t understand WHY she is defending this type of thing? And i want to know how can i unpoison her so that the philosophy doesn’t become standard for her belief system? I think it is as destructive as it is unscriptural.

To the non-christians: And no, i do not think that it is EVERY preacher, i know better. It’s just most of them! (that’s a fact!) So please, it’s not all of us christians okay?

To the christians: I think that whatever lot in life has been handed you, you should live it to the glory of God. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy, nothing at all. But there is nothing wrong with being poor either. There have been rich and poor people (even ‘religious people’) since the beginning of time.
Being broke is not fun (trust me, i know!) But God never promised us money if we served him.
EDIT: Newborn: I know the passage(s) that you are referencing. God never told the Jews to eat their children. He said that they would end up doing that because of the destruction on the land.
(Ezekiel 5).

Also I do not agree with all of what you said, (i am a christian, i believe in Christ, and i always will) BUT i can understand why you said it. I think i can sympathise with you to some extent.
I did not thumbsdown you, and i thank you for sharing your thoughts with me in answer to my question;

Bruna Carstens

CATheist fundy diversion account asked:


Catholic health care facilities account for roughly one in six U.S. hospital beds, but what happens if you end up in one and your health care wishes clash with Catholic ethics? You don’t have to be catholic or even religious to get treatment at one of those facilities and they are known for excellent care. My question is in reference to the case of the mother in Arizona who had her pregnancy aborted to save her life and the nun who approved the abortion got excommunicated. So who has the final say in life-and-death decisions: You, or the local bishop?

Thomas Randgaard

Luxecashmere asked:


I don’t mean to seem like I’m questioning God, but I see people get blessings I don’t think they really deserve while my parents and I are suffering and going w/o. My parents can’t make ends meet on their fixed income and I have seziures (which is part of the reason I live w/ them).
I guess I should say that other than the sezuires (which I’m on medication for) I do have my health. I also have small retirement and savings accounts. And I’m thinner than I’ve been in about 3 yrs. So I have that going for me.
I used to think if I managed my money well maybe God would give me more but that hasn’t worked. My parents and I aren’t selfish (well, my dad has his moments and I try very hard not to be selfish) so I don’t see why we shouldn’t get some more blessings. How can I get God to give them to us?
I don’t tithe. that’d be $88 a month I don’t have that. I donated to the library once.
my parents are in debt I just want them to have less debt. And more “lucky breaks”

Tiffanie Lamoree

Coolest Ghoul asked:


Why doesn’t God require you to put 10% of your income into a Health Savings Account rather than giving it to a church? An HSA is pre-tax, and can be used for dental work, which most HMO’s don’t cover.

So I say, stop donating 10% to a church. Donate 10% to your health (or to an IRA … especially now that stocks are low).

Smile,
Tony

Tomas Amster