Josephine King has been a member of Bainbridge’s First African Baptist Church for more than 50 years, but she has just been informed by letter that the church no longer wants her. Their reason: She hasn’t been showing up at church or tithing as she once did.
The letter the 92-year-old Ms. King received specifically says she is “no longer considered a member” because she failed to maintain “constant and consistent financial and physical participation.”
Is this a church or a collection agency?
Relatives say Ms. King has been ill for several months and is essentially a shut-in, which explains her poor attendance and failure to tithe.
A nephew of Ms. King, Gerald Simmons, remarked:
“You have to have money to make these churches run, but it’s not about money. It’s about God. You have to put God first.”
Apparently God wants to get paid ASAP or else he is gonna rain down hellfire on the King household. Or maybe he’ll just stand at the door of the church and make sure Josephine King doesn’t slip in surreptitiously.
This is not the first case of a church deciding to dismiss a member due to not tithing. A Florida church sent a $1,000 collection notice to a single mother who had failed to tithe in a manner suitable to the church.
Gerald Simmons also said that other members of Bainbridge First African Baptist Church have been told they are no longer welcome because they didn’t provide adequate financial support, and he added:
“You shouldn’t chase the individuals down. You shouldn’t do that. If that’s the case, you’re money hungry.”
Or as it clearly states in 1 Timothy 6:10:
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
