Strange interaction with my bishop
I've had this on my mind for about a month so I'm writing it out. Hope I can convey it satisfactorily.
My ward's bishop asked if he could come to my house and catch up on life. I haven't been to church in a year, didn't care to tell anyone I stopped going. He's helped me with things like getting a job, so I hesitantly said sure. We'd been texting back and forth about a journal article I finished writing, making it difficult to say no.
When he arrived he was wearing a suit and tie, so I prepared to have random questions about the church thrown at me. We spoke for about 15 minutes about future plans and recent accomplishments before he finally mentioned that I never followed through with getting the melchizedek priesthood. He asked if I was ready to
receive it and I said "No, not really."
He asked me why, shifting to this very forced gentle tone and mannerisms that continued throughout the rest of the conversation (Almost like talking to a child). I didn't want to be stuck in a debate all night so I only explained how mormonism is the only branch of christianity to demand tithes for salvation. He word-for-word said "That isn't true, tithing is only needed for a temple recommend." I then had to explain to the bishop that you do in fact need a recommend to go to the celestial kingdom, which thus makes mormon heaven pay to enter.
He addressed this with the following explanations, all of which I simply smiled and nodded to so he would leave quicker:
"It's more about showing obedience to god than the money."
Insisting someone in the ward hurt my feelings, and it doesn't reflect the gospel.
"Would you rather have 100% of your money, or 90% + god's blessings?"
"Do you want me to send you some bible verses on tithing?" (He never did).
Before leaving, he told me "Satan puts doubts into smart people's heads by making them think they have everything figured out. Also could you bless the sacrament next Sunday?" I laughed and said I don't know if I have enough of the spirit with me for it to work before finally getting him out of there.
Overall, just a really strange and condescending interaction from the moment it shifted to religion. I was really confused at the fact that he asked me to bless the sacrament after that whole conversation. I at least know now not to let anyone from the church in for a "quick chat" again. It just appalls me how much some members insist the church has all the answers, while claiming other views are "influences of satan."