I know what you mean. I grew up as a Missionary Baptist and later influenced by Evangelical Charismatic Christianity. The guilt of tithing, giving to the church was strong. And if anything goes wrong in your life, it's because you haven't prayed hard enough, kept your faith, and paid your tithes and offerings. It was damaging to my spiritual growth. So, like you, Susan--I left the church. Best thing I could have done. I love the bible stories, but I now understand them as stories not history or rules to live by.