Giving money to church
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Malachi was written under the Mosaic covenant, no less than Leviticus. Chapter 2 opens with a rebuke of priests; it was written to Israel, not to the Church. The local church is not the "storehouse". The Law required Israel to tithe on their agricultural produce, not their monetary income. There isn't a single verse of Scripture written under the new covenant (in Christ's blood) that affirms the practice of tithing for believers. There also isn't a single verse of Scripture anywhere that affirms surrendering ten percent of one's monetary income to anyone or anything. Giving, even generously, is affirmed under the new covenant, but not 'tithing'.
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Most Christian are operating in the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law. This makes them a transgressor (Gal. 2:18).
Still searching for answers to the questions.
Does Christ rebuke the devourer if the Believer in Christ doesn't tithe?
Can a Christian test God in the New Testament? If so how?
Can a Christian live in the open windows of Heaven if they don't tithe?
Please post your scripture(s) to support your statement.
Still searching for answers to the questions.
Does Christ rebuke the devourer if the Believer in Christ doesn't tithe?
Can a Christian test God in the New Testament? If so how?
Can a Christian live in the open windows of Heaven if they don't tithe?
Please post your scripture(s) to support your statement.
What you give as AN ACT OF WORSHIP is nobody s business.
MATTHEW 6
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
MATTHEW 6
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
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I notice that you've chosen to ignore the responses given to this, the first of which was the last post on the previous page and the second appears at the top of this page.
You've taken no notice, despite the fact you've been quoted, and simply asked again.
If you have a point to make then make it, then back up your own point(s) with scripture.
You've taken no notice, despite the fact you've been quoted, and simply asked again.
If you have a point to make then make it, then back up your own point(s) with scripture.
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First, I do believe you need to attend church. Hebrews 10:25 says we are to meet with other believers.
Second, I don’t believe tithing is for the NT church. Tithing was giving 10% to the priests and Levites in the OT. Even modern Jews do not tithe.
That being said, my husband does believe in tithing. So back when we got married, he was just out of college, and I had a few years to go. We had no money. Certainly not enough to make ends meet.
Yet there we were every month, throwing all this money in the offering basket monthly. But never because someone pressured us.
We never starved, always had a roof over our heads and the bills were paid. My husband got his dream job, and I finally started teaching. Except by then we had 4 kids, 3 boys who ate us out of house and home. And sports and music lessons.
We kept on tithing and we had more money. The kids grew up, and we had an expensive home, paid for, now living happily on our pensions. I think if we had not given cheerfully, we would not be where we are today, financially.
As far as no AGM and no open books, no voting by members on the budget? Find another church. Shades of Judas being the treasurer! As far as haranguing and harassing you for money? Do not walk, run to a different church. I’ve been attending Christian Churches since I was a small child. I have never heard of a church constantly begging for money. We are always under budget, but we went away from an offering time, to internet giving and a locked box for Cheques. We simply never hear about money, and that is the way it should be!
Try a non-charismatic non-Pentecostal church. You might find people who want your live for Christ instead of mammon.
Second, I don’t believe tithing is for the NT church. Tithing was giving 10% to the priests and Levites in the OT. Even modern Jews do not tithe.
That being said, my husband does believe in tithing. So back when we got married, he was just out of college, and I had a few years to go. We had no money. Certainly not enough to make ends meet.
Yet there we were every month, throwing all this money in the offering basket monthly. But never because someone pressured us.
We never starved, always had a roof over our heads and the bills were paid. My husband got his dream job, and I finally started teaching. Except by then we had 4 kids, 3 boys who ate us out of house and home. And sports and music lessons.
We kept on tithing and we had more money. The kids grew up, and we had an expensive home, paid for, now living happily on our pensions. I think if we had not given cheerfully, we would not be where we are today, financially.
As far as no AGM and no open books, no voting by members on the budget? Find another church. Shades of Judas being the treasurer! As far as haranguing and harassing you for money? Do not walk, run to a different church. I’ve been attending Christian Churches since I was a small child. I have never heard of a church constantly begging for money. We are always under budget, but we went away from an offering time, to internet giving and a locked box for Cheques. We simply never hear about money, and that is the way it should be!
Try a non-charismatic non-Pentecostal church. You might find people who want your live for Christ instead of mammon.
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You need to never go back to that church. To make a long story short, read this article. I believe it is correct. However, I still think we need to give, but not because we are being battered or pushed to do it.
The article is long, but it will be what you are looking for.
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/TheTitheisIllegal.html
The article is long, but it will be what you are looking for.
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/TheTitheisIllegal.html
P
Here's my red flag....the church is approaching you that is not bibical. Now if you personally being convicted well that's another story.
My advice is ask them where their faith is. It's not tithing if it does not come from the heart, it serves no purpose other than paying the bills. Spiritual or others wise when you are pressured to give.
The Lord gives the increase.....look what Jesus did with the fish and chips. I also see a respector of persons here. So you have a business...so you should be able to give? Wrong message in my opinion. Might want to seek out other fellowship as I think the Lord is showing you something.
My advice is ask them where their faith is. It's not tithing if it does not come from the heart, it serves no purpose other than paying the bills. Spiritual or others wise when you are pressured to give.
The Lord gives the increase.....look what Jesus did with the fish and chips. I also see a respector of persons here. So you have a business...so you should be able to give? Wrong message in my opinion. Might want to seek out other fellowship as I think the Lord is showing you something.
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We are called to give, to help in all ways, share our resources. Besides If your church has value, why not chip in? There is so much need out there. Now with that said, it isn't that we have to or even that we should, I think we should want to. Be thankful that we get to. We all have our limited funds to contend with, I know I do. We are called to be wise and good stewards so why not apply balance here and give what you can, when you can? I do think any good church should be just like any good non profit organization, and have transparency so you can see that the church administration are too a good steward of their resources.
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I don't have any spare because I'm running a new business, and cash (especially at this stage) is key.
There is an interesting side to this:
1. An internal contradiction arises in that while they teach that all we need for our salvation is faith and belief in Jesus, they also teach that we're REQUIRED to give money.
2. An external contradiction also arises in that other Christians (outside these types of churches) say that tithes are not REQUIRED, although from a pragmatic perspective the church does have bills to pay (different issue).
Well, somebody must be teaching God's word correctly while the other incorrectly, they can't both be teaching it correctly because they contradict each other and state the complete opposite.
Choosing to celebrate Jesus in a slightly more 'outward' way or more quiet way is fine, as long as you're sincerely celebrating in your hearts.
But teaching God's word in two different and contradictory ways! It's a wonder how this situation arises.
There is an interesting side to this:
1. An internal contradiction arises in that while they teach that all we need for our salvation is faith and belief in Jesus, they also teach that we're REQUIRED to give money.
2. An external contradiction also arises in that other Christians (outside these types of churches) say that tithes are not REQUIRED, although from a pragmatic perspective the church does have bills to pay (different issue).
Well, somebody must be teaching God's word correctly while the other incorrectly, they can't both be teaching it correctly because they contradict each other and state the complete opposite.
Choosing to celebrate Jesus in a slightly more 'outward' way or more quiet way is fine, as long as you're sincerely celebrating in your hearts.
But teaching God's word in two different and contradictory ways! It's a wonder how this situation arises.
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They aren't the same thing. Tithing, biblically, is giving one-tenth of war spoils to the priest of God Most High (none of which belonged to you beforehand), or giving one-tenth of your agricultural produce and every tenth animal that you own to the Levitical priest (good luck finding one today). It is giving an additional amount (not clear in Scripture) for the poor, the widows, the alien in your land, etc. It is also taking your "tithe" (agricultural produce) to the temple every so often and feasting on it there. All of this (except the war spoils) is required under the Law, not optional.
Transferring one-tenth of your monetary income to your local church is generous giving, not tithing. It is not required in Scripture... anywhere.
Transferring one-tenth of your monetary income to your local church is generous giving, not tithing. It is not required in Scripture... anywhere.
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Why? Tradition, not studying the matter for themselves, , ignorance, fear and worry, not trusting God for provision, pride, greed, corruption, etc.
I brought up the subject with a pastor once. His immediate reaction was essentially, "How will the bills get paid at the church building?" He had no concept of the distinction between tithing and giving.
I brought up the subject with a pastor once. His immediate reaction was essentially, "How will the bills get paid at the church building?" He had no concept of the distinction between tithing and giving.