Biblical tithing

[AgapeShellArt]

There is a lot of false preaching out there about tithing. Folks feel guilted into giving money into what most often is NOT God's church but a congregation mislead by worldly people who don't understand spiritual things.

If the preacher is talking more about sowing seeds to get earthly rewards like good health or money, instead of how Jesus died and paid for it all...you might want to pray for him and read your bible more.

I don't want to spend too much time focusing on what's wrong with the world, but would rather talk about what God has taught me is right and true.

I would rather talk of light and hope God gives us, than what those in the shadows try and steal from us.

So Biblical tithing is about giving your wealth to God.

Wealth is not just money but how you spend your time also.

Do you have talents? find a way to do it that glorifies God.

How have you used the gifts God has given you?

When my kids were young, I didn't have money to give to the church. However I had time and love. So I volunteered to do various things and help as I could.

I just wanted to say tithing is not just about money or time.

Now my kids are older and I am working full time. I don't have time to lead women bible study, attend prayer meetings, watch kids, tutor at the local schools, etc.

So I have instead set up a direct payment to my local church for $23 each paycheck. Not because the pastor said I had to, but yo help support the church expenses (building cost, utilities, staff pay, missions.)

Our church is transparent in where all the money goes and there is a committee that decides the yearly budget.

We support missions here and overseas that are meaningful. Locally we are part of a network of church's that house homeless people once a week during the coldest parts of the winter.

So my question is

"Do you tithe to your local church and do you feel that your church is a good steward of your time and money?"

Also how does the church use the tithing to spread the Gospel that God loves them so much that He sent Jesus died for their sins?

 

[throughfaith]

Its not for today .

 

[Dino246]

Your title is misleading, for what you describe is not "biblical tithing" at all. None of the options in your poll relate to biblical tithing.

The word "tithe" means "tenth", either ordinal or fractional. Giving is not tithing and tithing is not giving.

Under the Sinai covenant, Israelites were required to submit the tenth portion of their crops and every tenth animal to the Levites. There was nothing voluntary about it. Its closest referent is modern income tax, and its uses were essentially identical.

Under the new covenant in Jesus Christ, there are no Levites. There is no mandatory percentage, or amount, or anything similar. Giving support to your local Christian fellowship is voluntary, not required. There isn't a single passage of Scripture that teaches Christians to "tithe".

Perhaps this is the first time you have come across the idea that giving to your local church is not "tithing", and if so, I can overlook the error. Many people haven't given it any thought, and instead adopt sloppy Christianese terminology. The New Testament does teach Christians to support the church with their finances, but far too many people drag OT tithing into the frame and make the unwarranted assumption that they are the same thing. They aren't, and the confusion leads many Christians into bondage.

As for "tithing" with your time, that isn't taught anywhere in Scripture; not even under the old covenant. If you were to "tithe" your time, you will be required to spend two hours and 24 minutes every single day working for your local Church, including Sunday, and your attendance at the worship service does not count.

One more thing: if you want to be righteous under the Old Covenant Law, certainly, you must tithe according to the Law, but you must also do everything else prescribed by the Law, and Christ will be of no value to you. I suggest that instead, you fix your terminology.

 

[Runningman]

I answered No to tithing or giving financial support at my local church. A lot of the reasons that are already mentioned above are the reasons why I don't donate to them. Do I donate to the global church in some way? Yes, I do. The church is much larger than just the local congregation I happen to go to. I support ministries that help widows and orphans.

What I would prefer is less false promises based on "prosperity gospel" (also known as health and wealth gospel) and more on reality. If you need donations, don't build a false narrative that we are not under the law of Moses but that the law of tithing is still in effect. That just means they want our money and think we're simple-minded and undiscerning enough that we can be easily manipulated. That level of cunning is startling.

If they need money, just say so "Our lights turn off if we don't get donations from the church. We need $x.xx amount to keep the church going. If you value the service here, please prayerfully decide if making a monetary donation is possible for you, but please do so with a cheerful heart." Said no one ever.

Promises of health and wealth attract people because it gives them a hope of a return on investment, but in the long term it fails because it's a false promise. People need to be coming with their sincere and genuine love for God and their neighbor.

Sorry for the rant. This topic gets me going. Lol

 

[TheIndianGirl]

I began giving money when I observed a poor friend tithe regularly (10%) and was amazed. She was a student and at one point went to food banks but still tithed. Then I went to some business meetings at my church, and saw that my church needed people giving money to survive. It costs about half a million dollars to run my church every year and we have a small congregation of about 100 attendees per week. My church is spending money correctly. I put Yes above since I give money regularly even though I don't give quite 10%. Although my church has some reserves, but is basically running "paycheck to paycheck" I feel compelled and good about giving.

I also believe giving time is very important. I personally don't give too much time, except one hour a week setting up multimedia. But there are others much more involved in the different ministries. I think we should aim for giving BOTH time and money generously if we can, not one or the other as both are needed in a church.

I prefer to go by the NT verses about giving than the 10% rule in the OT. I feel a bit manipulated when people push the 10% rule, but I do think it is important to give cheerfully and generously.

 

[phil36]

Some say we don't need to Tithe some say we do? Which is it?

My question is - What is the principle behind the tithe in the OT and does that principal extend to us now. I'm not talking about a direct 10% but the principle in the tithe giving?

 

[Dino246]

Some say we don't need to Tithe some say we do? Which is it?

My question is - What is the principle behind the tithe in the OT and does that principal extend to us now. I'm not talking about a direct 10% but the principle in the tithe giving?

The principle is supporting the Levitical system of worship, which is distinctly NOT the local church, so the principle does not carry over.

Tithing was never about voluntary giving, period. Many people don't get that, so they ignorantly try to make an old covenant law into a new covenant practice, and butcher both in the process.

Lest you doubt what I have said, do your own homework: find a concordance and look up every instance of "tithe" or derivatives. See the context in which they occur. Then look up references to monetary contributions, particularly in the new testament subsequent to Jesus' resurrection.

 

[LostSoul]

Here are the facts, attached.
I know @Dino246 has seen this before.

 

[Edify]

I don't believe in tithing. It's taught nowhere in the NT. But giving is taught everywhere!
2 Corinthians 9:7 says "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

That said, my daughter believes in tithing from her Pentecostal heritage, but attends a christian church with her husband who was raised in that denomination. She told him that she believed in tithing & convinced him to do so.
Since then, they have went through some things & left their church,& now is attending another christian church. Yet, in spite of all that they are more blessed than they have ever been financially & are getting ready to build a new home.
Why? not because they "tithed", but because they gave from a thankful heart & a desire to give back to the Lord who saved them.
Whether we get all doctrine right or not, God still loves a cheerful giver & blesses them.

 

[Nehemiah6]

What is the principle behind the tithe in the OT and does that principal extend to us now.

The principle (note) behind the tithe is to give of ourselves and our substance to the Lord. At the same time, the priests and Levites were to be supported through the tithes.

When it comes to the New Testament, the principle is even more demanding. Christians are not limited to 10% but the example set before them through the Widow's Mite is 100%. Obviously this translates into retaining what we need for our daily necessities, and then offering the rest to the Lord.

The problem arises when the local churches fail to follow the New Testament pattern of applying the gifts and offerings of Christians according to what is revealed. We see in Scripture that the needs of the neediest brethren came first, then those of widows and orphans, then those of the preachers of the Gospel, and then those elders who labored in the Word and doctrine.

This does not preclude providing a suitable building for gathering to worship and fellowship. But it does exclude lavish and ornate cathedrals, as well as charlatans who prey upon gullible Christians. Also, Christian giving does not exclude worthy Christian ministries other than the local church.

 

[posthuman]

i'm agreement with Dino 100% on this topic.

the church today abuses language when they say "tithe"

if we insist on an OT complement to what we're called to do as Christians, it is more akin to freewill & thanksgiving offerings.

 

[phil36]

The principle is supporting the Levitical system of worship, which is distinctly NOT the local church, so the principle does not carry over.

Tithing was never about voluntary giving, period. Many people don't get that, so they ignorantly try to make an old covenant law into a new covenant practice, and butcher both in the process.

Lest you doubt what I have said, do your own homework: find a concordance and look up every instance of "tithe" or derivatives. See the context in which they occur. Then look up references to monetary contributions, particularly in the new testament subsequent to Jesus' resurrection.

Hi Dino,

Yes, I know what tithing means in the context of the Israelite theocracy. I am taking it from your post that you do not believe that we learn any principal from tithing?

Of course we don't support the Levitical priesthood and the Temple.. But aren't we supposed to support the church...Would that not be a principle derived from tithing?

Do we think there is a connection to good stewardship?

 

[LostSoul]

Hi Dino,

Yes, I know what tithing means in the context of the Israelite theocracy. I am taking it from your post that you do not believe that we learn any principal from tithing?

Of course we don't support the Levitical priesthood and the Temple.. But aren't we supposed to support the church...Would that not be a principle derived from tithing?

Do we think there is a connection to good stewardship?

No.
You've been manipulated.

See my attachment.

 

[phil36]

No.
You've been manipulated.

See my attachment.

No - to what?

 

[LostSoul]

No - to what?

To the question, of course.

 

[posthuman]

Of course we don't support the Levitical priesthood and the Temple.. But aren't we supposed to support the church...Would that not be a principle derived from tithing?

the tithes ((there were more than one)) in the old covenant were used to support those who could not support themselves. both the Levites, explicitly because they had no inheritance of their own, and the poor and needy. they were not monetary. if you wanted to 'redeem' your tithe with money, you had to have the priest make a valuation of the livestock or produce you were supposed to be tithing, and add 20% to that value. so if you're 'tithing' with money, Biblically you're supposed to give 12% not 10.

the tabernacle and the temple were built from freewill gifts, not from a compulsory 'tax' as it were. coincidence?

 

[posthuman]

i answered the poll "no" not because i don't give anything to a local assembly.
i answered "no" because i think the word "tithe" is misleading & misused. i do not "tithe" -- i give freely, without compulsion, whatever i have purposed in my heart.

 

[phil36]

i answered the poll "no" not because i don't give anything to a local assembly.
i answered "no" because i think the word "tithe" is misleading & misused. i do not "tithe" -- i give freely, without compulsion, whatever i have purposed in my heart.

I agree the word 'tithe' is used and abused . But that does not take away the fact that, rightly understood -the principle of tithing is good. Bear in mind I said principle not the theocratic use.

All of the old Testament teaches us lessons and principles.

 

[Blain]

I don't really have a local church cc is my church but in churches no I don't very often but sometimes I do it is easy to mistrust churches in this particular thing I mean it is good buisness having a church that doesn't get taxed takinging advantage of people with tithing it's really easy to do
But Yithing I agree withy everyone else is not the right word perhaps when it comes to time and love it would be better to call it fasting as fasting is giving up yourself and needs to become more spiritually sober in that sense yes I do

However I would disagree tithing is not for today nowhere in scripture have I read that tithing is no longer for today and Hod even says how he treasures a generous giver, personally if I have money I give it I actually have been known to give to much and not have my own needs met but even if the church is scamming you it's the heart of the giver that is the vital factor God may know about the scam but he also takes great pride and joy in a giver who does so for God not for the church

 

[Dino246]

Hi Dino,

Yes, I know what tithing means in the context of the Israelite theocracy. I am taking it from your post that you do not believe that we learn any principal from tithing?

Of course we don't support the Levitical priesthood and the Temple.. But aren't we supposed to support the church...Would that not be a principle derived from tithing?

Obligatory submission to a law is a principle that informs voluntary offering?

Um, no.

Do we think there is a connection to good stewardship?

No. Tithing under the old covenant has nothing to do with stewardship. It was a law, period. Do it or you are a sinner.