Jesus' church began with Him and His disciples, added to at Jerusalem, and many many churches planted out of it.
Christian tithing was started by the Roman Catholic Church
- Thread starter ResidentAlien
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
I grew up in a family where money was always a problem. We lived OK, but my mother worked long hours and my dad was a gambler. When I was saved, I brought a "poverty mentality" with me. I scrimped and saved as best I could, yet lacked wisdom and wasted a lot of money also. I was always broke.
Tithing was impossible, so I thought. I gave a little, but always looking at my finances first. I met someone who was a true giver. His hand was always in his pocket, ready to give. He was always blessed financially. He led a fellowship of around 20 people. He gave to them, not the other way around. God blessed his business as he raised four children. His wife stayed home to look after him and the kids. She also worked in the business.
Slowly I became willing to give. God changed my heart. It was not easy. Now I live in comfort and my years of worry about money are behind me. I give more than I ever have. God keeps blessing.
Tithing is not New Testament. The principle is now of giving. 10% is a lot for some, peanuts for others. I can assure anyone worrying about giving that God is well able to meet your every need. One time I received almost a year's wages in a settlement for something that happened 50 years before. I only found out about the class action by "accident".
The truth is that God has not got your heart until He has your wallet. Lord Jesus said either God is your master or money. Giving is the way to demonstrate that God is control of your life. It is also a great blessing to give, and not because of any material blessing we may receive. God is not a slot machine dispensing gifts when a coin in inserted. No, when we give (in the right way), we may see the joy and relief in the eyes of someone in great need. We may discover that our gift has encouraged someone who is struggling.
We should give to the people who minister the gospel to us. We should also give to those who are struggling financially, especially Christians. Lord Jesus said that there will always be poor people, so we will always have opportunity to bless.
Tithing is a starting point. I prayed that God would make me a generous giver. One person I met gave half his income. I was amazed. And convicted of my meanness. Jesus is not a liar. He said, "Give and it shall be given to you". I am living proof that God honours His word.
Yeah... this isn't about a mandated system of legalistic money taking, but giving to God because of what He has given us to support Gods work.
The church being started in the wilderness let us know that no one can start a new thing today. From the days of Moses where the Church started even to this day, it still remains the same. This is not to focus on Stephen, but to understand that God's word don't change. The lord have not changed his ways. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed (Malachi 3:6) or Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
I know this much is true…
Those that sow sparingly will reap sparingly.
Remember, it’s NOT about the AMOUNT, it’s about your CHEERFULNESS and THANKSGIVING to GOD for what He has done for you…everyday!
Give your $1 or 50cents with an abundant heart of love and thankfulness to God!
When King David was in a place of asking God for forgiveness when he was repenting, he did NOT make an offering to God unless it COST him… just saying, there are times when a bigger offering is necessary because LOVE requires it, meaning ONLY if you LOVE God will you give what COST you.
ONLY because GOD loved us did He give something that COST Him..His One and Only begotten Son.
Those that sow sparingly will reap sparingly.
Remember, it’s NOT about the AMOUNT, it’s about your CHEERFULNESS and THANKSGIVING to GOD for what He has done for you…everyday!
Give your $1 or 50cents with an abundant heart of love and thankfulness to God!
When King David was in a place of asking God for forgiveness when he was repenting, he did NOT make an offering to God unless it COST him… just saying, there are times when a bigger offering is necessary because LOVE requires it, meaning ONLY if you LOVE God will you give what COST you.
ONLY because GOD loved us did He give something that COST Him..His One and Only begotten Son.
Tithing is highly important imho, but not only so that Pastors and Priests can have enough to live on and focus solely on preaching the Gospel and Saving Souls. It's also important for the Christian Community to take care of the Poor and ensure no one feels the sting of poverty. Some Christians say, "Giving to the Poor doesn't count toward your tithe (10%)". But remember the Bible says, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." (Prov 19:17). So giving to the Poor also comes under tithing imho, because the Bible says giving to the Poor is giving to the Lord. The Lord Himself confirms this in Mat 25:40.
Regarding the rest, I believe God's Promise in Malachi 3:10 is fully applicable even today. I've experienced it. This is the only place in Scripture AFAIK where God even tells us to test Him, assuring and promising us He will bless us if we tithe generously. He calls not tithing robbing from the Lord. Malachi 3:
"8“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings. 9You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12“Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty."
Regarding the rest, I believe God's Promise in Malachi 3:10 is fully applicable even today. I've experienced it. This is the only place in Scripture AFAIK where God even tells us to test Him, assuring and promising us He will bless us if we tithe generously. He calls not tithing robbing from the Lord. Malachi 3:
"8“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings. 9You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12“Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty."
Consider the woman that poured out ALL the costly perfume on Jesus….and she was ridiculed for “wasting” her perfume on Jesus because it could have been sold to feed the poor…
Seriously?!! What she did was based on a cheerful heart filled with love for God and just simply thankful and willing to give God her BEST! It was pure LOVE!
Don’t put religious parameters on tithing, giving or offering…just let it be pure love for God!
Seriously?!! What she did was based on a cheerful heart filled with love for God and just simply thankful and willing to give God her BEST! It was pure LOVE!
Don’t put religious parameters on tithing, giving or offering…just let it be pure love for God!
I don't think you understood. Ekklesia is the word that Stephen used, not church. Ekklesia can be translated as congregation, assembly or church depending on context.
All the English translations use congregation or assembly in Acts 7:38. Not even the NKJV uses church. Technically it is not wrong as long as one understands church as meaning an assembly of any people, but that is not how we understand the word Church today.
You seem to be thinking that the Word of God uses the word Church here. But technically the word of God used the word Ecclesia.
The KJV translated into English "Church" but should have used congregation.
Putting aside the English words for a minute, understand that Stephen said Ekklesia. Or rather, Luke wrote Ekklesia and that word was the same word used to describe the congregation under Moses, which is exactly what Stephen was talking about.
Stephen was not presenting some mystery about the Church of Jesus that started on the day of Pentecost as having already started under Moses. That would be a very bad interpretation based on a misunderstanding of the word church in Acts 7:38.
May God bless you as you continue to read His Word.
"Tithe" literally means "tenth". There isn't any command (or even suggestion) in the New Testament that Christians are to "tithe". There is plenty of instruction that Christians are to give though. The Law given to ancient Israel (not to the Church!) required giving a tenth of crops and livestock to support the Levites, who also functioned as governors, police, and health services. Governments today provide those functions. Christians are not required to "tithe".
Malachi was written to ancient Israel, not to the Christian church. The passage itself tells you that it is not relevant to us; we don't have a storehouse, and we don't have "land".
Tithing is not the same thing as giving.
I appreciate your positive and encouraging attitude. There is one thing I'd like to address: "tithing" literally means "giving a tenth". It has no other meaning, so it has inherent parameters. One literally cannot "tithe" five percent, or 15%, or any other proportion. Further, because the word literally means "tenth", it causes confusion and unrighteous obligation when newer Christians hear it. They think (wrongly) that Christians are required (or even encouraged) to give 10%, when the New Testament does not teach that. If we avoid the term (unless talking about specific scriptural passages), we avoid the confusion.Consider the woman that poured out ALL the costly perfume on Jesus….and she was ridiculed for “wasting” her perfume on Jesus because it could have been sold to feed the poor…
Seriously?!! What she did was based on a cheerful heart filled with love for God and just simply thankful and willing to give God her BEST! It was pure LOVE!
Don’t put religious parameters on tithing, giving or offering…just let it be pure love for God!
I literally have never heard a more ignorant and misguided statement. There really is a first time for everything I guess.
You serve one of two masters, God or money. So says Lord Jesus. Was He misguided too?
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The original statement was:
"The truth is that God has not got your heart until He has your wallet."
I suppose when a person believes and confesses Jesus as Lord He doesn't have your heart. When you confess your sins to Him he doesn't have your heart. When you do everything you can each and every to please Him He still doesn't have your heart.
It's only when you open your wallet, then He has your heart? C'mon, think.
"The truth is that God has not got your heart until He has your wallet."
I suppose when a person believes and confesses Jesus as Lord He doesn't have your heart. When you confess your sins to Him he doesn't have your heart. When you do everything you can each and every to please Him He still doesn't have your heart.
It's only when you open your wallet, then He has your heart? C'mon, think.