Can You Split Your Tithe? Part 2.

[seoulsearch]

Hi everyone,

I see the other post is generating a large amount of discussion... which is great... however, what I need is an answer to my question.

For all those who believe in tithes and pay them to your church---I am NOT cutting down anyone who may not or cannot, I'm just trying to find people who are doing the same as far as tithing--is it Biblically sound to split your tithe between different Christian organizations that are serving the Lord?

Would it be Scripturally accurate if I split my tithe between 1. my old church 2. my new church 3. Christian Chat?

Because if I don't, how will Christian Chat be able to go on?

Thanks!

 

[1still_waters]

You should pay your fair share to any church you attend and get some kinda benefit from.

2 Corinthians 2:

7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? 8Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain."[b] Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?

This issue in the new testament isn't so much about 'tithing' as it is having a giving heart.

2 Corinthians 9

. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

So make sure you're 1. Giving your fair share to any church you attend. 2. Giving out of a heart that LOVES to give in the first place.

 

[iraasuup]

Hi everyone,

I see the other post is generating a large amount of discussion... which is great... however, what I need is an answer to my question.

For all those who believe in tithes and pay them to your church---I am NOT cutting down anyone who may not or cannot, I'm just trying to find people who are doing the same as far as tithing--is it Biblically sound to split your tithe between different Christian organizations that are serving the Lord?

Would it be Scripturally accurate if I split my tithe between 1. my old church 2. my new church 3. Christian Chat?

Because if I don't, how will Christian Chat be able to go on?

Thanks!

I'm sorry Seoulsearch, but I really don't see what the problem is. I answered this question for you quite clearly in your first thread.

I'm not going to repeat myself again and again for you because you intentionally CHOOSE NOT TO LISTEN!

So here it is in a nutshell, (listen or don't... either way it doesn't bother me)..

You can and SHOULD give to wherever you see fit and wherever you feel God is calling you. That could be one or many things: the church, a sponsor child, a missionary, supplies for a charity, food for somebody, Christianchat, or wherever you see a need. I do agree with Stilly, on his post about giving with a JOYFUL heart, as I clearly stated earlier.

HOWEVER, my main point was that NOWHERE does it state in the bible (and by that I mean scripture with JESUS commanding us) that we are to give WHOLEY OR FIRSTLY (or at all even) to the church.

Which brings me back to your original question *sigh* YES YOU CAN split your tithes, if you want to give some to both churches or one church or a hundred churches even, along with Christian Chat, then go right ahead. There is NOTHING scripturally stopping you from doing so!

 

[espresso]

My own personal conviction is that my "tithe" goes to the church I attend and my "offerings" go to all the other Christian organizations I support. The tithe is just the beginning of giving, we are called to give offerings as well.

Since churches are filled with a bunch of imperfect people, they will always make imperfect decisions with the money. If I had real biblical issues with how the money was being handled I would not withhold my giving, I would leave. I have in fact given to churches that I later found out mishandled money but it didn’t bother me because I was giving to God and He knew my hearts intentions. Once I give it to Him, what happens with it is up to Him. He cares about our hearts intentions. He doesnt need our money.

There are numerous references in the New Testament to giving to the church as well as supporting those that teach and preach the gospel. This is why I feel my tithe needs to go to my church. Most churches also give a large portion of their income to missions and other Christian organizations so tithing to your home church does more than pay for a pretty building. As one who works with churches and Christian organizations you would be amazed at the expenses that go with doing ministry. Someone has to fund the furthering of the Gospel. If we don’t, who will?

1 Corinthians 9:13 Don't you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel

 

[Slepsog4]

Giving to other good works should be above/beyond your normal or standard giving to/through your church.

 

[seoulsearch]

I'm sorry Seoulsearch, but I really don't see what the problem is. I answered this question for you quite clearly in your first thread.

I'm not going to repeat myself again and again for you because you intentionally CHOOSE NOT TO LISTEN!

So here it is in a nutshell, (listen or don't... either way it doesn't bother me)..

You can and SHOULD give to wherever you see fit and wherever you feel God is calling you. That could be one or many things: the church, a sponsor child, a missionary, supplies for a charity, food for somebody, Christianchat, or wherever you see a need. I do agree with Stilly, on his post about giving with a JOYFUL heart, as I clearly stated earlier.

HOWEVER, my main point was that NOWHERE does it state in the bible (and by that I mean scripture with JESUS commanding us) that we are to give WHOLEY OR FIRSTLY (or at all even) to the church.

Which brings me back to your original question *sigh* YES YOU CAN split your tithes, if you want to give some to both churches or one church or a hundred churches even, along with Christian Chat, then go right ahead. There is NOTHING scripturally stopping you from doing so!

I'm not choosing not to listen--I was just wanting what other people who are tithing to their churches thought. NOT because I don't think your answer doesn't count--as I said, I just wanted to see what other church tithers had to say.

The Bible says there is safety in a multitude of counselors. My mentor at church told me it's all right to ask for other's opinions... and that was my point. So, I do like to get opinions from several points of view. I'm not intentionally ignoring you.

 

[seoulsearch]

Please don't be offended if I don't follow one specific person's advice--if I ask again, I'm interested in hearing more discussion first. I'm sorry if this is offensive to some--it's just what I was taught to do.

 

[seoulsearch]

Ok--sorry for the triple post: I am used to meeting with my mentor (Sophie--she's wonderful) and sometimes we will talk about something... I will ask her, "Is it ok if I ask [the pastor, someone else we know, etc.])?" and that's when she reminded of the passage about the Bible saying there is safety in multiple counselors. She told me absolutely, go and ask others about it. (For example, I had a question about marriage--Sophie is married and has never been divorced, I wanted to ask someone in our church who was divorced like myself because I wanted their perspective too.)

In the church I come from, my elders don't get offended if I keep asking the same questions of different people. They often encourage it, saying someone else might be able to point out something they had missed.

I also sometimes ask the same thing again to get a confirmation of what I believe God is communicating to me.

So, again, please don't be offended. Part of the reason I came to Christian Chat is because I'm a at a new church and don't have the contacts I used to have--so I thought I could get some input here.

Thanks!

 

[watchmen]

My opinion, and this is just my opinion is..... You should give you tithe to the church you attend unless specifically don't otherwise by God, and if you want to help your old church or chriastian chat, do it with offering over and beyond you 10% tithe.

 

[doubleedge]

MAKE SURE, whatever U pay tithes to, IS IN FACT of God!!!

 

[seoulsearch]

I want to thank you all very much for your concern and input. I have decided that I am going to pay tithes from my job to the new church I'm currently attending, then pay tithes off additional income (for example, overtime) to my old church. I will tweak my budget this weekend to work in Christian Chat as an offering.

Thank you all very much and God bless!

 

[iraasuup]

Well it seems you've come to a decision... I hope the 3 threads and the multiple counsellors helped you reach it!

 

[seoulsearch]

Yes, I enjoy reading others' input... it was also helpful in refreshing my memory concerning some passages I had forgotten about the subject... and I do understand that different people tithe in different ways (some with their time, volunteer projects, etc.)

Thanks to all!

 

[BLC]

Tithing never changed from the the OT to the NT. Tithing is not voluntary, it is a mandate of 10% of your gross profit, your gross income and right off the top of your gain. The word tithe means a tenth part (Num 18:24) starting from (Gen 14:20) with Abram right through to (Luke 18:12 and Heb 7:5-10). Jesus said that tithing should not be left undone in (Mt 23:23, Luke 11:42). Offerings (or freewill offerings) are over and above the tithe and are voluntary to meet specific needs. They are not mandated but are necessary because of need. In (Mk 12:13-17, Lk 20:21-25) Jesus answered the Pharisees and told them to render that which belongs to Caesar and render to God the things that are God's. I don't think He was referring to a free will offering. When we give tithes and offerings we are to cheerfully and without grudging (2Cor 9:5-7).

Many give of their abundance and want to be recognized, but Jesus commended the widow who gave all that she needed to live on (Mk 12:42-44) and that money she gave was not given back to her, even though she needed it. The widow gave out of need and necessity and not out of wanting something in return. She had a conviction and though she only had a little, she gave all of it. She did not give out of preference to those she wanted to bless. She was giving back to God what He had blessed her with. She was not interested in blessing people but wanted to bless God with all her 'mite'. I wonder what some of us think of that kind of giving these days!
Read these passages that have to do with the NT church and what believes thought of their possessions (Acts 2:42-47, 4:34-37). If we practiced this king of giving in the church we would be mocked and scorned for being so reckless with our possessions and negligent toward our families. Can you imagine that all the believers had ALL THINGS COMMON and realized that such as they had was not their own (Acts 4:32). Some have spoken of offerings as a 'free will offering'. How many of us that believe in 'free will offerings' are willing to give it all? The widow did and those that got saved in the book of Acts did. Is our salvation any different? Do we really see any NT church or groups of believers really living as they did in the book of Acts?

Just think of some of the messages we hear today about giving and having prosperity. Those believers in the book of Acts didn't need to hear about giving because they gave it all over and over again. THEY HAD ALL THINGS COMMON! The rich gave it all. The poor gave it all. The middle class gave it all. Every believer gave it all and laid it at the apostle's feet. Do we really understand as believers what Christ was teaching in (Mt 5) in His sermon on the mount? Do we really believe that message?