Straight question, straight answer...
Please tell me why, UNDER THE NEW COVENANT, Christians are OBLIGATED to give some of their income to the church.
If you think Christians are not obligated but that it's nice to contribute to your church, that's fine.
But that's not the question.
And remember, I'm asking about under the NEW covenant.
While people do debate about whether tithes, or not, or whether give to the Church, or not, one thing is for sure that the saints are to only go by their needs, and not their wants.
God only blesses us with our needs, and not our wants, and we have to help the poor, and needy if possible, and this is the law of God, and the operation of the Church.
Paul said charity, love in action, works, is greater than faith, and love works no ill towards their neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law, which includes caring about the poor, and needy.
Which Paul said if they do not have charity, then they are nothing, and they have erred from the faith, and the love of money is the root of all evil for it neglects the poor, and needy, which means they lack love.
James said if they do not have charity, then their faith is dead, and John said if they do not have charity, then the love of God does not dwell in them, so do not love in word, and in tongue, but in deed, works, and in truth.
The early Church sold all they had that was not a necessity, and distributed the money to the saints in need, and had all things common, which means they shared everything.
Paul said that he coveted no man's gold, and silver, money, but only his necessities as he traveled around preaching the Gospel.
So people can say why tithes, why give to the Church, when what does that mean if they can only go by their needs anyway, lest they think they do not like to give so they can have money for their wants.
For do they cry why give because they are struggling to make ends meet, or do they cry why give because they want to go by their wants, and want that new Playstation that came out with the new game that is all the rave.
Because I tend to think that a lot people cry about giving to the Church, not because they are struggling financially, but because they do not want to give money for they want to spend it on their wants.
But what do tithes, and giving to the Church mean, when you can only go by your needs, and not your wants, and have to care about the poor, and needy if possible.
For there is no money for you to enjoy on yourself anyway, and if you do go by your wants then you fall victim to the love of money is the root of all evil, for you care about your wants more than you love people, then how are you right with God when love is the fulfilling of the law.