About Tithing

[Gideon300]

Does your church insist on tithing? Are you required to make known your giving to the leadership? Are you often reminded of the needs of the ministry? How does this affect you? Are you encouraged or do you feel pressured into giving? I want to show the New Testament principle of giving that replaces the tithe required by the Levitical Law.

There is no law of tithing in the NT. The principle is, "For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Corinthians 8:12)

We also read that God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

God has His principles which He has made known. The Law was only a shadow of the reality to come. By the way, tithing was not only 10% as so many claim. There were also mandatory offerings such as giving to the poor.

Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

God does not give arbitrarily. God is good and is happy to bless His children. However, He knows that some cannot be trusted with money.
"You do not have because you do not ask. And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures." James 4:2 & 3.

God gives to those He can trust with money. It does not go to their heads to make them proud, they do not waste money on pointless pleasures and they give freely to others in need.

What about "prosperity preachers", I hear you say. Some at least will be judged severely for their greed and dishonesty. There is nowhere in God's word that promotes the idea that riches are a sign of spirituality. The opposite, God will reward according to what is given with the right attitude of heart.

I learned these things the same way as almost everything else: the hard way. I've been near destitute and I've enjoyed abundance. God has delivered me from the fear of giving. I don't give as much as I did when I worked full time. I do not have a sense of guilt about that. God does not demand that we give what we do not have. He does ask us to trust Him with all that we are and all that we have.

Look for opportunities to give. It's not only the church leadership that needs help. There are some who struggle to feed their kids, who face bills that they can't pay and so on. It is a disgrace when the church allows such poverty in their midst. God seeks those who will be His avenue to supply the needs of His people. It's surely more blessed to give than to receive.

 

[mailmandan]

Many churches teach that Christians are obligated to give a minimum of 10% of our income to our church. Others teach that preachers of these churches are turning the 10% tithe under the old covenant for Israel into a monetary legalistic prescription for Christians under the new covenant. I even heard a Pastor make a challenge to his congregation to give 10% of their income for 90 days and if God does not bless them then he will give them their money back.

In 2 Corinthians 9:5-7 we read: Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

I don't see a "specific percentage" given anywhere for Christians to give under the new covenant, but I certainly believe in giving and not just to our church. I also believe that everything we own belongs to God and we certainly can't out give God.

 

[mailmandan]

That same Pastor I mentioned in post #2 uses the 10% tithe to brow-beat people in that church with guilt. He even handed out pledge cards for people to fill out so they can pledge to give extra money on a monthly basis over a three-year period above and beyond the 10% tithe directly to the "moving forward" project to build a new mega church. More than a few people have left that church because all that Pastor mainly talked about is money (primarily the 10% tithe) and building that new mega church (which to this day wasn't built). During one of his sermons, he had a slideshow of a man on a balance beam with his arms and legs wrapped around it saying, "I will tithe 2% but not 10%."

During that same sermon he even mentioned that a member of that church came into his office one day somewhat irate and said that he is leaving that church because he is tired of hearing about money all the time (particularly the 10% tithe) and needs to find a church where he can go deeper in the Word. The Pastor mentioned that the word "deeper" is a code word for "I'm not tithing 10%." The Pastor went on to say that he checked the records and sure enough that member of the church was not giving 10% and some months gave nothing at all and then acted like good riddance to him!

Now I do believe that we should give money to our church and whatever amount of money we give is between us and God, but we should not turn giving into a 'legalistic prescription."

 

[Gideon300]

That same Pastor I mentioned in post #2 uses the 10% tithe to brow-beat people in that church with guilt. He even handed out pledge cards for people to fill out so they can pledge to give extra money on a monthly basis over a three-year period above and beyond the 10% tithe directly to the "moving forward" project to build a new mega church. More than a few people have left that church because all that Pastor mainly talked about is money (primarily the 10% tithe) and building that new mega church (which to this day wasn't built). During one of his sermons, he had a slideshow of a man on a balance beam with his arms and legs wrapped around it saying, "I will tithe 2% but not 10%."

During that same sermon he even mentioned that a member of that church came into his office one day somewhat irate and said that he is leaving that church because he is tired of hearing about money all the time (particularly the 10% tithe) and needs to find a church where he can go deeper in the Word. The Pastor mentioned that the word "deeper" is a code word for "I'm not tithing 10%." The Pastor went on to say that he checked the records and sure enough that member of the church was not giving 10% and some months gave nothing at all and then acted like good riddance to him!

Now I do believe that we should give money to our church and whatever amount of money we give is between us and God, but we should not turn giving into a 'legalistic prescription."

Absolutely. The megachurch model is deeply flawed. I've been associated with a home group for decades. Our pastor worked hard in business and ministry until it became too much for him physically. He was the only leader I've met who gave to his congregation. When he closed his business, his wife kept working and the people gave. When his wife quit nursing, there was more giving. Eventually, one of the group had a very large amount from the estate of his mother. He bought the pastor a house. God did not forget the pastor's giving.

Being home based, the costs are far lower than having a massive building and staff to pay for. Mega churches have mega expenses. And that leads to a constant drain on the finances of those who attend.

 

[GWH]

My understanding is that the quorum for a synagogue is ten families,
so theoretically giving 10% would support a pastor at the average income level of the congregation.
A tithe seems to be a reasonable amount, but it also seems reasonable to view all charity as part of it.

 

[homwardbound]

Does your church insist on tithing? Are you required to make known your giving to the leadership? Are you often reminded of the needs of the ministry? How does this affect you? Are you encouraged or do you feel pressured into giving? I want to show the New Testament principle of giving that replaces the tithe required by the Levitical Law.

There is no law of tithing in the NT. The principle is, "For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Corinthians 8:12)

We also read that God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

God has His principles which He has made known. The Law was only a shadow of the reality to come. By the way, tithing was not only 10% as so many claim. There were also mandatory offerings such as giving to the poor.

Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

God does not give arbitrarily. God is good and is happy to bless His children. However, He knows that some cannot be trusted with money.
"You do not have because you do not ask. And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures." James 4:2 & 3.

God gives to those He can trust with money. It does not go to their heads to make them proud, they do not waste money on pointless pleasures and they give freely to others in need.

What about "prosperity preachers", I hear you say. Some at least will be judged severely for their greed and dishonesty. There is nowhere in God's word that promotes the idea that riches are a sign of spirituality. The opposite, God will reward according to what is given with the right attitude of heart.

I learned these things the same way as almost everything else: the hard way. I've been near destitute and I've enjoyed abundance. God has delivered me from the fear of giving. I don't give as much as I did when I worked full time. I do not have a sense of guilt about that. God does not demand that we give what we do not have. He does ask us to trust Him with all that we are and all that we have.

Look for opportunities to give. It's not only the church leadership that needs help. There are some who struggle to feed their kids, who face bills that they can't pay and so on. It is a disgrace when the church allows such poverty in their midst. God seeks those who will be His avenue to supply the needs of His people. It's surely more blessed to give than to receive.

Yes, willingly, never forcefully or manipulated to do

read all of 2 Cor 8, 9, 10 and then understand the art of giving if God permits, I know God does permit, to those that are sincere, wanting nothing in return after being given life everlasting in them.
One learns response over create, a big difference thanks for this post Gideon

Been there too and am content too, thank you

 

[Tall_Timbers]

is no law of tithing in the NT.

There is no tithing requirement for the Body of Christ. However, whatever we do give, God would like us to give with a joyful heart and without making a show of it.

I was a member of a church once that once a year would ask members to fill out a form stating how much we planned to give to the church during the year. While I did donate to the church, I always wrote "zero". I understand the need for budgeting and planning, but I won't make a promise/commitment like that into the future. A Brother of mine had a ministry and did the same thing to this donors. I wrote "zero" for him as well. I'm consistent that way...

When I was a young man I tithed and also gave above and beyond. I moved around a lot because I was in the military and I found myself giving above and beyond for building projects more than once and then saw that portion of the body ultimately decimated by the financial weight of those building projects... So I've soured on building projects... I've seen building projects cause the end of more than one Church body over the years.

Today I don't have any earned income to tithe. I just give as I'm called to give. Because my current church uses music from sources I consider anti-Christian (Element, Bethel, Hillsong), I don't give nearly as much to my current church as I would otherwise since I know they have to pay royalties for using the songs from those sources.

At the end of the day, what I give or don't give is between me and God.

 

[presidente]

I would venture to guess that most Americans with a Christian or non-Christian fulfilled the Old Testament tithe obligation leads in terms of the amount to give.

If someone owns no flocks herds or fields in the land of Israel than 0% of 0 is 0.

That being said we can learn about principles of giving from both the Old Testament and of course the New Testament. We can prioritize God and is the New Testament teacher's give cheerfully.

 

[homwardbound]

There is no tithing requirement for the Body of Christ. However, whatever we do give, God would like us to give with a joyful heart and without making a show of it.

I was a member of a church once that once a year would ask members to fill out a form stating how much we planned to give to the church during the year. While I did donate to the church, I always wrote "zero". I understand the need for budgeting and planning, but I won't make a promise/commitment like that into the future. A Brother of mine had a ministry and did the same thing to this donors. I wrote "zero" for him as well. I'm consistent that way...

When I was a young man I tithed and also gave above and beyond. I moved around a lot because I was in the military and I found myself giving above and beyond for building projects more than once and then saw that portion of the body ultimately decimated by the financial weight of those building projects... So I've soured on building projects... I've seen building projects cause the end of more than one Church body over the years.

Today I don't have any earned income to tithe. I just give as I'm called to give. Because my current church uses music from sources I consider anti-Christian (Element, Bethel, Hillsong), I don't give nearly as much to my current church as I would otherwise since I know they have to pay royalties for using the songs from those sources.

At the end of the day, what I give or don't give is between me and God.

And a winner seeing truth over errors in this world still. thank you
I see to do as led by God Father in risen Son Jesus too, thank you

 

[NightTwister]

10% is way more than a church needs to operate. One church I attended suggested 5% to the church, and another 5% to missionaries you wanted to support on your own.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

Does your church insist on tithing? Are you required to make known your giving to the leadership? Are you often reminded of the needs of the ministry? How does this affect you? Are you encouraged or do you feel pressured into giving? I want to show the New Testament principle of giving that replaces the tithe required by the Levitical Law.

There is no law of tithing in the NT. The principle is, "For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Corinthians 8:12)

We also read that God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

God has His principles which He has made known. The Law was only a shadow of the reality to come. By the way, tithing was not only 10% as so many claim. There were also mandatory offerings such as giving to the poor.

Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

God does not give arbitrarily. God is good and is happy to bless His children. However, He knows that some cannot be trusted with money.
"You do not have because you do not ask. And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures." James 4:2 & 3.

God gives to those He can trust with money. It does not go to their heads to make them proud, they do not waste money on pointless pleasures and they give freely to others in need.

What about "prosperity preachers", I hear you say. Some at least will be judged severely for their greed and dishonesty. There is nowhere in God's word that promotes the idea that riches are a sign of spirituality. The opposite, God will reward according to what is given with the right attitude of heart.

I learned these things the same way as almost everything else: the hard way. I've been near destitute and I've enjoyed abundance. God has delivered me from the fear of giving. I don't give as much as I did when I worked full time. I do not have a sense of guilt about that. God does not demand that we give what we do not have. He does ask us to trust Him with all that we are and all that we have.

Look for opportunities to give. It's not only the church leadership that needs help. There are some who struggle to feed their kids, who face bills that they can't pay and so on. It is a disgrace when the church allows such poverty in their midst. God seeks those who will be His avenue to supply the needs of His people. It's surely more blessed to give than to receive.

Simply,

Tithe: Mosiac Law
Offering: New Covenant in guidance of the Apostles.

Tithe was to be given or else you broke the law and would reap the judgments of God.

Offering was described by Paul as being a cheerful giver, not under compulsion, not out of guilt or shame.

Offering in the book of Acts involved finances, the giving of land, space to use (homes), time, crafts, skills, etc basically to the point where if there was a need, it was taken care of.

In most cases offerings involved finances.

Tithe is associated with 10% due to Abrahams one account with tithing but in reality, scholars say that it was probably higher than that when you count how many different ways they were to tithe within 14 years.

The new covenant sets no standard for giving. The only standard is to give abundantly from a cheerful heart. That could be 10% or 80%. Or it could be time, talent, or a plot of land for a revival event.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

The spiritual lesson of offerings.

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

A living sacrifice is an offering. To be a cheerful giver, one must have a heart transformation.

We must never get it backwards.

1. Full surrender to the Lord's will
2. Give from the Lord's guidance.

Vs

1. Give because I believe that I'm supposed to.
2. Let others decide what to do with your offering.

If we fail to be a living offering then we benefit nothing from giving. God can do without our offering as even He at one point got sick of the Jews and their heartless sacrifices.

We must have a heart transformed or else our works just becomes a legalistic means to check a box, to play the political games of the church image, or to appear more righteous than we are.

 

[studentoftheword]

We Humans hate parting with our money ----many have fears about giving ---- fear of lack -----fear of not enough --

All Money belongs to God Not Us ---God gives us the ability to acquire Money so we can buy what we need ----How many of us have bought more than we need ----many times we buy cause we want the thing not because we need the thing -----How many of us have 2 TV or more in our homes ---2 Cars --- 2 dogs or cats --house full of cell phones and a computer for everyone or tablets ----etc==etc

From Google

Fear says when we give, we will be in lack. God says when we give, we will be in overflow. God's ways will always require our faith, and this is no different in regards to giving.

Do you have God's Faith to believe that He will give you overflow as He says He Will ----if you Give cheerfully and with a good heart -------

Do you know that 10 % doesn't add up to a lot that God is asking us for from His Money ----

If you have 10.00 dollars --That God gave you the ability to get by the way -------all God wants is 1 dollar while the other 9 is ours ----and we go on and on about tithing is no longer in place -----and we are to give what we can afford ----Are We Serious ----We can't afford to give 1.00 from our 10 dollar bill --

And to top it off we get a receipt and claim the contribution on our taxes so we can reap the benefit ----- WOW ! We are a sorry Lot ------


God says this -----

The QUESTION IS ---Do You TRUST What He Says He Will Do And Do You BELIEVE HE Will Honor His PLEDGE ----

God Blesses us so we can -------Be A Blessing TO Others --

 

[Dino246]

We Humans hate parting with our money ----many have fears about giving ---- fear of lack -----fear of not enough --

All Money belongs to God Not Us ---God gives us the ability to acquire Money so we can buy what we need ----How many of us have bought more than we need ----many times we buy cause we want the thing not because we need the thing -----How many of us have 2 TV or more in our homes ---2 Cars --- 2 dogs or cats --house full of cell phones and a computer for everyone or tablets ----etc==etc

From Google

Fear says when we give, we will be in lack. God says when we give, we will be in overflow. God's ways will always require our faith, and this is no different in regards to giving.

Do you have God's Faith to believe that He will give you overflow as He says He Will ----if you Give cheerfully and with a good heart -------

Do you know that 10 % doesn't add up to a lot that God is asking us for from His Money ----

If you have 10.00 dollars --That God gave you the ability to get by the way -------all God wants is 1 dollar while the other 9 is ours ----and we go on and on about tithing is no longer in place -----and we are to give what we can afford ----Are We Serious ----We can't afford to give 1.00 from our 10 dollar bill --

And to top it off we get a receipt and claim the contribution on our taxes so we can reap the benefit ----- WOW ! We are a sorry Lot ------


God says this -----

The QUESTION IS ---Do You TRUST What He Says He Will Do And Do You BELIEVE HE Will Honor His PLEDGE ----

Tithing is not giving, and giving financially is not biblical tithing. They are different things completely. Conflating them only brings confusion.

Tithing is required under the Mosaic law, but Christians are not under the law.

Rejecting false teaching about tithing has absolutely nothing to do with fear, greed, selfishness, lack of trust or lack of faith; rather, it has to do with understanding, rightly dividing, and properly applying Scripture.

Biblical tithing has (almost) nothing to do with money, and new covenant giving has (almost) nothing to do with tithing.

 

[rrcn]

Jesus did speak of tithing:

Mat 23:23 KJV
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke adds "the love of God" to the statement instead of judgement, mercy and faith:
Luk 11:42 KJV
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.


There were other mentions in the New Testament, the prayers of the two speak for themself:

Luk 18:9-14 KJV
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

It would appear that a person's motive in giving is related to his spiritual condition.

Here is an interesting link: