Are Christians obligated to tithe?

[clittle]

Malachi 3
…9"You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

the israelites were under the old covenant, and would have been breaking covenant by withholding tithes.
christians do not, and can not tithe according to the old covenant.

 

[clittle]

Would just like to add that this is one area God asks us to test Him as He will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing until it overflows.....Just my own personal experience is that when I give to the Lord I have never been able to out give Him. He has always made sure this orphaned - single mother had food in the pantry and bills paid. Was it tight sometimes yes, but God asks us to live by faith and to learn to trust in Him and believe me there have been many times I look at the bills needing to be paid and paying tithe and wondering how it was going to work and by the end of the month the bills were paid and we never went hungry and I was always amazed......God is good and He blesses and loves a cheerful giver.

Who did Jesus point out at the temple giving offerings? Was it the rich giving bags of money? No It was the widow putting in two mites because she gave all she had to the Lord. She was taken care of by God and Jesus gave her notice on her cheerful giving of everything she had.

Most times tithing is used to further God's work and we want to selfishly hold on to His money, because in reality everything we have belongs to God, He just lets us borrow it to see what we will do with it. Then I ask myself this question - Selfish much? Do you have enough money to buy that pretty purse? Then toss a dollar in the collection plate begrudging it because you wanted something else. Possibly a large screen TV to watch a Super Bowl game? But then God doesn't need our money does He? Maybe not...... But that missionary does, that single mom might, that older gentleman trying to buy meds or food might too. Tithes and offerings aren't really the issue here. But selfishness is. Trust God much?

Tithing under the Old Covenant

 

[Jon4TheCross]

I have not figured out how tithing to a religious organization can be considered tithing, the Priest is in the heavens, Yahshua (Jesus) the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, and any "priests" "pastors" etc, on earth are just pretending, Messiah said we are all brothers and He is the Shepherd. I think giving to those that cant protect them selves is the way to go.

John (Yahchanan) 10:16, "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd (4166. poimén)."

Are you saying that nobody has access to the holiest of all on earth, and anyone who claims to is pretending? The high priesthood has such access. We are joint heirs of such access.

 

[Jon4TheCross]

Ok...plain and simple. If you hold back a part like annanias and saphira...you are practicing being the world (sin in the flesh). If you have been born again and given a measure of faith (a measure of God), and have access to the holiest of all...tithing is keeping 90%, and if you do so you are confused about what being a member of the high priesthood is all about. The high priesthood does not tithe to itself...they have all things common or are taking steps towards proving the scincerity of their love like Paul admonished us to do. Tithe is an everlasting covenant, but those with inheritance in the land (the world) tithe to the priesthood.


Numbers 18:19-21New King James Version (NKJV)

19*“All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord with you and your descendants with you.”

20*Then the Lord said to Aaron: “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.

Tithes for Support of the Levites
21*“Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.


2 Corinthians 8:7-9King James Version (KJV)

7*Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8*I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9*For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.


We see in the following verse a Levite who is also showing the new way in Christ.


Acts 4:36-37King James Version (KJV)

36*And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

37*Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Umm, many responses contradict scripture.

 

[john832]

I don't believe in tithing. It's an Old Covenant practice tied to the Law. Christians don't live under the Law, we live in Christ, who fulfilled the Law. Now Christ is our Sabbath and we are His living sacrifices. We're meant to give everything we are to God. But in that, it's between God and ourselves how much we give monetarily etc. Naturally, as we grow in our love for God and realise more His love for us, we'll learn to give more and more generously (of our time, money, skills etc.) but really I don't believe tithing has any place under the New Covenant. Tithing is more about obligation, not giving out of love (that's not always the case, but much of the time it seems to be true).

How do you feel about murder, anyone under that Law?

 

[john832]

Christ said this...

Luk 11:42 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.

Seems Christ thought we should tithe.

 

[posthuman]

But I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
(Philemon 1:14)

i wonder what kind of an example dear Paul meant to be for us.

 

[john832]

But I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
(Philemon 1:14)

i wonder what kind of an example dear Paul meant to be for us.

Well obviously Paul overrides Christ.

 

[john832]

But I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
(Philemon 1:14)

i wonder what kind of an example dear Paul meant to be for us.

Well, why don't we see...

1Co 9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
1Co 9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1Co 9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1Co 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Co 9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Co 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
1Co 9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
1Co 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

 

[posthuman]

Well obviously Paul overrides Christ.

what do you think, he contradicts Him? is Paul not His witness?

Shall we give, or shall we not give?
But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them,
Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
(Mark 12:15)

Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness destroy them.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.
You have delivered me from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
(Psalm 54:4-6)

 

[john832]

what do you think, he contradicts Him? is Paul not His witness?

Shall we give, or shall we not give?
But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them,
Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
(Mark 12:15)

Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness destroy them.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.
You have delivered me from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
(Psalm 54:4-6)

See post #49 and Paul taught that a minister is to be financed by the gospel.

 

[posthuman]

Well, why don't we see...

1Co 9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
1Co 9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1Co 9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1Co 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Co 9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Co 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
1Co 9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
1Co 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

uh. huh. a minister of the gospel has the right to have his physical needs met by those he ministers to. now keep reading, and tell me whether Barnabas and Paul commanded that they receive payment from any of the churches they founded.. ?

 

[JesusLives]

the israelites were under the old covenant, and would have been breaking covenant by withholding tithes.
christians do not, and can not tithe according to the old covenant.

I feel sorry for you that you feel that way and you have that right. But then again God loves a cheerful giver.

 

[posthuman]

See post #49 and Paul taught that a minister is to be financed by the gospel.

not that a minister must be financed by the church, but that he has a right to be.

you didn't answer me.

does Paul contradict Christ?
is Paul Christ's witness and apostle or not?

if you accept him, i think you need to accept that he did not command anyone to tithe. and explicitly taught that any giving should not be by compulsion.

 

[JesusLives]

Tithing under the Old Covenant

Overly blessed because of it. Never gone hungry, bills paid and again God loves a cheerful giver.

 

[john832]

uh. huh. a minister of the gospel has the right to have his physical needs met by those he ministers to. now keep reading, and tell me whether Barnabas and Paul commanded that they receive payment from any of the churches they founded.. ?

Paul's choice. He wrote that to the church at Corinth. So, tell me, how are tracts printed? How is the gospel preached? Money just appears out of thin air? Or do ministers of Christ have the authority and the need to collect tithes to do the work?

 

[posthuman]

Paul's choice. He wrote that to the church at Corinth. So, tell me, how are tracts printed? How is the gospel preached? Money just appears out of thin air? Or do ministers of Christ have the authority and the need to collect tithes to do the work?

completely immaterial to the question of whether "tithing" is commanded​ of believers.

does Christ contradict Paul or not?
is Paul's writing scripture, yes or no?

 

[john832]

Overly blessed because of it. Never gone hungry, bills paid and again God loves a cheerful giver.

Since I enjoy a certain amount of anonymity on this board, let me recount a true occurrence from many years ago...

My wife and I got married and were just starting out and didn't have the proverbial pot or the window to throw it out of. After paying the tithe for that pay period, I didn't have the money for a house payment and had no way to get it, so I thought I better go and talk to the lender. I got there, went in and explained my predicament to person. He looked at my file and the answer he gave me nearly caused me to vapor-lock. Mr. ******** he said, you are paid up and not due.

The only explanation I have for this is...

Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

[john832]

completely immaterial to the question of whether "tithing" is commanded​ of believers.

does Christ contradict Paul or not?
is Paul's writing scripture, yes or no?

Christ supersedes any other writer of the N.T. and He said...

Luk 11:42 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.

Paul concurred, see post #49. Now if Paul chose not to take tithes, that was his choice but the weight of scripture establishes tithing.

 

[john832]

the israelites were under the old covenant, and would have been breaking covenant by withholding tithes.
christians do not, and can not tithe according to the old covenant.

So the lessons of tithing and the blessings of tithing are denied Christians under the New Covenant?