Religious Tithing

  • 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.

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,598
544
113
#61
OK, I understand but how do we know how much we should give. My Church calls giving "tithes and offerings", this suggests that tithing is still observed in the new testament Church.

I don't know of any new testament passages where tithing was abolished or done away with. It seems to remain as a guide as to how much of our money we should give. I don't want to confuse this with some of the other old testament requirements which were abolished, such as dietary etc.
This is what Paul said

1 Corinthians 16:2 EXP B

2 On the first day of every week [C Sunday], each one of you should put aside money ·as you have been blessed [or what you can afford; L whatever one prospers]. Save it up so you will not have to collect money after I come.


This is Barnes Commentary on this Scripture ---

https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28779/eVerseID/28779/RTD/barnes

It is universally agreed that this here denotes the first day of the week, or the Lord' s Day.

Let every one of you - Let the collection be universal. Let each one esteem it his duty and his privilege to give to this object. It was not to be confined to the rich only, but was the common duty of all. The poor, as well as the rich, were expected to contribute according to their ability.

Lay by him in store - ( ̓ ̔͂ͅ ́ ́ par' heautō tithetō thēsaurizōn ). Let him lay up at home, treasuring up as he has been prospered. The Greek phrase, "by himself," means, probably, the same as at home. Let him set it apart; let him designate a certain portion; let him do this by himself, when he is at home, when he can calmly look at the evidence of his prosperity. Let him do it not under the influence of pathetic appeals, or for the sake of display when he is with others; but let him do it as a matter of principle, and when he is by himself. The phrase in Greek, "treasuring up," may mean that each one was to put the part which he had designated into the common treasury. This interpretation seems to be demanded by the latter part of the verse. They were to lay it by, and to put it into the common treasury, that there might be no trouble of collecting when he should come. Or it may, perhaps, mean that they were individually to treasure it up, having designated in their own mind the sum which they could give, and have it in readiness when he should come. This was evidently to be done not on one Sunday only, but was to be done on each Lord' s Day until he should come.

As God hath prospered him - The word "God" is not in the original, but it is evidently understood, and necessary to the sense. The word rendered "hath prospered" ( ̓͂ euodōtai ) means, properly, to set forward on one' s way; to prosper one' s journey; and then to prosper, or be prospered. This is the rule which Paul lays down here to guide the Christians at Corinth in giving alms, a rule that is as applicable now, and as valuable now, as it was then.

That there be no gatherings when I come - No collections ́ logiai , I Corinthians 16:1). The apostle means that there should be no trouble in collecting the small sums; that it should all be prepared; that each one might have laid by what he could give; and that all might be ready to be handed over to him, or to whomsoever they might choose to send with it to Jerusalem; I Corinthians 16:3 - In view of this important verse, we may remark:

(1) That there is here clear proof that the first day of the week was observed by the church at Corinth as holy time. If it was not, there can have been no propriety in selecting that day in preference to any other in which to make the collection. It was the day which was set apart to the duties of religion, and therefore an appropriate day for the exercise of charity and the bestowment of alms. There can have been no reason why this day should have been designated except that it was a day set apart to religion, and therefore deemed a proper day for the exercise of benevolence toward others.

(2) This order extended also to the churches in Galatia, proving also that the first day of the week was observed by them, and was regarded as a day proper for the exercise of charity toward the poor and the afflicted. And if the first day of the week was observed, by apostolic authority, in those churches, it is morally certain that it was observed by others. This consideration, therefore, demonstrates that it was the custom to observe this day, and that it was observed by the authority of the early founders of Christianity.

(3) Paul intended that they should be systematic in their giving, and that they should give from principle, and not merely under the impulse of feeling.

(4) Paul designed that the habit of doing good with their money should be constant. He, therefore, directed that it should be on the return of each Lord' s Day, and that the subject should be constantly before their minds.

(5) It was evident that Paul in this way would obtain more for his object than he would if he waited that they should give all at once. He therefore directed them honestly to lay by each week what they could then give, and to regard it as a sacred treasure. How much would the amount of charities in the Christian churches be swelled if this were the practice now, and if all Christians would lay by in store each week what they could then devote to sacred purposes.

(6) The true rule of giving is, "as the Lord hath prospered us." If he has prospered us, we owe it to him as a debt of gratitude. And according to our prosperity and success, we should honestly devote our property to God.

(7) It is right and proper to lay by of our wealth for the purposes of benevolence on Sunday. It is right to do good then Matthew 12:12; and one of the appropriate exercises of religion is to look at the evidence of our prosperity with a view to know what we may be permitted to give to advance the kingdom of the Lord Jesus.

(8) If every Christian would honestly do this every week, it would do much to keep down the spirit of worldliness that now prevails everywhere in the Christian church; and if every Christian would conscientiously follow the direction of Paul here, there would be no lack of funds for any well-directed plan for the conversion of the world.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,733
13,406
113
#62
This is what Paul said

1 Corinthians 16:2 EXP B

2 On the first day of every week [C Sunday], each one of you should put aside money ·as you have been blessed [or what you can afford; L whatever one prospers]. Save it up so you will not have to collect money after I come.


This is Barnes Commentary on this Scripture ---

https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28779/eVerseID/28779/RTD/barnes

It is universally agreed that this here denotes the first day of the week, or the Lord' s Day.

Let every one of you - Let the collection be universal. Let each one esteem it his duty and his privilege to give to this object. It was not to be confined to the rich only, but was the common duty of all. The poor, as well as the rich, were expected to contribute according to their ability.

Lay by him in store - ( ̓ ̔͂ͅ ́ ́ par' heautō tithetō thēsaurizōn ). Let him lay up at home, treasuring up as he has been prospered. The Greek phrase, "by himself," means, probably, the same as at home. Let him set it apart; let him designate a certain portion; let him do this by himself, when he is at home, when he can calmly look at the evidence of his prosperity. Let him do it not under the influence of pathetic appeals, or for the sake of display when he is with others; but let him do it as a matter of principle, and when he is by himself. The phrase in Greek, "treasuring up," may mean that each one was to put the part which he had designated into the common treasury. This interpretation seems to be demanded by the latter part of the verse. They were to lay it by, and to put it into the common treasury, that there might be no trouble of collecting when he should come. Or it may, perhaps, mean that they were individually to treasure it up, having designated in their own mind the sum which they could give, and have it in readiness when he should come. This was evidently to be done not on one Sunday only, but was to be done on each Lord' s Day until he should come.

As God hath prospered him - The word "God" is not in the original, but it is evidently understood, and necessary to the sense. The word rendered "hath prospered" ( ̓͂ euodōtai ) means, properly, to set forward on one' s way; to prosper one' s journey; and then to prosper, or be prospered. This is the rule which Paul lays down here to guide the Christians at Corinth in giving alms, a rule that is as applicable now, and as valuable now, as it was then.

That there be no gatherings when I come - No collections ́ logiai , I Corinthians 16:1). The apostle means that there should be no trouble in collecting the small sums; that it should all be prepared; that each one might have laid by what he could give; and that all might be ready to be handed over to him, or to whomsoever they might choose to send with it to Jerusalem; I Corinthians 16:3 - In view of this important verse, we may remark:

(1) That there is here clear proof that the first day of the week was observed by the church at Corinth as holy time. If it was not, there can have been no propriety in selecting that day in preference to any other in which to make the collection. It was the day which was set apart to the duties of religion, and therefore an appropriate day for the exercise of charity and the bestowment of alms. There can have been no reason why this day should have been designated except that it was a day set apart to religion, and therefore deemed a proper day for the exercise of benevolence toward others.

(2) This order extended also to the churches in Galatia, proving also that the first day of the week was observed by them, and was regarded as a day proper for the exercise of charity toward the poor and the afflicted. And if the first day of the week was observed, by apostolic authority, in those churches, it is morally certain that it was observed by others. This consideration, therefore, demonstrates that it was the custom to observe this day, and that it was observed by the authority of the early founders of Christianity.

(3) Paul intended that they should be systematic in their giving, and that they should give from principle, and not merely under the impulse of feeling.

(4) Paul designed that the habit of doing good with their money should be constant. He, therefore, directed that it should be on the return of each Lord' s Day, and that the subject should be constantly before their minds.

(5) It was evident that Paul in this way would obtain more for his object than he would if he waited that they should give all at once. He therefore directed them honestly to lay by each week what they could then give, and to regard it as a sacred treasure. How much would the amount of charities in the Christian churches be swelled if this were the practice now, and if all Christians would lay by in store each week what they could then devote to sacred purposes.

(6) The true rule of giving is, "as the Lord hath prospered us." If he has prospered us, we owe it to him as a debt of gratitude. And according to our prosperity and success, we should honestly devote our property to God.

(7) It is right and proper to lay by of our wealth for the purposes of benevolence on Sunday. It is right to do good then Matthew 12:12; and one of the appropriate exercises of religion is to look at the evidence of our prosperity with a view to know what we may be permitted to give to advance the kingdom of the Lord Jesus.

(8) If every Christian would honestly do this every week, it would do much to keep down the spirit of worldliness that now prevails everywhere in the Christian church; and if every Christian would conscientiously follow the direction of Paul here, there would be no lack of funds for any well-directed plan for the conversion of the world.
This is good information, though the context limits its applicability. It was for a special offering for the support of the Jerusalem church, which, if I recall correctly, was enduring a famine during this period. It was not instruction for regular support of the local congregation.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,945
8,183
113
#63
Better men than I have gone back and forth for a long, long time about "Is a Christian required to tithe to the church?" Both sides have their scripture and their favorite lines.

Me, I pay my tithes to my church because my church does a lot to help people. And I don't mean helping with an overdue light bill. (Our community has a joint fund that all the town's churches contribute to, to prevent leeches from going from church to church and bleeding each one in turn, while still being able to help those who are really in need.)

My church helps people who need God. That's important, and I want my church to keep doing it. I want my church to keep the lights on, keep gas in the bus, even down to being able to buy fried chicken for a church dinner. I want my church to be able to actively reach out to people who need help.

"But what if your pastor is misusing that money?" Well he's not. We have a business meeting regularly and they lay out all incoming and outgoing money. But if he did, that would be his problem. I contributed that money in good faith that it would be used for God's work. If the pastor misused it, he'd have somebody more important and more powerful than me to deal with.

The whole "Are we required to pay tithes" debate is a red herring. If I love people and my church helps people, I don't have to be required to. I do it because it goes to further an effort I think is important. If I don't love people I don't have any reason to pay tithes, regardless of whether or not I'm officially required to. And if I know for a fact my church is misusing the money, I need to find a better church.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,733
13,406
113
#64
Better men than I have gone back and forth for a long, long time about "Is a Christian required to tithe to the church?" Both sides have their scripture and their favorite lines.

Me, I pay my tithes to my church because my church does a lot to help people. And I don't mean helping with an overdue light bill. (Our community has a joint fund that all the town's churches contribute to, to prevent leeches from going from church to church and bleeding each one in turn, while still being able to help those who are really in need.)

My church helps people who need God. That's important, and I want my church to keep doing it. I want my church to keep the lights on, keep gas in the bus, even down to being able to buy fried chicken for a church dinner. I want my church to be able to actively reach out to people who need help.

"But what if your pastor is misusing that money?" Well he's not. We have a business meeting regularly and they lay out all incoming and outgoing money. But if he did, that would be his problem. I contributed that money in good faith that it would be used for God's work. If the pastor misused it, he'd have somebody more important and more powerful than me to deal with.

The whole "Are we required to pay tithes" debate is a red herring. If I love people and my church helps people, I don't have to be required to. I do it because it goes to further an effort I think is important. If I don't love people I don't have any reason to pay tithes, regardless of whether or not I'm officially required to. And if I know for a fact my church is misusing the money, I need to find a better church.
I agree with your motivation. :)
 

Edify

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2021
1,336
521
113
#65
I go to a church of about 15-20, so I give according to their needs. I would not give much to a megachurch, however, because anyone that pays $80 - $250,000 or more pastor salary has no financial needs of money. They DO however need to go back to the old paths & start over like the rich young ruler needed to.
So everybody is going to have a different answer acording to their church's needs & ministries.
But tithing? Not taught in the NT. Giving? Taught all over the place. God loves a cheerful giver. (
2 Corinthians 9:6-7)


Matt. 10:5These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’c 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,d cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunicse or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

V8 doesn't have to be considered as doctrine, but I believe Jesus set a standard here for ministry..... and it generally hasn't been followed by the ministers or the churches.
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,059
1,497
113
#66
Call it a tithe or an offering. It belongs to God. Find a way to use it for his glory.

What did the first congregations do with what they had? What happened to God's kingdom? What are Christian congregations doing with what God has blessed them with? What I see is a bunch of tight wad people claiming to be Christians, telling others to keep what they have, and let the government take care of God's kingdom.

If you call yourself a Christian, pay attention to the early church. Get off your pocketbook, and your backside and put that what God has blessed you with.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,733
13,406
113
#67
Call it a tithe or an offering. It belongs to God.
This is misleading at best. According to the Law of Moses, the tithe belongs to God:

Leviticus 27:30 “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."

However, Christians are not under the Old Testament law; we are under the new covenant in Christ's blood. Further, this verse says nothing at all about monetary income, which is how it is applied by many modern teachers. There isn't a single verse of Scripture that says an offering belongs to God prior to it being submitted to Him. While in principle, everything belongs to Him anyway because He is the Creator, He has assigned stewardship of goods and resources to humans along with the authority to decide what to do with them.

There simply is no scriptural precedent for calling a monetary offering a "tithe". There is no Scripture that requires the submission of money and calls it a "tithe". Tithes in Scripture were always goods.

Find a way to use it for his glory.
No argument there.

What did the first congregations do with what they had? What happened to God's kingdom? What are Christian congregations doing with what God has blessed them with? What I see is a bunch of tight wad people claiming to be Christians, telling others to keep what they have, and let the government take care of God's kingdom.
Really? Who is saying such things? Please quote them.

If you call yourself a Christian, pay attention to the early church. Get off your pocketbook, and your backside and put that what God has blessed you with.
Don't make the asinine mistake of assuming that because someone doesn't call their monetary offerings to their local church a "tithe", that they don't give anything at all, or that they give very little.