Do you believe in giving a tenth of your income to the Church?

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   backporchstoriesposted 12 years ago

   With economy becoming tighter and tighter, it is harder to pay bills and keep food on the table!  The Bible, tells us Christians to give a tenth (tything) of our income to support the Church.  How many of you still follow this rule, especially with a shrinking wallet and other needs that are pressing?

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      Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Does the Bible really say give one tenth of your income to the church? I always heard the church uses the example of Abraham with Malchezidek in order to push that.
      
      As msorenson said. Giving is a sign of acknowledging your abundance. Any church that asks you to beggar yourself for their benefit isn't much of a church. Imo. That doesn't create an environment of lovingly sharing what you can. It's extortion. You'd do more good handing five dollars to a homeless person than fifty dollars to such an organization.

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         Disappearingheadposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         That's right. The bible does not say Christians should give a tithe to the Church. It's a doctrine invented in the 6th century. According to Mosaic law only landowner farmers tithed and tithing money was forbidden. The tithe was collected once a year to celebrate the Lord.
         
         The Church took this law and twisted it to fleece the flock.

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            backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            What of the story of the old poor woman who was laughed at for giving a small amount, yet it was all she had.  Jesus said her giving was better than the weathy, because she gave of the heart!

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               wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Was it a tithe (10% of what she had, or made) or was it a simple gift? 
               
               There is a huge difference in that one is supposedly ordered and one is freely given.

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                  backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  In the Bible, Jesus points out that she has no food, but one biscut, yet she gave what she had to the Lord.

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                     backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     I am trying hard to find the truth in the Bible, but I rely too much on what various preachers have to say.  Sometimes I find conflicts in search of such truth.  Thanks for all of your words!

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      MarleneBposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Please don't quote me on this, because it is a question where the most scholarly ministers have a difference of opinion. After listening to many of them say yes, tithing is required and many of them say no, tithing is not required, how does one know for sure? Based upon many arguments, I came to the conclusion that tithing is not required, however, tithing is something that we should do as a form of showing God our appreciation for what He has given us. I think it is a way of stating to God that He has given to you in such abundance that you are happy to take off the top - a tenth of your wealth to help the church and the community bring others to His Kingdom. I tithe when I can. If all of my bills are paid, then I give what I can. Remember, too that the Lord asks us to pay our creditors. So, that means we are to pay our bills. Sometimes, I'm in a position where I can't pay my creditors and tithe at the same time. So, I tithe when I can, otherwise I simply give what I can. And, when I give, it is to say thank you to God, because God doesn't need the money, but God does want me to be thankful for what He has given me and that's what thithing is all about.

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         Robertr04posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Tithing was for the children of Israel only. Num.18:20-30 shows a very powerful statement from the Father. Verse 21 plainly shows that Yahuah gave the tithes to the tribe of Levi in exchange for the services of the tent meeting. This was a commandment. Neh.12:44. The tithes were never money anyway, only agricultural and animal goods. Deut.14:22-26 also shows that every 3rd yr the tithes were to be distributed among the traveler, fatherless and the widow, so that everyone in the land could eat and be satisfied. The tithe could be sold for money if the way was to far for cattle, sheep, wine, or strong drink. Those who claim that tithing is for the church are deceiving you (Num.23,24) show that this was a law forever. Many of your blessings stem from offerings, not tithes.

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            Disappearingheadposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Great big Facebook stylie 'Like' button required.

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      Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not Christian. And donate nothing to the "church".

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      Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      If the Church is one that honors God, and if a person has the ability to give that amount, then yes.  If not, then it's right to go by the Bible where it says give as you've been prospered.  And that giving can be monetary or in actions including praising and spreading the Gospel.

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         Robertr04posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         The Father  never authorized any "church" to collect tithes. The concept of tithing was first introduced in Gen.14:14-20. This verse sets the tone for who was to received tithes, the priests. Also note Abram gave a 10th of all the spoils from the war and not from everything he possessed. Tithes were for the nation of Israel only. Read the entire chapter of Num.18 and notice how many times Yahuah stated that Levi would have no inheritance, He was their inheritance. Their only job was their service unto Him, and in return they would receive the tithes; they were the priests. Since this was a law throughout all generations, this would have been no surprise to the Hebrews of the NT. Heb.7:5 explains it clearly again. No priest or preacher can collect tithes because Yahuah never commanded anyone outside of Israel to pay tithes.  Anyone claiming to be a priest and doing the service of Yahuah must come from the lineage of Levi (Num.18:2-7). The Levitical priesthood no longer exists. Here again tithes were never money. There are those with lucrative book deals and other "religious" financed support systems. They are very big on tithing and first fruit offerings. They  teach that on top of tithing to them 10% of your money, you should also send your first fruit offering. Deut.18:1-8 shows that the 1st fruit offering was an offering made by fire to Yahuah, to be eaten by the Levites. It was not money. Deut.14:23 shows that that the 1st fruit offering was to be eaten, it was not money. The entire chp. of Num.18 is about fire and first fruit offering to be eaten by priests. So what of the 3x a year 1st fruit offerings we are to give the most money? Read for yourself and rebuke this deception of money replacing priesthood offerings or tithes to be paid.

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      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I am quite impress with the answers leaning to tithe not a requirement anymore.  There are so many false prophets these days and the bible can be so confusing when trying to learn the truth.  Thanks to you all for your input!

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         MarleneBposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         backporchstories, like you, I have been enlightened. After reading the verses Robertr04 provided, I have a better understanding. The verses are quite clear. No matter how many times I have read them in the past, their meaning stands out when I keep your focus question in mind. Thank you for asking a question that so many of us want to have answered.

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      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Another thing...I always asssociated tithe with money and did not think it meant more than that!

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      Precious Pearlposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Tithing is a spiritual principle that Christians follow to show their love and trust for the God they serve.  In giving the tithe, we are giving back into the Kingdom that which was given to us by our Provider, Jehovah Jireh.
      
      Also, in Malachi 3:7-11 it says,
      
      7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.  “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.  “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse —your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe, ” says the Lord Almighty.
      
      As I have tithed I have seen Him provide for me miraculously but when I didn't and there have been times when I didn't ... I literally saw my finances shrivel up to where I had less than I did before I gave the tithe faithfully.  I have learned that robbing God is not worth it.  I always end up with less instead of more when I rob Him.
      
      It is a matter of trust ... God is not a man that He should lie nor the Son of Man that He should repent. He desires to provide and He is true to His promise.

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         Disappearingheadposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         When a preacher tells you that you are robbing God for not tithing, he is LYING to you. If he says God will curse you for not handing over your hard earned, he is committing blasphemy.
         
         The tithe was produce of the land, never money. It was to sustain the priesthood, not a Church. It could be collected by the Levite, nobody else. It ended when the sacrificial system ended. It is Mosaic law that does not apply to the Church. These are God's rules, what man thinks he can change them?

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      vox vocisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      In Germany, catholics are obliged to pay church taxes. I, for example, as an unemployed person have to pay 700$ a year. My husband, who has his own small firm with no workers other than himself,  "opted-out" because otherwise he'd have to give the church a brand new Mercedes in the next 10 years (metaphorically said, but numerically precise). How I feel about it? Try and guess!

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         Precious Pearlposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Giving out of religious compulsion verses relationship leads to resentment.  I wouldn't want to be forced into giving but I love giving out of love.

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            Robertr04posted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Giving out of love, is an offering. Mal.3, the Father instructs His people to bring all the tithes (food) into the storehouse so there is food in His house. Pleased to tell you a storehouse is not a "church". Written as autsar (H-214) in Hebrew, a storehouse is nothing more than a cellar. Joseph in Egypt, stored food up for the coming famine, where? In the storehouse. In the original text Malachi reads, "Bring all the food into the house of stored goods so that there may be food for my family" Yahuah was addressing the fact that the portion for Levi was no longer being set aside. If you go back over previous scripture this was a huge sin. If the priests were no longer receiving food how could they survive? They would'nt. Israel was robbing Yahuah. Yahuah was addressing an ongoing problem, so He had to make His point known. By robbing the priests, you are robbing Me. There are few preachers today who will fully acknowledge that tithing was originally food. However, many are convinced that since money was'nt "invented" back then today we must give money to help support the "church" because we are not farmers. If Yahuah said tithing was for Israel only, can we change it to be for the "church"? If Yahuah said that the tithe was food , can we change it to money? If Yahuah said to to Israel to tithe to the Levi only, can we, on our own free will, appoint a "church" as the new Priesthood? No we cannot. In Num. it was shown that tithes could be sold (under circumstances) for money. How can anyone claim there was no money back then? We must understand that Yahuah will never abandon Israel ( Jer.31:35-37). Once we understand that fact, it is easier to understand that no "church" has taken the place of His people. Yahuah has only known Israel of all nations of the earth (Amos3:1,2). It is impossible for any "church" to replace His people. This makes it impossible for any gentile to claim lineage to Levi and collect tithes of money (or any other form) from members of a congregation. Gentiles are grafted into the body (Rom.11:17). This does not mean that someone can become a part of Israel and change the Turah of Yahuah. Gentiles do not bear the root, the root bears them (Rom.11:18).

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               Precious Pearlposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I can't dispute that the tithe was not money at that time but neither can you dispute my testimony of God's provision because I give the tithe.  It is not about believing a man but about believing God's promise to me when I give back to Him what He has provided whether it is food, clothing, water, harvest or money.
               
               I give my tithe out of trust and faith in His Word.  I also give it out of my love for Him.

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                  Robertr04posted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  No PP. You can do with your money whatever you want. I would never tell anyone what to do with their money. The questions was are tithes required. No they are not. What you seem to be talking about are offerings. They are more than welcome. And I'm sure they won't turn down your tithes either.Shalum

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   msorenssonposted 12 years ago

   By its very nature, giving, when there is no expectation of return, not even spiritual merit, creates a flow. Whom you give to and how much is irrelevant. The gift is to yourself. It is acknowledging your own abundance.

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      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I do believe in giving freely and it will come back to you ten fold!  Like you said, you have to give with the expectation of something in return.  However, as Christians, we are instructed to give a tenth to the church.  I am finding that difficult to do and that I may be failing God in that manner.

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         msorenssonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         You can never fail God...

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            jacharlessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            +100 !

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               backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I walk two roads, that of the Red Road and that of Jesus's teachings.  On the Red Road we give of ourselves and help other when in need and capable.  With the Church, I give when I can, but sometimes I feel it is not enough.  But love the fact that I can never fail God!  Awesome!

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                  jacharlessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  The "church" is only supposed to collect tithes to be 100% distributed to the people within the community until such time as all share all things in common. Not one red cent is to go toward the facility itself nor the minister(s). Once the burden is relieved from the community, tithes are supposed to end, as the people have food, water, shelter.

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      Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      No expectation of return? This would only mean the person lacks knowledge about themselves and their life.

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   Greekgeekposted 12 years ago

   I give a chunk of my income to support people and animals in need, plus education and the environment.
   
   God doesn't need my help...they do! And one can't put a percentage figure on need.

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      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Ah....but is the tithe helping God or the community?

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         Disappearingheadposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         But you are not required to tithe at all. Paul teaches on how to give: each person giving in accordance with what they have, to a sum set between themselves and God, under no compulsion, obligation, or direction from another because God loves a cheerful giver.

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            Robertr04posted 12 years agoin reply to this

            DH I agree, tithes are not required. Another deception.

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   aguasilverposted 12 years ago

   Tithing is not a NT commandment, and in any case, if it were, the amount would be 22% if you added up the various tithes required of the Jews.
   
   For a NT believer the answer is simple, God is due 100% of your wealth, because as a believer you accept that He provided it for you.
   
   Having said that, God seems to have no problem with us retaining what is needed to cover our provisioning, and indeed provides for us so that we can continue Christ's work here on earth.
   
   Trust is what it's about, and unfortunately most church leaderships seem not to trust God to provide, and therefore look to tax the congregation.
   
   If we attend a church, we should recognise that the church costs money to remain open, and like any club we join, there are 'membership fees', so to speak, but that is not tithing.
   
   When a Pastor and his leadership decide to require tithing, they are taking that body out of the provision of God, for when God sees that we are providing for outrselves and not trusting Him, He has no alternative but to allow us to err until we hit a financial brick wall, when we turn again to God and admit what we forgot, we cannot do it on our own, and must trust that God provides as He alone can, for our needs.
   
   Our wants are our problem.
   
   I have lived by faith for most of the last 20 years, and God has provided more than I could have managed to coerce those I deal with out of giving me.
   
   I have never charged for anything done for God, He is my boss, and He pays my way.
   
   I made a (personal) rule when I first came to faith that anybody who KNEW of my needs was released from any obligation to meet them for me, I needed to know from the start that God was providing, and He has shown that countless times, from strangers simply giving me cash when needed, to putting me in business situations where all my needs were met.
   
   I do not tithe.
   
   I have tithed (before I learned what scripture teaches us about it) and been blessed also, but once I realised that tithing was non scriptural for believers, I have only presented offerings to the places where I have been spiritually fed and watered.
   
   We (all)serve God in many ways, with our prayers and with our ministry to others, with hospitality, with edifying words, with the preaching of the Gospel, with direct assistance to those who are in need.
   
   If a church body is not trusting in God, they are in the wrong business, and deserve to close down. If God wants them there, He will provide.
   
   God has no need for mega church centres processing thousands of people into the tenets of Churchianity, they exist and will continue to grow, as folk seek to find places that will 'tickle' their ears, they are leading folk astray.

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