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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Is not Tithing a sin? Or is it opitional?
- Thread starter iLOVE
- Start date
If your heart is to sit back and let the other members of your congregation support the weekly function and operation of your meeting place while you refuse to, yet you happily still enjoy all the benefits..... well I think the answer is obvious.
Blake
Member
I would hate to say that I'd never taken a moment out of my life to clothe, feed, or visit Jesus within the homeless, prisoners, widows and lonely elderly folks. That is our New Testament tithe as far as I see it. Do I think 10% needs to go directly to the church? I don't believe so. But I also think like Willie T said, but in my own words: if your hind end graces a pew in that church building, and it means anything to you at all, you'll help foot the bill to keep the lights on. It isn't about the money at all. It's about sewing into ministry.
JohnDB
Member
There are givers and takers in this world.
God was a giver.
Jesus was a giver.
David, Abraham, Peter, every prophet, and hero of the faith was a giver.
How can a person who claims to be a friend of God's not be a giver?
The percentage is not relevant... Nor to whom a person gives. Deuteronomy 14 has it lined out as the three generic places for gifts to go.
Being generous is simply a part of being a child... Part of our identity.
IMHO tithing is the training wheels of giving.
I tend to think of myself as a slave belonging to God...meaning all I make and will make is his...I take what I need and give up the rest.
God was a giver.
Jesus was a giver.
David, Abraham, Peter, every prophet, and hero of the faith was a giver.
How can a person who claims to be a friend of God's not be a giver?
The percentage is not relevant... Nor to whom a person gives. Deuteronomy 14 has it lined out as the three generic places for gifts to go.
Being generous is simply a part of being a child... Part of our identity.
IMHO tithing is the training wheels of giving.
I tend to think of myself as a slave belonging to God...meaning all I make and will make is his...I take what I need and give up the rest.
Jethro Bodine
Member
"Is not Tithing a sin? Or is it opitional?"
I hope it's optional. I'd weigh 400 lbs. if I tithed according to the law.
"22Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.24But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. 26Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. 27And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own." (Deuteronomy 14:22-27 NASB)
Or did you mean tithing the way the church teaches it, which is give it all to the church?
I hope it's optional. I'd weigh 400 lbs. if I tithed according to the law.
"22Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.24But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. 26Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. 27And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own." (Deuteronomy 14:22-27 NASB)
Or did you mean tithing the way the church teaches it, which is give it all to the church?
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To which church are you referring? I haven't seen any organization outside of possibly the mormons or Jehovah's witnesses that require that kind of giving.
iLOVE
Member
Should Christians leave the tithe box empty for Jesus?
Jethro Bodine
Member
I'm actually not aware of any denomination by name that requires one to give the tithe, and give it to them. I was just referring to the popular teaching in the church these days that a person should tithe, with the intention of you supporting your church with that tithe.
Well it is good to know where the tithe money will be going if you give to the church. But it helps my church continue on in it's ministries and I'm happy to help. It's not like they're hoarding the money and using it to line their pockets...at least, you'd hope not. I guess some churches do.
I mean, we can't complain that the church isn't doing it's part in outreach and charity on one hand, and on the other be unwilling to provide the funds for them to do this. We are the church, if any outreach will happen we have to make it happen.
I mean, we can't complain that the church isn't doing it's part in outreach and charity on one hand, and on the other be unwilling to provide the funds for them to do this. We are the church, if any outreach will happen we have to make it happen.
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Jethro Bodine
Member
Do we have to put the tithe in a box, or can we just go straight to the grocery store and spend my tithe on the food I'm going to eat in the presence of the Lord? Or are you referring to every third year when the tithe is given specifically for the Levite and the poor?
28“At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. 29“The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do." (Deuteronomy 14:28-29 NASB)
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Christ_empowered
Member
I get uncomfortable when church leaders start demanding 10%. Having said that...one should help the church stay open, at the very least. We pay for the roads we use, the internet we use; we pay taxes on our gasoline and other items to keep things running smoothly. Why shouldn't the church receive at least some funding from all its members?
Our church doesn't pass a collection plate/bag etc... We just have an offering box in the back that people will drop their tithe/offering into.
It really takes that whole intimidation factor out of the service. Which allows us to focus more on the worship service rather than worrying about if we are giving enough. Which is interesting because I cannot recall a time when our pastor has had to give one of those sermons which ends up guilting people into giving more.
Quite honestly as long as the church is being supported by its members then the leadership should not have any cause to even bring it up.
It really takes that whole intimidation factor out of the service. Which allows us to focus more on the worship service rather than worrying about if we are giving enough. Which is interesting because I cannot recall a time when our pastor has had to give one of those sermons which ends up guilting people into giving more.
Quite honestly as long as the church is being supported by its members then the leadership should not have any cause to even bring it up.
smaller
Member
What you will find if you place your flesh under any law is this:
Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
And this:
Romans 7:
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
And this:
1 Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
The law brings us to the killing ground of our flesh. Which is entirely meant to bring us into the Spiritual REALITY of the law found in Romans 13:8-10. It is upon this Spiritual Ground that your/our "tithe" is always DUE and PAYABLE. And that may include forking over some cash to the poor, because doing so adds to your own heart, in LOVE. Providing aid to the poor makes us feel good inside, if it is the "right" thing to do. Alms alleviate our own guilt, when we compare what we have to another who has nothing. It has nothing to do with a law due, of 10%. Sometimes it may include giving up everything you have, monetarily. The tithe is not an external matter, but an internal matter of the heart. Giving up everything is NOT something that any man will do to you unless you are a fool. God in Christ Himself however can and does bring such things about. No man will be standing there with his hand out, unless you are deceived by same.
No one who speaks truthfully to you should be demanding 10% of your gross receipts. That is utter nonsense under which you will find perpetual doubt and condemnation, per the above citings.
smaller
Member
Believers are not meant to live their believing lives vicariously, through preachers, by paying for a preachers ego.
The Spirit of Christ, Himself, lives in each of us who have been led to call upon Him, to save us.
Paying somebody else isn't going to change that fact, one iota.
Some say, well, we "need" all these things to preach the Gospel.
IF God in Christ is in you, the Gospel is preached by you, living in Him. He can't be 'bought.' His gift is priceless. IF the Spirit is at work, He is not in need of cold hard cash to do so.
The Spirit of Christ, Himself, lives in each of us who have been led to call upon Him, to save us.
Paying somebody else isn't going to change that fact, one iota.
Some say, well, we "need" all these things to preach the Gospel.
IF God in Christ is in you, the Gospel is preached by you, living in Him. He can't be 'bought.' His gift is priceless. IF the Spirit is at work, He is not in need of cold hard cash to do so.
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JohnDB
Member
Giving to a wealthy church is kinda like giving a drunk a drink.
I've been in poor churches in poor countries where $200 would mean a lot to them...it would be a whole months collection in one shot.
But I got $1,000 to give to them. But then comes the issues that this amount of money will bring. I don't want them to sin...I simply want to relieve suffering and for them to do more of what they do.
But all I got is money.
So I give talents and skills and knowledge and help them build a better building.
I've been in poor churches in poor countries where $200 would mean a lot to them...it would be a whole months collection in one shot.
But I got $1,000 to give to them. But then comes the issues that this amount of money will bring. I don't want them to sin...I simply want to relieve suffering and for them to do more of what they do.
But all I got is money.
So I give talents and skills and knowledge and help them build a better building.
My dad was a small church pastor... had church and a 'paying' job until he was SS age..
As kids we had many things supplied by WMC (womens missionary councel ) a woman's division of the assemblies of God .. used but ok clothing really cool home made blankets. About 1951 dad made 1200 for the year not a typo that is 100 a month... we lived in the Sunday school rooms of the church.. that was not the last time we literally lived in a church.. what this is leading to is my mom she is 92 .. went with out many of the things other women had... and she sends tithe to Jimmy Swaggert... it makes me scream... Mom why not fined some home missions church and give to them you remember how it was... she sends because she enjoys the music and churchyness of the TV program.. drives me nuts..
As kids we had many things supplied by WMC (womens missionary councel ) a woman's division of the assemblies of God .. used but ok clothing really cool home made blankets. About 1951 dad made 1200 for the year not a typo that is 100 a month... we lived in the Sunday school rooms of the church.. that was not the last time we literally lived in a church.. what this is leading to is my mom she is 92 .. went with out many of the things other women had... and she sends tithe to Jimmy Swaggert... it makes me scream... Mom why not fined some home missions church and give to them you remember how it was... she sends because she enjoys the music and churchyness of the TV program.. drives me nuts..