Those who don't pay their tithes shall end up in hell

[JohnDB]

Deuteronomy 16:16

Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed:. (NIV)

 

[Jim Parker]

I agree with everything you said. Malachi was not just speaking about tithes, however. He also spoke of offerings and so did Jesus.

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed (not if), do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed (not if), do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV (parenthesis mine) Some revisions use the word alms in place of charitable deed. Giving to the church is a charitable deed, assuming the church is using it in a godly manner.

A couple of thoughts:

In that passage, Jesus told the people not to give in order to receive the praise of man. Give because there is a need and you are imitating God by being merciful.

Also, I have heard it said that, since Jesus endorsed tithing (Mat 23:23; Luk 11:42) we should tithe. What is overlooked is that Jesus, like Malachi, was speaking to Jews under the Law (tithing is part of the law) and He was speaking BEFORE the establishment of the New Covenant. We tend to loose track of the fact that the Gospels, while being a part of the BOOK OF the New Testament, all took place at a time BEFORE the NT had been established. Until Jesus had been crucified, buried, raised, taken up to the throne of God and sent the Holy Spirit, the OLD Covenant was in effect.

Tithing "to the church" wasn't done every year. (Actually, it was never done. If the people wanted a synagogue, they a;ll kicked in and built one.) In the third year, which scripture calls "the year of the tithe", the tithe their increase was brought to storehouses in the people's towns so that there would be food for widows, orphans, strangers and Levites. The purpose of the tithe was mercy toward those who were indigent and provision for those who had no inheritance of land but, rather, ministered before the LORD.

iakov the fool

 

[Edward]

ANd that is an entirely different subject.

A different subject than tithing, but exactly the subject you were speaking of about Jews & gentiles.

 

[Corn Pop]

The tithe church steals peoples blessings. God has given no greater blessing than giving, and anyone with a conscience knows that giving is the ultimate feeling of peace, satisfaction, and overwhelming blessing being able to eye witness and give freely. Every human with a heart knows the feeling of giving is a great blessing.

But the tithe church trys steal peoples blessing. There is no blessing in giving to the same church who demands or try make you feel guilty if you dont give them 10% every week. Donating a bit to non tithe churches is ok as it helps fund and pays the bills, but not tithe, there savages like a pack of hungry wolves.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I completely support and encourage believers to give 10% of their income to churches and ministries. It's a good benchmark for giving, if you can afford it. If you can't afford it, work up to it slowly. I just think believers should be picky about who they give it to. Churches and ministries who obviously aren't helping anybody but themselves are not to be given a dime.

 

[Corn Pop]

I believe in freely give and freely recieve. Dont get scammed by churches that want all your cash and make you feel guilty. You dont need a mediator. You are your own witness and ministy. There are savage wolves out there.