Tithing is a wrong practice.

[Classik]

My dad told me (not long ago) that he listened to a broadcast (radio preacher) who condemned tithing. I saw the agony on his face.

He said the man quoted many bible verses to support/justify the preacher's claim that tithing today is absolutely ridiculous - and something only practised in the old testament days.


:bigfrown
Tithing today is biblical - and must be practised.

 

[AirDancer]

If tithing is 'wrong'....then I don't want to be 'right'.

The need to tithe hasn't altered an iota. I wonder what agenda that radio minister had? Rather curious.........

 

[Classik]

If tithing is 'wrong'....then I don't want to be 'right'. The need to tithe hasn't altered an iota. I wonder what agenda that radio minister had? Rather curious.........

Most people don't understand the spiritual significance of tithing. (It's inevitable)

 

[AirDancer]

Very true... some would rather keep all the money for themselves.

Since we are instructed to be good stewards, we have an obligation (in a positive way) to budget appropriately. I was raised to believe that the 10% was just a suggestion, a starting place. The more blessed financially, the more tithing to do.

To me, that meant that my home church received at least 10% ... other charities (well-researched ones) receive additional percentages. But whatever was given to the other charities could not infringe upon what was given to the home church.

Still, any amount of tithing must be done freely and willingly....without any begrudging. Otherwise, the heart is not true. And our Lord does know our hearts.

 

[Roof]

Yet another reason why I won't listen to radio ministries.

 

[handy]

I actually agree that tithing, as it worked in the Old Testament under the Law, is not for the church. It falls in the realm of mandatory Old Testament practices that Christians are free to do, but are not commanded to do.

Really, in the Old Testament, under the Law, tithing was more like a tax. It was meant to provide for the Levite priests who, by Law, could not own property. The 10% was indeed just a starting point as well... There were various tithes and mandatory offerings that went well beyond 10%.

In the Church, there is no prescribed tithe. Rather, what is taught for the Church is cheerful and willing giving. Some people give far more than a "tithe" (10%)... others cannot give even that much, but do give of their time, their talents and their abilities. As long as all is done for the Lord... it really doesn't matter how much one gives. We do need to keep in mind that, as members of local congregations, we have a responsibility to support those who minister to the church full time and make sure that the needs of all are met.

I know it's a real issue for some that much money... millions and millions of $$$$ is given to churches that pay for huge buildings, slick multimedia production devices and beautiful landscaping... and the poor has to turn to the secular government to seek help. I take things like this in consideration when I give.

 

[Classik]

Yet another reason why I won't listen to radio ministries.

@#$%
I know who this man is. I could confirm it. My mom told me he's an occultic man., the particular man that always preaches through this frequency.


Occultic christian?


-----
You have a lot of preachers... so-called preachers of the word (which word? The ones they invented)


There is a lot of garbage going on in this radio thing. The problem is, it is always hard to spot these bottomless dregs that pollute the true 'Word' (am not talking about this man alone. There are several occultic people, false teachers, etc preaching over the air. It takes a person filled with the Spirit to spot them).

 

[Classik]

I actually agree that tithing, as it worked in the Old Testament under the Law, is not for the church. It falls in the realm of mandatory Old Testament practices that Christians are free to do, but are not commanded to do.

...Is tithing Not mentioned in the NT?

 

[stovebolts]

Really, in the Old Testament, under the Law, tithing was more like a tax. It was meant to provide for the Levite priests who, by Law, could not own property. The 10% was indeed just a starting point as well... There were various tithes and mandatory offerings that went well beyond 10%.

While I agree Handy, what about Abraham? We have to bring this up

Genesis 14 (NIV) 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Hebrews 7 (NIV) This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people —that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

 

[Classik]

Malachi 3:8-10
New International Version (NIV)

8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yetyou 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 robbingme.

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.


Can you help reconcile this, Dora

 

[Classik]

Luke 17:11-19 seems to ring a bell

 

[handy]

...Is tithing Not mentioned in the NT?

Tithing is only mentioned twice in the Gospels.... and each mention is referring to the same event... when Jesus said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." (KJV)

Tithing is not mentioned in the Epistles at all. Giving is, but not tithing.

Yes, Abraham's gift to Melchizedek shows that giving a tenth of one's possessions is the foundation of the tithe found in the law, and as the writer of Hebrews affirms, giving is actually a blessing.

But, you notice how I've framed this? There is (or at least there should be, for clarity's sake) a difference between giving and tithing. Abraham was not required to give Melchizedek anything. It was a gift, not a tithe. Also, Abraham did not give Melchizedek a tenth of his personal possessions, but rather a tenth of the spoils of the war in which Abraham defeated Chedorlaomer and his allies after they had taken Lot captive. Possibly a petty point, but one that helps frame the idea that there was a difference between Abraham's gift to Melchizedek and the later tithes under the Law.

The tithe was part of the Law... there was more than just 10% involved... I truly don't have time, nor really the inclination, to go into all the mandatory offerings that the Jews were commanded to give under the Law. However, mandatory as it was, following the commandment brought about blessings and refusing to follow the commandment brought about curses from God. These tithes were not only mandatory because they were directly commanded by God... they also were the foundation of good economic health within the nation. When His people refused to pay their tithes, the entire nation began to suffer because of it.

This is a lesson the church does well to heed... we do need to be cheerful givers so that the Church can see to it that those in need are helped and the gospel is spread and our ministers are free to minister. But, the Lord has released us from the Law of tithing... and urges us instead to give freely what we can give.

 

[stovebolts]

Dora,

You hit the nail on the head with Abraham. He gave his tithe willingly with a cheerful heart. Is it any wonder why we are saved by faith? And is it not the same faith Abram had? I think so ;)

We read in Corinthians that a collection was always taken for the saints, and Paul quotes that an ox should not be muzzled when treading the grain. I get the idea that the tithe has always been a part of Christian living, but what has changed is how that tithe is managed and spent.

There is a verse somewhere that speaks to giving above the tithe, but can't seem to find it :bigfrown


Ohh, the tenth is considered the tithe.
9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

 

[felix]

Dora,

You hit the nail on the head with Abraham. He gave his tithe willingly with a cheerful heart. Is it any wonder why we are saved by faith? And is it not the same faith Abram had? I think so ;)

We read in Corinthians that a collection was always taken for the saints, and Paul quotes that an ox should not be muzzled when treading the grain. I get the idea that the tithe has always been a part of Christian living, but what has changed is how that tithe is managed and spent.

There is a verse somewhere that speaks to giving above the tithe, but can't seem to find it :bigfrown


Ohh, the tenth is considered the tithe.
9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

Tithe is not and must not be a part of Christian living. If you follow tithe, then you must do it as per scriptures which is eventually following an obsolete covenant and not valid anymore. None of the collections made mentioned in the Bible is actually a tithe but free will giving. Tithe is a forced one not an option. Hence, tithe is no longer valid in new covenant.

Sent from mobile.

 

[Sparkey]

To Handy:

Greetings, I agree with you that the Law concerning tithes is part of the Old Covenant between God and Israel. You are correct when you say that the tithe was mandated as a means of support for the tribe of Levi because they were not given a share of the land.






New Testament Tithes were historically payments in kind (crops, wool, milk etc.) comprising an agreed proportion of the yearly profits of cultivation or farming, and made by parishioners for the support of their parish church and its clergy. In theory, tithes were payable on:

• All things actually arising from the ground and subject to annual increase - grain, wood, vegetables etc.
• All things nourished by the ground - the young of cattle, sheep etc., and animal produce such as milk, eggs and wool
• The produce of man's labour, particularly the profits from mills and fishing.

This changed and the tithe became more like a tax in 1836. Three Tithe Commissioners were appointed (over England, Scotland, and Ireland), and the process of commutation began. 'Commutation' describes an accounting method where money payments began to be substituted for payments in kind. Instead of tithing corn, for example, the local government established "cornrents" that were to be paid to the Vicars and Parishes. The value of the commutated corn was varied according to the price of corn calculated on a average for the whole country (not the local market price).

There are many other differences between the tithe that God established for Israel and our modern church tax. The original tithe was "levied" during the time of wandering in the wilderness - where the Lord decreed that the entire tithe should go to the tribe of Levi (see Num 18:11). Immediately upon crossing the Jordan, the tithe law was changed. It is this second form of tithing that our current practices are supposedly modeled from. Let me warn you though, the Scriptures that you are about to read will challenge the current understanding of the Christian tithe model.

Deuteronomy 14

You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year.
​

You shall eat in the presence of the Lord you God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.
​

If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the Lord your God chooses to set His name is to far away from you when the Lord your God blesses you, then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses.
​

You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household. (Deuteronomy 14:22-26 NAS)
​

• Who does the Lord say should eat the tithe?
• And who has control over the usage of the tithe?

Without question, according to this passage, it is the tither ("…so that [they] may learn to fear the Lord [their] God always."

There is much to learn (that is not taught by the church) on the subject of tithes. If you read the rest of Deuteronomy 14 you see that there was actually a three-year cycle of tithing. The first two years were to be used as a celebratory feast by each individual family and the third year the tithe was to be given to the Levite, who would then redistribute it to the alien, the orphan and the widow.
Deuteronomy 26:12 further clarifies this point saying:

When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year,

the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger to
the orphan, and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.
​

 

[Sparkey]

Malachi 3:8-10
New International Version (NIV)

8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yetyou 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 robbingme.

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.


Can you help reconcile this, Dora

Greetings, pardon my reply to your question addressed to Dora, but if we read the whole book of Malachi - and not just a section of the 3rd chapter (taken out of context), we will see that the Lord is dealing primarily with Priests and Levites. Yes, there is a promise, made by God at that time, that if they brought the whole tithe (and stopped profaning the altars) He would reward them.

In point of fact, God performed His part of the agreement, even though Israel didn't, by sending Christ to them. Jesus was sent to the House of Israel but they received him not. They rejected the blessing that was offered. Not only did God tell them to stop offering the lame and the blind on His altar - He also provided the one true sacrifice, like He did in the time of Abraham and Isaac.
Malachi, chapter 1:

<sup class="versenum">6 </sup>“A son honors his father, <sup class="crossreference" value='(O)'></sup> and a slave his master. <sup class="crossreference" value='(P)'></sup> If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect <sup class="crossreference" value='(Q)'></sup> due me?” says the Lord Almighty. <sup class="crossreference" value='(R)'></sup>
“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.
“But you ask, <sup class="crossreference" value='(S)'></sup>‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

<sup class="versenum">7 </sup>“By offering defiled food <sup class="crossreference" value='(T)'></sup> on my altar.
“But you ask, <sup class="crossreference" value='(U)'></sup>‘How have we defiled you?’
“By saying that the Lord’s table <sup class="crossreference" value='(V)'></sup> is contemptible. <sup class="versenum">8 </sup>When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, <sup class="crossreference" value='(W)'></sup> is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased <sup class="crossreference" value='(X)'></sup> with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

This is the part of tithing I like best:

"22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and 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. 24 But 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), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. 26 Use 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." (Deuteronomy 14:22-26 NIV1984)

Yum, yum!

(I suggest going to Golden Corral to fulfill vs. 26.)

 

[farouk]

If people under grace want to give a tenth or more than a tenth as a freewill offering to the Lord, then this is great.

But I wonder what else of the law is supposedly to be enforced, if Levitical tithing were reintroduced to New Testament believers who are now under grace?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

...I wonder what else of the law is supposedly to be enforced...

Ah yes, the question we all want to know the answer to.


Even though I don't think it's a matter of binding law anymore, I'm all for tithing. Regardless of what one thinks about it, it is impossible to go wrong giving too much to God if your heart is right doing it.

These verses should give us the courage to be sow generously--whatever your faith will allow:

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV1984)

 

[farouk]

Ah yes, the question we all want to know the answer to.


Even though I don't think it's a matter of binding law anymore, I'm all for tithing. Regardless of what one thinks about it, it is impossible to go wrong giving too much to God if your heart is right doing it.

These verses should give us the courage to be sow generously--whatever your faith will allow:

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.â€

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV1984)

J:

I agree about liberal giving, yes.

But tithing was a legal obligation.