Tithing is a wrong practice.

[felix]

Tithing is not about giving a tenth, but giving it to a Levite by being a Jew and the levite cannot have any inheritance among children of Israel.

(Num 18:24) "For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer up [as] a heave offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, 'Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.' "

If you don't follow tithing according to the definition of the law spoken and instructed by God Himself, just don't call it as tithe as it twists His Word.

Just as a side note ... how about forcing Pastors to sell all they have and have no inheritance as the law says in Num 18:24, if they require tithe?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Just as a side note ... how about forcing Pastors to sell all they have and have no inheritance as the law says in Num 18:24, if they require tithe?

I guess we should all do that since all of God's people are now in a kind of 'Levitical' priesthood performing the various duties connected with the Temple of God, the Body of Christ. But then who would be left to do the tithing, of which we, the priesthood, would then take the best parts of and tithe to God?

Oi Vey! How frustrating, trying to figure out these law questions, lol!

All I know is we all need to get down to Golden Corral on sirloin steak day and eat our tithe to our hearts content!

 

[Sparkey]

There is nothing wrong with giving. Placing oneself under the law, the very law that looks forward to the death of Jesus, the Lamb of God on the cross -- and denying the efficacy of that sacrifice is like saying that we need to buy ourselves out of sin by our own efforts. That insults the free gift and sacrifice that was made on our behalf.

Again, we have an obligation to support those who are placed over us and to care for the poor. It's a heart matter and those who wrongly teach that we can buy our way out of a curse (some Pastors preach exactly that) are false teachers.

I like the way that John said it, "Little children, do not be confused. Those who do good are good."

 

[handy]

All this is simply understood if people would stop thinking that tithing and giving is the same thing.

They are not. The terms are in no way interchangeable. Tithing was like taxes. On April 15th, do you feel as if you've given a "gift" to the IRS? (Trust me, don't give it one year... you'll find it's no gift.)

There is tithing. And there is giving. Christians are to give, freely, cheerfully, as much as they want and/or can.

Just please, don't call it tithing.

I once had a Pastor who would always say, "God's tithes and our offerings".... It was incorrect for him to do this because it automatically set up in the congregation's minds that they owed a tenth of their money to God each week. Good for the church coffers, to be sure... but very bad theology.

There is tithing. There is giving. If a Christian wants to give 10% to God... Great. If a Christian wants to give much more or, cannot even afford 10% but cheefully gives 2%... Great.

Christians can give whatever they want to give and can afford to give.... But, that is not a tithe.

 

[felix]

All this is simply understood if people would stop thinking that tithing and giving is the same thing.

They are not. The terms are in no way interchangeable. Tithing was like taxes. On April 15th, do you feel as if you've given a "gift" to the IRS? (Trust me, don't give it one year... you'll find it's no gift.)

There is tithing. And there is giving. Christians are to give, freely, cheerfully, as much as they want and/or can.

Just please, don't call it tithing.

I once had a Pastor who would always say, "God's tithes and our offerings".... It was incorrect for him to do this because it automatically set up in the congregation's minds that they owed a tenth of their money to God each week. Good for the church coffers, to be sure... but very bad theology.

There is tithing. There is giving. If a Christian wants to give 10% to God... Great. If a Christian wants to give much more or, cannot even afford 10% but cheefully gives 2%... Great.

Christians can give whatever they want to give and can afford to give.... But, that is not a tithe.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I once had a Pastor who would always say, "God's tithes and our offerings".... It was incorrect for him to do this because it automatically set up in the congregation's minds that they owed a tenth of their money to God each week. Good for the church coffers, to be sure... but very bad theology.

There is tithing. There is giving. If a Christian wants to give 10% to God... Great. If a Christian wants to give much more or, cannot even afford 10% but cheefully gives 2%... Great.

Christians can give whatever they want to give and can afford to give.... But, that is not a tithe.

The most powerful motivator of giving/generosity I have seen in the church in my own life, and the life of others, is when you meet spiritual needs. If only pastors could truly understand this and stop (mis)using the law of tithing to get people to support the church. People will open their wallets and purses wide when you fill them spiritually.

I remember one time leading a small cell group for a short time. I got an anonymous $100.00 in the mail (remember, this is just a small group) and to this day I think it was from a woman sitting in on the meetings who just lit up in our study time.

She started bringing her Catholic husband to the meetings who she wanted dearly to be born again, but who did not believe in being 'born again' (common Catholic belief, I understand). I told him I could show him five (or was it six, lol) places in the Bible where it plainly spoke of being 'born again', in those words. He was speechless.

I honestly believe his dear wife, out of the joy and gratitude of someone landing the gospel with her husband, sent my family the anonymous check (actually I think it was a grocery store gift certificate). I don't know this for sure, I could be wrong, but one thing is for sure, someone in that group appreciated whatever they got fed in those few meetings and didn't need a law of tithing to give generously.

I know it works that way with me. When I see a church or ministry is truly feeding people, I have no problem going deep. In fact, I long to do that. The love of God just does that in a person. It's a wonderful experience. When you love God even the coveted god of this age, money, gets trampled underfoot, dethroned from it's place of power and control and authority over our lives.

 

[Tri Unity]

When you love God even the coveted god of this age, money, gets trampled underfoot, dethroned from it's place of power and control and authority over our lives.

A great comment Jethro. Paul says that greed is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). It is amazing how contentious money is to so many Chritians. Remember that Judas complained that the money wasn't used as he believed it should be. That is true for people on both sides of the debate. Some people use OT tithing as an excuse not to give at all; others use NT tithing as means of accumulation beyond what is needed. The poor are the greatest victims of greed. There doesn't seem to be any reduction in the poor regardless of tithing or not. It doesn't seem that God is blessing this activity (to me). Even the ministry of hospitals, orphanages, food parcels, etc, have been taken off the church and given to NGO's and governments (compared to 100 years ago). Something seems wrong.

 

[tim-from-pa]

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.

I guess technically he's right. So, if one is not working by the Law by flesh power any longer and now has the Spirit, the new Christian is now free to give more than 10% and that barrier is not there any longer. :nod:toofunny I trust his congregation all do just that! :yes But you're not doing wrong if you give the 10%. That should be the minimum.

Seriously, more times than not I find that's a way to cheapskate God and the average "Christian" gives more like 2%. Tell ya what. If 10% is that much that it's going to break someone financially and send them to the poor house, then go out with a blast.

 

[felix]

I guess technically he's right. So, if one is not working by the Law by flesh power any longer and now has the Spirit, the new Christian is now free to give more than 10% and that barrier is not there any longer. :nod:toofunny I trust his congregation all do just that! :yes But you're not doing wrong if you give the 10%. That should be the minimum.

Seriously, more times than not I find that's a way to cheapskate God and the average "Christian" gives more like 2%. Tell ya what. If 10% is that much that it's going to break someone financially and send them to the poor house, then go out with a blast.

If a christian feels giving 1% to God, then it is "his" freewill offering and God will bless him according to his offering. FYI, freewill offering also includes "nothing". 10% as minimum is unbiblical. You are also not supposed to judge by setting standards according to your own opinion and give judgments by sending them to poor house which are against the teachings of Christ.

Also, God does not see the quantity of your offering but your heart. God did not accept the offering of Cain not because he didn't bring the best but because he was not perfect before God as we see in Gen 4:7. Even 100% offering without love is nothing.

(Matt 5:23-24) "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

 

[Sparkey]

There is a "pastor" in my old neighborhood who taught that the only way to break the "generational curse" of poverty was by establishing a tithing pact with God based on the well known verse in Malachi. He promised that if members of his church who were on Food Stamps would give him 10% of their total income (Food Stamps included) -- that God would keep His word and bless them so much that they could not contain the blessing.

The New Testament (agreement) clearly does not support rituals that look toward the cross (as if the law was not fulfilled) because Jesus has paid the full price for our sin. There are no "generational curses" that bind us beyond the redeeming power of our Savior and the full price that was given freely to us.

As His child, it is our natural desire to become more like Him and as we continue to walk with Christ our very nature changes. We become less selfish and more giving also. The Holy Spirit motivates the change and our giving to support those leaders who God plants us with springs from love and not obligation.

False Teachers paint God, the creator of all heaven and all the earth (how rich is that?), to be miserly and in need. He isn't. He blesses His children so that they can join in His good works; we don't start that. We don't begin that work. He does.

Good think too, because if it were up to me, we (both God and I) would fail.

 

[tim-from-pa]

If a christian feels giving 1% to God, then it is "his" freewill offering and God will bless him according to his offering. FYI, freewill offering also includes "nothing". 10% as minimum is unbiblical. You are also not supposed to judge by setting standards according to your own opinion and give judgments by sending them to poor house which are against the teachings of Christ.

Also, God does not see the quantity of your offering but your heart. God did not accept the offering of Cain not because he didn't bring the best but because he was not perfect before God as we see in Gen 4:7. Even 100% offering without love is nothing.

(Matt 5:23-24) "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Felix:

I'm not talking about freewill offerings. I'm not talking about firstfruits, or any other offering. I'm talking about a tithe (don't confuse them). The word means tenth. The Lord even made it easy. Just move the decimal point over left one digit and that's the tithe. In ancient Israel, there was nothing voluntary or unbiblical about it.

 

[felix]

Felix:

I'm not talking about freewill offerings. I'm not talking about firstfruits, or any other offering. I'm talking about a tithe (don't confuse them). The word means tenth. The Lord even made it easy. Just move the decimal point over left one digit and that's the tithe. In ancient Israel, there was nothing voluntary or unbiblical about it.

I know. I was refering to NT times where only freewill offering exists. There is no tithe today, nor should it be expected from anyone.

Sent from mobile.

 

[cleanfreak]

I know. I was refering to NT times where only freewill offering exists. There is no tithe today, nor should it be expected from anyone.

Sent from mobile.

Why does it matter what it is called? tithe, giving, offering, taxes, whatever.....its just a word.....

The basic principle is in work here and has worked since the beginning.

 

[handy]

Why does it matter what it is called? tithe, giving, offering, taxes, whatever.....its just a word.....

The basic principle is in work here and has worked since the beginning.

I think it does matter...

....just a word.... ?? Words are the basis of our communication with each other and it's important to use the right words to communicate the right ideas.

Giving, gifts, free will offerings... all convey the proper principle, that Christians are to give out of what they are blessed with.

Tithe, tax... nothing of the "gift" in that. The tithe was the Law and if one did not pay it, one was condemned under the Law.

If churches didn't use the concept of the tithe to coerce "giving" out of its members, perhaps calling it a tithe wouldn't matter much. But, too often, it's preached from the pulpit that if you are not tithing 10% of your earnings to the church... You are actually ROBBING God.

This is wrong, it shouldn't be preached, it shouldn't be practised.

 

[cleanfreak]

This is wrong, it shouldn't be preached, it shouldn't be practised.

Not according to Luke 11:42
Luke 11:42

New International Version (NIV)

<sup class="versenum">42 </sup>“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.


Jesus told them to pay the tithe and have the love of God

........are you saying we are not to preach the word of God?

Where does it say we are not to give our tithe in THIS day and time?

 

[tim-from-pa]

@ Handy:

So where does it say that neglecting the tithe is no longer robbing God?

I'm not speaking of penalties here (as to what happens to one who does not). I'm merely saying that the tithe was the Law and is still in effect, hence the principle of it. Heck, in the millennium the nations will come up to Jerusalem to keep the feast of Tabernacles, a feast in the Law.

Christ did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. The Law does not change. That, in turn, when one is begotten in the Spirit will want to emulate the Law, and the principles therein.

 

[farouk]

Not according to Luke 11:42
Luke 11:42

New International Version (NIV)

<sup class="versenum">42 </sup>“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.


Jesus told them to pay the tithe and have the love of God

........are you saying we are not to preach the word of God?

Where does it say we are not to give our tithe in THIS day and time?

The Lord Jesus was addressing Jews still under the Old Covenant.

After Pentecost, it has been the age of the church, and the Epistles nowhere talk about tithing.

If people want to give freewill offerings of a tenth or more than a tenth of their income, then this is good; liberty rules, not law.

 

[cleanfreak]

The Lord Jesus was addressing Jews still under the Old Covenant.

After Pentecost, it has been the age of the church, and the Epistles nowhere talk about tithing.

If people want to give freewill offerings of a tenth or more than a tenth of their income, then this is good; liberty rules, not law.

methinks there are a lot of things NOT mentioned after Pentecost, it does not mean we are not to obey.

Are we not to follow Jesus commandment in Luke 10:27, because it was before Pentecost?

He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

 

[farouk]

methinks there are a lot of things NOT mentioned after Pentecost, it does not mean we are not to obey.

Are we not to follow Jesus commandment in Luke 10:27, because it was before Pentecost?

He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

...but there is no evading the fact that whether one sees Israel and the church as distinct, or one and the same entity, it will very profoundly affect one's whole Biblical outlook and dispensational understanding.

Paul says to the Corinthians that there is the Jew, the Gentile and the church of God.

Once these are blurred, with what belongs to one being attributed to another, there will be a lot of confusion and one can claim to "prove" almost anything.

The church began at Pentecost, in the scheme of things described in Acts and the Epistles.

 

[cleanfreak]

...but there is no evading the fact that whether one sees Israel and the church as distinct, or one and the same entity, it will very profoundly affect one's whole Biblical outlook and dispensational understanding.

Paul says to the Corinthians that there is the Jew, the Gentile and the church of God.

Once these are blurred, with what belongs to one being attributed to another, there will be a lot of confusion and one can claim to "prove" almost anything.

The church began at Pentecost, in the scheme of things described in Acts and the Epistles.

What Jesus stated was for all.....Jew, Gentile, whomever. Those who believe are ALL part of the vine.

Peter understood this. Here is a verse from your beloved Acts

10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons