Tithing ?

I know you didn't intend to toot your own horn, so I hope that no one takes it as such. Suffice it to say, you should be commended for your continual faithful support.

As for me, I tithe, and, having bought a new house in the last year, often find it difficult. But I do it, cuz that's what my momma taught me. My mother is a Christian and a member of her local Catholic church. She's faithflly tithed MORE than 10% of her income as long as I can remember. I have a cousin whose a member of a Reformed congregation. He and his wife tithe faithfully. Another cousin is a Presby, and he tithes. My brothers both tithe. I guess the reason I do it is because I've seen it almost as second nature, like tying one's shoe. My non-Baptist family members have ben taught likewise. It's a non-issue in my family.

 

I too believe in giving to God, sometimes its more and I am sure sometimes less.

God looks more at the heart as oppossed to the ammount (although I think 10% is an admirable amount) the purpose of giving is to put God first.

 

I support a Godly missionary in Haiti named Pastor Nicholas Louis Juste, C/O Lynx Air-Pau P.O. Box 407139, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33340. They have about six orphanages in the mountains up from Port-A-Prince. Their immediate project is to buy two cows so the female will calf. In this way they can build a herd, so the children can have meat, from time to time. I also support a local church but do not tithe as in the 10% formula.

 

As an aside, several of my friends and some of the Franciscan Friars from campus went to Haiti this past Spring Break with a Haitian student at the University who is studying for the priesthood (I went to Honduras with another group), and while they were evangelizing and administering the sacraments in the mountains, they helped bring a newborn child into the world, which was quite a surprise for them. A little bit later, they brought this child into the kingdom of God through the other birth, from above.

About tithing, if you don't tithe at least 10%, you're stealing from God, IMHO.

 

Tithes aren't given. Tithes are paid. Offerings are given. And tithing, I believe, is not just about money. We should be tithing/offering of our time/talents as well, IMHO.

 

We should be tithing/offering of our time/talents as well, IMHO.

My university emphasizes this aspect of tithing due to the fact that most students have zero income. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy are wonderful ways to tithe in this manner.

 

I'm glad for the good work that all of the Christian churches are doing in Haiti. A friend of mine inherited over a couple of hundred thousand dollars. I told him of an old truck that was on its last legs, that drove supplies to these outposts, and he and his wife, a Reformed Baptist, purchased a new truck for the use at this orphanage center. God does touch hearts to meet the needs of the helpless youth.

Carson Weber, may God bless the good work of the Francisian friars; how important is there work is in this very poor country. I am told that the people beg as soon as a person leaves the gates of the airport; in most cases you need an escort to where you intend to visit.

 

Tithe - yes. A 10th as God's Word specifies. "For the tithe belongs to God". And as He states "will a man rob God?? Yet you have robbed Me" speaking of the tithe in Malachi 3.

But also - giving above that amount (as gifts).

The 10% tithe is used exclusively for the ministry - while gifts and offerings are used for local church needs and certain mission/charity projects.

In Christ,

Bob

 

I don't tithe because I think it was part of the set up of the Church in the OT, to support the rather expensive Levitical Priesthood. If you recall, the tithe also included that of your flocks and herds. Not just money.

I feel that the laws concerning tithe are a part of the laws that governed the sacrificial system, for they could not function without tithe. Since they are no longer functioning, neither is the tithe.

2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

I feel that this verse best describes what God expects of us today. We are to give what we can, and as we feel led to give, out of cheerfulness, not out of a 'necessary 10%'.

We gave $300 one Sabbath when the church was asked to help a single mom with her rent.

3 weeks later my husband was laid off from his job. One week, right as he was about to start a second job to help ends meet, we were in need of some money to pay for our car insurance. We went to church and a family came up to us and told us that God provided a need for them that week, but somehow it was too much. They said that they had been praying about what they should do with it, and that they felt COMPELLED to give it to us.

The amount that they recieved that was MORE than they needed was EXACTLY the amount we needed.



We don't count dollars and cents to the penny to determine what is ten percent, we just give as God leads.

We spent several years ruining our credit because we 'tithed' before we paid our bills and MANY times our bills didn't get paid. I do not feel that God was honored in that. He wants us to be good stewards, and that includes paying those we owe money to.

We are currently not giving any money to the SDA Church because we found out that the General Conference spent $5,000,000 to sue a small congregation for using the 'Seventh Day Adventist' name before they were approved to use it. They had applied, but had not yet been approved, and were already calling themselves SDA's.

The SDA name and logo are copyrighted.

God Bless,
Kelly

 

I am told that the people beg as soon as a person leaves the gates of the airport

Well, it is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

 

Urban "legend".

The particular group subject to Law suit - Left the SDA church - and were asked not to use the name if they did not believe the doctrines and did not follow the direction set by the general conference in behaving as a "responsible" Christian congregation.

They were told several times that - they could pick any name they wanted for their own set of faith and practices - just not SDA.

In Christ,

Bob

 

I try ever more to follow the example I heard from Father Larry in his The Truth tape (Get a free copy at: http://www.catholicity.com). Give 10% to God...in those ways which you feel called by God to give it to him. Be that the poor, the hungry, the homeless, other charities that help God's children, or the Church. It doesn't matter where it goes, as long as it does God's work.

God bless everyone this Holy Day of Our Lord,

Grant

 

I have to disagree with that...

We are children of Abraham by faith. He gave tithes to Melchizadek well before the Old Testament was written.

 

Hi All,
A Tithe in the OT was a tax. It was mandatory. As Kelly pointed out above in this dispensation, in the life of Grace we give as lead. In fact the greek word for how we are to give is translated "hilarious"(sp?). Give generous and give from the heart. Give as lead. Give financially but more important give yourself.

Carson and Grant, Their is a new and better covenant now. Just thought I would remind you of that.

In Christ,
Brian

 

I have to disagree with that...

We are children of Abraham by faith. He gave tithes to Melchizadek well before the Old Testament was written. </font>[/QUOTE]Do you know why Cain killed Abel?

You ARE aware that the People of God were keeping the Laws of God WAY before Sinai right?

Carry on.

God Bless,
Kelly

 

Hi Brian,

Many aspects of of our relation with God were incorporated into the positive law of Israel, and the tithe is one example. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, sets out to have us transcend the notion that we are to be good citizens. He wants for us to be saints. And, sainthood requires a generosity that should transcend, not ignore or do away with, the tithe. When a Christian says, "I don't have to tithe", that Christian is missing the whole point of the "better covenant": that is, the principle behind the act of tithing is no longer citizenship, but love. Not to tithe is simply to fail to serve, in love, the Jesus who is supposedly Lord of your money.

 

I follow the divine directive of I Cor. 16:1,2. Therefore, I do not tithe.