Tithing

If you are a follower of Christ, then everything you have belongs to Him. Not just a tenth. Give what you can where you can. Care for those around you. And ask God what HE wants you to do with HIS money.

 

Here are some threads about tithing in recent months.

http://www.baptistboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/3/2965.html
http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/10/4709.html?
http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/3/2966.html?
A Poll: http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/39/1395.html?

You're right-- we have "had this topic recently." Probably more than you would want to digest.

 

http://www.thetruthabouttithing.com/

 

There has been sooo much proof given on this board that tithing is not for today. I am amazed.

"Hmmmm! Should I tithe on the gross or the net?"

Check out the article HeDied4U posted.

 

You should give how you feel led to give.

 

I honestly believe how we tithe, is a reflection of our faith. If we have lots of faith and are spirit filled 10 % would be nothing. If you are not strong in your faith at any given time you will give according to your faith.

I know many go through their Christian life Thithing exactly 10 % just because of quilt, duty, or fear.

I agree the Bible commands in the new testiment that God wants us to be cheerful givers and to give from our heart. And he wants us to give above 10 % off any monies we recieve at any TIME. the old testiment believers gave around 26%

I also agree churches and Pastors need our support and how else are they going to get it?

God wants a spirit filled Christian who will be willing to follow him in all things whether that be giving ones money, time , talents, belongings everything that God asks of him to give.

 

Posted by Rightfromwrong: I honestly believe how we tithe, is a reflection of our faith.

How you tithe has nothing to do with your faith. It is how you give that counts. Tithing was mandatory. Giving is an act of faith and of the heart.

 

Soulman Tithing was ONLY mandatory in the OLD TESTIMENT not the new.

We are no longer under law but are under grace.

The law was given to bring people to Christ to show them that there was no way in themselves they could obey the law that they needed a savior.

You show me in the Bible where it is mandatory to tithe. By the way tithing and giving are the same thing

 

Posted by Rightfromwrong: Soulman Tithing was ONLY mandatory in the OLD TESTIMENT not the new.

You obviously haven't read any of my posts. I am in total agreement with your last post, except tithing and giving are NOT the same thing. The church never accepted tithes in the bible. It was all free will offerings. There was no evidence anywhere that tithing ever went beyond the Levitical priesthood and the temple.

 

Soulman you are right I looked that up, and I see no where it mentions tithing for new testiment saints. Thanks for clarifying that for me. So many churches preach " Tithing not Giving "



OK GIVING is a reflection of ones faith. NO ?

 

Right on, RightFromWrong!

Posted by RightFromWrong: So many churches preach " Tithing not Giving "

That is right. So many do preach tithing and are wrong to do so. I suppose some do it ignorantly but more I think do it as a way to insure the money keeps flowing. Unfortunately when preaching the tithe many are put into bondage and do not experience the blessing of giving from a cheerful heart.

 

Tithing is an intimate act between the giver and the Lord. You wouldn't go up to someone and ask him how much he paid for the gift he just gave his wife, would you? It annoys me when preachers feel it's their duty to keep up with who's giving how much and how often. Sure, I realize bills have to be paid, and this is where the pastor has to have just as much faith in the Lord as the members of the church. Count the money as a whole and rely on the Lord. But when the preachers begin to single out the givers, this is where they begin to tip-toe around the big givers, accept their ideas and views more than the "non givers" and customize the sermons to reflect the views of the ones who give the most.

As far as I know, our pastor doesn't take notes when counting the money...if he does, I do NOT want to know about it. My money goes to the Lord...not the church...not the pastor...not the building.

I don't fill the envelope until I pary over it first...thanking the Lord for the privilage of giving back to Him what He already gave to us...thanking Him for the ability to work...thanking Him for the ability to give freely in a country where we can still worship openly.

 

If you hand money over to the church, the church is where it "goes to," whether you like it or not.

 

I love the church we are in now. We have been there 2 1/2 years and we were told the pastor doesn't know what ANYONE gives, there is only one couple who knows what " Everyone " gives since they are the ones that handle all the finances. Of course you have those who take the money out of the offering and who knows what they are doing back there after they do that. But those people rotate often during the month.

Our pastor also doesn't believe in putting the cart before the horse when it comes to building additons ( which is still in process as the monies come in ) he believes as the Lord gives that is when they decide what to do with it. Because of this our church is way in the black.

 

I agree with that policy. What kind of testimony do we have if we can't keep the bills paid?

If you hand money over to the church, the church is where it "goes to," whether you like it or not. </font>[/QUOTE]I agree that it goes to the church whether I like it or not. I think I'll change my method of giving:

I'm going to throw all my money up in the air...whatever the Lord grabs, He can keep.

Seriously, the last church we were in did not let us see what they spent the money on. I was working in the office when the secretary put an amount of money designated for missionaries in the missionary budget. The pastor came in and yelled at the secretary and said "those people don't tithe! The money goes to the church first!". I agree that we as Christians should give to the church first. But I also believe that if someone wants to give to missionaries first, that's where it should go. I believe there should not be a "miscellanious fund" that very large and doesn't explain where the money goes. Even when people disagreed on certain items, the pastor did what he wanted. He started the church and felt it was his church and his childrens' church. Anyone else was an outsider.Any other opinion didn't matter. I could go on and on, but I've made my point. Yes, the money goes to the church, but I am part of the church where I give. I have a right to say where I believe we should give. I have to say that sometimes we get so caught up in trying to keep up with other churches that we lose focus of where the money really needs to go. We cut off missionaries because we "can't afford them" but we can afford a motorized movie screen with remote control? I'm sorry, but how difficult is it to grab a stick and pull it down from the ceiling? Who are we trying to impress?

The church we are now members of will go through the budget and account for every penny brought into the office. They vote on anything new they feel we need, even if it's only $5.00. I love giving when I know the money is being used for the right purpose....and "right purpose" is not defined by what I believe, but what the church as a whole agrees to spend the money on.

 

Thats good VinJ...I'm a "designated" GIVER myself.If I ever find out that the money the Lord leads me to give is going to something other than what I felt led to give it to I'd definitely have to think about moving to more Biblical pastures.

Greg Sr.

 

I am not saying it is a falsehood that your pastor doesn't know what anyone gives, but who told you that and under what circumstances? If a pastor himself makes a point such as "I don't have any idea how much anyone gives," that immediately raises skepticism in me. Are there files locked away in a drawer for which the pastor has no key? I think the large majority of pastors do know what members give and they think they have every prerogative to know, so that they can cozy up to those members who give a lot and dissuade nominating for deacon, teacher, et al, those who do not. But considering that most (virtually all, I think) pastors can get access to contributions info, those who make a point that they "don't know" are the red flaggers.

 

I am not saying it is a falsehood that your pastor doesn't know what anyone gives, but who told you that and under what circumstances? If a pastor himself makes a point such as "I don't have any idea how much anyone gives," that immediately raises skepticism in me. Are there files locked away in a drawer for which the pastor has no key? I think the large majority of pastors do know what members give and they think they have every prerogative to know, so that they can cozy up to those members who give a lot and dissuade nominating for deacon, teacher, et al, those who do not. But considering that most (virtually all, I think) pastors can get access to contributions info, those who make a point that they "don't know" are the red flaggers. </font>[/QUOTE]Not sure why that would be a red flag to you. I can't speak for any other pastors, but for me, I don't want to know what anyone gives for the very reason you stated. I don't want to ever be tempted to treat someone differently because of their giving. I don't ever know how much anyone gives, I never see the offerings, I never handle the money, and I can't write checks. As long as I'm the pastor, that will be the policy of the church. Staff does not touch the money. Once a month I speak with the treasurer, and we discuss how much money has been given, what our expenses have been, and just a general idea of how we are doing financially, but he has been told to never reveal to me what any individual gives.

btw, We actually reached a guy for Christ once because of my stance on money. He came to a Celebrate Recovery meeting and was really obnoxious, to the point I almost threw him out. After the meeting he came up and tried to give me $5, he said something like "I guess it cost ya'll money to do this". I refused to take the money, and told him he was welcome to donate, but I'd have to give him the churches address so he could mail it to the treasurer. To me, that doesn't seem like a big thing at all, but in his mind, all preachers are in it for the money, and when I refused to take any, it opened up him up to me sharing Jesus with him.