Tithe

[HankD]

This isn't specific to 10% but I look to it as a good reason to give.

A passage that I look to for giving advice in the NT is:

1 John 3:17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

James as well.

James 2
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

As Americans we (even if we are poor) are among those who have "the world's goods". Even at our poverty level most people in the third world nations could live like nobility.

While my youngest daughter was in high school she went on a mission trip to visit and help our missionaries in Mexico. When she came back she was depressed and I even found her with tears a time or two.

When I asked what was it that was upsetting her so. She said - Dad, I didn't realize how much we have, those people down there are so poor, I couldn't believe how poor they are and where and how they have to live and the clothes they wear. It was awful.

Most of the other kids who went had the same story.

It's one thing to see it on photos and slides, it's different in person.

She never again complained about her food, clothing, etc.

Give. It is its own reward.

HankD

 

[JPPT1974]

I tithe for my church as it says so in the Bible. As we are suppose to do. As God wants us to do that.

 

[Alcott]

Why wait to give back 10% of what is all his anyway?

If it's a question of "waiting," then just don't bother to earn it. That's the way of least waiting.

Hope that answers all your questions about tithing and stoning people?

No. You said since 'we' follow the Ten Commandments, why don't we follow other Old Testament principles such as tithing? I asked why we don't stone people for breaking the sabbath, as it's another OT principle, and you only answered 'we' don't-- which does not answer why. So, let's have it... can 'we' just choose which OT tenets we like and live by them?

 

[Aaron]

Didn't read the whole thread. No legal tithe. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. He who gives a paltry 10% out of constraint is not giving according to love, and love is the only true giving.

He who loves little will give little. He who loves much will give much.

 

[tyndale1946]

Didn't read the whole thread. No legal tithe. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. He who gives a paltry 10% out of constraint is not giving according to love, and love is the only true giving.

He who loves little will give little. He who loves much will give much.

Just read on the internet of a man who put an envelope with 18 cents into the offering plate of a North Carolina Church with this note... Please don't be mad, I don't have much, I'm homeless. God Bless!

Seems to me this child of God gave ALL his living!... Brother Glen

 

[webdog]

Nor is there any NT teaching negating the OT tithe.

actually any passage saying we can give freely, what we decide to give, etc negates the OT tithe which was not optional.

 

[Crabtownboy]

actually any passage saying we can give freely, what we decide to give, etc negates the OT tithe which was not optional.

I respectfully disagree. True giving begins with anything over 10%.

 

[PreachTony]

I respectfully disagree. True giving begins with anything over 10%.

That's just a form of legalism. We're no longer required by the Law to give a certain percentage. Instead, we should give as we are able and as we are led of God. To require anything else is to try to enforce OT regulations. We are no longer under the old Law. As Hebrews says, the priesthood has been changed. Once the priesthood changed, there was of necessity a change of the law.

 

[JonC]

It means you are REQUIRED.

The NT does NOT require you to tithe.
In fact, if you can afford to give MORE than 10% you should.

For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 2 Corinthians 8:3-5

If the New Testament church as presented in Acts is an example that we are to follow, then giving is descriptive of the people of God. I don't think that whether or not 10 percent was required entered into their minds as they realized the privilege of participating in the Kingdom as children of God.

 

[Aaron]

Just read on the internet of a man who put an envelope with 18 cents into the offering plate of a North Carolina Church with this note... Please don't be mad, I don't have much, I'm homeless. God Bless!

Seems to me this child of God gave ALL his living!... Brother Glen

Not before sounding his trumpet.

The widow didn't leave a note with her two mites.

 

[HankD]

It's impossible to tithe anyway if one is going to follow the law.

First, you must give 1/10 of the increase of agricultural products of the land.
Second if you are a wage earner you need not tithe even under the law.
Third Even if you did tithe of your agricultural products increase you have no place to bring it and no one to give it to, the church is not the "store house" but the Body of Christ and your pastor and/or the deacons are not levitical priests (unless their last name is Cohen or Levine).

But if it suits you to give 10% of your income go right ahead because you are not under the above laws (and can't be anyhow even if you wanted to be because biblical Judaism ended in AD70).

HankD

 

[JonC]

It's impossible to tithe anyway if one is going to follow the Law

HankD

Tithe predates Law.

 

[HankD]

Tithe predates Law.

So does circumcision, so does the Sabbath, so does animal sacrifice, etc...

HankD

 

[JonC]

So does circumcision, so does the Sabbath, so does animal sacrifice, etc...

HankD

I don't understand your point that it is impossible to tithe if one is to follow the Law as we are not under the Law. I was commenting that the idea of giving 10 percent was not an issue of the Law (which as you point out was more specific in giving as opposed to pre-Law tithes). I agree with you that we are not obligated to ten percent but only because I believe there was more significance to the tithe than a bill owed to God.

 

[HankD]

I don't understand your point that it is impossible to tithe if one is to follow the Law as we are not under the Law. I was commenting that the idea of giving 10 percent was not an issue of the Law (which as you point out was more specific in giving as opposed to pre-Law tithes). I agree with you that we are not obligated to ten percent but only because I believe there was more significance to the tithe than a bill owed to God.

Oops, my bad. I erroneously thought you were saying we should tithe because tithing pre-dates the law therefore it must be done post-dating the law which is claimed by some. I am sorry.

My point therefore according to that criteria was one of an inconsistency of that thinking in that there are several things which we don't do that also pre-date the law (which places limitations of amount and source of income to be "tithed").

We agree then tithing is a free-will option and actually there are no limits (big or little) as to the percentage of income and no restriction as to the kind of income as to the source of giving.

The scope of NT giving is much wider than "tithing" and includes more than just our money.

HankD

 

[JonC]

Yes, I believe we agree. I do think that we are under a greater obligation, but not a tithe, as we give sacrificially and cheerfully.