Tithing--to your Church, Or Pick and Choose?

And yet we all go tot church each week and expect lights, a working bathroom and heat in the winter. Just where does that money come from?

 

What does being saved have to do with being a member of a IFB?

 

Saved people should IFB? Yeah, right, I remember seeing that in scripture, yeah, right.

 

Actually, it says "Southern Baptist". Just ask Ed, if you don't believe me. I'm sure its somewhere in the Holman Version.

As for tithe, it used to go to Dr. Scott, up until he died. Since he is dead you can send it to Robert Tilton.

 

For the sake of this thread I will pretend to believe in this thing called a church "tithe". A tithe of course is ten percent of something. Can someone explain of whence cometh this ten percent? Net pay? Gross pay? Gross pay plus anything that can be reported on a W-2? How does the Scripture define what to tithe from as applies to the church so I know we are on the same page?

 

Certainly the book of Acts gives good instruction on supporting the local church. However, there are also distinct differences. In Acts, they sold their possessions and then had "all things common". They were selling houses and land and giving 100% to the apostles so that the money could be distributed to the needy. None of us are using this as the model for our local assembly. Also, there were no other genuine, worthy ministries in need of support. So, I don't think these folks faced the question that was posed in this thread. They operated on a level with which we are not familiar.

 

Our church generously supports missions ongoing, so tithing to my own church is a given for me. We start by giving 17% each week, for missions near and far, and we give much more than that locally in food, clothing, and by fulfilling other specified needs. We also work at our local baptist mission once a month.

We get so hung up on tithing in monetary terms when it's also giving of our time and talents. If you truly feel you don't have $ enough to tithe, then mow the church grass, spiff up the landscaping, do odd jobs around the building like spot painting or emptying/refilling the baptistry with fresh water, cleaning and taking out the trash. Share your talents ... they are God given, and priceless!

 

My previoue posts was:

"We have a responsibility to give, but the church also has a responsibility to be a good steward. If the church does not do its part, then we should fill the gap by spreading our tithes and offerings around accordingly.

I have seen too many people give grudgingly because they believe they must. I think it is better not to give than to give grudgingly."


After reviewing my previous post, I realized it was not very clear as to what I meant. I did not mean a tither should not tithe if he could only give grudgingly to his church. If he can only give grudgingly to his church, then he should consider giving it to some ministry that he can give to cheerfully.

 

In the book of Acts, yes they did sell everything for the good of everyone. And yes, we dont understand that frame of mind. That says more about our self-centeredness than the subject of this op. I do not know if there were any other worthy causes for Christ then or not, I wasnt there. I do know that if I am going to be for something like a tithe to the church, I am going to have some basis from the Bible, not "I was always instructed in the past..."

 

I think my local church should come first and then others as the Lord leads. If my local church was not a good steward of what God provides, then I might answer differently.

 

The Lord Jesus gave everything! Here we are debating on how little we should give Him.

 

Tom,
I agree with the statement about using your tithe through the local church to support other minsitries. Every year, we have the ability to vote or not vote on a budget. Our church is very faithful in giving compared to other churches I have seen.
As far as the book of Acts goes, just because what they did or what we do as a standard does not make either one wrong or right. I merely was looking for Biblical support for giving to the local church. I still say the fact that we do not follow the example of Acts says more about our hearts than theirs.

 

Just for the record...I GIVE to my local church AND to other ministries and needy individuals that I believe the Lord leads me to help and support. Most of the time(when giving money)I give on a "cash only" basis because I do not believe it is anybodies business what or how much I give.The exception is that when sending something in the mail I send a money order because it is safer.As for how much I give...while that is between me and my Lord,I will say that I try to always be as generous as possible since in actuality,HE owns it all...I'm just supposed to be a wise and good STEWARD of what He has graciously provided me.I'm sure sometimes that what I give exceeds what many would consider a "tithe"....and sometimes not...But I try to give "cheerfully" as I "purposeth in my own heart" and obediently as the Lord leads me.
I DO NOT practice the form of "tithing" as it is taught in most of our modern-day Baptist(and others) churches today because I do not believe it is supportable from the scriptures in either Old OR New Testaments.In order to teach this "doctrine" you have to almost totally ABANDON the biblical definition of WHAT tithing actually was and to WHOM it was commanded(Israel).You can't scripturally go to Malachi 3 and put the New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ back under the law when we are under grace.Guilt is that which our adversary the devil wishes to cripple us with.We should not only LIVE BY FAITH....but GIVE BY FAITH as well.God Bless Ya'll!

Greg Sr.

 

Local church comes first. Others come second, as the Spirit leads .

 

Tom wrote:
"drfuss, if your church is not a good steward of the money it receives, that's symptomatic of larger problems, seems to me. If it's not worthy of your financial support, shouldn't you consider moving to a church that is?"

I agree that your local church is the one you should support. However, it isn't always that simple.

Some years ago, our pastor decided it was time for him to make all the decisions in the church even thought the C @ B forbid it. For cxample, the budget process was no more and the personnel and finance committees were told they were no longer needed since he had all he needed to make the decisions.

People responded in different ways.
1. Some said he is the pastor and we will support him no matter what. Duh...
2. Those who felt they must tithe to the church they attend responded in one of two ways.
a. They left the church and went to another.
b. They grudgingly continued tithing to the church and complained.
3. Some spread some of their offerings to other ministries while still giving some to the church since the church was still providing teaching and fellowship.

The offerings dropped drastically and the pastor was asked to resign which he finally did. Had the offerings not dropped, he would probably still be here.

We have a another pastor and the integrity of the church has been restored. Those who left for another church have come back (church hoppers?). Those who spread their offerings around have restored their giving to the church.

I was one of those who spread my offerings around and could give cheerfully during the whole time. I do not believe in continuing to support something that I think is wrong.

My point here is that leaving a church because it has temporaryly lost its integrity, is not an easy or may not be the best choice. I think those who have been caught in this type of situation will appreciate the problems.