Tithing??

I believe if the gift is willing it is acceptable, its a matter of heart, I wonder about if its not willing whether it would still be acceptable But I believe the tithe was the old, and giving itself is not wrong but good but it should not be out of obligation but of a cheerful heart (if one does give) and certainly in a secretive manner unless its the praise of men one might be after. Thank God He knows where our hearts are at and that He also wills us to do His good pleasure. Maybe walking in His will as He leads us inwardly to do isn't such a bad idea

In Him Kim

 

Howard Hugh did 10% pay!! over $100,000,000!!
(He had over $1 billion) about 20 years ago.

Bill Gate did not 10% pay enough but He paid to poor people (weak god)!
about $50,000,000 or about 1% or less (not like 10% tithe).

He is not god!! I think he love 666 (computer/internet/windowxx etc).
number one important we need Jesus saved to him!! (Bill Gates)

Bro R

[ August 01, 2002, 03:03 PM: Message edited by: ormond ]

 

Abraham tithed before there was a law about tithing.

 

Abraham also practiced polygamy.

 

So next time you plunder a town and kill all the people and gather up the spoils, remember to seek out the local priest and give him his tithe.

 

Jesus said to sell EVERYTHING, give it to the poor and come follow Him. Maybe it isn't about money at all. As God owns everything. These questions get the wheels in my head turning.:0

 

Actually I believe they do have a supernatural connection with our tithing. You can't tithe for 6, 8 months or even a year and expect God to jump up and down, it is a life long principle of being obedient and faithful to God's word and in the end you see the blessing.

If it is a "life long principle" and "in the end" you see the blessing, then you haven't seen the blessing yet... right? [or are you posting from the grave?]

The sources are NOT sources we could "depend" on monthly. This month it was a return of taxes incorrectly withheld from our proceeds on the sale of a house nearly 2 years ago. We had no idea this money was due to us it was over $1000 dollars........... . . .

Alright, I am not a regular tither, nor am I a consistent giver; rather I give in significant sums infrequently. And for this year, while I am not adding up the figures right now, I would estimate I have given about 5 to 6 % of income to church and NT related causes. But I have had similar things happen that you described....an inheritance of $17,000, $4218 in a stock disbursement, was able to buy out the other owners of a house, and 5 months later a new appraisal was issued upping the value $12,000, which is $16,000 more than I paid. Now, do you really think there is a supernatural relationship between giving a tithe {which I have not done recently} and having money [blessings?] fall to you? Maybe you do, since you have to wait til "in the end" to see the blessings, though you elsewhere indicate the unexpected money is the resulted blessings.

Regardless, the regression test I did quite some time ago still stands. I may do another test, though, just to reinforce the result-- or change the result, if God sees fit this time to do so.

 

I would never want to (in any way shape or form) want to say Godliness is a "means" to any kind of financial gain. I heard ministers (TV ofcourse) talking about sowing their seed (attaching the meaning of money to seed) I thought the seed is the ((word of God))), SOW THAT and its not going to come back void, kind of like yeilding a return in the "feild of God" (This world God so loves).

I don't tithe at all, just give where my hearts tells me to in whatever way or form I have it to give I wait on that willingness and trust that as the Lord's leading.

In Him Kim

 

We also tithe.
Over the years we have seen blessing upon blessing. And as Multimom has stated in her post, so have we similar stories.

 

I seldom get into these type of discussions, they are sticky to say the lest.
Being raised IFB, tithing was a cut and dry issue, those that don't tithe are simply pagans, anyway that was always my take on it.
But in all honesty, I just don't see it...and those that do tithe, insinuate that those that don't tithe, will never be as blessed as they are. And it always seems the blessings they are talking about are monetary, as if those are the only blessings that God bestows on His children. Tithing, as it is taught today, seems to limit God, remember that's just my opinion, okay? My parents are from the old school, and firm believers of tithing...and they have no idea how I feel about tithing and they never will! And in my honest opinion, it's no one's business what I give and where I give or who I give it to or even if I give.
Sue

 

Or, some/many/most of these folks DO tithe but want also to make it clear that it is NOT a NT requirement.

Whatever we give we should keep it secret as Jesus said.
Our giving and how much we give should not be used as a badge of spirituality at very least for the sake of others.
Do you realize that one can make a young Christian stumble by trumpeting our tithing as a requirement or a Christian duty?

BTW if one claims the tithe on one's income tax as a deduction, (and I'm not focusing on you in particular) isn't one:

1) taking some of the tithe back.
2) Not keeping it secret.

Secrecy is part of the faith test as well as how much.

HankD

[ August 05, 2002, 11:24 AM: Message edited by: HankD ]

 

We all know whether or not our decisions not to
tithe are based upon selfish reasons or unself-
ish ones.

If I withhold from our God what my heart tells
me I should give, pity and pray for me, because
I have just shown who the real lord of my life is.

If, however, I do not tithe because I feel it is not
generous enough, so I ignore the 10% "tip" for
our God, giving more, don't worry about me:
our God will take care of me.

I use the tithe as a guide so that I do not give
too little, then add a little to that. But there are
those, some likely here, who refuse to tithe,
giving far more. That is why they are saying,
"I don't tithe."

 

Ditto, well said Hank! Tithe is 10%, what difference should it make to me or others if other Christians give less, exactly 10% or more...or to whatever organization, whether their church or other Christian based organizations. I have never and will never tell a new Christian that they have to give a certain amount of their income to the church or they will suffer the consequences. Equating donations with pain and suffering versus blessings and wealth...it's just goofy, not to mention as Hank stated "NOT a NT requirement".
Sue

 

I personally see the tithe expressed as a God given life expression in the life of the good Samaritan. Mercy not sacrifice but giving to those in need in the sense that its not simply dropped into a plate but a giving of yourself time and whatever is needed in the unfortunate circumstances one might find others in. Here is where the preist and levite walk on by. These kind of things are seen by God alone. Jesus didn't praise the tithe in fact he saw alot of abuse concerning it mainly due to the fact that it was something done to be seen of men. The widow who seemingly put so little in gave all she had but I'm sure it might have been judged concerning her "commitment to the lord" due to the fact the amount was so minute. But I also see that this was speaking of spiritual poverty not really made for this point.

I agree with HankD these things should be done in secret, not set as an obligation or pulled from someone through guilt. I think the whole thing is abused in many places.

I have a freind who gives his home to those in need, cuts coupons goes to the grocery store and get "buy one get one free" items and shares from his supply to those in need. Rather then using his car as a trade in to get so little toward a new car he gave it to another individual and they got over a year of maintenence free car, the car was a toyota (I got one myself they last forever). I've known him never to pay a tithe himself but he shares out of what he has in whatever form the need is (joyfully so) so when someone thinks others "get out of it" it really exposes what they TRULY think of "giving" almost contradicting the blessing one might proclaim they themselves recieve through it. And yet those being judged accordingly are walking in the willing joy of it in secret and getting judged for not doing it in the eyes of others. Kind of ironic don't you think?

Jesus didn't say when you did not fill the collection plate you did not fill it for me, but when he was sick and in prison thirsty, and naked they apparently did more then that. I think the reactions of those who thought they were doing for Him and those who had no idea they did for Him speak volumes. Here Christ in His brethren were in NEED and its more like a "holier then thou" to bypass Him and go on their way into religious duties. But love from a pure heart is really Gods choice religion. No one who seeks their praise from men does anything in secret.

In Him Kim

In Him Kim

 

What I was attempting to indicate was that the blessings don't fall over night, the come from a life long faith and trust to do just as God told me. I believe every promise in the word of God from Genesis to The Revelation

So then, if the Israelites heeded the prophet's words and became faithful in tithes and offerings, that did not necessarily mean their crops and animals would flourish the next season? Instead it was something "lifelong?" If it did mean the elements would result in a bumper crop the following season-- "so there would be food in His house"-- then the 'blessings' are very different and very out of time to us today...IOW we are not given the same promise.

I believe that when God said "Give and it shall be given," that he meant exactly what he said. You see I'm an all or nothing scripture person. Either its all true or none of its true.

If "give and it shall be given {unto you}" means exactly-- absolutely not more nor less nor else-- what it says, then it makes no difference if one gives or not... then we keep "exactly" what we already have or we receive "exactly" what we did have.

 

Multimom writes:
"""What surprised me is that the majority of those who responded don't tithe. Now either that means that no one here believes in tithing or that non-tithers are the only ones with a strong enough opinion about it to speak up. (I believe it's the latter as I'm confident that the majority of Baptist Churches still teach the Biblical principle of tithing.)"""

MM, I don't tithe because a Biblical tithe in the OT was a 10% Tax on the Jews. It was required giving. God has now established a New Covenant and done away with the idea of giving under obligation. We now give freely as the Lord leads. It is better to give a penny with a good attitude then to give $1000 out of obligation.

Also, If you believe that your blessings from God are the result of your tithe then do you believe the God that "bought you for a price" would not bless you if you didn't tithe? Do you realize that every blessing you mentioned was of a material gain? Sometimes monatary blessings are a curse. I don't tithe, I just give as I am able and lead of God, I have been blessed in many ways, Am I just an exception to the, tithe = blessing, rule?

Yikes, I'm rambling now so I will stop

In Love and truth,
Brian

 

MM, I am still awaiting your reply. Maybe you haven't seen this so I am not accusing you of dodging me but I do hope you reply soon.

In Christ,
Brian