Whether you tithe or whether you don't, it matters not to me......

The principles you put fourth for thithing ( "giving" since the NT never says to thith) should also be applied to serving and witnessing. If one is only giving yet not giving of ones self in all areas, I do not think his heart is in the right place.

God wants all of us and when we are filled with the Holy Spirit it will be evident in all aspects of our life including giving of our money.

I personally do not like putting money in buckets at the store for all I know someone who may not represent an orginization may be scamming people.
I also try and give homeless people food or needs instead of money....along with a tract.

 

"We can't out give God"

That little statement is brought up quite often in relation to giving, and it's stupid if you think about it. Who, among any hearers, thinks one can outgive God? That statement is an insult. And it should not do anything positive for this mind-altering campaign to give more-- wanting people to give more 'to' the God who has everything, which would mean nobody can give him anything. No matter how much the truth is unlikeable, this is another effort that relies on fantasy to make churche and ministers richer.

 

But in the back of their minds many people DO believe that they give far more than they get. That is our sinful nature.

It is not the pastor's command that people give, that command is from the Lord, God himself.

There is no 'fantasy' in that statement. If one gives grudgingly, perhaps they may think so. But if one gives cheerfully and out of a heart full of love for the Lord, then they will experience the immeasurable blessings that God will pour out on them. God's plan always works whether you like it or not.

Like the lady from Tara Plantation :smilewinkgrin:, I don't care if you tithe or not. But practicing tithing (AND offerings) has been a great blessing to our family.

 

Thank you Scarlett for a well presented view of the importance of tithing. You hit the target dead-on.

 

The NT church is not a storehouse.

 

Scarlett O. writes:
"In Matthew 23:23, Jesus, in a very long speech about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, say to them that they are fixated on tithing on every single nickel and dime that they get and keeping meticulous records, but that they do not focus on the bigger spiritual matters at all.

He goes on to say that it's commendable to tithe and to be that meticulous.....but don't leave out judgment, mercy, and faith."

Matthew 23:23 says "You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cummin". They did not give money (i.e. every single nickel and dime) as tithe. Duet. 14:22-27 says the Hebrews could not give money as tithe. Just another reason why tithing is not a requirement for N.T. Christians.


BTW, we have always given more than 10%. The problem I have with many who believe tithing is still a requirement, is that they assume those who realize tithing is not applicable to N.T. Christians, only believe that way to avoid giving 10%. Of course that is not true.

 

From another thread same topic...

 

I agree :thumbs:

The highlighted part I agree has more to do with TV evangelist and faith movements more than anything

 

Scarlett I did say that giving should be done along with giving of our spitiual gifts and witnessing. It is all included and shouldn't be seperated...which it wouldn't be if one is spirit filled. The one who only gives and nothing else is, one who is giving for the wrong reasons.

I said that thithing isn't mentioned in the NT that giving is and only with a cheerful heart and right motive. Thithing my dear implies 10%...when in reality there should be no limit according to the NT.

that's all.

 

Didnt the tithe really start with Abram and Melchizedek,Abram gave him a tenth of everything before the law, why shouldnt we do the same after the law.

 

Scarlett O. wrutes:
"Quote:
Originally Posted by drfuss
Duet. 14:22-27 says the Hebrews could not give money as tithe. Just another reason why tithing is not a requirement for N.T. Christians.


That passage had nothing to do with not tithing from your money, it said to bring of their substance.

Faulty logic."

The passage says they were not to tithe with money.

I suggest you go back and read it again. In Duet. 14: 22-27, a Hebrew who lives too far from the Place of Worship to transport his tithe there, can sell the tithe locally for money. The tithe is identified as "grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks". He can carry the money to the Place of Worship and buy a replacement tithe, i.e. "cattle, sheep, wine or other formented drink or anything he wishes". Then he is to present his replacement tithe to the Lord while eating of the tithe and rejoicing.

Notice the 22nd verse says he is to eat the tithe at the Place of Worship. I don't think they had edible money. The passage also says he is to share the tithe with others as well as the local Levites that are with him.

Obviously, they were not allowed to give their tithe as money.

 

Well, you're not forced to "tithe" as you don't have a Biblical mandate to do so.

1. Either a preacher taking verses out of context convinced you of this, or
2. You feel that the amount of 10% from your net/gross/gross+benefits/etc. income is a worthy means of committed giving and helps with budgeting.

A contextual definition of tithes and offerings would help to avoid confusion.
Tithes in the context of Malachi 3:8 were the tri-annual heaps brought into the temple storehouse set up by Hezekiah to feed the Levites and poor, of which the priests were not bringing from the people into the storehouse.
Offerings in the context of Malachi 3:8 were altar offerings of polluted bread and blemished beasts performed by the priests in the temple that were not pleasing to God.

But remember, the tithe was a command that had severe consequences for lack of obedience. If the tithe is "in effect," then there should be no choosing about it.

Here is the flaw: the church is not the "storehouse." The temple was the storehouse for the tri-annual heap tithes. There is no assumption in the Bible that a local church has any storehouse chambers/treasury, nor is there any assumption that a local church has an associated building at all. Assuming a parallel between the Jewish temple and the local church (and assuming a building) has no basis in Scripture.

I agree. I give a lot to charity. I have given thousands to charity.

I agree. I give a lot to my local church. Just for the record, I most often exceed a so-called tithe (assuming one of today's flawed definition of a "tithe"). I am not a tightwad.

Since you attempt to use Scripture to justify an income "tithe" as the basis for giving, you are bound to get a debate or a discussion.

 

Amen!

Amen!

This passage is taken out of context. Just previous to this verse, there is a curse pronounced already on those who were not tithing. If you are going to use this verse to "encourage" an "optional" or "recommended" "tithe", then you have to deal with the fact that it is a command with a curse. Either the whole applies or none at all.

Here is the context of Malachi 3:10:

Now, if you want to suggest that someone prayerfully consider committing to giving 10% of the net/gross/gross+benefits/etc. paycheck to a local church, then that is fine, but not based on this verse, because it would be used out of context.

This verse is referencing the firstfruits law (which is not the same thing as the tithe). The firstfruits was a small portion of harvest that was placed in a basket and presented to a priest as a dedication to the Lord. (Deu 26:1-11) That person would then eat it himself and his household, and share it with others. The purpose of both the tithe and the firstfruits were to keep the people in remembrance of the God Who have such to them, not to toss the whole in a plate and not use any of it personally.

Amen.

Amen. We don't actually "give to God," but I agree with the premise that this verse encourages unfettered joyful giving, and that cheerful givers will be blessed beyond measure in some way.

I agree with the general intent, but believe that some verses were taken out of context.

Amen. Agree. Yet tithing has nothing to do with this.

I guess I'll find out when the year is up.

 

I suppose so. Before the law, Abram set his armed men onto the region around Canaan, killed the people and took their possessions [spoils], then gave a tenth of the spoils to a local priest. So... let's find the region to in and kill the people, take the spoils, then look up a local priest and give him a tenth of what we scavenge. Will that satisfy you?

 

Maybe it would be better if we just gave back to God out of the abundance of what He's given to us

 

The point is that Abram gave to the priest of the most high God (Genesis 14:18) before there was a law, by the way verse 20 say"s "and blessed be God Most High who has delivered your enemies into your hand."
Yes that whould satisfy me.

 

Problem is...

It isn't ME you have to satisfy.

Whether you tithe or not is between you and HIM.

Personally I think those that don't at least tithe are missiing out on a blessing. But that is MHO.