Should Christians tithe? Ask that question in some churches today, and you are likely to start an argument. A few months ago, The Wall Street Journal ran an article entitled “The Backlash Against Tithing.” More recently CBS News ran a feature “To Tithe or Not To Tithe?” Even the secular media is noticing how controversial tithing has become in some churches.
The idea that Christians should give ten percent of their income to the church has become quite controversial and is increasingly being challenged. Church members say they should be free to donate whatever they choose. Some are reacting against a strong promotion of church giving that includes sermons, flyers, brochures, and even “giving kiosks” where church members can give using their debit cards.
Others are reacting to the legalism that says the Old Testament law code concerning the tithe applies to the New Testament church age. And still others want to be good stewards of their giving and want to know more about how a church spends its money.
The best estimates are that Christians gave about 2.5 percent of the income to the church, far below the ten percent advocated by those teaching tithing. And it appears that church giving is on the decline partially due to a decline in regular attendance and also due to the fact the Christians are giving to other charitable organizations.
It isn’t that Christians are stingy. Last year Americans gave an estimated $97 billion to churches and that is almost a third of the country’s $295 billion in charitable donations.
A number of church leaders and theologians have also entered the debate. They point out that the tithe was an Old Testament requirement, and that New Testament believers no longer live under the Law but under grace. The tithe, however, can be a good baseline for Christian giving. If Christians are only giving 2.5 percent of their income to the church, I think they might want to rethink their priorities. I’m Kerby Anderson, and that’s my point of view.
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If you've given your all for the Lord, then you realize it all belongs to Him. Does that mean give everything to the local church? No, especially if they're not telling the truth, preaching the truth, and being good stewards of the money they receive, then they deserve little, if any. Give where it makes the most difference, and according to - 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver." So help a brother, a neighbor, or a mission in need. Does it have anything to do with ten percent? Nope. 1 John 3:17 "But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." Do you know someone that needs a car to get to work, and you've got an extra one? How about giving it to them in honor of your Savior? Galatians 6:9-10 "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." There is not one material possession you own in this life that you are taking with you. Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." I will finish with two verses from Proverbs -
Proverbs 19:17 "He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed." Proverbs 11:24-25 "There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered". Have a great day in the Lord! Porter +++ Click here to reply to this post
tithing
Posted On: 06/26/08 09:19:02 AM
Age 71, GA
many churches today teach tithing or giving
ten percent of our gross income to the church. They use the old covenant to teach
this. The only ones in the old covenant to
tithe were farmers and herdsmen. Paul did not tithe,Jesus did not tithe,nor did any
other profession except as mentioned above,
and only in the state of Israel. The decendants of Aaron which were called the
levites collected the tithes of a tenth
and gave a tenth of this tenth to the priest,
however the church today wants the whole tenth. The new covenant teaches free will
giving, not tithing between god and the christian and has nothing to do with the church, pastor,or any other. Click here to reply to this post
tithing
Posted On: 06/26/08 09:11:49 AM
Age 71, GA
many churches today teach tithing or giving
ten percent of our gross income to the church. They use the old covenant to teach
this. The only ones in the old covenant to
tithe were farmers and herdsmen. Paul did not tithe,Jesus did not tithe,nor did any
other profession except as mentioned above,
and only in the state of Israel. The decendants of Aaron which were called the
levites collected the tithes of a tenth
and gave a tenth of this tenth to the priest,
however the church today wants the whole tenth. The new covenant teaches free will
giving, not tithing between god and the christian and has nothing to do with the church, pastor,or any other. Click here to reply to this post
Do you actually Read the Bible?
Posted On: 04/07/08 03:46:25 PM
Age 47, WI
So if you do a word search on the word tithe in Gods Word you will find that it talks of many interesting things none of which say I should turn my income over to the church on a weekly or monthly basis.
(Deu 14:22) You shall truly tithe all the increase of your seed that the field brings forth year by year.
(Deu 14:23) And you shall eat before Jehovah your God in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the first-born of your herds and of your flocks, so that you may learn to fear Jehovah your God always.
(Deu 14:24) And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, or if the place is too far from you, which Jehovah your God shall choose to set His name there, when Jehovah your God has blessed you,
(Deu 14:25) then you shall turn it into silver and bind up the silver in your hand, and shall go to the place which Jehovah your God shall choose.
(Deu 14:26) And you shall pay that silver for whatever your soul desires, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul desires. And you shall eat there before Jehovah your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household
(Deu 14:27) and the Levite within your gates, you shall not forsake him, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.
(Deu 14:28) At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year, and shall lay it up inside your gates.
(Deu 14:29) And the Levite, because he has no part nor inheritance with you, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are inside your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied, so that Jehovah your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
Note that in verse 23 we are told to eat our tithe and invite certain people to the meal at a location which God has choosen for us so we may learn the Fear of The Lord. Also note in verse 24 we are told to change the tithe into money if the journey is to far to where God has chosen and look at what we are instructed to buy is things we desire including strong drink. Just in this one portion of scripture we see the modern day teaching on tithe is in error. But if we don't give the church our money how will they support themselves? My instruction is read the word not the latest marketing information. Click here to reply to this post
People are waking up
Posted On: 03/22/08 06:46:46 AM
Age 45, PA
The reason people aren't tithing is because they are waking up. These heirlings, those who peddle the word of God for pay, have bamboozled church people since the 4th century. These con artist have built for themselves mini-kingdoms unto themselves and bragging rites among their denomination. TITHING IS OLD TESTEMENT AND FOR THE JEWS, YOU ARE GENTILES AND IN A NEW TESTEMENT, STOP IT!!!! You only encourage bad behavior when you give con men money. Better yet, if your heirling twist scripture to induce the tithe, leave and tell everyone why, maybe then they will listen. Click here to reply to this post
tithing
Posted On: 04/03/08 07:38:22 PM
Age 24, TN
who is gentile? paul (sha'ul) took a vow according to old testment law,and shaved his head. yet, on the other hand, he is responsible for teaching the significance of grace and the fullfilment of the law in messiah, to gentiles and jew alike. did the apostles or any other jew who accepts messiah loose their identity? did they stop tithing in their synagogues? what testimony would that be?
if one disagrees with tithing they should not be a member of a church who requires tithing, or appropriates tithing as funding for outreach, benevolence, and utilities. rather they should find likeminded churches thriving in the spirit of giving so that none are offended and all are serving wholeheartedly.
it is true there are con artists, and there is a need for accountability, but we all need to wake up in certain areas. Click here to reply to this post
The real issue.
Posted On: 03/20/08 11:15:45 AM
Age 21, WY
I think we have to realize that nothing in this world is ours.It is truly God's.So we need to be open to hear when God speaks for us to give.The problem with the debate of tithing is there is no way to not be selfish in not wanting to tithe.If we are scared to put money in to our church to help provide big screen TV's,Entertainment items,or whatever...why is it that we make sure we have all those things and put our money towards them.Thats where we need to be careful.Im going to tithe because i know that God is going to bless that because my heart is truly set on giving it to him.When i say bless I dont mean money or materials only...it isnt always those things...its more he will provide our needs...so if the poor gives his ten percent and doesnt have a coat...God will provide him warmth,not only money...."Money is nothing to God".It is to us americans. Click here to reply to this post
I have seen so many people use tithing as an excuse that they do not have to help the poor. They see a child in their church with no coat in the winter and say "someone should do something". When it is pointed out to them, that the Holy Spirit seems to be trying to but a burden on their heart and they should do something; they say "I already tithe". They say this while they have several big screen TVs and several almost new cars. They are rich and do nothing to help the poor child who is cold in the winter right before their own eyes. Jesus has something to say about this in the parable of the sheep and the goats. Jesus said, "Depart from me, you who are cursed,into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was cold and you did not give me any clothes." The goats will ask, "when did we see you cold and give you no clothes". Jesus will answer, "I tell you the truth, Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me". James1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.- James 2: 14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? CAN SUCH FAITH SAVE HIM? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. - This is why I DO NOT tithe to any church. God always has plenty of poor people He points out to me for me to help, and I buy the child a new coat instead, or invite a stranger into my home to live. We are not under the law of tithing, but are called to a MUCH HIGHER LAW OF LOVE. Lou Click here to reply to this post
The local church budget
Posted On: 03/20/08 07:59:38 AM
Age 34, FL
Why do pastors continue to teach the false law of the tithe and why are they unable to understand why so many oppose it? Very simple, in fact Upton Sinclair had it right the very first time:
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." Click here to reply to this post
1ST- even under the law, when the people gave 10% of their increase, it was to be given to God not the church. But the church then took care of the buildings, the priests, and was their government. The church was their justice system and law. Now we live in a nation which takes half of what the poor earn and the the church tells these same people to give another 10% before taxes to the church. This seems a crushing burden and Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light. The law that is being preached in the church is not easy or light. I have seen pastors preach to the poor to give 10% and then watch the children of the poor go with out a winter coat. Responsibility goes with authority. If the church wants to have authority then they have the responsibility to take care of the poor. 2nd - Abraham tithed under a higher law and gave his tithe directly to God. If Abraham is the father of our faith then we should do as Abraham did. 3rd- If we have given our life to Jesus then it includes ALL of our money and everything that we have. The church should teach by example and instead of being collectors, they should be givers of all that comes into the church. Lou Click here to reply to this post
your right
Posted On: 03/20/08 01:18:47 PM
Age 61, MI
Tithing is an old test law.We are under the new covenant of grace not the old law if sin ad daeth. Jesus calls for us to "GIVE". There is no place in the new test that calls for us, as christians, to tithe 10% to a building on the corner or any one else. Jesus pointed out the example of the widow for gave every thing she had. We are to give to and for Gods work whether that is time, money or material goods. the Holy Spirit will guide us in this giving.
Godshammer@yahoo.com Click here to reply to this post
I can relate!!!
Posted On: 03/19/08 08:20:34 PM
Age 25, PA
I'm going to a Church now that supports missions, is heavily involved in outreach, and has a heart for the lost. They also use the Bible for Bible studies, WHAT A CONCEPT! I recently left a Church. One of the reasons was that most of our money went toward nifty studies that included DVDs and workbooks, redoing a parking lot that looked fine to begin with, and so on. If you're giving to a Church that uses it for God's purpose, why would you NOT want to give? It's an opportunity to further God's Kingdom. Click here to reply to this post
Tithe
Posted On: 03/19/08 07:04:46 PM
Age 61, MO
The "tithe" was what was used to sustain the Levites (the priests of the people) whose full time occupation was to act as an intermediary between God and the other tribes of Israel. The Cross of Christ removed the veil of the temple and thus the need for any further intermediaries. Christian giving should always be giving without expecting any return or blessing. Pastor's salaries and church house expenses are of this world, and as such do not require an obligation from God for their support. George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
Tithes and Offerings
Posted On: 03/19/08 05:49:00 PM
Age 55, FL
I started tithing as a new Christian - no one had to tell me to do it! Scripture discusses tithes AND offerings. As parents, we taught our children to save for both tithes and offerings. The tithe was to go to the church, but they could decide where to give the offering. They saved their offering money until the Lord touched their hearts about needs; then they were blessed to have the money to freely give. Click here to reply to this post
The problem with tithing
Posted On: 03/19/08 05:14:26 PM
Age 29, TX
...is that most churches do not use the money as the first-century church did: for the feeding of the hungry, for the care of widows and orphans, or for missions. Instead, it seems like the money is used for big-screen TV's and basketball courts for the "youth ministry", a shiny new building, or a bigger-better-blastier sound system. I would feel infinitely more comfortable in giving to a church that had a widows' fund. Absent that possibility, my husband and I give our money to REAL assistance ministries. So that is why we don't tithe; we give to the Lord instead.--Mrs. Pilgrim Click here to reply to this post
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