Tithing, is it for today

[desertcry]

Hi all, just wanted to get your take on this article on tithing. If I am wrong in any of this article please tell me. We also offer a free magazine if you want to E-mail desert_cry_777@yahoo.com with articles like this and we don't sell anything in our magazine

Tithing

As I have presented this to people before they got totally the wrong impression of what my intentions are so I am going to begin this paper explaining a little bit of what I intend. This paper isn

[Kabowd]

I'm just going to copy what I said in this topic (you might want to check out the whole thread):

I certainly believe that the concept of tithes and offerings has been distorted and tainted by the "prosperity" message often preached today (and by greedy ministers). HOWEVER, I think what you are teaching here is perhaps no better. Why? Because we are blessed people. God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing. Giving a percentage of your income is a discipline that teaches us dependence on God. I agree that the amount should not be pre-set, but that each person should give according to how the Holy Spirit leads. But lets not forget, if we sow sparingly, we reap sparingly.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

You may not find the mandate to tithe in the New Testament, but what you will find is believers living under the covenant of Grace. Something my brother has said is, "If they could give under the law, I can certainly give under grace". The ppl in the old covenant were required to give and make sacrifices. We, on the other hand, have the blessing of giving freely ..and should do so REGULARLY out of a heart of gratitude. We have so much more reason to give than they did in the Old Covenant...we have been set free!. Romans 12: 1 tells us we should be living sacrifices. Every part of our lives (including finances) should be lived as an offering back to God.

The problem I have with this type of topic/teaching (that tithing is unbiblical), is that it seems to come from a spirit of ungratefulness. I'm not saying you're ungrateful, but it appears that some are searching for loopholes to free them from something they see as an obligation, rather than an honor. Not only that, but it also seems to possess an attitude of "what i have is mine to keep if i choose". Um, no. Everything you have belongs to God in the first place, not you.

Also, according to Scripture (Galatians 3 to be exact) those of us in Christ are heirs to the promises God made to Abraham. What were those promises? That we would be blessed ... so that we could BE a blessing. There's no getting around the fact that we are called to give and to give abundantly.

Therefore, I see no point in wasting time and energy trying to disprove tithes and offerings. In my opinion, time could be better spent reminding ppl how blessed they are and how they can use that blessing. I'm concerned that teaching ppl that tithing is "unbiblical" sends the message that "you don't owe God" ...when in all reality, we owe Him absolutely everything. Truth be told, we should be willing to lay everything down...not just 10% but 100% ... none of it really belongs to us anyway.

Just my thoughts..

[Ovedya]

I don't have time to read the entire article. However, I like to look at things very simply. As far as tithing goes, I look at it like this:

Old Testament=Age of the Law. Follow the Law to the letter or you die.

Tithing in the OT: 10% of your increase. Period.

New Testament=Age of Grace. Follow the Lord wherever He leads.

Tithing in the NT: Give your best portion according to your increase, according to the Lord's leading. You cannot go wrong when you follow the Lord.

[Catsmeow]

God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing. Giving a percentage of your income is a discipline that teaches us dependence on God. I agree that the amount should not be pre-set, but that each person should give according to how the Holy Spirit leads

Amen!

[desertcry]

Let me respond to the first person who wrote in response to my tithing article.

The reason I tend to go against the demand on tithes is because it puts a heavy burden on certain poor people. Even though the USA is a blessed country, we still have the poor among us who would have to take food out of their children's mouths in order to tithe to a church. I'm not even sure if all were required to tithe in the Old Testament being that the poor themselves received some of the tithes. Parts of the Old Testament law were set up so God's people didn't have to suffer poverty and starve. The same with the New Testament since everyone sold their goods and divided them among themselves. Now days it seems like a lot of churches take and take but don't give to the poor. I have heard of how a lot of teachers of tithing will take from the poor and then get expensive houses and expensive cars while the poor keep giving to them. TBN is full of this.

Our attitude toward giving shouldn't be to always give a certain amount but give what we can joyfully. If we are giving a set 10% then we are letting our left hand know what our right hand is doing. Christians need to not find it joyful to buy unnecessary material items but find it joyful when they can give to the Lord. I hope you understand me a little better. I gotta run.

Nate

Desert Cry Author

[Kabowd]

The reason I tend to go against the demand on tithes is because it puts a heavy burden on certain poor people.

How so? We are called to give and be a blessing regardless of our financial status. Being a blessing is part of our identity in Christ. Have you read the story in Mark 12 about the poor widow's offering? You see...it's a heart issue. It's not about the amount. Plus, giving shows that we trust that God will provide. Assuming that if you obey, you will lack what you need shows an attitude of mistrust; that God won't take care of His own.

Now days it seems like a lot of churches take and take but don't give to the poor. I have heard of how a lot of teachers of tithing will take from the poor and then get expensive houses and expensive cars while the poor keep giving to them. TBN is full of this.

You're still focusing on the money. It isn't about the money. It's about being obedient and being a blessing. Sure, there are ministries who spend foolishly. We should use discernment when we give. But just because there are some who aren't good stewards of tithes does not mean we neglect the principle altogether.

Something else I said in the other topic:

I think the attitude that God is trying to get something from us is totally wrong. If we can look at it like He is trying to get something to us, then maybe we'll see His heart. God's heart is to bless His children. If He sees that we aren't willing to release what He gives us to others, why should we expect Him to give us anything more?

[hmh]

My question is this, Is tithing only money or can it be also your time or what you own? It seems that all I have ever seen about tithing is all monetary. I have not seen in the Bible other than a monetary item. Can anyone shine some light on this?

[Botz]

Thanks for that article desertcry I really enjoyed and was challenged by reading it...I understand the full thrust of it and believe that much of what is preached on giving/tithing comes from the mind of man and not the heart of G-d...exactly as you have been very clear in pointing out.

I especially liked the emphasis on the poor...and I think that if as much money could be freely given to the poor as it is to make rich Preachers wealthier...then the Church would be much more attractive to the man in the street...(and I am not talking about the building.)

May the Spirit of G-d blow through the Church and change us more and more to truely reflect the Kindom of G-d and to be those that are totally sold out to the lost and to each other...and prepared to change where we need to change.

[Khristeeanos]

We all need to realize that "our" money is not ours, but God's.

We aren't doing ourselves a favor by looking at it like we own anything.

[Born Again]

We all need to realize that "our" money is not ours, but God's.

We aren't doing ourselves a favor by looking at it like we own anything.

Amen!