Tithing, is it for today

[Catsmeow]

Personally, I prefer to give far and above 10 percent. Ten percent is a pittance.

I give but I don't do it for the wrong reasons. I do it NOT to get back but to serve. I LOVE to give. It delights me. I'm a cheerful giver.

That's the KEY> be a cheerful giver.

And LarryT is right...anybody who tells you to sin in order to give, is twisting the scripture.

You NEVER borrow money from credit cards to pay. Pay what you have in faith out of a PURE HEART and in love and compassion.

Cover someones nakedness; feed a hungry child; cloak someone shivering in the cold; buy a meal for a homeless person; share your umbrella when it rains.

HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE:

Do unto others, as you would have one do unto you. (It's so simple).

[gypc]

(KJV)1 Cor 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

(NIV) 1 Cor 16:1Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

I don't see the burden of 10% here.

In his love,

Brian

[Kabowd]

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21

I'll respond more in depth after my chores are done. But that's the jist of what my reply will be. When we resist giving up what we think we "need", we are essentially telling God we know better than He does. Does He not know what you need? I see alot of talk about "money", and debate about how much is "required" to give. This is missing the entire point.

If we can't let go of money, how can we lay down anything else...much less our lives? I think of Abraham and God asking him to lay his precious son on the altar. Abraham didn't squabble with God and go "You've never done this before God...You've never asked this of anyone else. Why me? How about I offer my servant's son? Or maybe I could offer Ishmael instead..."

To those who want to argue about the concept of giving and tithing: why the resistence? What's really holding you back? This is an honest question. Is it fear that you won't have what you need?

[desertcry]

The reason to argue against tithing isn't for an excuse not to give but because some people just simply can't afford to tithe. Does God like people putting heavy burdens on the poor that they can't do. I have no problem with the concept of giving and we should give according to our ability but to insist upon a precentage gives the rich a break and a heavy burden to the poor. The whole reason to teach that tithes is unnecessary is to release the poor from burdens they can't bear. Some pastors make tons of money off the poor with the tithing concept while the poor get poorer. I have experienced this first handed and know what it is like. Honestly, do you think it is right in God's eyes for the poor to struggle and give money to make pastors rich while the poor suffer. GOD IS NOT THAT KIND OF FATHER.

Nate

[gypc]

The reason to argue against tithing isn't for an excuse not to give but because some people just simply can't afford to tithe. Does God like people putting heavy burdens on the poor that they can't do. I have no problem with the concept of giving and we should give according to our ability but to insist upon a precentage gives the rich a break and a heavy burden to the poor. The whole reason to teach that tithes is unnecessary is to release the poor from burdens they can't bear. Some pastors make tons of money off the poor with the tithing concept while the poor get poorer. I have experienced this first handed and know what it is like. Honestly, do you think it is right in God's eyes for the poor to struggle and give money to make pastors rich while the poor suffer. GOD IS NOT THAT KIND OF FATHER.

Nate

Couldn't of said it better!!

[Kabowd]

The reason to argue against tithing isn't for an excuse not to give but because some people just simply can't afford to tithe.

And I would say they can't afford not to. Perhaps the reason some (notice I didn't say all) are financially struggling could be because they aren't trusting God enough to give. They pay everything else first and look out for themselves first and there's never anything leftover.

And you've yet to show how a person can be too poor to give. Did you even read the story of the poor widow who gave less than one cent? If you're making any income whatsoever, then you should be able to give. The only time I would say a person was completely unable to give would be if they had no income at all.

Does God like people putting heavy burdens on the poor that they can't do.

God likes blessing the poor. One way He does so is through ppl who give! And according to Mark 12, Jesus takes notice when we give sacrificially. Like many of us have said, the percentage matters less than the attitude of the heart. This poor widow gave very little monitarily. But Jesus said spiritually she had given more than the rich who gave much, but it affected them little.

I have no problem with the concept of giving and we should give according to our ability but to insist upon a precentage gives the rich a break and a heavy burden to the poor.

What do you mean by "according to our ability"? Shouldn't you mean "according to how the Spirit leads"? Sometimes God asks us to do things that seem impossible from our perspective. In fact, MUCH of the time He asks us to do things that seem beyond our ability. This is when the Holy Spirit is able to do a great work and give God glory. Also, I haven't been stressing a percentage as much as I have been advocating giving regularly. It's a discipline. And I'm still not understanding how the rich get a break and the poor are burdened. If we are living in obedience to God, He will bless. Period. If I make $10,000 a year (which would be considered poor) and give 5% (which would be $500), God is going to bless whatever it is I give because He sees it is out of a trusting and selfless heart. Similar to the boy who gave his lunch to feed more than 5,000 hungry ppl. His lunch was small, but when Jesus touched it, the blessing was far more reaching than what it would've been in that one boy's stomach. Likewise, if I make $400,000 a year and feel the Lord telling me to give 20%, that would end up being $80,000. It's easy for those who make alot less to judge and say "Oh, that's a drop in the bucket for the rich"...but that's not necessarily so. A person making more money may have more financial obligations and responsibilities therefore anything they give is still money they could've kept for themselves to help meet their other financial responsibilities.

I still strongly believe that the amount is less important than the heart issue. If we all gave regularly, as a discipline and act of worship to God, I believe we would see less and less needy ppl because God would be able to multiply what we were giving to meet more needs.

Some pastors make tons of money off the poor with the tithing concept while the poor get poorer. I have experienced this first handed and know what it is like. Honestly, do you think it is right in God's eyes for the poor to struggle and give money to make pastors rich while the poor suffer. GOD IS NOT THAT KIND OF FATHER.

Just because there is corruption in some cases, does not make the principle void. It's simply a matter of being wise and discerning with your money and where you give. This isn't that hard of a concept. Give to those who are not squandering it. Give to those ministries who are putting it to good use: supporting missionaries, church plants, poor, widows, orphans, etc. If you suspect misuse of tithes, approach them..hold them accountable. Give somewhere else. There is always the possibility of greed and/or corruption involving money. But satan wins all the way around if he gets ppl like you to believe the best way to solve it is by not giving at all.

[Botz]

ann2...

Let me pose a question!Person no.1always pays his tithes first thing out of his SScheck then never has enough money left to live on rest of the mo.The church then kicks in helping rest of mo,this is every mo. Person no.2 pays all there billsout of ss check then what he manages to get hold of extra pays tithes plus puts in collection plate.Which do you see as doing the rt. thing?

Not ignoring you ann...its just that your example reminds me of my maths tests years ago and I come over all pale!

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The main point about tithes and offerings is not that they should be scrapped necessarily...but that the whole concept should be taught in an up to date fashion and according to what was demonstrated in the Early Church...so that giving of any type is not done out of guilt,compulsion or legalism but according to godly priciples freely and joyfully to a clear vision...whether that be the work and upkeep of the local Church and workers...or some other mission field...all is done with the best interests of the Kingdom of G-d at heart.