Tithing

godson777 · #**111** 30th June 2005, 08:41 PM

The devil usu attacks powerful truths.

Very true. One of those powerful truths being: unlegalistic, generous, sacrificial, consistant giving from the heart.

godson777 · #**112** 30th June 2005, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by hal weeks

My wife and I have tithed for over fifty years and we have never had a financial need. We have never needed to buy anything on credit.
We were challenged by our Pastor to try it for one month and as a result have never stopped.
It is not a question of do I have to but do I get to?

The results that you are attributing to your tithing are not the results so much of your "tithes", but are the results of honouring God with your wealth and sowing and reaping. I reckon that if you had given the exact same amount of money, not because you thought you had to tithe, but because it was the generous, sacrifical amount that you purposed in your heart to give, you would have seen exactly the same if not greater results.

You were blessed for sowing and honouring God, not for "tithing".

godson777 · #**113** 30th June 2005, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by wjs7652

Obviously I am new to this board. I found this discussion while searching the internet. I tithed 10% of my income for 3 years because that is what I had been told. I heard it all. You're robbing God, tithe if you want to be blessed, etc. If someone was to tell me that I didn't have to tithe during that time I would have probably put up an argument and tell them that yes we did have to tithe. I was just listening to man and not really reading the bible for what it said. Once I started studying the bible I began to see a whole new picture. I saw grace not law. I saw where God loves a cheerful giver and where He expeceted us to give only what WE have decided to give and not what some preacher demanded of us. I see the same things on these message boards over and over again on any subject. There are the people that have scripture to back up what they are saying and then there are the ones that try to take what little scripture they have and twist it to make it fit their doctrine. When challenged to prove their doctrine with scripture they usually just ignore the post or go off on some other meaningless rambling to try to and sweep it under the rug. Some people are going to be willfully blind no matter how much scripture you show them. I have read just about every post up to this point and I can see those who are for tithing do not have any scripture to back up their beliefs and when confronted they are silent.

Very good!

As far as being blessed by God, we are blessed not because of what we do (works) or how much we give (works). We are blessed because we are his children. God was willing to let his Son die for me, while I was his enemy, so that I can be saved. Now that I am his child he is going to curse me because I do not give money to a local church organization. Come on.

Even though we are not required to tithe, that doesn't stop the biblical law of sowing and reaping from existing. We are not required to give any strict amount of money, however, if we want to reap a harvest we do need to sow seed.

This tithing doctrine is all about greed. The only ones benefiting from it are the people teaching it. And like the others on here, I do give, but I give to help people not buildings.

As you know, I am very much against tithing, however... I don't think that you can truthfully say that in ALL circumstances the tithing doctrine is about greed. For example, my Church (Hillsong Church) preaches tithing, but I know they are not doing it out of greed, the senior pastor (Ps Brian Houston) genuinely believes that tithing is for today. He's not trying to rip people off, he just doesn't understand that we are not required to tithe.

Also, I wouldn't say that they ONLY people benefitting from it are the people teaching it... Sure the people teaching it do benefit some, but the people of the community that the money goes towards funding ministry for are blessed, and because God promises to bless you when you honour His with your wealth, and because of the law of sowing and reaping, people who tithe can still expect a harvest in their own life.

Buildings do help people. Could you imagine having church out in the pooring rain, with the wind, or under the scorching sun? How many people do you think would come to church? Buildings are incredibly necessary to fund and support.

I really believe that it is pride that keeps most people who believe in tithing from admiting they may have been wrong or from changing their viewpoint. Most people who believe in this have probably not spent hour after hour studying and seeking God for the real truth.

True.

BeforeThereWas · #**114** 30th June 2005, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by wjs7652

Obviously I am new to this board. I found this discussion while searching the internet. I tithed 10% of my income for 3 years because that is what I had been told. I heard it all. You're robbing God, tithe if you want to be blessed, etc. If someone was to tell me that I didn't have to tithe during that time I would have probably put up an argument and tell them that yes we did have to tithe. I was just listening to man and not really reading the bible for what it said. Once I started studying the bible I began to see a whole new picture. I saw grace not law. I saw where God loves a cheerful giver and where He expeceted us to give only what WE have decided to give and not what some preacher demanded of us. I see the same things on these message boards over and over again on any subject. There are the people that have scripture to back up what they are saying and then there are the ones that try to take what little scripture they have and twist it to make it fit their doctrine. When challenged to prove their doctrine with scripture they usually just ignore the post or go off on some other meaningless rambling to try to and sweep it under the rug. Some people are going to be willfully blind no matter how much scripture you show them. I have read just about every post up to this point and I can see those who are for tithing do not have any scripture to back up their beliefs and when confronted they are silent.

As far as being blessed by God, we are blessed not because of what we do (works) or how much we give (works). We are blessed because we are his children. God was willing to let his Son die for me, while I was his enemy, so that I can be saved. Now that I am his child he is going to curse me because I do not give money to a local church organization. Come on. This tithing doctrine is all about greed. The only ones benefiting from it are the people teaching it. And like the others on here, I do give, but I give to help people not buildings.

I really believe that it is pride that keeps most people who believe in tithing from admiting they may have been wrong or from changing their viewpoint. Most people who believe in this have probably not spent hour after hour studying and seeking God for the real truth.

That was a great testimony. You're right. Many try to use statements like, "God told me...," or, "The Holy Spirit showed me...," as a battering ram to try and keep anyone else from daring to challenge such "revelations," even when they contradict the written word of God.

BTW

Andrew · #**115** 30th June 2005, 09:50 PM

Suffice to say WOF teaches tithing and this is a WOF forum. If you don't like it, post elsewhere.

BeforeThereWas · #**116** 30th June 2005, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew

Suffice to say WOF teaches tithing and this is a WOF forum. If you don't like it, post elsewhere.

Really? Who is the authority to establish that the requirement for tithing is an official WOF doctrine? You? Are you that authority? Who are you? What authority do you have to make such a blanket statement? Do you suppose that because you believe something, that whatever sect you identify with also believes it? Please share with us all the backing you have for this belief.

BTW

godson777 · #**117** 30th June 2005, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew

Suffice to say WOF teaches tithing and this is a WOF forum. If you don't like it, post elsewhere.

Once again hiding behind a non-scriptural argument...

There is nothing in the rules that says that two (or more) word-faithers (such as me and you) cannot debate any issue. It's non-wofers who cannot debate anything with word-faithers. I am free to debate/dicsuss this topic as much as I want with you because we both consider ourselves to be part of the word-faith movement and ascribe to the majority of core word-faith teaching.

BeforeThereWas · #**118** 30th June 2005, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by godson777

Once again hiding behind a non-scriptural argument...

There is nothing in the rules that says that two (or more) word-faithers (such as me and you) cannot debate any issue. It's non-wofers who cannot debate anything with word-faithers. I am free to debate/dicsuss this topic as much as I want with you because we both consider ourselves to be part of the word-faith movement and ascribe to the majority of core word-faith teaching.

Well said. So, can you venture a guess as to what authority he thinks he has to state the official doctrine of required tithing for WOF?

BTW

godson777 · #**119** 30th June 2005, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by BeforeThereWas

Well said. So, can you venture a guess as to what authority he thinks he has to state the official doctrine of required tithing for WOF?

BTW

Well, i have to say that the majority of high profile wof teachers do teach tithing... However, you don't have to believe EVERY SINGLE thing that all wof teachers teach to call yourself wof. (To be totally honest you would probably end up believing some very contradictory things).

Christina M · #**120** 30th June 2005, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by hal weeks

My wife and I have tithed for over fifty years and we have never had a financial need. We have never needed to buy anything on credit.
We were challenged by our Pastor to try it for one month and as a result have never stopped.
It is not a question of do I have to but do I get to?

Thank you, Hal! Yahoo!

Isn't this the essence of it all?? It's not do I have to, but do I get to?

Why people fight this - especially when scripture is given to them OVER AND OVER AND OVER again - is beyond my comprehension.

They keep saying "show me scripture", yet the scripture is clear and concise and has been shown them again and again.

I am just grateful that I, and many others here (tho we are weak in number - at least on this thread!!), have realized the truth of the Word and are walking in the blessings thereof. Praise God for that!

The scripture that comes to my mind (quickened to my heart) is:

Titus 1:9

...holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

My prayer is that those who continue to pridefully contradict tithing will be brought to their knees by the Holy Spirit and receive revelation of this Godly principle.