You Must Give 10% of Your Gross Income to the Church?

[woobadooba]

Have you ever heard someone tell you that because Jesus gave His life for you, the least you can do is give Him 10% of your income?

I used to think that way when I was a member of a denomination caught up in legalism. When you look at the statement closely, a salvation by works theology is at its core. It's as though these people expect you to offer Jesus payment for the sacrifice He made. That's not the gospel, but a man-made tactic used to manipulate people into giving money to a church organization.

I have looked into the Scriptures to see what the Bible says about tithing. There is no biblical support for the belief that God requires believers to hand over 10% of their gross income to a church organization. It is a man-made doctrine.

Before you jump on me for saying that, watch the following video.

Next time someone says the least you can do is give Jesus 10% of your income, you can respond: Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (Jn. 14:15). And then ask him or her to show you where Jesus commanded believers to give 10% of their gross income to a church organization.

They will likely proceed to take several Bible verses out of context, but if you watched the video above, you will know how to respond to their legalistic teaching.

Should we support those who labor for God? Yes. But it is up to the individual how much he or she gives. It is not for us to weigh people down with false guilt by demanding they give an amount God doesn't require of them. "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)

If people are making such demands of you—accusing you of robbing God because you aren't abiding by their church rules on tithing, then I suggest looking elsewhere for a place of fellowship.

 

[Dawnhammer]

Reminds me of the joke about gold donated to the Church. The priests throw coins in the air and everything that stays up goes to God and everything that falls down belongs to the Church and clergy.

 

[Hank77]

If people are making such demands of you—accusing you of robbing God because you aren't abiding by their church rules on tithing, then I suggest looking elsewhere for a place of fellowship.

In the past I had thought about bringing a 10th of our calf crop and a 10th our hay crop to such a church.
God never allowed money to be given as a tithe, only things that He had created, nothing man-made.

 

[1213]

Have you ever heard someone tell you that because Jesus gave His life for you, the least you can do is give Him 10% of your income?....

It is also good to notice that in the early Christian writings it is said:

“If he asks for money, he is a false prophet.”
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html

 

[Hank77]

It is also good to notice that in the early Christian writings it is said:

“If he asks for money, he is a false prophet.”
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html

Are pastors and elders prophets as prophets are being described in the teaching you have posted? I don't know for sure. It does seems to say that the Spirit will not have the prophet ask for money for himself.

 

[Rubiks]

Yes and No. Tithing 10% of ones income is part of God's covenant with the nation of Israel. The New Testament doesn't give an exact amount one must give, but it does say to honor God with all of our wealth and resources.

 

[woobadooba]

Yes and No. Tithing 10% of ones income is part of God's covenant with the nation of Israel. The New Testament doesn't give an exact amount one must give, but it does say to honor God with all of our wealth and resources.

Interestingly, only landowners and those who owned herds were required to tithe from their increase to the Levites (see Lev. 27:30, 32). People of other occupations were not required to give this tithe from their increase . . . though they were expected to give free will offerings.

Even though a monetary system existed at the time, only food items qualified as tithe, not money (see Mal. 3:10)

 

[ViaCrucis]

Tithing isn't for the Church, but is part of the commands given to Israel under the Torah. The Christian is not commanded to give 10% to the Church; but rather the Christian is commanded to be generous and give freely; those who have are called to provide for those who have not. It's not about percentages, it's about loving one another, providing for one another, caring for one another--and for everyone in our community. The hungry need food, the thirsty need drink, the naked need clothes, the sick need medical care, and the stranger needs a roof over their head.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Danthemailman]

Many churches teach that we as Christians, under the New Covenant, are commanded to give a minimum of 10% of our income to our church. Others teach that preachers of these churches are turning the 10% tithe from the Old Testament for Israel into a monetary, legalistic prescription for Christians under the New Covenant. I've even heard a Pastor make a challenge to his congregation to give 10% of their income for 90 days and if God does not bless them then he will give them their money back.

In 2 Corinthians 9:5-7 we read: Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

I don't see a "specific percentage" given anywhere for Christians to give "under the New Covenant," but I certainly believe in giving and not just to our church. I also believe that everything we own belongs to God.

 

[woobadooba]

Others teach that preachers of these churches are turning the 10% tithe from the Old Testament for Israel into a monetary, legalistic prescription for Christians under the New Covenant.

It's hypocrisy.

 

[teresa]

i remember this pastor telling myself and others to give 10% of our gross with out even thinking about it. To make it a knee jerk reaction, bc there should be no second guessing when it comes to the l-rd.

He said "the cream rises to the top," and so the very best for the very best.

So give, he pleaded, "right off the top."

He said people tell him that oh no they have bills to pay and the rent and the mortgage, and they cant give 10%.

Pastor said that he told them to just trust Jesus, and that he will provide for all of our needs.

He claimed that after they started to just trust Jesus, suddenly they got that raise or that promotion and so.....

If we just trust in the L-rd, the blessings will rain down upon us

He said that this is how we are to live-to give G-d first place in our lives

He said the world is only the way that it is because we stopped making g-d first in our lives

and so we deny him the privilege to bless us.

and so, by not giving, we are denying GOD!

This pastor, during the Christmas eve service, insisted on members bringing their tithes up to the alter personally, one at a time, and placing their money into the cradle of the "baby Jesus" on Christmas eve.

So one, by one, members stood up and walked up to the front, and placed their monies right into the wooden cradle, with the infant jesus.

 

[woobadooba]

i remember this pastor telling myself and others to give 10% of our gross with out even thinking about it. To make it a knee jerk reaction, bc there should be no second guessing when it comes to the l-rd.

He said "the cream rises to the top," and so the very best for the very best.

So give, he pleaded, "right off the top."

He said people tell him that oh no they have bills to pay and the rent and the mortgage, and they cant give 10%.

Pastor said that he told them to just trust Jesus, and that he will provide for all of our needs.

He claimed that after they started to just trust Jesus, suddenly they got that raise or that promotion and so.....

If we just trust in the L-rd, the blessings will rain down upon us

He said that this is how we are to live-to give G-d first place in our lives

He said the world is only the way that it is because we stopped making g-d first in our lives

and so we deny him the privilege to bless us.

and so, by not giving, we are denying GOD!

This pastor, during the Christmas eve service, insisted on members bringing their tithes up to the alter personally, one at a time, and placing their money into the cradle of the "baby Jesus" on Christmas eve.

So one, by one, members stood up and walked up to the front, and placed their monies right into the wooden cradle, with the infant jesus.

Manipulation.

 

[teresa]

Manipulation.

which part, specifically?

 

[tturt]

Yeshua talked about tithing:

"But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." (Luk 11:42). But we're not to make a show of giving (Matt 6:1).

Also, Yeshua watched the offering plate and noticed who gave and how much. Then He remarked "For they all put in from their abundance, but she from her need has put in everything she had - all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:44). Seems like Yeshua would have taken the opportunity to tell His disciples that the poor wouldn't be expected to pay tithes/offerings/giving soon if that was going to be the case. Or do we think He let the poor widow put in everything she had without blessing her as promised in Mal 3:10.

 

[Strong in Him]

Yeshua talked about tithing:

"But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

Jesus is criticising the Pharisees here for tithing as the law said while neglecting the love of God. You have emphasised the phrase "not to leave the other undone"; this refers to God's love - they were to tithe but not at the expense of neglecting justice and love.

That's why he says "woe" - they were more concerned with the letter of the law than justice, mercy and the love of God.

Also, Yeshua watched the offering plate and noticed who gave and how much. Then He remarked "For they all put in from their abundance, but she from her need has put in everything she had - all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:44).

Exactly.
The rich people gave what they wanted to; even after giving, they would have had a lot left over. The woman gave everything.
When the early church met together after the ascension, they shared all their possessions.
Jesus taught us to put God first, not to have any idols and that we can't serve God and money.

 

[Strong in Him]

i remember this pastor telling myself and others to give 10% of our gross with out even thinking about it. To make it a knee jerk reaction, bc there should be no second guessing when it comes to the l-rd.

If Jesus is Lord of our lives, everything we have comes from him. What does the hymn say; "take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold."
Since all our cash is from him, because he gave us the ability to hold down a job and earn it, we should ask HIM how much we need to give to the church.

He said people tell him that oh no they have bills to pay and the rent and the mortgage, and they cant give 10%.

Pastor said that he told them to just trust Jesus, and that he will provide for all of our needs.

If he was teaching "give to God and then you will get from God/God will bless you", that's just as dangerous.

He claimed that after they started to just trust Jesus, suddenly they got that raise or that promotion and so.....

If we just trust in the L-rd, the blessings will rain down upon us

Maybe some did; I have heard stories of people who tithed at the command of the church, and ended up bankrupt, while their pastors were very comfortable.

God is not a lottery ticket; we don't give a little in the hope of getting more back.

He said the world is only the way that it is because we stopped making g-d first in our lives

and so we deny him the privilege to bless us.

and so, by not giving, we are denying GOD!

We can't deny God anything.
He doesn't NEED our money, or even us. He allows us the privilege of working with him - being in partnership with the king of the universe. If we don't want to; we miss out, not God.

This pastor, during the Christmas eve service, insisted on members bringing their tithes up to the alter personally, one at a time, and placing their money into the cradle of the "baby Jesus" on Christmas eve.

So one, by one, members stood up and walked up to the front, and placed their monies right into the wooden cradle, with the infant jesus.

If I'd been there as a visitor, I would have walked out at that point.
A pastor who INSISTS on something is being dictatorial. Scripture says that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. Someone who's been guilt-tripped into it may only be giving out of fear.

 

[tturt]

Here's another version "“But woe to you P’rushim! You pay your tithes of mint and rue and every garden herb, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You have an obligation to do these things — but without disregarding the others!" CJB, Luke 11:42

Encouraging us to see what Yeshua said.

 

[Danthemailman]

I at one time had temporarily attended a church in which the new Pastor there handed out pledge cards for people to fill out so they can pledge to give extra money on a monthly basis over a three year period above and beyond 10% directly to the "moving forward" project to build a new mega church (that they didn't really need) and to this day has not been built.

More than a few people left that church because all that Pastor mainly talked about was money (primarily the 10% tithe) and building that new mega church. During one sermon, he even mentioned that a member of the church came into his office one day, somewhat irate and said that he is leaving that church because he is tired of hearing about money all the time and needs to find a church where he can go "deeper" in the word.

The Pastor mentioned to the congregation that the word "deeper" is a code word for "I'm not tithing 10%." The Pastor went on to say that he checked the records and sure enough that member of the church was not giving 10% and some months gave nothing at all and then basically acted like, "good riddance to him!"

 

[Strong in Him]

Here's another version "“But woe to you P’rushim! You pay your tithes of mint and rue and every garden herb, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You have an obligation to do these things — but without disregarding the others!" CJB, Luke 11:42

Encouraging us to see what Yeshua said.

Yes; Jesus told them to pay their tithes without neglecting love, justice etc.
So??

Their tithe - which their law told them to pay - was always in produce, not money. If you believe you are under the Jewish law and want to tithe Scripturally, grow carrots or something, take 10% of them to church and hand out carrot soup in the service.
These verses do not say we are commanded to give 10% cash to the church.

 

[Strong in Him]

I at one time had temporarily attended a church in which the new Pastor there handed out pledge cards for people to fill out so they can pledge to give extra money on a monthly basis over a three year period above and beyond 10% directly to the "moving forward" project to build a new mega church (that they didn't really need) and to this day has not been built.

More than a few people left that church because all that Pastor mainly talked about was money (primarily the 10% tithe) and building that new mega church. During one sermon, he even mentioned that a member of the church came into his office one day, somewhat irate and said that he is leaving that church because he is tired of hearing about money all the time and needs to find a church where he can go "deeper" in the word.

The Pastor mentioned to the congregation that the word "deeper" is a code word for "I'm not tithing 10%." The Pastor went on to say that he checked the records and sure enough that member of the church was not giving 10% and some months gave nothing at all and then basically acted like, "good riddance to him!"

If church members left because the Pastor was planning to build another church that was neither need nor wanted, and which the Lord may not have wanted them to build - good for them.
If the pastor was basically saying, "if you don't sign up to my vision, good riddance to you" - shame on him.
I wouldn't attend a church with a pastor with that kind of attitude.