Is tithing mandatory?

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No, but generosity is something that God expects of us. And giving 10% is a good way to exercise generosity. For those who cannot afford to give that much, give something, and work your way up, making sure that you're taking care of your family's needs.
 
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Tithing was a thing way before the Law mandated it. Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizidek. The OT codified the tithe. Abel offered a sacrifice to God, taken from his flock. So tithing is not limited to the time after the law was introduced.

Giving generally is encouraged throughout God's word. It is God's way to break the hold of money over our lives and allows Him to bless us His way. Someone has said that tithing is just not robbing God.

Tithing can be legalistic and proud, as the Lord Jesus said about the Pharisees. It also true that a tiny amount may be far more impressive to God than the gifts of a rich man. The easy way to approach it is to consider everything you have as God's. We have nothing that we were not given, one way or another. We should seek to become joyful givers.

I lived for a long time in fear of giving as I struggled financially. When I opened my wallet, God proved to me over and over again that He has me covered. My needs are always met abundantly.

One of the greatest Christians ever, Watchman Nee, said that God has not got your heart until He has your wallet. He kept very little for his own needs but God always provided for him and his family.
I heard a good take on the widows two mites. The popular view is her self-sacrifice and therefore commendable; but I saw another side to it which showed the legalistic bondage the hypocritical Jewish religious leadership had over the people that the poor widow was so intimidated and in bondage that she felt compelled to give the last bit of money she had and as a result all she could look forward to was to starve to death because she had no more money for food.

I worked for a budgeting service, and it was sad to see clients who were deeply in debt, didn't have enough to feed and clothe their children because their welfare benefit or low wages were insufficient to meet their basic daily needs, and yet they belonged to a church that demanded a 10 percent tithe of their before-tax income. This is a type of spiritual abuse of vulnerable people by misusing the Scripture to give power and authority to their evil demands. To use Scripture in this way to extort money from poor people is a doctrine of devils. And churches like these are just the same in the sight of
God as the evil, hypocritical Pharisees and Religious leaders of Jesus' time.

These godless religious hypocrites might as well enjoy the money they steal from these vulnerable poor folk, because they won't be able to spend it in hell where they are going!
 
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are tithes what you put in the collection plate?
No. It is the free-will offering for the work of the Lord in the local church you attend. It is not a mandatory amount, but what one can afford after the bills are paid and the family clothed and fed.
 
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The first question is: "Is giving to God mandatory?"

The pattern in the Bible is overwhelming that the answer to that question is yes. Life as we know it began in Genesis 4:1, and there we find Cain and Able making an offering to God. And basically everyone else did after that.

Offerings were often put to no good purpose at all. They were burned up on an altar. Burned up. To God. Or in the case of the drink offering, they poured out perfectly good wine. Poured it out. To God.

YES.... some of it was to pay for priests and the house of the Lord, etc. But some of it just went poof. It was a principle of worship. Giving to God was a thing.

Now... you want to quibble about percentages? I'm sure you will be trying to figure out how to give LESS than 10%. But is that really what your heart is telling you to do?

I'll leave you with some references from the Thompson Chain Reference Bible. This is only a small part of the relevant references given, so I will shorten it for the sake of brevity.

Giving, 2120
a privilege and requirement
To God
Exodus 23:15
Exodus 23:19
Exodus 25:2
Exodus 27:20
Exodus 30:12
Exodus 34:20
Exodus 35:5
Exodus 35:21
Leviticus 7:30
Leviticus 27:28
Numbers 7:2
Numbers 7:13
Numbers 7:25
Numbers 7:49
Numbers 7:79
Numbers 15:21
Numbers 18:13
Numbers 18:29
Numbers 28:2
Numbers 31:50
Deuteronomy 26:2
2 Samuel 8:10-11
1 Kings 15:15
2 Kings 12:4
1 Chronicles 18:11
1 Chronicles 26:27
1 Chronicles 29:7
1 Chronicles 29:9
1 Chronicles 29:17
2 Chronicles 15:18
2 Chronicles 29:31
2 Chronicles 31:6
2 Chronicles 32:23
2 Chronicles 35:8
Ezra 2:68
Ezra 6:4
Ezra 7:16
Ezra 8:28
Nehemiah 10:32
Nehemiah 12:44
Psalm 66:15
Psalm 76:11
Psalm 96:8
Proverbs 3:9
Isaiah 60:9
Jeremiah 17:26
Jeremiah 41:5
Ezekiel 20:40
Ezekiel 45:17
Micah 4:13
Mark 12:41
Luke 21:4
Acts 4:37
Acts 24:17
Philippians 4:15 (Thompson Chain Reference)

Scriptural Rules, 2121
Exodus 30:15
Numbers 31:28
Deuteronomy 15:10
Deuteronomy 16:10
Deuteronomy 16:17
2 Samuel 24:24
2 Chronicles 24:9
Ezra 2:69
Nehemiah 10:37
Ecclesiastes 11:2
Matthew 5:23
Matthew 5:42
Matthew 6:3
Matthew 10:8
Luke 6:38
Luke 12:33
Acts 11:29
Romans 12:8
1 Corinthians 16:2
2 Corinthians 8:12
2 Corinthians 9:7

According To Income
Deuteronomy 16:17
Matthew 5:42

Without Ostentation
Matthew 6:3

Freely
Matthew 10:8
Luke 6:38
Luke 12:33

With Simplicity
Romans 12:8

Regularly
1 Corinthians 16:2
Cheerfully
2 Corinthians 9:7
See: ALMS, 2126

Tithes, 2123
Genesis 14:20
Genesis 28:22
Leviticus 27:30
Numbers 18:21
Numbers 18:24
Deuteronomy 12:6
Deuteronomy 12:11
Deuteronomy 12:17
Deuteronomy 14:22
Deuteronomy 14:28
Deuteronomy 26:12
2 Chronicles 31:5
2 Chronicles 31:12
Nehemiah 10:37-38
Nehemiah 12:44
Nehemiah 13:12
Amos 4:4
Malachi 3:10
Matthew 23:23
Luke 18:12
Hebrews 7:2
Hebrews 7:5
Hebrews 7:9
See: LIBERALITY, 2115 (Thompson Chain Reference)
 
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zoidar

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As a Christian we are meant to serve Christ, and part of that is to give to those that don't have. There is no "one tenth" rule. Have a generous heart and a generous spirit. Don't be like the rich man.

Luke 16
19 "Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. 20 And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. 22 Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.'"
 
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PaulCyp1

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There no set rules, percentages, and the like, but yes, if we attend and enjoy the services of a church, we have a social/moral obligation to contribute what we can afford, to the upkeep of the church building and the many costs of running a church.
 
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crossnote

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i really don't know

No.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
 
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zoidar

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No.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

A cheerful giver is someone that gives "much". Some people use this verse to say, if they don't feel like giving they don't have to. That's not Pauls meaning.
 
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DamianWarS

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tithing is an old testament principal and the when used in the new testament is only used in reference to the law. Giving a 10th of your income is not the same as OT law, you may study it yourself but the tithing principle is not just a percentage and it has details and caveats that go beyond. The concept is more about the firstfruits than it is about rounding up everything and extracting 10% but also not all required to be tithed from. What it means more is not that we dissect the law and determine how it fits into Christian living but rather the law is not compatible and we shouldn't be trying to superimpose it to begin with.

Roman 8:29 tells us "For those whom [Jesus] foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."

Christ is the firstborn and he is the firstfruit and according to law he is the tithe (and no one else is eligible) which is why he was sacrificed and why the sacrificial system is fulfilled. We love that but what we fail to recognize is not just he sacrificial system is fulfilled but the tithing system with it. So when we tithe based on the law it has no added value because Jesus already paid the price and our portion can never be the best cut which means our tithe based on law is actually an insult and rejected.

NT concept is not "tithing" it is "giving" and we there is no set amount but we are encouraged to give generously and cheerfully and not out of obligation because when we give out of obligation we have missed the point. people follow a 10% rule because they like being able to follow a system but it can be counter-productive as some will stop at 10% even when there are clear needs in front of them. IMHO the word tithing is an irresponsible word to use as it will always be compared with the law and we should change our language to "giving".
 
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The first question is: "Is giving to God mandatory?"

The pattern in the Bible is overwhelming that the answer to that question is yes. Life as we know it began in Genesis 4:1, and there we find Cain and Able making an offering to God. And basically everyone else did after that.

Offerings were often put to no good purpose at all. They were burned up on an altar. Burned up. To God. Or in the case of the drink offering, they poured out perfectly good wine. Poured it out. To God.

YES.... some of it was to pay for priests and the house of the Lord, etc. But some of it just went poof. It was a principle of worship. Giving to God was a thing.

Now... you want to quibble about percentages? I'm sure you will be trying to figure out how to give LESS than 10%. But is that really what your heart is telling you to do?

I'll leave you with some references from the Thompson Chain Reference Bible. This is only a small part of the relevant references given, so I will shorten it for the sake of brevity.

Giving, 2120
a privilege and requirement
To God
Exodus 23:15
Exodus 23:19
Exodus 25:2
Exodus 27:20
Exodus 30:12
Exodus 34:20
Exodus 35:5
Exodus 35:21
Leviticus 7:30
Leviticus 27:28
Numbers 7:2
Numbers 7:13
Numbers 7:25
Numbers 7:49
Numbers 7:79
Numbers 15:21
Numbers 18:13
Numbers 18:29
Numbers 28:2
Numbers 31:50
Deuteronomy 26:2
2 Samuel 8:10-11
1 Kings 15:15
2 Kings 12:4
1 Chronicles 18:11
1 Chronicles 26:27
1 Chronicles 29:7
1 Chronicles 29:9
1 Chronicles 29:17
2 Chronicles 15:18
2 Chronicles 29:31
2 Chronicles 31:6
2 Chronicles 32:23
2 Chronicles 35:8
Ezra 2:68
Ezra 6:4
Ezra 7:16
Ezra 8:28
Nehemiah 10:32
Nehemiah 12:44
Psalm 66:15
Psalm 76:11
Psalm 96:8
Proverbs 3:9
Isaiah 60:9
Jeremiah 17:26
Jeremiah 41:5
Ezekiel 20:40
Ezekiel 45:17
Micah 4:13
Mark 12:41
Luke 21:4
Acts 4:37
Acts 24:17
Philippians 4:15 (Thompson Chain Reference)

Scriptural Rules, 2121
Exodus 30:15
Numbers 31:28
Deuteronomy 15:10
Deuteronomy 16:10
Deuteronomy 16:17
2 Samuel 24:24
2 Chronicles 24:9
Ezra 2:69
Nehemiah 10:37
Ecclesiastes 11:2
Matthew 5:23
Matthew 5:42
Matthew 6:3
Matthew 10:8
Luke 6:38
Luke 12:33
Acts 11:29
Romans 12:8
1 Corinthians 16:2
2 Corinthians 8:12
2 Corinthians 9:7

According To Income
Deuteronomy 16:17
Matthew 5:42

Without Ostentation
Matthew 6:3

Freely
Matthew 10:8
Luke 6:38
Luke 12:33

With Simplicity
Romans 12:8

Regularly
1 Corinthians 16:2
Cheerfully
2 Corinthians 9:7
See: ALMS, 2126

Tithes, 2123
Genesis 14:20
Genesis 28:22
Leviticus 27:30
Numbers 18:21
Numbers 18:24
Deuteronomy 12:6
Deuteronomy 12:11
Deuteronomy 12:17
Deuteronomy 14:22
Deuteronomy 14:28
Deuteronomy 26:12
2 Chronicles 31:5
2 Chronicles 31:12
Nehemiah 10:37-38
Nehemiah 12:44
Nehemiah 13:12
Amos 4:4
Malachi 3:10
Matthew 23:23
Luke 18:12
Hebrews 7:2
Hebrews 7:5
Hebrews 7:9
See: LIBERALITY, 2115 (Thompson Chain Reference)
Many church people give money to churches that are not even preaching the gospel! So the money is given to prop up a religious organisation that doesn't bear any fruit for God at all. I don't see that as giving to God at all, but to a church. And if it is a church that is liberal, doesn't believe the Bible is God's word, or the virgin birth, or the resurrection of Christ, or that Jesus was not a historical person, then people are not giving to God at all but to a synagogue of Satan!

My daughter's fiance, who is not a Christian, was out of work for around 4 months. I gave him financial support to keep his car on the road, continue payment on his loans, power and internet account. He needed a battery charger for his motor bike, and so I ordered one for him and paid for it. Because he is unsaved, and I want to show the spirit of Christ toward him, then I am giving to God more than to a church that wouldn't even care about him let alone give him any support. He will read me before he reads the Bible, and more souls have been saved by acts of kindness than all the great theological sermons on Sunday mornings in churches.

So, let me get this straight. If you had a widow in your church, on a welfare benefit, and if she was required to put money in the offering plate rather than be able to feed and clothe her children, would you enforce the requirement even though she and her children would have to starve until the next welfare benefit payment? And the money was used just to buy a few more chairs for the church lounge, would you think that is consistent with the spirit of Christ?

I'll let you answer that question.
 
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tithing is an old testament principal and the when used in the new testament is only used in reference to the law. Giving a 10th of your income is not the same as OT law, you may study it yourself but the tithing principle is not just a percentage and it has details and caveats that go beyond. The concept is more about the firstfruits than it is about rounding up everything and extracting 10% but also not all required to be tithed from. What it means more is not that we dissect the law and determine how it fits into Christian living but rather the law is not compatible and we shouldn't be trying to superimpose it to begin with.

Roman 8:29 tells us "For those whom [Jesus] foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."

Christ is the firstborn and he is the firstfruit and according to law he is the tithe (and no one else is eligible) which is why he was sacrificed and why the sacrificial system is fulfilled. We love that but what we fail to recognize is not just he sacrificial system is fulfilled but the tithing system with it. So when we tithe based on the law it has no added value because Jesus already paid the price and our portion can never be the best cut which means our tithe based on law is actually an insult and rejected.

NT concept is not "tithing" it is "giving" and we there is no set amount but we are encouraged to give generously and cheerfully and not out of obligation because when we give out of obligation we have missed the point. people follow a 10% rule because they like being able to follow a system but it can be counter-productive as some will stop at 10% even when there are clear needs in front of them. IMHO the word tithing is an irresponsible word to use as it will always be compared with the law and we should change our language to "giving".
I have just joined a small community church in my neighborhood. I wouldn't have any problem putting money into the offering, because that church does a lot of work among the elderly in the community and I would know that the money goes to where it is needed, and not to line the pockets of some overpaid minister who doesn't even preach the gospel. The church I have just joined has a self-supporting minister and uses visiting lay-preachers.

But if I gave a homeless man ten dollars to buy his next meal, I think I would be giving to God just as much as if I put the same ten dollars into the offering plate at church.
 
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A cheerful giver is someone that gives "much". Some people use this verse to say, if they don't feel like giving they don't have to. That's not Pauls meaning.
It is interesting that Paul took an offering around the churches, not for the upkeep of any church, but to help feed the believers in Jerusalem who were experiencing hardship.

Also there is an indication that people sold land and laid the proceeds at the Apostles' feet because there were many widows and orphans who needed financial and material support. Because the early Christians met in private homes, there were not edifices or religious organisations to upkeep. But when the church became semi-paganised and they wanted purpose built "temples" then more money went into constructing large fancy, architectually designed edifices and cathedrals. I just wonder how many poor widows and peasants who could hardly afford to put food on the table contributed their hard-earned money to construct St Peters Basilica in Rome?
 
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Yes, it is necessary but not in the way others might be saying or rejecting. We are to present 10 percent of what we profit to the Lord. We began tithing 10 percent of what we profited (plus to other needs) thirty years ago and have never had a day without food or a roof over our head or in the most simple terms, what we needed when we needed it according to our Father in Heaven.

If your flock bears 100 new sheep this year then we are to give 10 to the service of the Lord. If we clear 1000.00 we are to give 100.00 to the service of the Lord. If we make 10 cents profit then we are to give one penny to the service of the Lord. The idea of tithing is to willingly present spiritually and physically of yourself to God in Heaven. In a money driven country, we do it with money. In a cattle driven country do it with cattle. In a sheep driven economy, do it with sheep. When we leave this world we will take nothing of it with us. Tithing is a reminder of who we serve.

That said, on the receiving end it is the duty of the leaders of our churches to insure that the tithe is used to keep the doors open, pay the bills, keep a pantry, and provide a place that we may gather to sing praises onto God. It is in the new Testament in that Jesus said, I did not come to destroy the Commandments (of God, not the self righteous men) but to fulfill the prophecies. The Bible is about Jesus from Genesis to Revelation and there is no difference in the commandments between us or the old. Give 10 percent of what you profit with gladness and don't look back. Don't worry about what the church leaders do with it, they will give an account to our God for every penny. Give happily and think if it this way; God owns it all. He is telling you to keep 90 percent and do with it wisely, but still as you please.
 
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Yes, it is necessary but not in the way others might be saying or rejecting. We are to present 10 percent of what we profit to the Lord. We began tithing 10 percent of what we profited (plus to other needs) thirty years ago and have never had a day without food or a roof over our head or in the most simple terms, what we needed when we needed it according to our Father in Heaven.

If your flock bears 100 new sheep this year then we are to give 10 to the service of the Lord. If we clear 1000.00 we are to give 100.00 to the service of the Lord. If we make 10 cents profit then we are to give one penny to the service of the Lord. The idea of tithing is to willingly present spiritually and physically of yourself to God in Heaven. In a money driven country, we do it with money. In a cattle driven country do it with cattle. In a sheep driven economy, do it with sheep. When we leave this world we will take nothing of it with us. Tithing is a reminder of who we serve.

That said, on the receiving end it is the duty of the leaders of our churches to insure that the tithe is used to keep the doors open, pay the bills, keep a pantry, and provide a place that we may gather to sing praises onto God. It is in the new Testament in that Jesus said, I did not come to destroy the Commandments (of God, not the self righteous men) but to fulfill the prophecies. The Bible is about Jesus from Genesis to Revelation and there is no difference in the commandments between us or the old. Give 10 percent of what you profit with gladness and don't look back. Don't worry about what the church leaders do with it, they will give an account to our God for every penny. Give happily and think if it this way; God owns it all. He is telling you to keep 90 percent and do with it wisely, but still as you please.
These are good principles, but are not taught in the New Testament as a requirement. Also, there is no requirement to use our contribution for the upkeep of any religious organisation.

But having said that, if a person wants to do it on voluntary basis, the New Testament doesn't teach against it either.

If I received a sum of money and wanted to give 10 percent "to the Lord", if I had the choice of giving it to a church or going to the supermarket and buying a box of groceries for the widow with young children down the street who is on a welfare benefit, I would choose the latter and know that I was giving it in a way that God would approve of it more, because it would show the spirit of Christ to that widow and her children.
 
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Every area of our lives are to be surrendered to The Lord.

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 soon tithes/offerings/giving wouldnt need be given 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?

---
As one
 
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