Is it Godly to demand rights as a tither?

Well, that's Kenneth Copeland. Most Christians probably would say that his view of a lot of issues is atypical or questionable.

curious mike said:

The way I see it, tithing is something we should want to do and not something we should do to get something in return. Looking at this article here:

http://blog.kcm.org/3-tithers-rights-every-christian-know/

that article is suggesting to me that we can demand rights as tither. I am not sure if should "demand" anything from God?

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Christians should be practicing generosity in place of tithing. Tithing is a law of Moses thing. Generosity is a Christian thing. The principle of generosity is, "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

I think a lot of professional Christians preach tithing out of greed, looking for a reliable income source. After they've put a tenth of your income into their own pockets, you have little left to practice generosity with.

2Cor 2:17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

2Pet 2:3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.

curious mike said:

The way I see it, tithing is something we should want to do and not something we should do to get something in return. Looking at this article here:

http://blog.kcm.org/3-tithers-rights-every-christian-know/

that article is suggesting to me that we can demand rights as tither. I am not sure if should "demand" anything from God?

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God is not our puppet, we don't demand anything of Him, HE is Lord. In addition, He isn't our genie who, if we speak to Him the correct way (i.e. rub the bottle the right way, or say the magic words), will do our bidding for us. That is actually a pagan concept. We are at HIS mercy, we are to walk according to HIS will and tithing, if you believe we are expected to do it... is then a command we follow, not a high card we use to up the ante.

If we expect something from our tithe, ANYTHING, then we are giving for the wrong reasons.

curious mike said:

The way I see it, tithing is something we should want to do and not something we should do to get something in return. Looking at this article here:

http://blog.kcm.org/3-tithers-rights-every-christian-know/

that article is suggesting to me that we can demand rights as tither. I am not sure if should "demand" anything from God?

Click to expand...

Find a Church that doesn't collect "tithes". Any of the original Churches will do.

curious mike said:

that article is suggesting to me that we can demand rights as tither. I am not sure if should "demand" anything from God?

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No we should not.

It is trying to turn God into our slave instead of us being His slaves.

This is how we are to be before God:

Luke 17:7 “Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? 9 He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10 So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”


Philippians 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

So our pal Kenny C is offering more "special tither powers" in return for you giving him more money? Must need to overhaul one of his jets again.

HTacianas said:

Find a Church that doesn't collect "tithes". Any of the original Churches will do.

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Those churches closed down long ago for lack of funding......

curious mike said:

Just my point, I believe we should give out of compassion and caring with the desire to WANT to help and not because of a command but yes I agree we should not expect nor demand anything from our giving.

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Isa 1:13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations-- I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
Isa 1:14 Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.

Read the above carefully... sure sounds like God doesn't like the Sabbath(s), new moons, holy gatherings of His people. However, God created the gatherings, the Sabbath, the new moon... and called them "good." Thus, this isn't about those "things," the above verses are dealing with people who are doing them for the wrong reasons and without a heart filled with love and compassion. Your thread here is in this same spirit... the tithe was commanded but ANY commandment we follow is out of love not obligation. When it becomes something we do out of obligation, we enter the realm of the Isaiah verses above.

Blessings Mike.
Ken

curious mike said:

The way I see it, tithing is something we should want to do and not something we should do to get something in return. Looking at this article here:

http://blog.kcm.org/3-tithers-rights-every-christian-know/

that article is suggesting to me that we can demand rights as tither. I am not sure if should "demand" anything from God?

Click to expand...

There is nothing that you could do to become "godly"

Why would you have to demand anything? The Lord said to try him and see. If you tithe the way the bible says to, you will receive more than you can keep. If you do not, then either you aren't tithing the way the bible says, or God is a liar. And God is not a man that he should lie.......

RaymondG said:

Those churches closed down long ago for lack of funding......

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There are Orthodox Churches all over.

HTacianas said:

There are Orthodox Churches all over.

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They don't ask for 10% of your income? Do they have a central headquarters that distribute funds evenly like the CC? If not, what happens when their funds start too run low? How do they subsidize? Are there at least "give more" messages preached?

curious mike said:

The way I see it, tithing is something we should want to do and not something we should do to get something in return. Looking at this article here:

http://blog.kcm.org/3-tithers-rights-every-christian-know/

that article is suggesting to me that we can demand rights as tither. I am not sure if should "demand" anything from God?

Click to expand...

Luke 17
7But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

There is something to receiving because of giving, but that seems to be a bit of a universal phenomenon. However, I think God is more interested in why you are giving.

Welcome to prosperity theology, where God is viewed as a giant vending machine to serve our earthly desires. A lot of itching ears love getting scratched by it.

RaymondG said:

They don't ask for 10% of your income? Do they have a central headquarters that distribute funds evenly like the CC? If not, what happens when their funds start too run low? How do they subsidize? Are there at least "give more" messages preached?

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Yes, the Orthodox Eastern churches, like the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches and others do ask for money.

However, they do not insist upon a tithe, which is very specifically defined and comes with threats about the members disobeying God if they do not come across with a set percentage, etc.

Somehow, the original churches are managing at least as well as the ones that preach tithing.

The OT tithe was a tax, a command, and an obligation on those who profited from agricultural goods. It was never, ever money, only things the God had created, plants and animals. Word of Faith people, like Copeland, tell people that was because everyone was a farmer. What...? Just how stupid do you think we are? Metal workers, tent makers, textile makers, masons, innkeepers, lawyers, Carpenters, etc. None of them were commanded to pay tithes. Count me among the stupid for over twenty years.
But alms were different. They were at liberty to follow their heart in what and how much they gave, just as Paul teaches in the NT.
Jesus told the Pharisees that they were right to give a tithe of their herbs but they weren't taking care of the poor, the widows and orphans. Alms. The widow gave all that she had to care for others.
Paul said we should provide for those who work to advance the Gospel....feed the ox when he is trending.
If we want to have a building to meet in then we need to pay the expenses and maintenance that come with it, as a shared obligation.

RaymondG said:

Those churches closed down long ago for lack of funding......

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We have three churches in our very little town. Only one believes in OT tithing and they and are the poorest. The other two churches do just fine and they provide housing for their pastors, one of them, the Community Church, which is non-denominational, puts out a monthly news letter that goes to all the mail box holders in town and the surrounding area. They do a lot of charity work in the area as well as in foreign countries. People give because they care.

curious mike said:

The way I see it, tithing is something we should want to do and not something we should do to get something in return. Looking at this article here:

http://blog.kcm.org/3-tithers-rights-every-christian-know/

that article is suggesting to me that we can demand rights as tither. I am not sure if should "demand" anything from God?

Click to expand...

Demand in one hand from God and poop in the other see which one get filled first.

This is why I hate the use of the word tithe. a tithe is a tax put on by the church. if anything you tithe to the church seek or make your demands to the church. God in the NT does not require a tithe.

God demands all of it. you in the NT are not allowed to keep anything for yourself. You bring all to god with an open hand and allow him to take what he wants or put into your hand what he is asking you to care for.

You are a steward of God's money. nothing you have is yours. or that is the way it is supposed to be. So then how are we in a position to demand anything?

I am not preaching from the side lines here God has taken everything at least 3 times and I was good with it, and he gave it back 10 fold each time. Now I'm incharge of two business for Him. He has made me responsible for more than I ever could have imagined as a kid growing up. It never made sense to me to try and hold on to something God asks for. he will take it either way. however when you freely give He then gives back often times more than what was ever taken.

So what do you put in the plate? a promise God to do your best fill ever need he sets at your feet. starting in your own house first! if you are faithful and can manage that ask for more people to help, and keep going until you know you are at your max.

If your church demands a tax find another church. the idea being give all of yourself not 10%