10% tithe and 10% offering/ equal tithe and offering

[shoy]

Hi folks

An Elder in my church is pushing equal tithes and offering at the congregation. I am barely able to return tithe on what remains after mortgage and tax which is nothing much. you see I became an adventist after these comitment of mortgage, so I return on what is in the Bank when I go there every month. Now the talk of equal tithe and offering is at the door. Isn't this pushing too far. I understand the concept of a liberal offering but why ask for 20% when God says 10.

Shoy

 

[Byfaithalone1]

Hi folks

An Elder in my church is pushing equal tithes and offering at the congregation. I am barely able to return tithe on what remains after mortgage and tax which is nothing much. you see I became an adventist after these comitment of mortgage, so I return on what is in the Bank when I go there every month. Now the talk of equal tithe and offering is at the door. Isn't this pushing too far. I understand the concept of a liberal offering but why ask for 20% when God says 10.

Shoy

Yes. In my opinion, it's pushing it too far.

At some point, if you have the time, you might find it valuable to do a word search for every New Testament passage relating to "tithes" and "offerings." When I did this, I discovered several important things that helped to shape my perspective on this topic.

BFA

 

[k4c]

Hi folks

An Elder in my church is pushing equal tithes and offering at the congregation. I am barely able to return tithe on what remains after mortgage and tax which is nothing much. you see I became an adventist after these comitment of mortgage, so I return on what is in the Bank when I go there every month. Now the talk of equal tithe and offering is at the door. Isn't this pushing too far. I understand the concept of a liberal offering but why ask for 20% when God says 10.

Shoy

The ten percent tithe is a guide to be fair to all but we have to understand one thing. Back then the tithe went to help the needy, as well as, supporting church operation. Today the government uses my taxes to help the needy so to me, our tithe should come out of the money that belongs to me, the taxed portion of my money does not belong to me so I have no right to tithe on it. In other words, if I make $200 and out of that $200 the government takes $35, to help the needy and run the government. This leaves me with $165. I should pay tithe on the $165. We also have to understand how God does provide for us when we're faithful.

Malachi 3:10-11 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in this,'' says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,'' says the Lord of hosts;

Notice how God rebukes the devourer? How many times, that we don't even know, has God prevented something from breaking or provided help when something does break. I can personally think of many times where God has helped me when things didn't go right and now it's going to cost me. God always seems to go above and beyond caring for my needs and providing when things go wrong. He definitely rebukes the devourer for our sake.

 

[SavedSinner7]

Ultimately, one must do what he feels is right according to conscious and Scripture. Personally, yes, I feel this elder is going too far. 10% tithe is asked of us by God, but after that it is important that it be by free will, not an obligation. Continue to give faithfully as God has instructed, and don't let yourself feel belittled by an elder who has a bee in his bonnet about equal tithes and offerings since this is not what God specifically asked.

In addition, as for paying tithe on net income instead of gross, I do not do this. Christ said render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's. I pay tithe based on what I earn, not on what Caesar decides should be his or not and that is what is asked of us scripturally as far as I can see it. To me it feels like one is giving precedence to man over God by deducting taxes out of the total sum you pay tithe on.

But I don't mean this to be a judgment call. I am simply explaining my own viewpoint. To each his own and God bless.

 

[David Conklin]

Tithe is 10%; a liberal offering is above and beyond that. It is said that at the height of their prosperity the Jews were giving 50%. Probably not all of them, but still far more than so-called Christians do.
===
>Today the government uses my taxes to help the needy so to me,

Very little of our taxes go to help the poor. Most goes for defense and interest on the nat'l debt.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

My own conviction is that we are to tithe based on our increase. My increase is what I bring home not the 40% on top that the government takes.

Also the poster who mentioned the taxes role of social services is right in a way. We should not neglect someone we know of personally in need if we are at all able.

Another point that some seem to miss is that God will bless our tithes and ensure that our needs are met. When the subject came up with my wife and I, 5 years ago, we were falling behind slightly every month and could not see how we could 'afford' to tithe. We prayed on it and decided to do it anyway as He commanded and we were amazed that not only were we not falling behind on our bills but that we are able to hold our noses above the water.

Remember, God can do more with 90% than we can do with 100%....

 

[David Conklin]

>God can do more with 90% than we can do with 100%

My dad noticed that. He would get higher raises than his colleagues and more frequently--and unasked for raises! One day he went to his boss to ask for a raise and the boss told him that he was already making more than the boss.

 

[Stryder06]

Shoy, I say keep it simple. Tithe is 10%. It is holy and belongs to the Lord. The offering is, in my opinion, something that should be between you and God. Your Elder probably isn't trying to be offensive or pushy, but he can't say how much you're suppose to pay. Take it to the Lord for He loves a cheerful giver, and ask Him to guide you regarding how much you should give regarding your offering.