Do we have to tithe to the church?

[crazycat]

I know the Bible says we need to give 10% of our income to God, but does this necessarily mean we have to give it to our church? If so, could someone point me to some scripture that says this?

The reason I ask is because I go to a fairly large church; actually one of the biggest in the world. They are in no way short on cash. I have really been convicted about this and feel my tithe would be much better off being used to feed the homeless or help support widows as the Bible says we should do.

Thanks for any help on this

 

[pgp_protector]

Get ready for about a hundred different answers

 

[TheDag]

I know the Bible says we need to give 10% of our income to God,

That is an OT instruction which I believe has been done away with in the NT. In the NT it talks about God loving a cheerful giver. This says he doesn't want people to give out of compulsion but because they want to. When we look at the gospel and see the widow giving all she had she was commended for doing so privately and quietly unlike the religious person who made a great fuss about giving what he gave.

but does this necessarily mean we have to give it to our church? If so, could someone point me to some scripture that says this?

We do need to support ministers. If this is being done then I would say that there is some freedom. I don't know how your church works but if an individual gets a say in things start voicing to support missionaries as well and speak up for getting involved in ministries that reach the homeless.

The reason I ask is because I go to a fairly large church; actually one of the biggest in the world. They are in no way short on cash. I have really been convicted about this and feel my tithe would be much better off being used to feed the homeless or help support widows as the Bible says we should do.

In short my advice is give what you feel you should give to who you believe you should give it to.

 

[Johnnz]

Tithing was mandatory only under the Mosaic Covenant.

The longest section in the NT on giving is 2 Cor 8-9. Tithing is not mentioned at all in that passage.

John
NZ

 

[andreha]

Yes. Let your heart guide you. I bet you pass by some really poor people that don't go to your church. The Lord wants us to give as we feel in our hearts, and joyfully so. Nobody else really can dictate to you how much and to whom to give anymore.

Have a look at 2Cor 9:7 - it does provide backup.

 

[FG21]

I give. I give yes LOL! Sounds funny now (considering how atheist I used to be!) but yes. There is an actual amount (10%) that is in Scripture.

I generally just put a 20 in every week, add in for missionaries.

I also go to a very "rich" church with my cousin in the early service on Sunday. I do not give money there but I do give whenever there is a need for anything like socks, cookies, etc.

 

[heron]

The Bible says to give ten percent of your first grain harvest. Finely milled flour with oil. Other offering types at different times and reasons.

What happened to the grain after that -- the priests put it into a storehouse, and dispensed it to the needy. The families of the priests also had rights to it, as they were not allowed to inherit land.

It was put to very practical use, just like you have a hunch you want to do with your donations. It did in fact support the priests in being able to carry out their duties, but it did not make them rich. It was grain, not money, and could go bad if hoarded.

There were several types of offerings and sacrifices mentioned in the Mosaic Law, but most of them were used for food at the end. The Laws of Moses were not just religious, but societal. Moses set up the entire community structure. This was almost like a faith-based initiative tax. Social services support.

If you read what the priests were responsible for, you'd be amazed they were not paid more. They declared quarantined patients free from spreading communicable diseases. They checked the mold in people's houses. They mediated disputes.

So when grain and ox went to feed the priests and their families, it was much like a tax for a semi-socialist system. Supporting those who took care of the whole community, not just the religious ventures. Sometime it was even shared as a community feast after people brought it!

There are pastors today who serve multi-roles of course. But a megachurch that is taking in a lot will be tempted to pay their minister like a CEO. And you probably don't want to encourage that.

 

[janny108]

I know the Bible says we need to give 10% of our income to God, but does this necessarily mean we have to give it to our church? If so, could someone point me to some scripture that says this?

The reason I ask is because I go to a fairly large church; actually one of the biggest in the world. They are in no way short on cash. I have really been convicted about this and feel my tithe would be much better off being used to feed the homeless or help support widows as the Bible says we should do.

Thanks for any help on this

Malachi 3:7-12

believe in your church as big as it is that they have ways to feed the poor, support missionaries, take care of any needs in the church, help with any church programs in what they are trying to accomplish. I was part of a very large church and often they partner with other churches/organizations to best utilize tithes. So by giving to the church, these things should happen simultaneously.
Malachi says to bring the tithes into MY storehouse. Too many would rationalize and say it's up to MY storehouse(theirs)

That is not the only scripture. Give to the ministry because they are teaching you the word of God. Something about giving honor to your teachers, primarily your pastor.
Jan

 

[Sketcher]

The reason I ask is because I go to a fairly large church; actually one of the biggest in the world. They are in no way short on cash. I have really been convicted about this and feel my tithe would be much better off being used to feed the homeless or help support widows as the Bible says we should do.

Then do that.

Does your church have a deacon's fund that you can tithe to?

 

[Bobby1812]

Hi

And while you are still searching for an answer to this tithe issue, don't let it stop you from being a blessing to others and be blessed too! You can consider giving to two areas which are close to God's heart:

1) Poor and needy

Gal 2:10, 'They (The church in Jerusalem) desired only that we (Paul & coy) should remember the poor; the very thing which I (Paul) also was eager to do.'

And in the parable of the Sheep and the Goat (Matt 25: 31-46), Jesus says that 'inasmuch as you did (feed the hungry, visit the stranger or lonely, clothe the naked) it to one of the least of these My brethen, you did it to Me.'

2) Missionaries working on God's work in foreign countries - This is to support the work of God's Kingdom

Bobby

 

[janny108]

I feel this question is being asked because of a lack of trust towards their churches regardless of the size, however I could be wrong. iI does take faith to believe that the church will utilize the tithes the best way possible. That's what we do, and if you ask the church office they could tell you specifically where the money is going. They do often have a benovolence fund that benefits people locally in your church that have needs too.
Jan

 

[talitha]

I think janny has a point. Ideally tithes would come abundantly into the house and as a result there would be plenty of money for the church to support missionaries, pay the electric bill, feed the poor, and do more, more, more for the Kingdom. Looking at the way the tabernacle was set up, and then later the temple, in the Old Testament, that's how it is supposed to work, right?

just my one lil opinion among the "about a hundred"......
tal

 

[tbird_energizerbunny]

I wonder if it not only means of our income but if we should be most concerned with tithing our time also?

 

[talitha]

I think ALL of our time belongs to God. We are to do all things as unto the Lord..... to be a living sacrifice......

 

[spidergains]

There's a 1000 ways to address this issue; I'll go with the one the Lord has laid upon my heart. There was once a missionary that preached at our church. He said that local churches were like manure (only a missionary could get away with saying something like that from the pulpit).

He went on to explain that if manure is left together in a big pile, it just makes a big stink. However, if you spread manure around, things will start to grow around you and there will be a bountiful harvest.

This illustration is more applicable today than it was 10 years ago when it was first spoken. I don't believe that Jesus wanted Christians to build a church on every street corner or Big Box churches the size of stadiums. Yet here we have these temples that reek of extravagance in a time when our own neighbors are living in tent cities and under bridges. We are living in a time that will be worse than the famine Moses and the Hebrews had to endure before they began their exodus.

First the economy will collapse, then the bank runs and riots will start. City's supermarkets and groceries will be cleaned out in less than a week. Martial law and persecution will begin with the man on the red horse ready to take peace from the earth with his great 'sword.'

What accounting will we give to the Lord when he asks what we did with our incredible wealth on this earth? Will there be treasures in heaven which grew from our Christian charity or will our wealth lie in ruins in the mausoleums that we built as people around us and throughout the world starved because they didn't receive the Gospel--in word or in deed.

There are persecuted brothers and sisters around the world in need of Bibles for their underground churches. There is a global famine approaching on a unprecedented scale. What will your congregation smell like in the coming weeks and months? What things will you help grow and what treasures will you store in Heaven?

Sacrifice and Oblation is a privilege, not a burden. Read the link below to understand what this means in our times.
http://home.earthlink.net/~lionlamb/SACRIFIC.HTM

 

[heron]

I wonder if it not only means of our income but if we should be most concerned with tithing our time also?

I've always felt that was important for me personally, and I'm not exactly sure why. If we keep a lifestyle that includes volunteerism, we loosen up a bit and free ourselves to help people more. Imagine if everyone tithed time, how much would get done! But to mandate it would be frightening.

I feel this question is being asked because of a lack of trust towards their churches regardless of the size, however I could be wrong. iI does take faith to believe that the church will utilize the tithes the best way possible. That's what we do, and if you ask the church office they could tell you specifically where the money is going. They do often have a benovolence fund that benefits people locally in your church that have needs too.

Yes, good points.

The way we set up churches these days with so many activities and services, there are a lot of expenses, and pastors drained from managing so much. I would guess a lot of people in megachurches are thinking the same thing, that their tithes should go elsewhere.

About disclosing allocations -- not-for-profits in the US are not required, but "highly recommended" to disclose finances. If they refuse, that brings cause for investigation.

Individuals are required to pay tax on the donations they use for personal gain, like assistance with air fare for mission trips, or dinners funded by the church. Some churches slide into grey areas, and prefer not to deal with accurate (and accountable) accounting. If a member sees shady decisions, they might not want to support loose standards or unwise decisions.

What will your congregation smell like in the coming weeks and months?

That's important. Tithing shouldn't be an us-against-them issue. We can get things done with the resources we have!

 

[Lightkeeper55]

I don't believe we need to tithe to well off churches but give where the need is. Missionaries are usually strapped for cash to buy supplies, youth programs, known people in the community who are in financial straits.

I like the idea of giving to the Gideons. They use 100% of the gift to buy scriptures and send them around the world, or place them in motels, hotels and in schools (that allow it). Spreading the gospel is their only mandate.

Certainly, a church that has huge financial resources does not need the extra cash.