Do you tithe?

CoCoChiCa33 said:

I tithe, even tho I really dont have a steady paycheck. J/w but to those that tithe do you do it on gross or net?

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The standard answer to that is this:

"Do you want God to bless you on gross or net?"

I do not tithe at present, partly because I have only just again started to go to church. I live on a fairly meager income at present, and to give 1/10th of my income, well, it is a lot for me. I've heard the standard arguments, but... *shrug*

That said however, I give what I can, and I am generous with my time and money with other people. I may not give the same amount on a weekly basis, but I help other people out if I can. *shrug*

Andrew said:

Yes I tithe.

Tithe = 1/tenth or 10% so I tithe 10 percent of my monthly income.

No its not a law. Abraham (b4 the law) tithed.

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Dear Andrew and anyone else who's interested:

The tithe of Abraham does nothing to establish a tithe method outside of the Law. The tithe of Abraham was of spoils, not his livlihood. Furthermore, the tithe that is instituted today is no where near what it was in times past.

I will offer up to anyone and everyone the opportunity to debate this issue or just a matter of passing on material that I have stored on my computer.

PM if you're interested in either measure, or you can check out some of the posts in the Non-denominational Forum. Just look up posts by TheEvangelist and you'll see a lot of what I have in response.

As a closing, I will let you know once again where I stand: the tithe is not a commandment for today. I believe in offerings, but not tithes. If you want to tithe, because you're conscience is leading you so, then that is fine. But there is no disobedience in not tithing.

Take care,

m.d.

I give (maybe more than a tithe, I’m not counting) but I am not under the law of the tithe any more than I am under the law of circumcision. I try to give out of a heart of generosity (I hope), not because I have to.

BTW, if you feel you are under the law of the tithe, do you do this (I have never heard a sermon on tithing that used this passage ) …


Jim

Jim B said:

(I have never heard a sermon on tithing that used this passage ) …Jim

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Surprise ... surprise ... Those in trusted positions fail to present the whole truth by not mentioning pertinent information . What is really surprising to me is that , of all of those people who are encouraged to search the Scriptures to see if teachings are sound , few have looked at this and other passages and raised their hands . Could it be that people tend to take this tradition for granted and think that their teachers would never steer them wrong ( even accidentally ) ?

Wow, Jim B, I had never really noticed that scripture either... That really makes me want to study this a little more. thanks for the motivation to study my bible more!

I always tithe: I tithe 10% sometime more of what I have. THis means I tithe off my net. Basically, I feel that the government takes without permission the money they "Steal" so bacially I never have more than my net. I have always been blessed by doing this. In the last 7 years since "I started tithing 14 years ago", My salary has increased from $30,000 per year to $85,000 per year. Since I started working for the company I work for now I have received $155,000 in stock options "Net $155,000 after taxes" My home is now paid off and my wife and I are only 41. We paid our home off in 7 years. I believe it is what is in your heart that matters. You can give 10% or 15% or 5%. It is the heart that matters.

By the way, in my opinion income taxes are a from of oppression and theft from the government. I do pay them all becuase of the scripture "render unto ceaser" however, I feel that we as americans have been taken to the cleaners by the government therefore I pay on my net because that is what I have.

ten percent,and i have found if i slack, he has a way of getting it one way or another,and usually he gets more. malachi chapter 3 read it.

I try to tithe I don't really have an income but I still feel that anything I have in my hands is from God so whenever I can I try to tithe for what I have and for what I have had in the past week...

stillblessed said:

ten percent,and i have found if i slack, he has a way of getting it one way or another,and usually he gets more. malachi chapter 3 read it.

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Malachi 3 has nothing to support a modern-day tithe. Let a storehouse of grain be a storehouse of grain, and nothing more.

magnum said:

I always tithe: I tithe 10% sometime more of what I have. THis means I tithe off my net. Basically, I feel that the government takes without permission the money they "Steal" so bacially I never have more than my net. I have always been blessed by doing this. In the last 7 years since "I started tithing 14 years ago", My salary has increased from $30,000 per year to $85,000 per year. Since I started working for the company I work for now I have received $155,000 in stock options "Net $155,000 after taxes" My home is now paid off and my wife and I are only 41. We paid our home off in 7 years. I believe it is what is in your heart that matters. You can give 10% or 15% or 5%. It is the heart that matters.

By the way, in my opinion income taxes are a from of oppression and theft from the government. I do pay them all becuase of the scripture "render unto ceaser" however, I feel that we as americans have been taken to the cleaners by the government therefore I pay on my net because that is what I have.

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I, too, feel that it is what is in the heat that matters, but have you ever considered the possibility that you have increased in salary and material things because you work hard at your job? Or you may just be able to curry favor from your superiors?

1 Timothy 5
18 For the Scripture says, "(1) YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING," and "(2) The laborer is worthy of his wages."

This has more relevance today than the tithe does.

m.d.

muffler dragon said:

Malachi 3 has nothing to support a modern-day tithe. Let a storehouse of grain be a storehouse of grain, and nothing more.

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People still don't research the Scriptures on this . There are several tithes . The tithe that Malachi is referring to is the one that is imposed on the Levitical priests . It had nothing to do with the rest of Israel .

New_Wineskin said:

People still don't research the Scriptures on this . There are several tithes . The tithe that Malachi is referring to is the one that is imposed on the Levitical priests . It had nothing to do with the rest of Israel .

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Malachi 3
8 "Will a man [1] rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In (20) tithes and offerings.
9 "You are (21) cursed with a curse, for you are [2] robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10 "(22) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not (23) open for you the windows of heaven and (24) pour out for you a blessing until [3] (25) it overflows.
11 "Then I will rebuke the (26) devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the LORD of hosts.
12 "(27) All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a (28) delightful land," says the LORD of hosts.
13 "Your words have been arrogant against Me," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against You?'
14 "You have said, 'It is (29) vain to serve God; and what (30) profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the LORD of hosts?
15 'So now we (31) call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and (32) escape.'"

Actually, NewWineskin, what you said is not correct. The tithe was set up to give sustenance to the Levites. The nation of Israel as a whole was responsible for this.

You are correct in stating that there were three different tithes tho.

m.d.

muffler dragon said:

Actually, NewWineskin, what you said is not correct. The tithe was set up to give sustenance to the Levites. The nation of Israel as a whole was responsible for this.

You are correct in stating that there were three different tithes tho.

m.d.

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Edited : There are actually four tithes . One of the tithes is from the Levites to the priests . Not all of the Levites were priests . The Israelites presented some of their tithes to the Levites who tithed to the priests from that .

I haven't looked at this in a while . I thought that there was a tithe from the priests to the highpriest . I will look into it further . I don't have any reason to because it is still the Law dealing with Levites but I am a goofball .

New_Wineskin said:

If you look at the three tithes , the only one that Malachi refers to is the one with respect to the Levitical priests tithe. In fact , the Lord is quoted as addressing the priests in this book .

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I know that, NW. But I think you're forgetting that the Levites could neither own property nor raise livestock and produce. Their sustenance was based on what the children of Israel would give them from their tithe. The Levites received the tithes, they did not give them. Furthermore, there would be no reason for the Levites to tithe of the tithe they receive. Who would use it? It would just sit in the corner like a surplus going to waste.

Here are the three tithes in question: take from

http://www.truthorfables.com/Tithing.htm

Disclaimer: this person is a Univeralist, but his points are still valid with regard to the tithe.

THE FIRST TITHE LAW

The first tithe law was enacted by God at Sinai and addressed only to Israel. God wrote the Ten Commandment on tables of stone with his finger, and they were placed inside the Ark. Deut. 10:1-3. Moses wrote the Book of the Law, and it was placed beside the Ark of the Covenant. Deut. 31-24:26. This was the Old Covenant Laws that ended at the cross. Jesus is the author of the New Covenant.

Who is to Receive the Tithe?

All Levites are to Receive "all" the Tithe.

Num. 18:21, 23-24 (NIV) 21“I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting. 23It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the responsibility for offenses against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. 24Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”

THE SECOND TITHE LAW

What is the Yearly Tithe?


It is tithe that is eaten and drank by Israel in a party setting to revere God.
Deut. 14:22 through Deut. 14:29 (NIV) 22Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. 24But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. 27And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.

THE THIRD TITHE LAW

What is the Third Year Tithe Law?

The Third Year Tithe to be eaten by the Levites, fatherless, aliens, and widows.

Deut. 14:28, 29 (NIV) 28At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

m.d.

m. d.

In your passage from Numbers , why did the author stop short ?
[edited to add that I see that you were quoting another]

After what the author mentioned is the tithe from the Levites to the highpriest ( or the priests ) .

Where does the "storehouse" come into play ? In Nehemiah ( chapter 10 though I can't stand using them ) , it mentions the storehouse as the place where the Levites bring *their* tithe . The tithe of the tithe is brought into the storhouse by the Levites .

Edited to add : I can go either way with the all of Israel or only the Levites being reprimanded in Malachi . One passage in Nehemiah talks about the Levites bringing a tithe of what is given to them to the storhouse for the priests and another passage talks about all of Israel coming with the Levites to place the tithes in the storehouse . In Malachi , the priests are specifically reprimanded and the priests are in charge of actually bringing the tithes into the storehouse . Yet , in other passages , the nation as a whole is reprimanded .

The other tithes about which are given to the poor and orphaned and eating one's tithe have never been mentioned in sermons that I have heard . Neither is the section that , if one converts thier agricultural goods ( and they are the only things mentioned as to be tithed ) into money , there is a tax of 20% or a total of 12% to be given . Food is to be tithed and is preferred and money is only to be used as a last option . The tithe is for the Levites and the priesthood . Are we not all priests ? To whom do the priests tithe ? Rambling .

New_Wineskin said:

m. d.

In your passage from Numbers , why did the author stop short ?
[edited to add that I see that you were quoting another]

After what the author mentioned is the tithe from the Levites to the highpriest ( or the priests ) .

Where does the "storehouse" come into play ? In Nehemiah ( chapter 10 though I can't stand using them ) , it mentions the storehouse as the place where the Levites bring *their* tithe . The tithe of the tithe is brought into the storhouse by the Levites .

Edited to add : I can go either way with the all of Israel or only the Levites being reprimanded in Malachi . One passage in Nehemiah talks about the Levites bringing a tithe of what is given to them to the storhouse for the priests and another passage talks about all of Israel coming with the Levites to place the tithes in the storehouse . In Malachi , the priests are specifically reprimanded and the priests are in charge of actually bringing the tithes into the storehouse . Yet , in other passages , the nation as a whole is reprimanded .

The other tithes about which are given to the poor and orphaned and eating one's tithe have never been mentioned in sermons that I have heard . Neither is the section that , if one converts thier agricultural goods ( and they are the only things mentioned as to be tithed ) into money , there is a tax of 20% or a total of 12% to be given . Food is to be tithed and is preferred and money is only to be used as a last option . The tithe is for the Levites and the priesthood . Are we not all priests ? To whom do the priests tithe ? Rambling .

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I stand corrected regarding Nehemiah. My apologies.

Nehemiah 10
Obligations of the Document

28 Now (2) the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and (3) all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding,
29 are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are (4) taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given through Moses, God's servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of GOD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes;
30 and (5) that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.
31 As (6) for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the (7) seventh year and the (8) exaction of every debt.
32 We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly (9) one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:
33 for the (10) showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.
34 Likewise (11) we cast lots (12) for the supply of wood among the priests, the Levites and the people so that they might bring it to the house of our God, according to our fathers' households, at fixed times annually, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law;
35 and that they might bring the first fruits of our ground and (13) the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of the LORD annually,
36 and (14) bring to the house of our God the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks as it is written in the law, for the priests who are ministering in the house of our God.
37 (15) We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the oil (16) to the priests at the chambers of the house of our God, and the (17) tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all the rural towns.
38 (18) The priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of (19) the storehouse.
39 For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the (20) contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers; there are the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers and the singers. Thus (21) we will not neglect the house of our God.


Now, I would like to show you what verses are cross-referenced with Malachi 3.

Nehemiah 13
Tithes Restored

10 I also discovered that (15) the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, (16) each to his own field.
11 So I (17) reprimanded the officials and said, "(18) Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts.
12 All Judah then brought (19) the tithe of the grain, wine and oil into the storehouses.
13 In charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and in addition to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for (20) they were considered reliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen.
14 (21) Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services.

Leviticus 27
30 'Thus (1) all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S; it is holy to the LORD.

Numbers 18
21 "To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the (1) tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.
22 "(2) The sons of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting again, or they will bear sin and die.
23 "Only the Levites shall perform the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall (3) bear their iniquity; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the sons of Israel (4) they shall have no inheritance.
24 "For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, '(5) They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.'"

Deuteronomy 12
6 "There you shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, (1) your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock.

Deuteronomy 14
22 "You (1) shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year.
23 "You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, (2) at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may (3) learn to fear the LORD your God always.
24 "If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses (4) to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you,
25 then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses.
26 "You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and (5) there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.
27 "Also you shall not neglect (6) the Levite who is in your town, (7) for he has no portion or inheritance among you.
28 "(8) At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town.
29 "The Levite, (9) because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and (10) the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and (11) eat and be satisfied, in order that (12) the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Therefore, NW, I am not sure that we can determine that storehouse is the baseline assumption that places Malachi in reference to the Levites only. Storehouses had more uses than simply of the Levitical tithe.

I want to thank you for being patient with me and showing me what you had known previously. I hope that I brought no offense to you.

Btw, did you bring this up for a particular reason? In distinguishing the tithe of the people versus the tithe of the Levites?

m.d.

muffler dragon said:

Therefore, NW, I am not sure that we can determine that storehouse is the baseline assumption that places Malachi in reference to the Levites only. Storehouses had more uses than simply of the Levitical tithe.

I want to thank you for being patient with me and showing me what you had known previously. I hope that I brought no offense to you.

Btw, did you bring this up for a particular reason? In distinguishing the tithe of the people versus the tithe of the Levites?

m.d.

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First , I want to also thank you for your patience and I have not been offended by anything that you wrote . In fact , I obviously wrote before rechecking and appologize for that .

In my edited addition , I mentioned that it was confusing as to whether the storehouse was strictly dealing with the Levites or strictly with the priests or the whole nation . So , I will concur with you on that . I lean a little more to just the priests since it does seem to be a silly thing for the Levites in the towns to bring their whole portion to the temple when they could store it in their individual towns where they live . But , it is hard to say what is going on .

The main reason for my bringing up this distinction is that Christians are all a part of the priesthood . Since priests do not tithe , how does the tithe apply in any way , shape , or form to us ? That is , even if one did think that Christians should obey parts of the Law , priests don't tithe .

New_Wineskin said:

First , I want to also thank you for your patience and I have not been offended by anything that you wrote . In fact , I obviously wrote before rechecking and appologize for that .

In my edited addition , I mentioned that it was confusing as to whether the storehouse was strictly dealing with the Levites or strictly with the priests or the whole nation . So , I will concur with you on that . I lean a little more to just the priests since it does seem to be a silly thing for the Levites in the towns to bring their whole portion to the temple when they could store it in their individual towns where they live . But , it is hard to say what is going on .

The main reason for my bringing up this distinction is that Christians are all a part of the priesthood . Since priests do not tithe , how does the tithe apply in any way , shape , or form to us ? That is , even if one did think that Christians should obey parts of the Law , priests don't tithe .

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I understand where you are coming from.

I appreciate that I have not caused you ill will.

Have a pleasant day.

m.d.

I also tithe 10%. I also give extra to individuals and such as I feel led. I want to bless people and in return I want to be blessed from G-d.