im very confused about tithing because.....

I guess if I believed in tithing, I might feel I had done my part if I gave 10% or maybe 11 or 12%. But since I don't, and being Spirit led instead, I find myself giving more like 30% of my gross income.

The well-to-do use tithing as an excuse for being stingy.

Preacher: You tithe on the first ten percent of your income.

God’s Word: You tithe on crops, and every tenth animal that passes under the rod. NOT the first, but the tenth. See Leviticus 27:30-33. Preachers are mixing firstfruits with the tithe and they are NOT the same. In Nehemiah 10:37-38 we learn that the firstfruits were taken to the temple for the priests, and the tithe was taken to the Levites to go into their cities.

Preacher: The Levites worked full-time at The Temple.

God’s Word: The Levities and priests were divided into “24 courses” and they rotated working at The Temple one week out of every 24 weeks. Therefore, the priests and Levites actually worked at The Temple about two weeks a year. The rest of the time they had regular jobs. See First Chronicles 24 for the priests and chapters 25 and 26 for the Levites.

Preacher: You tithe the BEST to God.

God’s Word: You tithe every tenth animal whether that animal be good OR BAD. See Leviticus 27:30-33.

Preacher: The firstfruits of your income belong to God.

God’s Word: In the Old Testament, every time a firstfruits offering is mentioned it is referring to the first of the crop, assets that came from God’s hand, not man’s labor. Firstfruits offerings has nothing to do with income.

Preacher: The tithe was taken to The Temple.

God’s Word: The tithe was taken to the Levites to go into their cities. See Nehemiah 10:37-38.

Preacher: Malachi 3:10 Take all the tithes to the storehouse.

God’s Word: The Levites received the tithe, and they were required to take a tenth of the tithe to the priests. ONLY that tithe went to the storehouse, NOT the tithe from the people. Again, see Nehemiah 10:37-38.

Preacher: You are robbing God if you don’t bring your tithe to the church. Malachi 3:8-10.

God’s Word: The priests were robbing God, not the people. The priests robbed God of the tithe by stealing the Levites portion (Nehemiah 13). The priests robbed God of the offerings by giving the worst and keeping the best (Malachi 1).

God defined His tithe in Leviticus 27:30-33 as HOLY. How can anyone change God’s definition and then call a tenth of their income a HOLY tithe!

jrslovely1 said:

For me, it is a testimony of tithing. It doesn't mean much to you but it means everything to my husband & I. I cant minimize it to giving and trusting. I do that all the time. It was obedience and blessing. I do understand that this a difference of opinion and I deeply respect that. God bless you and thanks for the response.

~Jrs_Lovely1 {iPad}

Click to expand...

obedience to what? Its something your doing above and beyond what is written in the bible, kinda like fasting, I could fast and be blessed, but I wouldn't tell everyone you have to fast too, I respect your desire to tithe like they did in the old covenant, thats great!

george baily said:

obedience to what?

Click to expand...

That's been my question all along. Obedient to what? If someone claims to tithe in order to be obedient, they must have scripture to back up what they are being obedient to. Truth is, they are being obedient to their pastor who has deceived them into believing lies. It really saddens me.

Anyone who REALLY wants to know the truth can do a little research on the history of tithing in the Christian Church. Then they will see how they have been deceived.

This bit about the Spirit led me to tithe on my income and take it to the church doesn't hold water since it contradicts God's own words. Unfortunately, many think they hear the Holy Spirit when it is really another spirit, or just their own mind.

But I guess it one really believes the Spirit is telling them to tithe, they must also believe God's Word isn't meant for them as one contradicts the other.

Just fyi, there's a website called tithingdebate dot com. You may find it helpful. It also features 3 free books on the subject of tithing. If you think tithing is for today, it would at least be helpful for you to hear the other view point, with full explanations. After you've heard both sides, then you can make your decision from there.

I think tithing is best determined on a case-by-case basis. Some church communities are more prosperous than others, and in that case if you feel like your church doesn't need your resources I would be sure that those same resources could be used for something equally important. There's a number of non-profit organizations that are doing their parts to partner with God to bring the new creation forward, NPO's like Charity:Water, Uganda Orphans Fund and International Justice Mission. All of these are well deserving of tithing/giving, because they're truly working to end the pain and suffering in the world the way Jesus did in his ministry.

In other cases there are church communities that are hurting financially. There's over 40 churches in my town of 85-90,000 people and I would wager than over half of them are struggling to stay afloat. My church in particular has seen a drastic decrease in giving over the last six years or so and as a result 75% of the staff has been laid off. Now the pastoral staff is doing 30 peoples jobs between the three of them. A situation like this I feel it's important to come together and ensure the survival of the community through giving. This is also something that depends on what the individual is feeling God is leading them to as well, but it's definitely worthwhile to acknowledge that even though there are churches out there that are very affluent, for every one of those there's easily 5-10 that are barely keeping their heads above water.

I think the reason so many churches suffer financially is because of the damage done to the concept of giving by pastors who only talk about giving while they're wearing expensive suits and depart their churches in $60,000 German cars. Sadly, these guys have made it difficult for the pastors who truly need giving for their church to stay alive because they're afraid of being confused with pastors of the prosperity gospel. Christians (especially non-denominational Christians) have consequently developed an upturned nose to giving because they lump all churches in with the few who have abused the generosity of the Christian body.

What I find majorly offensive is how you people can tell me and others who believe the same what the Holy Spirit does. You are not God and I am tired of seeing it. Your responses prove what I said before when I said God talks to some and to others He knows, they won't believe, so He doesn't even go down that road.

This would be one of those circumstances.

Drayzon said:

What I find majorly offensive is how you people can tell me and others who believe the same what the Holy Spirit does. You are not God and I am tired of seeing it. Your responses prove what I said before when I said God talks to some and to others He knows, they won't believe, so He doesn't even go down that road.

This would be one of those circumstances.

Click to expand...

So in comparison your understanding would be, Peter who first was leaning toward the side of the circumcision group, could of been hearing from the Holy Spirit, that its right for these Christians to be circumcised, and they were being led by the Holy Spirit to do so, and on the same issue Paul stood up and rebuked Peter publically also led by the Holy Spirit........well thats odd!......I never would of imagined the Holy Spirit to be playing on two sides of an issue.........could they both be led by the same Spirit

Tithing is the biggest scam the so-called church ever pulled. It was an ordinance for the Hebrews at that time, under the LAW. Are we supposed to give? YES. But we are not under the old covenant. Secondly, the tithes were foodstuffs, never money.

Tithing/giving, why are we splitting hairs? It's only a scam for a very small percentage of churches, most of them need the money to stay alive.

Bourne said:

Tithing/giving, why are we splitting hairs? It's only a scam for a very small percentage of churches, most of them need the money to stay alive.

Click to expand...

True. But then they should call it giving, not tithing. I'm pretty sure that Messiah never intended for us to build giant buildings that require piles of money to maintain simply to meet together.

Bourne said:

Tithing/giving, why are we splitting hairs? It's only a scam for a very small percentage of churches, most of them need the money to stay alive.

Click to expand...

It's a flat out fraud for any church to teach that tithing is required by God today. It's a flat out fraud for any pastor to say or infer that God EVER commanded ANYONE to tithe on their income.

Are all these pastors just plain ignorant as to what the scriptures say, OR are their just plain liars? I don't believe any true man of God would ever teach tithing for today.

george baily said:

So in comparison your understanding would be, Peter who first was leaning toward the side of the circumcision group, could of been hearing from the Holy Spirit, that its right for these Christians to be circumcised, and they were being led by the Holy Spirit to do so, and on the same issue Paul stood up and rebuked Peter publically also led by the Holy Spirit........well thats odd!......I never would of imagined the Holy Spirit to be playing on two sides of an issue.........could they both be led by the same Spirit

Click to expand...

First of all this has nothing to do with you telling me what the Holy Spirit does. I don't like it because you are not God. God does what He wants because He is God. As a Christian you should understand this.

The issue Paul had with Peter was that he(Peter) was living by the old law. After Jesus died, there was no need for the old law as He was the new law, so I would actually say that neither of them were led by the Spirit, they simply had a disagreement on doctrinal issues, kind of like we're having now.

Drayzon said:

First of all this has nothing to do with you telling me what the Holy Spirit does. I don't like it because you are not God. God does what He wants because He is God. As a Christian you should understand this.


The issue Paul had with Peter was that he(Peter) was living by the old law. After Jesus died, there was no need for the old law as He was the new law, so I would actually say that neither of them were led by the Spirit, they simply had a disagreement on doctrinal issues, kind of like we're having now.

Click to expand...

I understand this is the inspired Word of the Holy Spirit


15 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
The Jerusalem Council

6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ[a] we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’[b]

18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works.[c] 19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,[d] from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
The Jerusalem Decree

22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas,[e] and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23 They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”[f] —to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.[g] If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell.

GaryArnold said:

It's a flat out fraud for any church to teach that tithing is required by God today. It's a flat out fraud for any pastor to say or infer that God EVER commanded ANYONE to tithe on their income.

Are all these pastors just plain ignorant as to what the scriptures say, OR are their just plain liars? I don't believe any true man of God would ever teach tithing for today.

Click to expand...

Such hostility.

There are 40+ churches in my small town and I've never been to one that said tithing was mandatory. They only welcome giving if the individual is compelled by God to do so.

Drayzon said:

First of all this has nothing to do with you telling me what the Holy Spirit does. I don't like it because you are not God. God does what He wants because He is God. As a Christian you should understand this.

The issue Paul had with Peter was that he(Peter) was living by the old law. After Jesus died, there was no need for the old law as He was the new law, so I would actually say that neither of them were led by the Spirit, they simply had a disagreement on doctrinal issues, kind of like we're having now.

Click to expand...

either you believe the bible is the inspired word of God or you don't, the issue decreed by the apostles and elders was gentiles were not under the ritualistic laws of moses, this incudes circumcision and the the ritualistic laws of tithing

Bourne said:

Such hostility.

There are 40+ churches in my small town and I've never been to one that said tithing was mandatory. They only welcome giving if the individual is compelled by God to do so.

Click to expand...

That is great! Unfortunately, I've been to many churches in my area, and every single one of them taught you are robbing God if you don't bring your tithe to the church.

Just watch TBN and other religious TV channels and see how many preachers teach tithing as mandatory and how many don't.

GaryArnold said:

That is great! Unfortunately, I've been to many churches in my area, and every single one of them taught you are robbing God if you don't bring your tithe to the church.

Just watch TBN and other religious TV channels and see how many preachers teach tithing as mandatory and how many don't.

Click to expand...

Yes that is unfortunate, and indeed TBN and related networks are problematic in more ways than just tithing theology.

A lot of pretty interesting comments here.

Yes, I particularly searched for "tithing" on this forum to see what others had to say.

I belong to a very small church, and I have a better job than most people in this little church do. I also have a lot of debt, which I've been managing, and I am putting my daughter through college by taking out loans (so is she and my ex-husband). I drive a car that's more than ten years old, but it runs well and I'm grateful for it. I live in a very small condo. I don't spend money on many luxuries. Just trying to get the point across here that I don't live high on the hog.

I prayed about it and decided I could afford to pledge a certain amount of money each week to my church. My church is operating on a deficit, and I know my pledge is one of the larger ones; however, I am NOT truly tithing (giving ten percent). I just can't afford it, so I pledged a percentage and dollar amount I knew I could afford.

For the first couple of months, I "paid God first" and put aside that money for the church. BUT--it seems as if ever since I made that pledge, I am being whacked left and right financially. I needed a new furnace, a new water heater, two large car repairs, my daughter had unforeseen school expenses, my cat needed to go to the vet, BAM BAM BAM every time I turn around there's another big unexpected expense whacking me. I know we don't give expecting to get, but niether did I give expecting God to play this little game of Let's Test Laurie So We Can Laugh At Her, either. I know, I know, but that's what it feels like, it really does. My faith is taking a huge nose-dive over this. There is NO WAY I can go back to my church and tell them I can't pay what I committed to pay. There is no way I want to tell GOD I am going back on my word, either, but all my prayers seem to fall on deaf ears. I am so depressed over this, and I'm angry, too.

Has anyone else ever found themselves in this position? Losing your faith over giving in good faith and then feeling as if God kicked you to the curb?