The Tithe

The tithe is a way to both thank God for all you have, an opportunity to remember that He owns 100% of it, an opportunity to exercise one's faith in God's provision (which when fully grown will result in not having a neediness for money), and to take advantage of God's (many) promises that tithers will be blessed in ways others will not—and even be blessed if they do not trust God (the only thing in the Bible I'm aware of that is like that).

The conflicts I'm aware of on this issue are around whether tithing is a direct command or not.

Tithe, The Law, New Testament Giving < Saved4Life > 2016-12-21 08:52


ABRAM
Genesis 14:Abram gives 10% (vs 20) of the best of the war spoils he'd taken to the Priest & King of Salem, Melchizedek.

Abram gives the best 10% of the war spoils to Melchizedek. And the remaining 90% to Sodom & Gomorrah (vs 24). Abram kept NOTHING for himself!

Abram doesn't give 10% of his personal items (EVER!): No cattle, no oil or wine & no corn or wheat. Only booty from the Kings he conquered while retrieving his kidnapped nephew Lot.

This event takes place 430 years before the law (given to Israel only) & tithing to the Levites are implemented.

JACOB
Before the Mosaic Law is implemented Abraham's grandson Jacob makes a freewill vow to God: """IF GOD"""

Gen. 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and (IF GOD) will keep me in this way that I go, and (IF GOD) will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:

22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

(Jacob's proposition is """IF GOD""" meet's Jacob's requirements. He will give God back 10%.

Point: this was a freewill 10% offering. And only made on things already in Jacobs possession. NEVER ON SOMETHING FUTURE - LIKE AN UNEARNED PAYCHECK.

Next, how or to whom did Jacob tithe? No Mosaic Law, no Levitical Priests, no local Churches. Two different way's:

Deut. 12:6 & 7 & 14:29
6) Bring your freewill offering, (7) have a communion meal with God/Christ. (14) Now freely share/give to the, poor, the stranger, the fatherless & the widow. And God will bless you in all the work of thine hand.

TITHE ORIGIN
Lev 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.

31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.

32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

34 These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

(Last verse 1st: This command is given ""ONLY"" to the children of Israel (NOT THE CHURCH). The scripture say's seed from the land, fruit, trees, herd & flock, that passes under the rod. Ok, a rod is put up, you walk your animals 1 by 1 under it. At #10 you give it to the Pristhood. If you only had 19 animals you gave only 1. My pet peeve here is most Churches pander for your all of your 1st 10%. That's unscriptural!

Next: No mention of fowl's or fish. So, a fisherman paid nothing on his catch. Tradesmen, cobblers, who made the shoes for the servants of the field, did not tithe. Carpenters, potters, the women, who made the garments, the servants who worked in the fields for wages, did not tithe.

Simple facts of Biblical teaching of tithing:

ONLY LANDOWNERS TITHED, ONLY PRODUCTS OF THE LAND WERE TITHED, ONLY LEVITES COULD RECEIVE THE TITHES

TITHING WAS A LAW OF MOSES- CHRISTIANS ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES!

TITHE & PRIESTHOOD
Num 18:24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.

27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.

28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.

(1st: "But the TITHES of the children of Israel, I have given to the Levites to inherit" (NOT THE CHURCH). 12 Tribe's; 11 are given a Land to possess. The Priesthood gets no land possession. They can't grow food or expand herds. The other 11 are to give a tithe to the Levites. ANY LEVITES IN YOUR CHURCH?

A priest had to be from the tribe of Levi & the family of Aaron. Jesus Christ the Churches Great High Priest is reffered to as the Lion from the Tribe of Judah. And is a Priest after the odrer of Melchizedek. Whom predated & superseeds the Levitical order.

Hebrews 7:3 (Melchizedek) Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Finally I CAN NOT FIND 1 SCRIPTURE ANYWHERE IN THE BIBLE. ON TITHING MONEY, NOT ONE!

The point of this post is to share truth.

Does our local Church & global ministries need our financial support? Of course, yes, ABSOLUTLY!

Acts 20:35 (C) Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
(I see here a blessing promise from the Lord for freewill giving)

1 Cor 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
(Bring WEEKLY your best freewill gift)

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
(Give a little, receive a little, give alot, receive alot)

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, """or of necessity""": for God loveth a cheerful giver.
(A tithe is given out of the laws necessity. A worthless gift from todays believer. A freewill gift from the heart is loved and rewarded by our Lord)

When it comes to giving. Christians are taught to give generously, sacrificial & expectant of a blessing in return. And most certainly CHEERFULL FREEWILL GIVER'S!

Lets ALL take a moment, to prayerfully examine our giving patterns. Lets pray earnestly that the Holy Spirit would challenge us ALL.

To see whether they are in line with God's New Testament plan of being Generous, Sacrificial, Cheerful Giver's! Maranatha

Big Drew said:

Thanks for the feedback so far...

What brought this up was a compare and contrast...

We had been going to a church for about a year that we enjoyed...good praise and worship, and the sermons are Biblically based...but they placed a very strong emphasis on tithing, and it was a bit uncomfortable. Not saying they were forcing people to pay a tithe...but more that they harped on it every Sunday, and I never agreed with this.

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No, I wouldn't either.
I was brought up in the Anglican church. Years ago, our church had wooden chairs - very uncomfortable - with notice on the top of each one. This was supposed to be about stewardship and began; "We welcome you to this church. No special appeal is made for money ......." (40 years later and I still remember it.) It was eventually removed because it was pointed out that the first thing newcomers saw when they knelt to pray, was a notice about money.

Big Drew said:

The last two weeks we've been visiting another church, and the pastor is preaching a series on Christian generosity. His approach seems to be more Biblical, IMO...he was speaking about how your giving doesn't have to be monetary...how it could be time, or skill, or donating things you don't need, etc...

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Absolutely.
I've seen posts on this forum about tithing that basically say that unless you give 10% of your money to the church each week, you are robbing God. But some people might clean the church/buy cleaning materials/do the gardening/buy and arrange flowers/pay for tea and coffee each week - all of which saves the church money. Or they may lead a children's club, or Bible study group, and pay for all food and materials. Even if they don't pay for the stuff that is used, they give up their time to teach.

Big Drew said:

Also, the old church we had been attending...the pastor drives a Hummer, has a new Harley and a nice big house...bought his daughter a Mercedes...I don't know...I'm not opposed to someone doing well for themselves...but I have a problem with the pastor living better than the people he's serving...when we're all driving used Fords and Toyotas and you have a Hummer it makes me scratch my head...

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The churches I've been to provide the vicar/Minister with housing, pay for its upkeep, tax etc. I suppose that much of that comes from the congregation's giving. And I suppose it isn't that different to handing a Minister £xthousand and saying, "buy your own place". But I would be uncomfortable in a church that almost demanded we part with a certain amount of cash, no matter what our personal circumstances, if the Minister was obviously living it up, in style.
(Don't know what a hummer is, but it sounds posh.)

Big Drew said:

I'm interested in what the various churches represented here teach on tithing.

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Tithing comes from the O.T. teachings which have been so obviously superseded by the N.T. teachings. The principle...
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
--II Corinthians 9:7
II Corinthians 8:8-12
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

10 And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

I Corinthians 16:1-2:
Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

There was a poor African American preacher who also worked at a local factory. His donations were virtually nothing and he was getting tired of it. He spoke up one Sunday saying that if people didn't start giving he was going to have to shut the doors. He took the offering up and got two buttons and a nickel.

For many preachers whatever you give is appreciated!

Big Drew said:

I'm interested in what the various churches represented here teach on tithing.

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The tithe does not apply to Christians. It was part of the Mosaic law for Israel as a means to support the Levites. Also the tithe was not money, but a tenth of their crops. They could exchange it for money because of travel considerations, but once they got to Jerusalem they had to buy food. Not only was the tithe shared with the priests, but the people who brought the tithe ate it themselves and had a thanksgiving meal before the Lord.

Since the tithe was from their crops, and it had to be brought to Jerusalem, it was usually brought 3 times in a year during the pilgrimage feasts of Pesah (Passover), Shavout (Pentecost) and Sukkot (Tabernacles).

Of course they could bring offerings for the Lord anytime of the year.

Tithing in Christianity serves the unscriptural practice of running a church business. When Peter told the Pharisees that Jesus paid the temple tax, Jesus asked Peter, Who pays taxes? The children of the King or the citizens? Jesus said that the children were free, nonetheless so as not to offend, they paid the tax.

The body of Christ is not an organization, but an organism. We are free to organize, of course, and there is no prohibition to supporting professional ministers as Paul explained to the Corinthians. However, despite the support he got from the Macedonians, Paul endeavored to support himself with the logic that parents should support their children.

Chrysostom was the first Greek orator who became a Christian that realized he could continue making his living giving speeches if he simply spoke about Christ. Bishops began by the 3rd century to see their responsibilities not as an act of love for the body of Christ alone, but also as a paid vocation. Many jockeyed for supremacy with an eventual split between Rome in Italy and Constantinople Turkey (then Asia Minor) where Constantine had set up a second capitol (since it was midway in the Roman Empire). Eventually the Bishop of Rome claimed Papal supremacy as the Latin Catholic Church and the Bishop of Constantinople as head of the Eastern Orthodox Church of Byzantium.

Both organizations gained immense wealth and power. Wealth because of claiming the tithe was required for Christians, too. And power with the claim that anyone who departed from their business would not be saved, thus would spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.

Protestantism splintered off the Catholic church which resulted in thousands of tiny congregations with their own private popes claiming the requirement of tithing. You can't run a business with out some kind of business model that generates revenue.

As children of the King we are called to be generous with our Father's money putting it into resources that further the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of men. There are many honest and godly men who use the business model of tithing for their living that deserve financial support since they are furthering the work of the Lord. But this is not by obligation, but cheerfully done so because we love our Father. Also we know the spiritual laws of life, and sowing and reaping is one of them. If we sow generously we shall reap abundantly.

Be a giver, but not because you have to with the obsolescent tithe, but because you want to give. You want to see the Kingdom of God grow.

Tithing is one area that shows the difference between saying, "I have to _________", which strikes me as a very Old Testament way of viewing God's word and "I get to ________", which is more in line with New Testament thinking. If your thinking is, "I have to tithe in order to _________" or if that is what a local church is teaching, then I wouldn't agree. If, however, it is, "God is doing great things through this church, and I get to be a part of it, in part by 'tithing'", then that is a very biblical way to view things. If you're a part of church that you don't trust to use your tithes and offerings in a prudent and trustworthy manner, then it might be worth looking for a different church.

My church does not make a big deal about giving. In fact, I sometimes wish they would bring it up. But people are giving, so apparently they don't need to.

I think tithing is an OT concept. I think giving is a NT concept. For me, it all comes down to our mindset and understanding about what we have and where it comes from. Meaning - everything I own comes from God. I don't work to make money, I work because work is good. The money that I have comes from God. Everything that I have comes from God. When you look at your possessions in that light, it makes giving very easy and natural.

I think it's important to monetarily support your local body, and I think it's important to be free with your money to help people around you that you encounter that are in need.

But as for an obligatory 10% tithe - I don't think that's in effect. If anything, the NT standard seems to be require more out of us than the OT tithe which didn't even apply to everyone anyway.

Oscarr said:

I was once speaking in a conference and I made the remark that because I am Presbyterian (ie: from a church that originated in Scotland), I have to be careful about opening my wallet so my pet moth doesn't fly out of it. Afteward I got this serious lecture from a pastor about the necessity of tithing. I actually felt guilty for around 10 seconds. I don't tithe. I give the amount I choose, when and where I choose. I don't believe in the prosperity lie that if I give large amounts of money to some religious organisation I will get all these material blessings from the Lord. But at the same time, someone who joins a gym or sports club they have to pray a subscription, or the parents of a school child to pay school fees, I guess that if people want their church to continue without getting into the red, then those who afford it can give.

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You are sooooo funny, I just love you.

This is what I think of church pastors that demand tithe as a requirement for church membership:

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

I remember back in 1977, the Holy Spirit gave me a rhema one Saturday night while I was reading my Bible NT through again. I came to Matthew 15 where Jesus said to the Pharisees:

“Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites!"

The next day in church during our prayer circles, where each one shares their needs, a couple needed their rent money of $135. That was more than my tithe, but suddenly that verse came back to me, and I gave them my "tithe" plus the difference to make up the $135. The next day I received such a financial blessing, it was amazing.

From that point on I never gave to the church empires, but to those I found in need. I also realized that there are so many people giving only to the church, that the poor have to be helped by the government, rather than the body of Christ. Shameful!

Some might be a bit accusative with me mentioning Lotto, but I am associated with a community organisation helping folks with financial difficulties, and we get $35,000 a year in funding from the Lotteries Grants Board. So I don't have a problem with taking Lotto tickets and if I don't win I am making a donation to the Board. I have a system where I always play the same numbers each time. I go by the Law of averages. In the three months I have been doing this, I have won four minor prizes of $25, and one of $660, so my prizes are ahead of my contributions.

I would never go to the Casino, nor would I play the pokies. I have seen too many problems with people gambling more than they can afford. I share my tickets with my manager and my daughter, so it halves the cost.

I know this is a bit off-topic, but I thought it would be interesting seeing that the subject did come up. I do think that the chances of winning the Powerball is very slight. In New Zealand the odds are around 3.5 million to 1. I don't buy them because it would be a waste of money. I buy the standard tickets and the odds of winning a lesser prize is much better.

I don't have a problem with my faith, because I don't think that God provides to people who sit around waiting for handouts. He has always provided for me by giving me employment opportunities where I have earned the money. Taking a Lotto ticket for me is using every resource to allow God to provide. It is the same with healing. God can heal instantly, but mostly, we make our request to God and then use every medical resource available to us to achieve the result.

I am aware too that there are weaker brethren out there who believe that any type of gambling, including Lotto and taking raffle tickets, is sin for them. Paul talks about in the context of eating food offered to idols, but it would apply to any "grey area" where some would certain actions would be sin for them and others would have no problem with it. So I am aware of that and although taking a Lotto ticket is not sin for me, if your conscience condemns you then by all means refrain from it. Don't use my action as permission for you to commit sin and ruin your confidence in God.

I see no problem playing the lottery, like every thing it can't become a stumbling block or addiction or it would be wrong for that person .. I tithed 10% to church for a long time then I was also giving outside .. Now I believe tithing was a Jewish law to help keep the Jewish communities through the years intact with the other laws the follow . I came to that conclusion when I read Jesus comments on Corban , which was as I understand that some folks give to the temple as an excuse to not help their mother and father and that they planned on receiving whatever back from the temple .. Like many said here before, I support ministries and can help folks I run across in need .. We pay my mothers cable, phone , internet and 50 on her light bill every month ..

Let's look at what the early Christians did who were taught directly from the apostles.

Justin Martyr (150 A.D.)

And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.

4x4toy said:

I see no problem playing the lottery, like every thing it can't become a stumbling block or addiction or it would be wrong for that person .. I tithed 10% to church for a long time then I was also giving outside .. Now I believe tithing was a Jewish law to help keep the Jewish communities through the years intact with the other laws the follow . I came to that conclusion when I read Jesus comments on Corban , which was as I understand that some folks give to the temple as an excuse to not help their mother and father and that they planned on receiving whatever back from the temple .. Like many said here before, I support ministries and can help folks I run across in need .. We pay my mothers cable, phone , internet and 50 on her light bill every month ..

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I believe like many have stated that the tithe was for supporting the Levites / priesthood who had no inheritance and the priesthood helped the widows and orphans. Of course by the time of Jesus , the priesthood was helping their selves and the temple and widows were a source of revenue.

Since all believers are now part of the priesthood , I do not believe we need the tithe but are commanded ( and it is our delight) to care for the widows and orphan. We also should support those who teach ( the gospel ) but I think our lifestyles are over the top for the most part. We have a broken system where the pastor has 6 kids he is trying to put through college and make sure they all have a car and of course there are vacations and christmas to pay for ( We spent 1 trillion dollars on Christmas this year ..most spent on overeating and unneeded gifts )...The problem is , we have too much stuff while those in other parts of the world go without ...what exactly will I say to my christian brother from overseas who starved to death ? Oh , my kids needed a degree from a university so they could learn to love Jesus. Oh , we needed a TV so we could spend more time praying.
What did Jesus say about paying a tithe as a way of "paying" God ? What was the point Jesus was making when at Capernaum and they asked about paying tribute ? ( You know , where Peter pulled the money out of the fishes mouth . ) Jesus asked Peter; Peter , the kings of the earth, who do they charge tribute or custom, to their own children or strangers ? and Peter answered , to strangers ..then Jesus , replied , then the children are free ...never the less , etc. ..I think Jesus was saying that God only "charges " strangers a tax . ( actually , everything comes from the Father , we are not paying anything...even our breath to make anything comes from Him .

Big Drew said:

I'm interested in what the various churches represented here teach on tithing.

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Hi; Sir. Interesting you use the word 'church'. Tithes are in the Old Testament. Churches are in the New Testament. (You can see that I am dispensational in my thinking.)

I attended a large church this past Sunday. They printed out the attendance figure for the previous week. It was 350. They printed out the offerings collected as about $7100. That is about $20 per person attending. At another large church I visited, the pastor said they were two months behind on their mortgage and owed $13,000. He seemed to be a good preacher, but the campus was too large for his small congregation.

I also gave to a group of charities over the course of a year. I gave to about eight charities as I wanted to diversify my giving.

Sometimes there were scandals at a charities, thus I changed my pattern of giving through the years. One charity newsletter I got proclaimed the Bible was without error. I cut them off immediately.

My response may offend but just being honest.

First I'll say I try to give 10%. Its not required or anything. Its just what I feel is right. And most churches I have been to never really talk about it other then it being up to the person. Then there is non-tithe money. Like for ministries, church upkeep and what not. I don't always give to that because I can't afford it.

With that said I used to believe I don't have to tithe at all. I didn't see the point since I got nothing out of it. Instead I would help people sometimes. But after I grew into an adult I understood things better. A church is not free. The building costs money, the stuff inside cost money, repairs cost money. If no one tithed, there would be no building. And if the pastor or staff didn't get paid, their would be no pastor or staff.

Now there are rich snobby churches that guilt you into paying and the pastors makes like $150,000 a year. Those obviously are not real churches. Our pastor makes I think about $35,000 and has two teens (and a wife of course). He doesn't own anything fancy at all. The staff don't make anything at all really, which is why the work jobs outside the church. And people forgot about, especially with the pastor. How does he afford to live anywhere, pay bills and eat if the church gives nothing?

Stingy people (like my former self) make excuses not to tithe because they think they are poor so why should anyone else get money or they aren't good at giving money in general. I also remember the story in the bible of the people who gave money. The rich guy gave almost nothing, the inbetween guy gave a little less. And the poor woman gave ALL her money which was like 1 talon or something like that.

She was blessed the most for having the most faith with Gods money. So in you give less, then I feel God will give you less in return. After all all we own is His. Our money, our clothes, our cars. So if tithing His own money is to much for some people then your basically saying "Sorry God but I don't care about it being your money, its mine and I need it!". Again I am referring to former self. I also sort of seen God as a genie (I ask, you give or else)

Now does this mean if you tithe God will make your life amazing? Like you'll get a free car, no bills...etc? No. However you will notice more blessings. Me? Before I mey my wife I think I tithed maybe a few times a year if that. But sometimes I'd go a year without tithing anything. But I noticed nothing good ever seemed to happened. I didn't believe anything would change as many claim if I tithed.

Again this is right before I met my wife. So because she was overseas it required TONS of money I would event be able to save up in a 5 year period...or longer. So I put my full faith and trust in God with the money. I tithed 10% of EVERY check I got, mind you I am on SSI. So it left me with around $650 a month. And sure enough miracles started to happen. Things I had put nup for sale a year earlier on various sites starting selling one after another. People also started giving me PCs to fix which earned me some money. And my parents decided to be a cosponsor to get my wife here and took care of money too.

In the end I had the EXACT amount I needed to fly and marry my wife. I mean.... I had like an extra $10 then what I needed. Coincidence? I don't think so. That doesn't exist. Only Gods blessings because of my faith. Since then there have been many blessings. And when we forget to tithe for awhile things slow down again. Again its not like everything is perfect, but whenw e don't tithe things seem MUCH harder.

I've been in regular attendance at both Assemblies of God and Baptist churches, and both have preached positively on tithing. The general concept has a Biblical foundation in the New Testament, as we see in the story of Ananias and Saphira, but the argument in favor of tithing is not strictly biblical. The ten percent number came about as a matter of convention. I have worked as Treasurer in the Assemblies of God church, and I noticed that only about ten percent of the congregation actually gives ten percent, despite what anyone preaches. I think many churches suffer financially as a result (I always find myself estimating a church's income versus operating costs whenever I visit anywhere). Tithing is a very sincere form of worship, far better than singing cheap songs at church, and I say that if you make any argument against it, then, by all means, don't do it. False worship is worse for you than no worship at all. I don't care if your argument against tithing is biblical and sound. If you even try to argue against it, then don't do it.

On the matter of some people being too poor to tithe, I strongly disagree. I have seen the poorest of the poor scrape up a gift to God, and it was worth a great deal. Everyone has something to give. The opportunity to worship is denied of no one. Everyone who gives becomes spiritually vested in the institution to which he gives.

That's all I have to say.

I have attended my church for 10 years. I don't recall ever having heard a sermon or other teaching about tithing. But every Sunday we are reminded in our liturgy:

To be a member in good standing at my church and hold office, one must have made a pledge to the church, but no one specifies how much it must be. I read the Bible; I don't need my church to remind me of what it says about tithing. That said, I have always thought I should give at least 10% of my resources to God, not specifically to my church. I liberally support my church through an annual pledge, but I also support other faith-based charities and causes I believe that are compatible with Christian values and teachings. I also often try to keep some loose bills in my pocket for those who beg of me directly for I have enough and they have so little. I consider all of that to comprise my tithe.

I live in South Africa, where aids and poverty is strife.

My tithe usually is split into three.

My Jerusalem:
1/3 to my local church, who helps the needy in our community.

My Judea:
1/3 to an amazing, Christian, aids relief organization called livinghope who does amazing work here. (PS, if you're looking for a trustworthy aids organization in Africa to give to, my church pastor founded it, and he is a God fearing, humble man)

My Samaria:
1/3 to a poor missionary family in Malawi who just gets by but who do wonderful work.

I haven't thought of my Ends of The earth tithe. Been praying about it and looking out for it for a while. Perhaps the Bible project.

I also give incidentals to people in need. Food, money, clothes when I meet people who need them.

This strategy was taught to me by my mom and I really like it. All of the places I give to are people I have prayed about. It also ensures that the tithe is used for God's work and not to get someone rich.