The Tithe

[2Timothy2:15]

Tithing comes from the O.T. teachings which have been so obviously superseded by the N.T. teachings.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.

Amen to that! I really wish folks would study this for themselves the old fashion way, reading the bible.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

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:

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good
your vows to the Most High. Psalm 50:14​

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.

Sadly, a lot has changed in the last 10 years.....

 

[Anguspure]

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

The Christian organisation I have been associated with runs on a gift of $5 a week from each member of the group.

All other gifting is accepted for a specific purpose, to meet a specific identified need (such as feeding the homeless or providing someone with a fridge or some such thing) that the members of the organisation wish to meet at the time.

Further to this members are also encouraged to regularly help meet the financial needs of those around them, in the name of Christ Jesus as these become apparent to them.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

The New Testament church is not like the church of today. We do not read about how there is a big building where believers and unbelievers gather to worship God together. Does not God's Word say that what fellowship does light have with darkness? See, when the church evangelized they did not do so during the time they fellowshiped with other believers. They went out two by two generally and went to door to door to tell people about the good news. The church had no overhead to keep a big building running. Christians met up every Sunday over the Lord's supper and fellowshiped in each other's homes. Unbelievers were not generally invited to things like these. There was no sign outside the front of the house, etc. There are no programs or perfectly delivered worship services with special lights and a kicking sound system. Churches today push the Old Testament concept of tithing to keep their building and to pay the Pastor (and his family) and to pay the staff, etc. But God's Word does not mention how it is required of us to help this type of organization. Paul worked so as not to charge for the gospel. Paul said we should follow His example and His example was Christ. In other words, church is not about throwing a few dollars in the collection plate so as to be able to praise and sing songs with strangers or with Christians you do not talk much with. The church are a people. Church fellowship is about getting together with other believers who are your friends in the Lord. Intimate fellowship. It is about loving your brother intimately and not some kind of cold giving to an organization. The church is hands on in loving the brethren and the rest of the world.


...

 

[Strong in Him]

One of the things I like about my church is that we hire the building and a community group is also responsible for helping us to maintain it. So we have bills, but don't spend all our money on property.

We do have someone who looks after "the tithing" - that is, we give 10% of the church's money/income to various charities. But tithing, as a concept or obligation, doesn't seem to be taught from the pulpit, (though I've only been there a year.)

 

[Saint Nod]

Coming from a Baptist persuasion, I would have to agree with most of what has already been said here.... however, when I read Malachi 3:10, where it says, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need," I have always considered the storehouse to be the church in general and not a specific church which you may attend.
What I mean to say is, I do tithe 10% of all the money that comes into my house...and yes there are times when I give extra...but I also share some of my tithed money with specific missionaries we support, since I consider mission agencies as part of the greater 'church' or storehouse.
Keep in mind I come from a particular church background where missionaries are not overly supported - about 10% of what they need comes from the church, leaving the missionaries needing to raise 90% from individuals.
Now I realise that this view is certainly not popular with pastors. But what do you do when you also strongly uphold Matthew 28:19,20?

 

[Strong in Him]

Coming from a Baptist persuasion, I would have to agree with most of what has already been said here.... however, when I read Malachi 3:10, where it says, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

That's just it; the OT tithe was always food.
The only time money was involved was if 10% of their crops was too heavy for them to carry to Jerusalem. Then they were allowed to sell that 10%, take the money to the temple, buy food, offer it and then sit down to eat it - not forgetting to include the priests, who did not have allotments, and the poor in the feast.

The OT tithe was never about giving 10% of your wages. They ATE their tithes and celebrated God's goodness.

 

[Anguspure]

It occurs to me to mention this: In NZ every tax paying person pays a tithe of their income (+/-) towards supporting the welfare state that supports the poor, the elderly and the sick, so the job that the church has abrogated to the state is being supported by all New Zealanders (about 1/3 of the budget is directed to social services).

This is in fact more in keeping with the purpose of the tithe commanded by God of the Jews in the OT.

There are actually 3 lots of gifting in the OT that are given in succession, and these correspond to the command of God not to cut the corners of the fields in order that those who do not have an income may glean one from this generosity of God (if we leave the corners of a square field uncut we leave about 21% uncut (w x l) - (pi x r2)).

The first is your first fruits which are something between 1/30 and 1/40 of your increase (say about 2.5%). This portion is directed to the man of God in your life, as vicarious of God, and is his to use as he sees fit.

The second portion is the tithe to the temple (10%) that also served as the governing body of Israel that was, in addition, to care for the poor and the widow.

The third tithe (10%) was a portion that was set aside as a back stop, a rainy day savings account against sickness or other misfortune (perhaps inspired by the foresight of Joseph).

So the complete amount set aside for the purposes of God was actually 21% of the increase of a persons fortunes, and this was the Jewish equivalent of an income tax that we have today.

The main differences being that tax payers in our modern state support a Secular government whereas the state of Israel was Theocratic (or at least was intended to be), and that modern tax payers contribute a whole lot more than 21% to the running of the state and supporting the poor and needy among us.

 

[Another Lazarus]

The massive knowledge about Tithe :
Should the Church Teach Tithing? Taboo Answer

May Jesus bless you all HalleluYAH

 

[SeventyOne]

I've never heard anyone properly teach a tithe in any church. If people are using it to tell others to give their money to a church, then that's just manipulation, not tithing. Tithing was food, not money. (It was also a demand on national Israel for the purpose of feeding the Levites. I'm not national Israel and I don't know any Levites.)

The next time a pastor demands a tithe, bring them a cheeseburger.

 

[Bigmike424]

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

I believe in paying 10% of my net pay. I also then pay the tithe on any other money, like our state and federal returns. GOD actually challenges us to pay our tithe and declares He will open the windows of Heaven to pour out blessings on us that we cannot even receive it all! That's an incredible promise from the one that spoke everything into existence.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

The New Testament church is not like the church of today. We do not read about how there is a big building where believers and unbelievers gather to worship God together. Does not God's Word say that what fellowship does light have with darkness? See, when the church evangelized they did not do so during the time they fellowshiped with other believers. They went out two by two generally and went to door to door to tell people about the good news. The church had no overhead to keep a big building running. Christians met up every Sunday over the Lord's supper and fellowshiped in each other's homes. Unbelievers were not generally invited to things like these. There was no sign outside the front of the house, etc. There are no programs or perfectly delivered worship services with special lights and a kicking sound system. Churches today push the Old Testament concept of tithing to keep their building and to pay the Pastor (and his family) and to pay the staff, etc. But God's Word does not mention how it is required of us to help this type of organization. Paul worked so as not to charge for the gospel. Paul said we should follow His example and His example was Christ. In other words, church is not about throwing a few dollars in the collection plate so as to be able to praise and sing songs with strangers or with Christians you do not talk much with. The church are a people. Church fellowship is about getting together with other believers who are your friends in the Lord. Intimate fellowship. It is about loving your brother intimately and not some kind of cold giving to an organization. The church is hands on in loving the brethren and the rest of the world.


...

Amen!

 

[david.d]

In my church we have 2 offerings: 1 to the church and 1 to the pastor. The kind of church I go to generally don't have salaried preachers, some do but not all. Our preachers also travel to other churches a lot so it's not always the same preacher every Sunday. The amount we give is between us and God and no one else has a say. It works for us. I've gone to other types of churches where the "associate" pastor speaks first and it's always about money. I guess some churches think they need a salesman instead of a shepherd.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

I believe in paying 10% of my net pay. I also then pay the tithe on any other money, like our state and federal returns. GOD actually challenges us to pay our tithe and declares He will open the windows of Heaven to pour out blessings on us that we cannot even receive it all! That's an incredible promise from the one that spoke everything into existence.

The windows of heaven which is mentioned in Malachi is "rain". The tithe was never money. Please do a study on this and you will find it to be true. Also, in Leviticus 27 where one of the places the tithe is detailed by the Lord he says the tenth animal that passes under the rod to be given. Not the first of ten like these tithe preachers tell you to give your first 10%.

One thing to note. If you had nine that passed under the rod you did not have enough. Another thing to note if you did not have animals, grain, herbs, or any other tithe specified item to tithe you were not required to tithe. This is why Jesus who never EVER sinned did not tithe, he was a carpenter, he did not produce tithe items. This is why Peter and Andrew did not tithe, they were fishermen, fish were never a tithe item. Tithe did not transfer to money under the NT ever. We do not see Jesus telling us to tithe, we do not see him tithing and we do not see any Apostle tithing or taking tithes anywhere in the NT.

With that being said, if you have purposed in your heart to give a certain amount then God Bless you. But we are not as a body ordered to do that in scripture and forcing others to do so is putting a yoke of bondage on them.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

I've never heard anyone properly teach a tithe in any church. If people are using it to tell others to give their money to a church, then that's just manipulation, not tithing. Tithing was food, not money. (It was also a demand on national Israel for the purpose of feeding the Levites. I'm not national Israel and I don't know any Levites.)

The next time a pastor demands a tithe, bring them a cheeseburger.

A cheeseburger or a bag of groceries. Love to see the look on tithe teachers faces

 

[NeedyFollower]

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.

Hello Sister ..I thank God for your testimony and your faith. I used to be wealthy but when Christ found me and led me to repentance, it cost me all my (earthly) wealth ..I also had to quit my sales job since the Lord showed me that I was turning people into merchandise. I started doing manual labor for different people. One of my employers had the contract at a church to maintain their huge yard...it occurred to me how much money is wasted on grounds maintenance and building maintenance at the 100's of thousands of buildings we call the church when the actual church is people . The combined incomes and land values of the homes of the church members from even one small congregation would make your head swim . Why maintain a home and a church building? If the congregation gets too large , then praise God and open another congregation in another home or twenty. Would not the church then become more visible and there be more monetary resources for people ?

 

[Monna]

Maybe we're seeing it all backwards...?

When the Lord watched people giving their donations in the temple he noticed a widow that gave "more" than all the well-to-do religious leaders - not more in absolute terms, but more in the sense that she had nothing left cash-wise - she gave all she had. Offerings in the OT involved sacrifice. If we give, thinking of what we need to keep for the maintenance of our current (or hoped-for) life-style and our future needs (pensions, children, etc.) to what extent are we even near the sacrificial aspect of giving?

Maybe it's not so much giving to satisfy rules and thereby our conscience that is important, but giving cheerfully with love (as several have already refered to) - 1 Cor 13 reminds us we can give everything to charity, but it is not considered of value in God's eyes if it is not given in love. If you are paying for a service (the pastor preaching for example) is this to be considered part of our tithe - how is it any different than paying for tuition at college?

I have lived in countries where giving to the poor is so important in their religion that beggars must exist - I saw a beggar almost daily and learned he owned 4 very luxurious homes. He made is living off the necessity of all members of society to give in order to fulfill the requirements of their religion. But which is more glorifying to God - giving a man fish for a day, or teaching him how to fish, and getting him started on a life of dignity? But if I eliminate poverty (!?) I won't be able to satisfy the demands of my religion...!

Why do we give? A significant part of many of the OT offerings went to providing food to the priestly class - the levites, who were not given any part of the land, but who did give a lot of their time to maintaining temple worship. Paul indicated that although he personally didn't expect to be paid, congregations should materially support those who work for their spiritual growth and well-being. Do we give to provide for our pastor and church leaders (because we don't want, or have time, to provide this leadership in a voluntary way)? If so, are they living better off than the average in the congregation? Do we give for local and global evangelism (and how selectively do we do that)? How much of our "tithes" go to paying interest on bank loans to pay off our fancy church, or run and maitain our fleets of buses, or...? How much of these interest payments could have gone to "furthering the gospel in places where people have never heard of Jesus?"

I also know of a group of congregations who hold to the principle that "a rich church is a contradition in terms," suggesting that any congregation or denomination that accumulates wealth is failing to live up to the principles of supporting the needy.

In the offerings of the OT it was the best that was to be given. But that was "in kind" - animals, birds, or harvested fruit and grains. Today we are entirely monetized. How do we give the best 10% of our income? (absurd question - but it gets at the issue that quality of giving is missing).

And by the way, when you speak of a tithe being 10% of your income, do you mean before or after all taxes are paid? (Give to Ceasar the things that are Ceasar's and to God the things that are God's.) Where I live there can be a 30-40% difference!

All of these kinds of comments shows that tithing is not such a simple thing in reality. I suspect there is no right answer, just as there is no one-size-fits-all to how your "love your neighbour" in practice.

You wanted much more direct answers to your question. In the church I attend, there is usually no offering taken up during any service. If there is a special event, like a visit from an Indian church we support, people may be encouraged to give, through Swish or internet banking systems. Many members in the congregation make automatic monthly transfers from their accounts to the church account. Now and then the financial situation of the congregation is presented, and we have an annual meeting where budgets are approved and the past years financial accounts are reviewed - there is great transparency here. But what I have noticed is that when the church finances become a regular worry and theme of discussion, people as people slide down the priority list. I believe this is dangerous - People should remain the highest priority, with Jesus Christ being central. If this remains the focus, we can always find ways of getting past the financial issues. We cannot serve God AND mammon - when we start putting money or material things first, (even in our collective minds as a congregation) we are committing collective spiritual adultery of the same type that OT Israel did so often.

For us, I believe, offerings in the form of active participation (being living sacrifices) in the church community are of greater value than money. Even if money is needed. What I believe is very important in our attitudes is that we should never give money as an alternative to giving ourselves. In the intent of the OT and NT principles is the principle that we should give ourselves wholly and continually to God. Giving money instead does not count.

 

[Ron Gurley]

The Biblical support for tithe-ing is ONLY in the OT. If you want to put yourself under the Mosaic Law, give ~23.5%

Jesus FULFILLED the Mosaic Law. And Paul says God loves a spirit-led cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 God wants an obedient Christ-follower...not a begrudged 10% from your wallet.

 

[RaymondG]

Very interesting topic. I was a religious Tithe giver for decades. Then I started reading the bible and try to understand for myself. Some here are correct. Tithes was always the first fruits of the crops!.....which, in the end, was most likely well under 10% of the total yield for the year. But I didnt get a pass......you see, I have a garden as well....So I can still give like in the OT, or so I thought....

Went the church the next Sunday with a bag of tomatoes and cucumbers. Dropped them on the the offering table and slid a few slices of tomatoes in the Tithes box(you see, you cant put them in whole).

And Im glad I did....cause now you all and learn from my mistake. Needless to say, I was exhorted out by two dudes, and I can still feel the boot print on my backside. Cant be going in these churches trying to change the rules.....either go and give, or dont go and be silent.

 

[RaymondG]

Very interesting topic. I was a religious Tithe giver for decades. Then I started reading the bible and try to understand for myself. Some here are correct. Tithes was always the first fruits of the crops!.....which, in the end, was most likely well under 10% of the total yield for the year. But I didnt get a pass......you see, I have a garden as well....So I can still give like in the OT, or so I thought....

Went the church the next Sunday with a bag of tomatoes and cucumbers. Dropped them on the the offering table and slid a few slices of tomatoes in the Tithes box(you see, you cant put them in whole).

And Im glad I did....cause now you all and learn from my mistake. Needless to say, I was exhorted out by two dudes, and I can still feel the boot print on my backside. Cant be going in these churches trying to change the rules.....either go and give, or dont go and be silent.

OK, Now that I got that out.....I have to get serious and spiritual....

Tithes is VERY important and you must give it! In the OT, we gave it to the levites and they gave it to God. After Christ, the veil was rent and now, through christ, we have direct access to Him. Now we must give it to him DIRECTLY ourselves. And God doesnt need or want money that is already His anyway. (I wish my kids would go in my wallet, take out a 20, and come to me talking about this is a gift for you)

Jesus said to look at the money and give that to the person whose face is on the coin. But give to God what IS HIS. This is the tithes. A lot of pages was devoted to tithes giving in the OT, yet in Isaiah, it is stated that God never took pressure in the Physical burnt offerings. It was always a spiritual requirement......something done in secret. The poor widow in the temple gave all that she had, and we must do the same, the religious dropped a noisy bag in the box to be seen and heard....But what it is that we give and how to give it?

One sure thing.....if Satan is able to make us believe that we are giving it already(with material things) he ensures that we we never give what God requires of us to Give.