Tithing: NT or OT?

[muffler dragon]

I am sure this topic has been breached before, but I thought I would offer it up as a discussion piece.

I don't have my Bible with me right now, but Scripturally, I believe that the tithe is not a condition that Christians need to follow.

Should anyone care to discuss the approval of the tithe, then I will get out the verses.

 

[Biarien]

Tithing was compulsory in the OT and is voluntary in the NT, as a very simple answer.

 

[uncle david]

"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, " In what way have we robbed you?" In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed me, Even this whole nation." -Malachi 3:8-9
Guess.

 

[eutychus]

Tithing was OT. We now have a much higher standard of giving.

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." -Romans 12:1

 

[muffler dragon]

"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, " In what way have we robbed you?" In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed me, Even this whole nation." -Malachi 3:8-9
Guess.

Dear Uncle David:

I am not sure whether you are supporting a modern-day tithe or not, but I'll go ahead and match you one part of Scripture for one verse assuming you are thinking it's a principle for the church today. We can discuss this deeper should you decide to.

Deuteronomy 12:15-19
Nevertheless, you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want, as if it were gazelle or deer, according to the blessing the Lord your God gives you. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it. But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water. You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the Lord your God at teh place the Lord your God will choose - you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns - and you are to rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to. Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

I believe this shows you a different take on the tithe and how it would be very much different from how church 'leadership' uses it today.

 

[HoT-MetaL]

Ive decided to take a mid-point of view on this one.

The New Testament speaks about tithing only in reference to the pharisees, and in a negative fashion.

Some believe that the abrahamic covenant (Romans 11) includes tithing, but Paul writes very confused here - he fails to distinguish between this and the mosaic covenant. And its argueable whether or not tithing is included.

So apparently my view is very pentecostal. I tithe when I feel led to tithe. More like offerings rather than a tithe.

but then most christians i know do tithe their ten percent.

God Bless, metal.

 

[Biarien]

Hotmetal, I agree with your stance on tithing, that one should tithe when one feels led to tithe.

What I'm unsure of is how you find Paul's writings confused on the subject.

I came to the same conclusion from both the Gospels and the Pauline Epistles. Could you clarify as to how you find Paul to be "confused?"

 

[daveleau]

Well, I have to disagree that the NT only speaks of tithing in reference to the Pharisees and in the negative way. I agree that there is no NT mandate. But, I think it is the most important non-mandated thing a Christian can do. Otehrwise, the church would not be able to do the things it does to bring people to Christ. God provides...through us.

Mar 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

Mar 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

Mar 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

Mar 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

 

[HomeBound]

Well, I have to disagree that the NT only speaks of tithing in reference to the Pharisees and in the negative way. I agree that there is no NT mandate. But, I think it is the most important non-mandated thing a Christian can do. Otehrwise, the church would not be able to do the things it does to bring people to Christ. God provides...through us.

Mar 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

Mar 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

Mar 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

Mar 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

I agree, and also...

Luk 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.


Notice Jesus says "and not to leave the other undone"

He's being negative about them doing only a part of what they should be doing. He's not condemning the tithes, but he includes it in what they should continue doing.

 

[clinzey]

Luk 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Notice Jesus says "and not to leave the other undone"

He's being negative about them doing only a part of what they should be doing. He's not condemning the tithes, but he includes it in what they should be doing.

You're right, he's not condemming tithes, but by juxtaposing the justice and love against the tithe he is saying that showing justice and love supercedes tithing. Jesus never really comments on the tithing issue. Although we do see him paying taxes, nothing on tithing. Although the NT principle about giving to Christian brothers/sisters in need (1 John 3:17) seems at times even more extravagent than a mere 10%.

 

[HomeBound]

1Jo 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Good point

 

[daveleau]

I believe Luke was talking about how the Pharisees paid their tithe in hopes of looking Godly. They openly flaunted their "holiness" and broke the laws just as everyone else. They had affairs and had many scandals, yet paid their tithe openly to look holy. This was the hypocrisy that the Bible speaks about in Luke. It is not a condemnation of tithing.

 

[billwald]

Tithing may be OT but I don't know any tithing person who feels he is economically deprived because of it.

 

[muffler dragon]

The whole thing comes down to this for me: I had attended a church that made it compulsory. I have absolutely no problem with someone who decides to do it upon their own free will. In fact, as has been pointed out succinctly, giving is a natural process of the Lord working in someone's life.

However, the whole consideration of tithing has taken a life of its own within the Christian church.

Tithing has nothing to do with anything involving the church. Offerings are what I feel need to be stated here.

All of the discussions concerning tithing have to do with the nation of Israel. Without trying to spiritualize that concept, this has nothing to do with today's institution.

Therefore, I say this - if you feel led to tithe (or better yet - give) then by all means. But it is not a principle that needs to be mandated or prescribed.

 

[Cmarlin]

I have studied and prayed about this question, I also now believe that the correct word now is giving or offering, not tithing, that is an OT law. I do believe 10% is a good begining point to "give back". But the actual %% differs for each person. I believe to whom much is given, he should "give back" more than 10%. Some are talented at earning money, that talent comes from God, the riches should be returned to His work. Bottom line, it costs a lot to run a church and many other good organizations need our money.
Cindy