This is my first post ever at christianforums. So I don't even know for sure if I can find this thread again since I found it via a forum search. I'll try though.
It is my contention that one cannot tithe today. If we want to know if we should or not, and if we think we should, how, when, where, then we have to look to the Word of God. It is only there that we can know.
When my wife and I did a study of this in the late '70's, we decided to forget men's books and just look at the Word. It didn't take very long to see that if one is going to tithe according to how the Word says to, then they can't. The system of the tithe is no longer in existence.
When faced with the fact that we are no longer under the law, those that teach tithing will say that tithing was around before the Law and they will cite Abraham giving a tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedech. Well, that was voluntary and it wasn't from Abraham's own, personal wealth or belongings. So too were circumcision and burnt offerings before the Law. Why don't we do those today? Why only something where money is involved? The tithe was not to be money. If one's tithe in Israel was too great to transport to the place that the Lord had designated the tithe to be taken, he was allowed to sell it for money, take the money to the designated place and there, purchase back what would be his tithe. But he wasn't supposed to give money. All of this is clear in Deuteronomy 14ish? It's best to look it up using a concordance. After stating that the tithe was around before the Law, those who teach tithing for today procede to use the Law to pressure believers into "tithing". John McArthur has some good teaching on this. He teaches against tithing, but has good scripture to back it.
As for giving to the poor? Do it. Giving to a church is not always bad, but I don't think it is wise to let our giving be used for frivolous things. i.e. "Our carpeting is ok, but we really want a new color." Thousands wasted. Padded pews instead of benches? Sheeessshhh.... At least in America, life is too easy. I hope you get my point.
Read 1 John 3:17, Matthew 25:31-46, James ....... these are our marching orders. Not bigger and better whatevers that only bring comfort to the flesh.
Bottom line? We can't tithe even if we want to. At least, not according to what the bible calls tithing. Don't help men build empires. Giving to a "church"? Go ahead. Just make sure it is what you can afford to give, have no thought of getting in return, and above all, make sure the money is doing something to further the effort of others being brought into the Kingdom of God, not making those that are already there, more comfy. We/they don't need it. Deuteronomy 8 has a sound warning for us in this regard.
Laura, you keep that gentle, loving spirit that you seem to have and do as our Lord leads. An oft used scriptural line is "you reap what you sow ...... sow a little, reap a little; sow a lot, reap a lot. That is New Testament as well.
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.
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.
8 *And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 *(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
Blessings,
AlwaysLearning