Tithing

[grateful heart]

Ok I think another thread was getting hijacked by this topic.

For people who believe Tithing is applicable today and can prove it through Scripture OT AND NT please post here. As I do not believe this is for today but I am teachable and willing for anyone to prove to me I am wrong. Please I want this to be civil and friendly.

 

[someone_else]

i think we are ment to tith and even if someone was able to prove to me that we dont need to i still would. i am commited to my church and to the growth of my chuch. its a fact that churchs need money to operate. power etc. so im more than happy to support my church financialy.

 

[grateful heart]

i think we are ment to tith and even if someone was able to prove to me that we dont need to i still would. i am commited to my church and to the growth of my chuch. its a fact that churchs need money to operate. power etc. so im more than happy to support my church financialy.

Yes i understand this and agree that we need to support our church Financially . But why the Tithe? why not get how ever much you want whether that be 4% or 99% of you income? Why adhere to an OT Law that is not applicable anymore?

 

[someone_else]

i suppose for me useing the "tith' is a good way for me to work out a base of how much i want to give. it would be easy for me to say well i will only give %5 but if i can afford to give %10 then i should. at our church our pastor talks about 10/10/80 10% tith 10% saving 80% living. then he goes on to say if you cant afford %10 tith start with what you can afford and work your way up.

we try not to focus on the percent of the amount you give but the attidude behind it. its like the story in the bible about the lady who gave like 2c and the men who gave hundreds but the ladys 2c was worth lots more coz she gave out of what she did not have.

so yeah i hope that makes sense. i have commited to %10 otherwise its to easy for me to say well i will only give $.. this week or i cant afford to give. it should a sacrifice.

 

[Neenie1]

LOL, tithing is an issue in this house too. I believe in it, but R doesn't. So R is the bread winner and we aren't technically tithing. I have little income but what I do bring in I tithe.

I think it is for everyone to discern what is right and what is wrong with tithing. I have no idea whether or not it is for today, but I do know that God blesses those who give.

 

[grateful heart]

suppose for me useing the "tith' is a good way for me to work out a base of how much i want to give. it would be easy for me to say well i will only give %5 but if i can afford to give %10 then i should. at our church our pastor talks about 10/10/80 10% tith 10% saving 80% living. then he goes on to say if you cant afford %10 tith start with what you can afford and work your way up.

we try not to focus on the percent of the amount you give but the attidude behind it. its like the story in the bible about the lady who gave like 2c and the men who gave hundreds but the ladys 2c was worth lots more coz she gave out of what she did not have.

so yeah i hope that makes sense. i have commited to %10 otherwise its to easy for me to say well i will only give $.. this week or i cant afford to give. it should a sacrifice.

Thats fair enough , if thats your own personal thing to do thats ok


LOL, tithing is an issue in this house too. I believe in it, but R doesn't. So R is the bread winner and we aren't technically tithing. I have little income but what I do bring in I tithe.

I think it is for everyone to discern what is right and what is wrong with tithing. I have no idea whether or not it is for today, but I do know that God blesses those who give.

but wouldnt you want to research it and see if it is for today?

 

[elm0]

I have heard many sermons for and against tithing and many more debates, discussions, and arguements, all of them involving Scripture to support their case.

I personally have decided that too many people make too much of an issue out of it, so I don't bother debating it any more. Jesus told us to give our all to God, so the minimum my wife and I give in our Sunday offering is 10%. We do this willingly and joyfully, so I know it is pleasing to God.

 

[grateful heart]

have heard many sermons for and against tithing and many more debates, discussions, and arguements, all of them involving Scripture to support their case.

I personally have decided that too many people make too much of an issue out of it, so I don't bother debating it any more. Jesus told us to give our all to God, so the minimum my wife and I give in our Sunday offering is 10%. We do this willingly and joyfully, so I know it is pleasing to God.

So are you saying both hold up in relation to Scripture? i am interested because I dont believe this, I have not had one ounce of Scripture that backs tithing up that hasnt been refuted.I give more than 10% as I believe giving 10% because of an OT scripture is religious(or can lead to it) I just want to know the right thing to do

 

[elm0]

So are you saying both hold up in relation to Scripture? i am interested because I dont believe this, I have not had one ounce of Scripture that backs tithing up that hasnt been refuted.

I am saying that both sides of the debate use Scripture to support their opinions. I have given up trying to decipher the points each side raise, as I see more important issues that require attention.

I give more than 10% as I believe giving 10% because of an OT scripture is religious(or can lead to it) I just want to know the right thing to do

As I said before, my wife and I give a minimum 10% of our income in the offering each Sunday. There are always other things that we believe God would have us do, that require us to give Him more of our income. We also believe that giving our time to Him is important. It's about putting God in control of our lives, not just about giving Him money and going on about our lives. But that's another issue.

To summarise, I feel that if God required 10% in OT Law, why would He expect any less now? This is of course my opinion, and I could very easily be wrong, so please do not think I am judging anyone who doesn't agree with my view.

 

[grateful heart]

I am saying that both sides of the debate use Scripture to support their opinions. I have given up trying to decipher the points each side raise, as I see more important issues that require attention

yeah thats fair enough

As I said before, my wife and I give a minimum 10% of our income in the offering each Sunday. There are always other things that we believe God would have us do, that require us to give Him more of our income. We also believe that giving our time to Him is important. It's about putting God in control of our lives, not just about giving Him money and going on about our lives. But that's another issue.

thats good

To summarise, I feel that if God required 10% in OT Law, why would He expect any less now? This is of course my opinion, and I could very easily be wrong, so please do not think I am judging anyone who doesn't agree with my view

disagree but as we both know we have both been through this before

 

[Anduril]

"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" (1 Corinithians 16:2).

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinithians 9:7).

From these passages I think we should give what we feel in our heart to be the right amount.

 

[someone_else]

wow this is probably the most calm thread i have ever read on tithing well done im impressed.

 

[The Bad Templar]

I outlined this already on a previous thread....I don't believe tithing is a requirement for Christians whatsoever...but we tithe out of necessity, even though we can really afford it.

I belong to a struggling rural Baptist church and because we are autonomous and congregational we have to come up with the same stipend as a city church to employ a pastor.

This is hard for churches with a membership of 20 or 30 and rural incomes on average are $10,000 less than city wages.

With other churches in small communities like the Catholic, Anglican and Seventh Day Adventist... their clergy is supplied by the diocese.

We are clutching onto the pastors we have out here in the scrub... funny enough most of the well-qualified ministers are called to leafy suburbs in Sydney or along the coast these days... or am I being cynical?

It is either pay the tithe or the church goes down the tube. We can't afford to rock up to church, throw a couple of bucks in the plate and have programs and facilities dished up for us.

 

[Neenie1]

but wouldnt you want to research it and see if it is for today?

I just go by what I believe God is telling me.

 

[grateful heart]

"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" (1 Corinithians 16:2).

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinithians 9:7).

From these passages I think we should give what we feel in our heart to be the right amount.

Agreed

wow this is probably the most calm thread i have ever read on tithing well done im impressed.

Its not normally like this?

I outlined this already on a previous thread....I don't believe tithing is a requirement for Christians whatsoever...but we tithe out of necessity, even though we can really afford it.

I belong to a struggling rural Baptist church and because we are autonomous and congregational we have to come up with the same stipend as a city church to employ a pastor.

This is hard for churches with a membership of 20 or 30 and rural incomes on average are $10,000 less than city wages.

With other churches in small communities like the Catholic, Anglican and Seventh Day Adventist... their clergy is supplied by the diocese.

We are clutching onto the pastors we have out here in the scrub... funny enough most of the well-qualified ministers are called to leafy suburbs in Sydney or along the coast these days... or am I being cynical?

It is either pay the tithe or the church goes down the tube. We can't afford to rock up to church, throw a couple of bucks in the plate and have programs and facilities dished up for us.

I can totally see your point, but where is the reliance on God to supply our needs?although you/we definatey need to support our church etc I dont think the tithe is the way, If we have a good heart and Christian ethic(meaning not selfish) wouldnt we give much more than is required?

I just go by what I believe God is telling me

I dont mean to sound harsh but how do you know its from God? cause the devil can be a wolf in sheeps clothing and can disquise himself as an Angel of light? wouldnt you put it back to scripture?

 

[someone_else]

grateful heart i have been on some fourms where this topic has gotten WAY out of hand.

 

[The Bad Templar]

I can totally see your point, but where is the reliance on God to supply our needs?although you/we definatey need to support our church etc I dont think the tithe is the way.

The tithe is merely a figure for us and has no real significance.

As far as God supplying our needs...I believe we need a balance of faith and pragmatism...an example is Nehemiah when rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem with the threat of attacks:-

Nehemiah 4:10 '...we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

He didn't pray and not post a guard thinking that God would guarantee their safety...he didn't post a guard without calling on God's help.

 

[grateful heart]

grateful heart i have been on some fourms where this topic has gotten WAY out of hand

Wow ok, im not into attacking people even if i am strongly against what they believe , no one that wins a debate or argument like that really wins and wont change anyone that way either.

 

[grateful heart]

The tithe is merely a figure for us and has no real significance.

As far as God supplying our needs...I believe we need a balance of faith and pragmatism...an example is Nehemiah when rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem with the threat of attacks:-

yeah good point
Man i do feel for your Church and quite honestly to even help financially, what sort of Church is it?

 

[The Bad Templar]

yeah good point
Man i do feel for your Church and quite honestly to even help financially, what sort of Church is it?

You're very kind. Don't worry, we'll survive somehow.

We have a rural partnership with a bigger church and we might be able to receive some funding provided that we formulate a viable community initiative.

We're a small Baptist church and pay half the wages of our pastor with our sister church. After a long time of struggling our sister church is going under financially...and we're in no position to bail it out.

Our church is set to lose a number of key members through retirement and work transfers... perhaps God has something completely different in store for us.