Tithing

cardinals9476 · Nov 25, 2013

I have a question. First let me explain my situation. I am unable to pay my full tithe (sometimes I can't pay any) due to bills and unexpected bills. My present pastor has preached if you don't pay your full tithe you are sinning and damned to hell. While my parents and the pastor I grew up with says God understands my situation . Which is right?

Willie T · Nov 25, 2013

cardinals9476 said:
I have a question. First let me explain my situation. I am unable to pay my full tithe (sometimes I can't pay any) due to bills and unexpected bills. My present pastor has preached if you don't pay your full tithe you are sinning and damned to hell. While my parents and the pastor I grew up with says God understands my situation . Which is right?

The Bible....... which you never mentioned. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

timf · Nov 25, 2013

Numbers 18:26 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.

The tithe was to support the tribe of Levites who were to work as priests in the temple and had no inheritance in the land.

Unless you are a Jew living in Israel with a restored temple and Levities working in the temple, I would think that no one has a Biblical right to require you to pay a tithe.

theophilus40 · Nov 25, 2013

cardinals9476 said:
I have a question. First let me explain my situation. I am unable to pay my full tithe (sometimes I can't pay any) due to bills and unexpected bills.

Have you considered the possibility that the reason you have so many unexpected bills is that you aren't tithing? I suggest you read the book of Haggai and see if there is anything in it that resembles your situation.

Jesus promised that if we put the kingdom of God first in everything we do, including our giving, he will supply all we need. There is an incident in the Old Testament that illustrates this.

So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.

And she said, As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.

And Elijah said to her, Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.

And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.
(1 Kings 17:10-16 ESV)

In a sense the widow was in the same situation you are in; she simply couldn't afford to use any of her oil and flour to feed Elijah. She chose to do so anyway and God blessed her by supplying the food she needed to keep herself and her son alive for the duration of the drouth. Perhaps you should simply act in faith the way she did; the next time you receive a paycheck give the first tenth to God and then see if God enables you to pay all of your bills.

My present pastor has preached if you don't pay your full tithe you are sinning and damned to hell.

There is a mixture of truth and error in his preaching. If you don't give what God wants you to give you are sinning but if you have repented and put your faith in Christ all of your sins, including your failure to give, have already been forgiven and you are in no danger of Hell. It sounds as if he doesn't have an accurate understanding of the gospel and I recommend that you start attending a different church.

While my parents and the pastor I grew up with says God understands my situation.

God understands your situation but do you? You are looking at your circumstances; you need to focus more on God and the help that is available from him.

Whenever a question like yours is asked on this forum it always leads to a discussion about whether Christians are required to tithe. Here is what the New Testament say:

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
(2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV)

If you have decided in your heart that you should give a tithe then that is what you should give. The important point is that whatever you believe God wants you to give, you should give it first before spending money on yourself.

cutie cookie · Nov 25, 2013

God requires that we submit ourselves and everything of our worldly possessions to Him. That's not to say that if you can't tithe that you start throwing your mattresses and tables into the offering plate. But I believe that He wants you to offer what you can, not necessarily in the money and worldly possessions department, but your time and your energy. You will ALWAYS have something to give, and money is only part of the equation. Volunteer, mentor someone, there's many things you can do. Your pastor is missing the point...

Luke 10:27
And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND"

Sorry, I don't see anything about tithing.

1 Timothy 4:4
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is created by the word of God and prayer.

There's nothing wrong with buying things to enjoy for yourself. There is an issue when you land yourself in debt because of it or your priority becomes storing up treasures in this lifetime and not your eternal one. I have absolutely no idea what your background is in the finance department, and I am not judging you on this, that is between you and the Lord. I understand some people just don't make that much, or have to support ill relatives, or just so many other types of situations that may put a financial strain of them. My point is, tithing is not the first and foremost importance in your relationship with the Lord. He will not love you any less if you don't tithe and you will not be damned for not tithing either.

blankCrossfire · Nov 25, 2013

cardinals9476 said:
My present pastor has preached if you don't pay your full tithe you are sinning and damned to hell.

Time to find a new church mate.

GaryArnold · Nov 25, 2013

OLD TESTAMENT
Proverbs 3:9 (KJV) “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”

NEW TESTAMENT
2 Timothy 2:6 (KJV) “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”

1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

Using the above principles, the New Testament makes it clear that we are to use the FIRST of our income to take care of ourselves and our family. We are talking about needs, here, not just anything we want. Then we should give generously from what is left.

PaladinValer · Nov 25, 2013

cardinals9476 said:
I have a question. First let me explain my situation. I am unable to pay my full tithe (sometimes I can't pay any) due to bills and unexpected bills. My present pastor has preached if you don't pay your full tithe you are sinning and damned to hell. While my parents and the pastor I grew up with says God understands my situation . Which is right?

It is time to find a more orthodox denomination and/or place of worship.

Immediately.

Cactus Jack · Nov 26, 2013

Pay what you can when you can. It is by no means anyones business how much you pay.

Cactus Jack · Nov 26, 2013

I'm with paladinvaler. Find another church.
Salvation is through faith, not works. I don't go for the "salvation for a dollar" scheme.

Billy Bayou · Nov 26, 2013

cardinals9476 said:
I have a question. First let me explain my situation. I am unable to pay my full tithe (sometimes I can't pay any) due to bills and unexpected bills. My present pastor has preached if you don't pay your full tithe you are sinning and damned to hell. While my parents and the pastor I grew up with says God understands my situation . Which is right?

If you believe in Christ as your savior and have repented from your sins you are saved...... Nothing, after that, can "damn you to hell".

If your conversion to Christ was sincere and you are continually trying to walk a Christian walk... you cannot lose your salvation.

My wife used this "you will go to hell" approach on our kids.... once and only once until I explained it to her....

We are sinners and always will be. It's the change of heart and attitude that grants us the free gift of salvation.

I really hate when anyone says that you will go to hell for doing something.
We are all going to hell. We don't have to do anything in particular to go there. Simple childhood sins prove our sinful nature, unpure heart and ultimate eternal home in hell.

It's the free gift of salvation that changes our destination. It's the willing acceptance of our inability to do it ourselves and faith that Christ paid the price for us that changes our heart.

When we stand at the judgement seat, as we all will, Satan will point out our flaws and short falls that will mean eternal death. Christ will say "yep, your right, but, I pardon him with My death on the cross. They are free of their rightful punishment. They can enter eternal life in the presence of God.

Krillin · Nov 26, 2013

Bail on that church.

tturt · Nov 27, 2013

Tithing is important but don't agree with this pastor's perspective. Since you don't have the funds, you might want to volunteer at a soup kitchen or church (on second thought - in your case, I would encourage the soup kitchen route).

GaryArnold · Nov 27, 2013

tturt said:
Tithing is important but don't agree with pastor's perspective.

Tithing (per the scriptures) is impossible today.

Giving is important.

tturt · Nov 29, 2013

Your perspective of scripture while I have mine.

Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.

Dancing Mad · Nov 29, 2013

Tithing is important. The church could not survive without it. Money makes the world go round.

miss-a · Nov 29, 2013

I find it very sad that pastors would say things like that. We come to Jesus with sincere, and usually broken and hurting hearts that want to be close to Him and love and please Him. Then we hear things like that and they cause such confusion about Jesus and who He is and His love for us. Personally, I've heard so much about tithing, all backed by scriptures, and usually backed by a threat, that I don't know which way is up anymore on this particular subject. I could make a case for tithing being right. I can make a case for tithing being wrong. And perhaps that is good, because now I can just get with Jesus, seek His heart and do what He says. I know He will lead me to the truth, and I know there will be no threats involved.

I would encourage, you, original poster, to do the same. Also, I agree that you need to find a new church. What that pastor said is definitely not God's heart. I mean can you imagine Jesus saying that to someone who just wants to do the right thing. For me, pastors like that just cause confusion--and God is not the author of confusion--and do nothing to bring me closer to the Lord. And in the end, I'm not trying to get closer to the Lord's wallet or my own. I seek to be closer to Him, and in this, I will be able to discern His will and truth, and I will know what to do.

dewood · Nov 29, 2013

Part of the way i see tithing is similar to honoring the sabbath day. Sabbath rest was made for us, we were not made to honor the sabbath. If we make an effort to give our money to God, He will help provide for us.

No, I don't think skipping tithe will send you to Hell and I really hope that's not what your pastor really preaches. My pastor is really pushing tithe recently, but He takes a similar view as the one above. God doesn't need our money, He is all-powerful, by asking us to give, He is teaching us and blessing us.

thatforumguy77 · Nov 29, 2013

Recently been enlightened about this, that Tithe as law is not as important as the heart of the giver. That's the new covenant, and as such our giving must produce joy in ourselves, else, it is tradition, and does not please God. That said, what we offer Christ must be good enough for a king too, or else, what does that speak of our own present relationship with him? The law of the old testament was a guide to know the Spirit and Faith when such Gospel was not yet available, but now that we have this gospel, we live free of the law and under grace and love. There was another thread about this that went to the details. It sure gives a whole new perspective about the old woman and the Pharisee, for not only did the old woman give everything she had, but that she gave MORE than she ought to, expressing an overflowing, grateful heart that was absent from the traditional excess that the Pharisees gave.

That said, when they're dooming and glooming about the concept of giving, you may want to rethink about your membership there. It's acceptable to flee to another church, but you may also think about engaging the pastor in quiet talk as well (if he is the type to listen to scripture) just so that others in the congregation are not similarly misled.

GaryArnold · Nov 30, 2013

dewood said:
My pastor is really pushing tithe recently, but He takes a similar view as the one above. God doesn't need our money, He is all-powerful, by asking us to give, He is teaching us and blessing us.

Nothing but brainwashing. While God doesn't need your money, your pastor sure wants your money, doesn't he!! When you "tithe," who gets the money? Does it go to God?

Nothing but a trick to make you think you are giving to God while all the time you are really giving to a corporation doing business as a church. Very deceitful.

We hope the site problems here are now solved, however, if you still have any issues, please start a ticket in Contact Us

Tithing

cardinals9476

Guest

St. Petersburg Vineyard

Regular Member

Newbie

Newbie

Hebrews 4:15-16

Newbie

Traditional Orthodox Anglican

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Newbie

Yup

Senior Veteran

Newbie

Senior Veteran

Newbie

Newbie

Newbie

Random Person

Newbie

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency