To whom should a tithe be given?

[JoeWill]

I know that strictly speaking, when you give a tithe you are giving to God (out of what he has given you).

But I've always been reticent about giving a tithe to any church. They all seem just as likely as not, to spend it on something silly, like a new carpet for the foyer when there was nothing wrong with the old one.

So when I give a tithe, it usually goes abroad to a Christian charity working with people who really need it.

But does the Bible indicate anywhere that you're supposed to give your tithe to the church to which you belong?

 

[Time2BCounted]

I know that strictly speaking, when you give a tithe you are giving to God (out of what he has given you).

But I've always been reticent about giving a tithe to any church. They all seem just as likely as not, to spend it on something silly, like a new carpet for the foyer when there was nothing wrong with the old one.

So when I give a tithe, it usually goes abroad to a Christian charity working with people who really need it.

But does the Bible indicate anywhere that you're supposed to give your tithe to the church to which you belong?

I'm of a very similar mindset.

 

[rmw8855]

I was taught that you give the tithe to where you are being fed. Your church, a ministry you are connected with, etc.

My pastor refuses to teach that it must go only to your church because then God can't tell you to withhold the tithe when the pastor etc. should be under correction. By having several possible locations to send the tithe you can pray about it and send it whereever God tells you to.

 

[£amb]

I know that strictly speaking, when you give a tithe you are giving to God (out of what he has given you).

But I've always been reticent about giving a tithe to any church. They all seem just as likely as not, to spend it on something silly, like a new carpet for the foyer when there was nothing wrong with the old one.

So when I give a tithe, it usually goes abroad to a Christian charity working with people who really need it.

But does the Bible indicate anywhere that you're supposed to give your tithe to the church to which you belong?

I would be curious too if there were verses to back it up. I know within my church they periodically put out a break down of what they are doing with the money. Quite a bit goes to supporting certain missions, families in need and outreach ministries. When I tithe I feel better knowing where the money is going to.

 

[ContentInHim]

The original tithe went to the priests and Levites who performed the sacrifices and kept the Temple in good physical condition. So churches usually consider that the tithe is theirs to administer. I know that one chunky tithe I gave from an inheritance did actually go for new carpet. I thought "OK, whatever - it's their decision". Now I'm in a house church - we meet in each others houses and don't have to support a church building anymore and I'm thrilled to tithe to charities, individuals, etc. I wait to hear from the Father who usually says where and how much - I do so and get my socks blessed off!

 

[Criada]

In our church, tithes are used only to support ministry (salaries, outreach,etc.)
New carpets, building upkeep etc comes from offerings.
I'll dig out the scriptures this is based on tomorroww...

 

[JoeWill]

The original tithe went to the priests and Levites who performed the sacrifices and kept the Temple in good physical condition. So churches usually consider that the tithe is theirs to administer.

Hi,

Yeah, that's the answer I was given by one old guy, but it seems a bit tenuous.

It does raise some interesting questions though. Is a church institution really the same as the Temple that once stood in Jerusalem? How are they different?

Has the Temple actually been replaced by God's spirit dwelling in the believer, rather than by the church institution (II Corinthians 6:16)?

I don't know the answers to these questions, so let's have some responses from people please. How does the Temple relate to the church, with reference to where the tithes should go?

 

[MrJim]

Tithing is a biblical teaching...


BUT not a Christian teaching.

 

[JoeWill]

Tithing is a biblical teaching...


BUT not a Christian teaching.

Ah yes, that is another angle on the discussion. Some Christians use the Old Testament tithe as a guide to Christian giving, but is it part of the New Covenant?

Usually I hear about tithing from Pentecostal or Charismatic churches, which give lots of testimony as to how God really does make tithing work in fulfilment of Malachi 3:10. I do believe the testimonies and would say that the promise has proven true for me.

 

[MrJim]

Look at yer NT, and see what the church did with the collection.

Tell ya what they DIDN'T do:

1. Bankroll clergy & staff
2. Build monuments to God and call them "churches" that sit empty most of the time
3. Invest the cash in building & mutual funds

 

[free2be]

I don't think our tithing has to be only in our church. God laid it on my heart 2 years ago to sponsor 2 poverty striken children, even though I couldn't see how I could afford it at the time. I do tithe to my actual church as well, but I would say the majority of my tithing goes to those 2 children. Maybe I have the whole idea of tithing wrong....but God also tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the poor. Is that considered tithing?

 

[Rhamiel]

Some Christians use the Old Testament tithe as a guide to Christian giving, but is it part of the New Covenant?

That is how my family does it, we think 10% is a good idea but not manditory and the 10% it is divided between the catholic church me and my dad go to and the methodist church my mom goes to and several charities

 

[ReformedChapin]

THE NT seems to indicate that we should give as much as we can. It also doesn't seem to indicate where the money goes to. There doesn't seem to be much of a standard. I am praying to God that he shows me where he wants me to spend the money and to want ministry since I don't like how my current church spends the money.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I give it wherever I think God most needs it. Some, the lion's share, I always give to my local church, because I think they're effective at doing God's work. Some I give elsewhere. I may give to other ministries that feed me, such as Ken Copeland, Joyce Meyer, Jesse Duplantis or Perry Stone, all of whom I've learned much from. And Rob Bell is becoming a new favorite of mine, now that I've started watching his NOOMA series of short videos. A couple weeks ago while I was browsing at Costco, I spent some of God's money on buying a few copies of Joel Osteen's book, Your Best Life Now!, because I felt God urging me to do it. I gave them to people I know who I think would benefit most from Joel's lessons, whose lives might actually be improved by them... and I think Joel might be able to reach a couple of them who'd be turned off by a less gentle Christian message.

 

[Simon_Templar]

Paul says that those who teach and who labor in the church should be payed, or supported and he singles out those who work in teaching and doctrine as worthy of double honor. In the Jewish culture, honor specifically included a monitary donation. Interestingly this is also how honoring your father and mother was understood. It meant to give them an offering of what you earned.

This is what Jesus was talking to the pharisees about when he said that their tradition made the word of God void. The pharisees said that if a person donated to the temple, he did not have to honor his parents with that money. Jesus indicated that this was effectively nullifying God's command.

So, the fact is that pastors and teachers are following a vocation given to them by God.. that is their "living" and the church should support them accordingly.

The teaching of the early church, as reflected in the Didache was that a person did have a responsability to make sure that their alms giving went to worthy purposes and not to frauds and charlatans.

 

[MrJim]

Paul says that those who teach and who labor in the church should be payed, or supported and he singles out those who work in teaching and doctrine as worthy of double honor. In the Jewish culture, honor specifically included a monitary donation. Interestingly this is also how honoring your father and mother was understood. It meant to give them an offering of what you earned.

This is what Jesus was talking to the pharisees about when he said that their tradition made the word of God void. The pharisees said that if a person donated to the temple, he did not have to honor his parents with that money. Jesus indicated that this was effectively nullifying God's command.

So, the fact is that pastors and teachers are following a vocation given to them by God.. that is their "living" and the church should support them accordingly.

The teaching of the early church, as reflected in the Didache was that a person did have a responsability to make sure that their alms giving went to worthy purposes and not to frauds and charlatans.

BUT was the support to be support or was it to payroll a professional career salary?

"Clergy" (and how i hate that term) has come to mean a career more than a calling....