Is tithing legit?

[NHL Fever]

I have been in several discussions about this lately. Based on scripture to my knowledge, I hold a position that the tithe is not law in the modern day, and that the claim by churches that you must give 10% of your income is false. This is based on the following:

- The tithe had a specific purpose unique to the political arrangement of the nation of Israel, for the sake of feeding/supporting the Levite tribes, to be used upon celebration of God's goodness, and for the sake of the poor. The Israeli cultural indications are no longer existent.
- The tithe is law in the old testament. We no longer follow the dietary laws, stone people for various things, or send our wives outside the city during menstruation. Why do we choose to pluck this particular law out for favored treatment and ignore the others? Inconsistent.
- In the new testament, Paul's talks about giving generously to the poor according to what is placed on your heart. He does not reference the tithe, or any percentage. The cheerful giver is prized, no mention of any legitimacy coming from any 'amount' or portion given.
- The message of Christ in the New testament about almost any action, can summarized as "God knows your heart". If you heart is right, you are doing right. If its wrong, it doesn't matter what great thing you be doing, its wrong.
- If the tithe is 10%, then those that give more than 10% would be violation of that law. This would include the poor woman who gave two coins, all she had (100%), as well as all well-meaning believers who give over 10%. The OT says 1 / 10, not 'at least' 1 / 10.

One quick note: A lot of people will assume a priori that anybody who argues against the tithe as a fixed mandatory number must be doing so to justify not giving up their money. To dissuade this, let me share without any intention of sounding pious that we give a fair bit more than 10% to our church, and additionally to other Christ-based charities, friends and family in need etc. This is simply to put it out there that my motivation is not to hoard money, but to get an honest opinion from those who know scripture.

Please anyone share what you know. I'm looking at you specifically Mark.

[-SEEKING-]

I think you'll be better off just searching the word tithe. I'm sure you'll get a lot of hits. It's been discussed here ad nauseam.

[Butch5]

I have been in several discussions about this lately. Based on scripture to my knowledge, I hold a position that the tithe is not law in the modern day, and that the claim by churches that you must give 10% of your income is false. This is based on the following:

- The tithe had a specific purpose unique to the political arrangement of the nation of Israel, for the sake of feeding/supporting the Levite tribes, to be used upon celebration of God's goodness, and for the sake of the poor. The Israeli cultural indications are no longer existent.
- The tithe is law in the old testament. We no longer follow the dietary laws, stone people for various things, or send our wives outside the city during menstruation. Why do we choose to pluck this particular law out for favored treatment and ignore the others? Inconsistent.
- In the new testament, Paul's talks about giving generously to the poor according to what is placed on your heart. He does not reference the tithe, or any percentage. The cheerful giver is prized, no mention of any legitimacy coming from any 'amount' or portion given.
- The message of Christ in the New testament about almost any action, can summarized as "God knows your heart". If you heart is right, you are doing right. If its wrong, it doesn't matter what great thing you be doing, its wrong.
- If the tithe is 10%, then those that give more than 10% would be violation of that law. This would include the poor woman who gave two coins, all she had (100%), as well as all well-meaning believers who give over 10%. The OT says 1 / 10, not 'at least' 1 / 10.

One quick note: A lot of people will assume a priori that anybody who argues against the tithe as a fixed mandatory number must be doing so to justify not giving up their money. To dissuade this, let me share without any intention of sounding pious that we give a fair bit more than 10% to our church, and additionally to other Christ-based charities, friends and family in need etc. This is simply to put it out there that my motivation is not to hoard money, but to get an honest opinion from those who know scripture.

Please anyone share what you know. I'm looking at you specifically Mark.

Tithing is not a New Testament command. It was for Israel. Having said that the early church gave much more than 10%, they gave of their need not just their abundance. For instance, if someone was in need of food and they could not provide the food they would take turns fasting and the meal would be given to the one in need.

[Reynolds357]

I have been in several discussions about this lately. Based on scripture to my knowledge, I hold a position that the tithe is not law in the modern day, and that the claim by churches that you must give 10% of your income is false. This is based on the following:

- The tithe had a specific purpose unique to the political arrangement of the nation of Israel, for the sake of feeding/supporting the Levite tribes, to be used upon celebration of God's goodness, and for the sake of the poor. The Israeli cultural indications are no longer existent.
- The tithe is law in the old testament. We no longer follow the dietary laws, stone people for various things, or send our wives outside the city during menstruation. Why do we choose to pluck this particular law out for favored treatment and ignore the others? Inconsistent.
- In the new testament, Paul's talks about giving generously to the poor according to what is placed on your heart. He does not reference the tithe, or any percentage. The cheerful giver is prized, no mention of any legitimacy coming from any 'amount' or portion given.
- The message of Christ in the New testament about almost any action, can summarized as "God knows your heart". If you heart is right, you are doing right. If its wrong, it doesn't matter what great thing you be doing, its wrong.
- If the tithe is 10%, then those that give more than 10% would be violation of that law. This would include the poor woman who gave two coins, all she had (100%), as well as all well-meaning believers who give over 10%. The OT says 1 / 10, not 'at least' 1 / 10.

One quick note: A lot of people will assume a priori that anybody who argues against the tithe as a fixed mandatory number must be doing so to justify not giving up their money. To dissuade this, let me share without any intention of sounding pious that we give a fair bit more than 10% to our church, and additionally to other Christ-based charities, friends and family in need etc. This is simply to put it out there that my motivation is not to hoard money, but to get an honest opinion from those who know scripture.

Please anyone share what you know. I'm looking at you specifically Mark.

Why would you not tithe? The only reason I can think would be greed.

[-SEEKING-]

Why would you not tithe? The only reason I can think would be greed.

That sounds pretty judgemental. I have a few friends who weren't able to because they didn't have jobs. Is that greed?

[Vhayes]

Why would you not tithe? The only reason I can think would be greed.

Did you read the last paragraph of the original post?

[Reynolds357]

That sounds pretty judgemental. I have a few friends who weren't able to because they didn't have jobs. Is that greed?

If your income is $0, then the tithe on that is $0.

You can always find plenty of reasons to keep for yourself what God says we should cheerfully give to Him.

[Reynolds357]

Did you read the last paragraph of the original post?

Yeah. If one chooses to exceed the 10%, then there is really no point to even discuss the tithe. If you give above the minimum, why even discuss whether or not the minimum is mandators? I do not per se "tithe." I "sow." My sowing satisfies and then goes well beyond the tithe. My sowing does satisfy the tithe, so if one chooses to look at it that way, I tithe.

[th1bill]

I have just finished the book of the Exodus and there is the perfect example of proper tithing there. The People gave gold, silver, bronze, fine linen and on and on until Moses had to make them stop, the abundance was to much. In the New Testament, which is the best commentary ever written on the Bible the tithe is still a love offering to God. The tithe is not a requirement, similar to the Speed Limit on the highway. It is the expression of one's love for God.

[FaithfulSheep]

Since you are focusing on the Levitical laws, let's lay them aside for a moment.

Everything you have is God's. The money you have is because of God's provision for you. You may work at a job and earn money, but who gave you that job? Not just your boss. God did. Why would you not want to give part back to Him when He is taking care of your needs?

As another poster stated, think of 10% as a minimum. It's always okay to give more, but 10% was considered the minimum standard.

[Amos_with_goats]

I am thankful for the Grace I have received from the Lord.

All that I can give, I give out of love.... but not as a repayment.

I can never repay what I have received. I certainly do not give so that I can receive....

It is very sad that some place the idea of the 'tithe' or giving into the realm of the
temporal. If we give for some gain, we waste our time.

What do we have that is not the Lords? What shall we withhold from Him?

To give because a man says to is to completely miss the point. Just as to
give to appease men is also to miss the point.

May all our giving be with the right heart and motive.. .May we freely give
of all that we have.. our time, money, self... as we have received.

Blessings to all,

[karenoka27]

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

I think giving money to your local church is vital. If a church supports the Pastor, then he can freely and without reservation do all that God has called him to do.

[IsItLove?]

Well if you embrace the tithe then don't forget to also give the first born of your sons.

Exo 22:29
“Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons.


Remember to pay your tithe once every three years based on your increase.
So if your net worth was 1 mill and now is 2 mill you need to pay tithes on 1mill
Deu 26:12
"When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

Is this how your tithe is being used?

Remember if you are receiving tithes you must put aside 10% of the tithe into the storehouse
Neh 10:38
A priest of Aaron’s line will be with the Levites when the Levites collect the tithes, and the Levites will bring up a tenth of the tithes to the temple of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.

[moonglow]

Yeah. If one chooses to exceed the 10%, then there is really no point to even discuss the tithe. If you give above the minimum, why even discuss whether or not the minimum is mandators? I do not per se "tithe." I "sow." My sowing satisfies and then goes well beyond the tithe. My sowing does satisfy the tithe, so if one chooses to look at it that way, I tithe.

Why can't he just ask a bible based question without people assuming things? More then likely NHL Fever will always give more then 10% because he wants too..he is simply asking a bible question. As he said:

One quick note: A lot of people will assume a priori that anybody who argues against the tithe as a fixed mandatory number must be doing so to justify not giving up their money. To dissuade this, let me share without any intention of sounding pious that we give a fair bit more than 10% to our church, and additionally to other Christ-based charities, friends and family in need etc. This is simply to put it out there that my motivation is not to hoard money, but to get an honest opinion from those who know scripture.

Why do so many on here have such critical spirits that no one can ask a question and its assumed they must want to do something wrong. Is this how we are support to treat our brethren?

IsItLove?

Well if you embrace the tithe then don't forget to also give the first born of your sons.

Exo 22:29
“Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons.

I think you should explain how people gave God their first born children if you are going to put this out there..

[Brother Mark]

Please anyone share what you know. I'm looking at you specifically Mark.

Not sure if you mean me or someone else...

But I agree with your post mostly. We have an example of tithing pre-law with Abraham. He gave a tithe of all he owned, not just what he earned that year, to Melchisidek. Also, the tithe was only a part of what Israel donated. They also could donate offerings. And I think there were other "fees" but I haven't studied them out thouroughly. Another thing, the tithe was the inheritance of the Levites. They didn't get land from the promised land. Instead, they got the tithe.

Having said all that... the NT teaching is more giving based. I personally think that we are to give out of a grateful heart with thanksgiving and that we are to determine in our heart what we will give. When we do that, we might be surprised to see our "tithing" go up! It certainly did with me and apparently has with you as well. Also, sense we are in covenant with God, all we have is his. But he still gives us full ownership. For instance, when Ananias and Saphira lied about how much they got for the land they sold, in order to give, Peter chastised them and told them the land was theirs. They were not forced to sell it nor did they have to lie about it. But because they lied, they died. People who didn't give were not chastised in such a way.

Another thought on giving, Paul didn't refer back to the tithe to teach it. Instead, he referred to the law concerning oxen. The law stated "Don't muzzle the ox that treads the corn". Why? Because the ox was worthy of his labor as an example to us. We should not muzzle the preacher that preaches to us. Paul goes on to expound that he had a full right to the material goods of the Corinthian church but he refused to take any. The point being, the ox ate as much as he desired while he was treading corn. If we have a good pastor, we too should give him what we can afford and what he desires while he is "treading the corn". Perhaps those two don't always match up but we should try.

Another thought... since the tithe was 10% and the tribe of Levi was 1/12.... it's seems to me that their inheritance was slightly above average. So shouldn't our pastors' pay be above average too?