Should Christians Tithe?

[WASR10]

The concept of a 10% tithing comes from the Old Covenant. Tithing was a requirement of the Old Law, but is never repeated in the New Testament. That is not to say that the New Testament is silent on the subject of giving. We who live under the New Law are to still give, but it is not the set amount of 10%. How much should a Christian give? The answer is, how ever much is given “cheerfully and liberally.”

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come." - 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

"Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7

"or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." - Romans 12:8

[hasserl]

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come." - 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

"Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7

"or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." - Romans 12:8

Yep, that's all good.

[Redneck Geek]

Should we get hung up on a percent? No.
Should we give freely, willingly? Yes.
Does God need our cash? No.
Does God want to bless us when we give? Yes.

Think of giving as another way to worship. It shows our trust in His provision.

------------------

"It is unthinkable from the standpoint of the cross that anyone would give less under grace than the Jews gave under law."

Dr. J B Gabrell.

[Just-in]

Of course, under your own free will not out of guilt.

[freonr22]

I dont understand using "special language/wording" if you want to give $5 or $5000 based on what you can then just do it? Or not ... whats up with the secret handshake language?? Or is it brainwashing?

[Scooooter7]

I believe the tithe is 10% of all that God has given you. It is ALL his anyway. I also believe that the tithe is the "minimum daily requirement", meaning we are to at LEAST give back to God 10% of what he has given us.

After that, and I stress this, after that, any amount given over the 10% "minimum daily requirement" would be considered a GIFT (or Offering) to God of which we are to freely give with a cheerful heart.

The Lord freely gives us His Grace. It is a gift from God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (EPH 2 v 8-9)

And please....if you can't give God 10% then don't. He'll still love you. I have been forgiven much though, so it is the Least I can do for him.

Also does God want "our" money? Well it isn't ours in the first place. But if he wants it he will take it. Does he need it? LOL, no he created it in the first place. What he wants is our Heart, and giving back to him what is his in the first place just shows where our heart is at.

And finally, ask God directly what he thinks about tithing if you have any more questions. He would love to hear from you!

And here are 5 ways to show our love to GOD;(in no particular order)
1) Gifts
2) Quality Time
3) Acts of Service
4)Words of Affirmation
5)Physical Touch

[Scooooter7]

Christians don't worship at a temple and don't make sacrifices to earn forgiveness of sins. Christians don't live under the Law, they live in Christian liberty and freedom. They do what they do because they want to, because they are forgiven sinners, not because they have to, or because it is required by the Law. Likewise, Christians don't tithe, they give thank offerings. They give freely of the things God has given to them.

The origin of the word Tithe is old English, for the word Ten, or tenth, as in a percentage. in OT Israel the Israelites were to give a tenth of their harvest or flock or income. Some Christians like this as a target or goal for their own giving, and that is perfectly good, right and salutary. So, some people may still like to use the word Tithe for their giving, but to me that carries with it improper theological baggage. It harkens back to OT Israel and turns something that should be done freely with an open and loving heart into something that must be done to alleviate guilt.

So that's my perspective on it. What say you?

I say be careful here. Christians today are not bound under the OT law as the Hebrews were. True, but it is a guide to be a good person and is a good starting point for a new Christian to live their lives.

Why don't we just follow the law then? Because Jesus came and died for our sins, giving all that believe everlasting life. The OT laws show us we are sinners and can never be reconciled with God through the Laws no matter how hard we try.

Does this mean the Laws no longer apply? NO, it means the Laws were not our way to salvation. It pointed out our sin.

Old Testament teachings should never just be dismissed as they don't apply to us today. God inspired each and every word in the Bible for us to use as a guide, and speaks to us through it. Old Testament as well as the New Testament.

[Sailormilan2]

I come from a group that believes in the 7th Day Sabbath, and keeping it without working on it. I, from time to time, come across people who, due to the nature of their job, may have to work on the Sabbath. Nurses, Drs., etc.
I often hear from them that they donate their entire days wages to God, because they worked on the Sabbath.
To me, and I have expressed this to them, that is nothing short of trying to buy God off. God only "requires" one thing from us, and that is tithe. Many of these people get offended when I say that, because they "want" to give this money to God. Yet the Jews always felt that work done saving lives on the Sabbath was okay.

[RAMCLAP]

Yes you should Tithe/offer. Whatever you can. It will not win you one moment in Heaven. It will not keep you from Hell. If you love your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ you will do what you can to further His Kingdom. If you don't you won't.

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God

Luke 10:26-28New International Version (NIV)

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

[johnthomas]

Giving to the church in an individual thing. Think about the cost of doing business. Everything costs money. Think about the mission of your church.
What do they offer, what do you get out of it? Without gifts of money, time and goods, the church will not exist.

[hasserl]

Just to clarify, the question wasn't if Christians should give to their church, it was about Tithing, should Christians Tithe?

From what I can see, most here, as funk-drum mention above, use the term interchangeably with offering, or giving. As I posted above, I understand that, but I think the term is improper, but it's not worth arguing over.

[hasserl]

I believe the tithe is 10% of all that God has given you. It is ALL his anyway. I also believe that the tithe is the "minimum daily requirement", meaning we are to at LEAST give back to God 10% of what he has given us.

After that, and I stress this, after that, any amount given over the 10% "minimum daily requirement" would be considered a GIFT (or Offering) to God of which we are to freely give with a cheerful heart.

The Lord freely gives us His Grace. It is a gift from God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (EPH 2 v 8-9)

And please....if you can't give God 10% then don't. He'll still love you. I have been forgiven much though, so it is the Least I can do for him.

Also does God want "our" money? Well it isn't ours in the first place. But if he wants it he will take it. Does he need it? LOL, no he created it in the first place. What he wants is our Heart, and giving back to him what is his in the first place just shows where our heart is at.

And finally, ask God directly what he thinks about tithing if you have any more questions. He would love to hear from you!

And here are 5 ways to show our love to GOD;(in no particular order)
1) Gifts
2) Quality Time
3) Acts of Service
4)Words of Affirmation
5)Physical Touch

I say be careful here. Christians today are not bound under the OT law as the Hebrews were. True, but it is a guide to be a good person and is a good starting point for a new Christian to live their lives.

Why don't we just follow the law then? Because Jesus came and died for our sins, giving all that believe everlasting life. The OT laws show us we are sinners and can never be reconciled with God through the Laws no matter how hard we try.

Does this mean the Laws no longer apply? NO, it means the Laws were not our way to salvation. It pointed out our sin.

Old Testament teachings should never just be dismissed as they don't apply to us today. God inspired each and every word in the Bible for us to use as a guide, and speaks to us through it. Old Testament as well as the New Testament.

I'm curious, would you mind saying what church or what teachings you follow? I'm assuming you're Christian, but which branch? Are you Roman Catholic, or one of the Protestant churches? I'm not looking to argue with you over your views, I'm just looking to better understand where you're coming from, what your perspective is. Thanks. (I'm Lutheran, LCMS, just in case you were wondering)

[Scooooter7]

I'm curious, would you mind saying what church or what teachings you follow? I'm assuming you're Christian, but which branch? Are you Roman Catholic, or one of the Protestant churches? I'm not looking to argue with you over your views, I'm just looking to better understand where you're coming from, what your perspective is. Thanks. (I'm Lutheran, LCMS, just in case you were wondering)

I attend the Church of the Open Door. A nondenominational church that puts a priority in making disciples. As I believe ALL churches should as it is a command from God to go forth and make disciples.

http://www.churchoftheopendoor.com/

We are celebrating our 100th year. Check out the Beginning in Grace book.

I am a believer in Christ who believes..."Christ died for our sins and arose".

[hasserl]

I attend the Church of the Open Door. A nondenominational church that puts a priority in making disciples. As I believe ALL churches should as it is a command from God to go forth and make disciples.

http://www.churchoftheopendoor.com/

We are celebrating our 100th year. Check out the Beginning in Grace book.

I am a believer in Christ who believes..."Christ died for our sins and arose".

So, would you say your thoughts that you posted above are inline with the teachings of COD? Is that where you learned them, or are these your own interpretations or understandings?

[Scooooter7]

COD believes in giving from the Heart. However I remember sermons by J Vernon Mc Gee about Tithing.

And since you asked I must also ask. Is it the church you attend that dismisses the OT as if it does not apply to us today??