Tithing, holding back the Church????

[BrideOfChrist]

How is the local church supposed to pay it's bills without a tithing congregation? If it's just a small community church, where else would the money come from?

[Emily Ruth]

How is the local church supposed to pay it's bills without a tithing congregation? If it's just a small community church, where else would the money come from?


It is the difference between requiring an amount of people's money out of obligation (which it what tithing was) and relying on God to make it possible to pay the bills - people giving what they can from their hearts - often times far more than the mere 10%.

No one is suggesting not donating to the church - but not because it is 'required' but because it is done out of love for one another and love of Him.

[Comfort me]

A lot of these smaller Baptist churches in my area have joined a alliance which helps them makes ends meet. The current church I attend does this. The church I left the pastor started it and did not want to get tied in with other churches. Why is this? This leads me to believe he is selfish and does not use the money just for church purposes. He sure pressured people into tithing even if it meant they would go broke. He told them whatever happened was God's will. I noticed he liked to try to get people to believe they were not very smart and they needed his guidance. He would then try to manipulate them and guilt them to tithe.

[LaMontre]

He sure pressured people into tithing even if it meant they would go broke. He told them whatever happened was God's will. I noticed he liked to try to get people to believe they were not very smart and they needed his guidance. He would then try to manipulate them and guilt them to tithe.

:tsk Sadly this is WAY more common than many may realize.

I mean, if we were under the kind of persecution that the early church was under, we might sell all we have and give it to the church, because if we didn't it might be taken from us....but the fact is we are blessed in this country to have prosperity, and many take that as a sign that the church is supposed to be prosperous too. All we need do is travel to thrid world countries where there is a church presence to see it isn't necessarily so.

God provides all of our needs, that is a fact, but what humans need doesn't necessarily include 2 cars and a house. Or even a church building.

:)

[cbressler1976]

I am married to a man who does not believe in God...when I was going to church (I can't now, until my little boy can talk...long story)...I couldn't tithe or give any money at all....it really bothered me...we really don't have a lot of money...we live pay check to pay check..and I didn't want to anger my husband by giving money....but it makes me feel bad because I know that someone has to pay the church bills...it's not fair for me to go and not contribute to the bills.....when I go back to work and church....I will tithe...

[LaMontre]

I am married to a man who does not believe in God...when I was going to church (I can't now, until my little boy can talk...long story)...I couldn't tithe or give any money at all....it really bothered me...we really don't have a lot of money...we live pay check to pay check..and I didn't want to anger my husband by giving money....but it makes me feel bad because I know that someone has to pay the church bills...it's not fair for me to go and not contribute to the bills.....when I go back to work and church....I will tithe...

May God guide your heart. :hug

[denny272]

Tithing is a good example of what happens when people pull certain verses out of context and then misapply what they have pulled out of context.

First of all, the actual Mosaic tithe was not 10 percent but 22-23 percent. That is because there were two annual tithes of 10 percent each and a third tithe every third year. The total averages out to 22-23 percent.

Second, the tithing itself was aimed strictly at the farming community, which most Jews were a member of at that time. They had to tithe from what was grown and what was raised such as flocks. Anyone else outside the field of farming would simply pay the annual half shekel at Passover.

Third, tithing was part of the Mosaic Law and therefore was only in force as long as the Mosaic Law was in force. The Mosaic Law came to an end when Messiah died on the cross.

Fourth, the biblical principle for today's giving is not based upon tithing but based upon giving as the Lord has prospered. From week to week the percentile might be different depending on the obligations we might have.
Fifth, the Bible nowhere says we are to give our entire offering (not tithe) to the local church. On the contrary, we are told that we should lay it in private deposit and strictly distribute our giving as necessary. The certain things we are required to support would include the local church, but that does not mean they get the entire amount of our offering. There are other ministries we are obligated to support such as whom we learn the Word from (Galatians 6), Jewish ministries (Romans 15:25-27), and others we give to as we are led to give.

There is no need to feel guilty if somebody tries to get on your case for not tithing specifically to the church.

The verses they use are verses that deal with the Mosaic Law. The storehouse was in the Temple Compound where the food was stored and not the church treasury.

http://www.ariel.org/qa.htm

[Comfort me]

Tithing is a good example of what happens when people pull certain verses out of context and then misapply what they have pulled out of context.

First of all, the actual Mosaic tithe was not 10 percent but 22-23 percent. That is because there were two annual tithes of 10 percent each and a third tithe every third year. The total averages out to 22-23 percent.

Second, the tithing itself was aimed strictly at the farming community, which most Jews were a member of at that time. They had to tithe from what was grown and what was raised such as flocks. Anyone else outside the field of farming would simply pay the annual half shekel at Passover.

Third, tithing was part of the Mosaic Law and therefore was only in force as long as the Mosaic Law was in force. The Mosaic Law came to an end when Messiah died on the cross.

Fourth, the biblical principle for today's giving is not based upon tithing but based upon giving as the Lord has prospered. From week to week the percentile might be different depending on the obligations we might have.
Fifth, the Bible nowhere says we are to give our entire offering (not tithe) to the local church. On the contrary, we are told that we should lay it in private deposit and strictly distribute our giving as necessary. The certain things we are required to support would include the local church, but that does not mean they get the entire amount of our offering. There are other ministries we are obligated to support such as whom we learn the Word from (Galatians 6), Jewish ministries (Romans 15:25-27), and others we give to as we are led to give.

There is no need to feel guilty if somebody tries to get on your case for not tithing specifically to the church.

The verses they use are verses that deal with the Mosaic Law. The storehouse was in the Temple Compound where the food was stored and not the church treasury.

http://www.ariel.org/qa.htm

:thumb When I pointed some of these facts to my former pastor he was speechless.

[denny272]

:thumb When I pointed some of these facts to my former pastor he was speechless.

I'll bet he was.

:nod:hug

[Heartstorm]

Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

This is the only place in the Bible that the Lord says to test Him.
When I was a newborn in Christ I had a huge struggle with tithing, I told my small group about my conflict, I felt that since I did not tithe out of joyful heart as the Bible clearly says to do, then what was the point ? It opened a huge discussion ( ofcourse ) and the result was ... Just do it !! So I started to pay tithes faithfully and after awhile it became a habit, then it stopped bothering me, then it became a joy, then it became a blessing !! It is not my money anyway ........it is Gods money he gives it to me :) I think that with tithes, the churches stay open, churches are needed to teach about Christ, So tithes are like tiny seeds being planted. Without tithes the church I stumbled into one dark Christmas Eve would not have been built, I would not have found Christ ! I would still be an X mormon, lost in the dark, alone and sad:candle The faithfull people of that church that tithed and help build it I think will all get a reward for saving me, my child, then.... my sister,my X, my Dad, Orphans reached in Romania, Kenya, ......... Gee it goes on and on and on, one touching another ....... God is good ....... All the time. So I tithe. period.