Is tithing required in the NT?

[IThinkTooMuch]

Read a very thought provoking article recently that made a lot of sense. In reality, the NT does not say we have to tithe 10%, and when the 10% was required, it was for a specific purpose. Now, Jesus told us to give all, but the 10% seems to not be required (not anywhere I've read in the NT).

Would like to hear others thoughts on this subject. I do believe we should give, but as far as the 10% goes, it is not required.


Here is the article:

http://www.truthortradition.com/modu...rticle&sid=510

[Blood Bought]

No, we don't have to tithe.

Leviticus 27:30-34

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.

And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.

And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

Malachi 3:10

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Today...

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.

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ

If one wants to tithe from their heart, because they have the resources to do so, there's nothing wrong with that, either.

[Christina]

Hebrews 7:1-2 speaks of Abraham giving a tenth to Melchisedec the king of Salem, do you suppose the "tenth" is representative of the 10% to be given to God and anything over and above the 10% is not a tithe but an offering?

[Wally]

Acts 2:43-45 (New King James Version)
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved[a] Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:



The early church had elements of pure communism, as well as private property.

The NT guildline is simple, If you have it to give, and can meet the need, give it cheerefully, even up to 100%.

[IThinkTooMuch]

Hebrews 7:1-2 speaks of Abraham giving a tenth to Melchisedec the king of Salem, do you suppose the "tenth" is representative of the 10% to be given to God and anything over and above the 10% is not a tithe but an offering?

Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?



I'm talking about a dogmatic command to tithe, what you are saying is a different discussion.

[IThinkTooMuch]

Acts 2:43-45 (New King James Version)
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved[a] Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:



The early church had elements of pure communism, as well as private property.

The NT guildline is simple, If you have it to give, and can meet the need, give it cheerefully, even up to 100%.

Thank you brother, that simple explanation took a weight off of my shoulders. Cheers.





Also, should that kind of socialism/communism be encouraged more in our society, or should that be left up to the churches?

[Wally]

It appears to be common in Mennnonite- Amish- anabaptist type churches----

And they seem to be the only ones building homes around here.



As for the weight, does that mean you want to pay off my mortgage for me?

[IThinkTooMuch]

It appears to be common in Mennnonite- Amish- anabaptist type churches----

And they seem to be the only ones building homes around here.



As for the weight, does that mean you want to pay off my mortgage for me?

No, but you can get my electric bill for me if you want.



I just wonder how far we should go with helping others and giving. In all seriousness.



You know what I mean?

[bek1]

I don't think there is any NT verse with a command to the church to tithe. But there are people who are convicted that the concept of tithing written into the OT, is evidence enough that this is pleasing to God. What is interesting, is you see people in the OT who feared God tithing long before the law was given to Israel (like in the instance of Abraham that Christina showed.) And in Cain and Abel etc...

It's a personal conviction IMO. I know people who have sensed the Spirit's conviction and call to tithe, and for them, it would be disobedience to not do it. Others may not get this .... I think it's worth seeking the Lord on though.

[Wally]

How far? Just a little bit further. We will be amazed if we give in faith.

Yes, we have obligations to provide for our families, to render unto Cesear,

But if we really looked and separated our wants from our needs, we'd find a lot more to give.

Again, If you have it to give, give it, and SMILE!

[bek1]

How far? Just a little bit further. We will be amazed if we give in faith.

Yes, we have obligations to provide for our families, to render unto Cesear,

But if we really looked and separated our wants from our needs, we'd find a lot more to give.

Again, If you have it to give, give it, and SMILE!

[Kliska]

I just wonder how far we should go with helping others and giving. In all seriousness.

As far as the Holy Spirit guides and convicts you to go. And then again, and again, etc... The just live by faith, and following His guidance day to day is part of that.

[PcBStl]

Paul is the apostle of the gentiles and he says to give with love.
The question is: How much love do you have to give......and how much of that love will you give?

[Wally]

Always great to see you back in Apologetics/Bible Study. Kliska.

[SoundingtheAlarm]

I am absolutely convinced that the "tithe" instituted before the law was given is a biblical principle that transcends each dispensation. Just as the law of seed time and harvest has.

I could go on for hours about how I have seen over and over and over and over and over God's demonstrated provision in honoring the tithe....HOWEVER I do believe that God desire's we come to a place that we are not limited by a numeric constraint but rather are completely surrendered 100%

It all goes to "First Fruits" ....Jesus was the First Fruit..The First Born and He was "given" "planted" "died" and now resurrected and multiplied

Whatever we have been given we have been given the greatest examples of faithful men and women honoring God with the first fruit of their time, talent and treasure. Whenever I receive any type of income or gift..THE FIRST THING I feel called/led to do is honor God ...BEFORE honoring any debt or bill or desire need or want. Now I know circumstances can scream...but I Know in Whom I have believed and am persuaded He is able to keep that which I commit to Him and so in saying that I have seen Him again over and over and over open up Heaven and meet every NEED...and so I just have to give Him Praise and Honor every time this issue comes up Because I believe it's an area that God Himself has told Us we can put Him to the test in this area!!!!

[Christina]

I am absolutely convinced that the "tithe" instituted before the law was given is a biblical principle that transcends each dispensation. Just as the law of seed time and harvest has.

I could go on for hours about how I have seen over and over and over and over and over God's demonstrated provision in honoring the tithe....HOWEVER I do believe that God desire's we come to a place that we are not limited by a numeric constraint but rather are completely surrendered 100%

It all goes to "First Fruits" ....Jesus was the First Fruit..The First Born and He was "given" "planted" "died" and now resurrected and multiplied

Whatever we have been given we have been given the greatest examples of faithful men and women honoring God with the first fruit of their time, talent and treasure. Whenever I receive any type of income or gift..THE FIRST THING I feel called/led to do is honor God ...BEFORE honoring any debt or bill or desire need or want. Now I know circumstances can scream...but I Know in Whom I have believed and am persuaded He is able to keep that which I commit to Him and so in saying that I have seen Him again over and over and over open up Heaven and meet every NEED...and so I just have to give Him Praise and Honor every time this issue comes up Because I believe it's an area that God Himself has told Us we can put Him to the test in this area!!!!

Amen!!!

[Teotwawki]

We don't have to to be saved, but if we do, God will look after us financially.

[HeartReadyFleshWeak]

Hmm- this is something I have been struggling with too. Now I am even more confused. I am ashamed to say I don’t know what happened, but I walked away from the Lord for the past 3 decades. It is a long story, but I turned back to the Lord this past June.

Of course, I have been questioning many things since last June. Am I still saved? I believe I was born again in the late 70’s. I *think* I was baptized back then, but I can’t remember it. Back then I did tithe, and was convinced it was what God wanted me to do. Over the past 3 decades I wasted a lot of money. I have thought about how I can never pay God back for those missed years. I guess I owe him a lot for the past 3 decades!

I have yet to find a local fellowship, but I have been tithing to local churches and TV ministries (spreading it around). I have also wondered if it is supposed to be on my gross or net pay. My heart tells me not be cheap, that it should come from the gross, but my obligations tell me it should come from my net (after taxes).

I do feel my spirit telling me I am a child of God, although I guess I am still a babe. When I watch various TV ministries, they all say to give... I saw “Ask The Pastor” recently and a question was about tithing, and they all said yes, that we should tithe.

Help! Suggestions?

[SoundingtheAlarm]

Hmm- this is something I have been struggling with too. Now I am even more confused. I am ashamed to say I don’t know what happened, but I walked away from the Lord for the past 3 decades. It is a long story, but I turned back to the Lord this past June.

Of course, I have been questioning many things since last June. Am I still saved? I believe I was born again in the late 70’s. I *think* I was baptized back then, but I can’t remember it. Back then I did tithe, and was convinced it was what God wanted me to do. Over the past 3 decades I wasted a lot of money. I have thought about how I can never pay God back for those missed years. I guess I owe him a lot for the past 3 decades!
I have yet to find a local fellowship, but I have been tithing to local churches and TV ministries (spreading it around). I have also wondered if it is supposed to be on my gross or net pay. My heart tells me not be cheap, that it should come from the gross, but my obligations tell me it should come from my net (after taxes).

I do feel my spirit telling me I am a child of God, although I guess I am still a babe. When I watch various TV ministries, they all say to give... I saw “Ask The Pastor” recently and a question was about tithing, and they all said yes, that we should tithe.

Help! Suggestions?

as for your past ..CONFESS it to Him, then Trust it's forgiven and press on to a new beginning...As His Children WHEN we do sin We have an advocate with the Father ..Jesus Christ Our Righteousness...He sits at the Right Hand of the Father EVER making intercession for us..

Which Means....We have been made righteous not because of what we have done...but because of who's we are!!!

Now ..take up your Cross and follow Him...and as for the tithing on the gross or net or tithing at all...I have already made my spill that I absolutely believe in tithing and so in saying that...I believe I can't outgive God so I tithe on the gross...and I can say without any reservation He has NEVER failed to meet my NEEDS. As for my wants...those change with the weather or year..as for the more I seek Him the more my wants seem to change..does that make sense? and besides

A new car last year is an old car now...

[bookworm1711]

There is no command in the New Testament to give a tithe. To require a tithe would be legalism, which of course goes against the whole NT, and especially the book of Galatians.

Jesus said in Luke 11:41, "But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you." The margin for the KJV reads, "or, as you are able." That is the principle taught in the New Testament.

Tithing was practiced before the time of the Mosaic law. So likewise, the Sabbath is mentioned in connection with pre-Mosaic times. Neither is a Mosaic institution. But just as the Sabbath is not taught in the NT as a command, and no instances in the NT occur that show Christians ever met for specifically Christian worship on the Sabbath, so tithing is not a Christian obligation in terms of what the NT teaches.

There is nothing wrong, of course, in tithing. What would be wrong is to suggest it is a command or a requirement in any form for New Testament believers, when it surely is not.

Surely our immediate necessary financial obligations come first (2 Kings 4:7).