Does the Bible teach that Christians are required to tithe to the Church?

Godward.Org ^ | Brian Knowles

[xzins]

you are looking for support for the practice of giving less than a tenth to God.

I don't think so.

I think I'm interested in the bible answer to the question.

We are not under law.

We are free.

There is no requirement. Therefore, as you say, we are to give out of love for God.

Now, which do Christian will be better taught, the one who is made to "feel" as if he is guilty of robbing God if his giving doesn't total 10%? Or the Christian who is taught that he is free and should give joyously, cheerfully, and out of love for God?

It's clear to me. Those pastors who insist on legalistic answers are themselves too worried about the money in the offering plate.

[xzins]

Ping to #41

In terms of "net" versus "gross" I, too, think it's a legitimate question.

[xzins]

I do not believe that a failure to tithe is a "sin"..BUT I do believe that tithing reflects the heart of the saved..

I would basically agree with what you say here.

I'd only amend it by changing "tithing" to I do believe that COMMITTED SACRIFICIAL giving reflects the heart of the saved...

[DouglasKC]

Biblically Christ doesn't condemn the practice of tithing:

Luk 11:42 But woe to you, Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over judgment and the love of God. You ought to have done these, and not to leave the other undone.

Christ tells the Pharisees that they ought to have tithed, but they messed up when it came to judging others and loving God.

It's also interesting that nobody has brought up Hebrews chapter 7 (at least I don't think anyone has).

In Hebrews the author makes the case that tithing to the Levitical priesthood has been replaced by tithing to a new priesthood, one where Christ is the high priest. He brings up how Abraham tithed to Melchizedek even though Melchizedek wasn't a member of the tribe of Levi.

In the new testament in other places it's clear that Paul, as a minister of Christ, was supported by believers at certain times in his ministry and that finacial aid and support of members was common.

So I think it's absolutely biblical, but it IS voluntary. It wasn't voluntary under the Levites. That being said I think it really is the truest test of whether one puts money above God or not.

[xzins]

He never wanted burnt offerings or filthy lucre

If he never wanted burnt offerings, then do you agree that they were not effective in atoning for sin?

Do you agree that they were a spiritual "looking forward" to the one true sacrifice that would be eternally effective?

[xzins]

How do you think the Lord's work should be financed, by taxes or by the voluntary free-will giving of the saints?

It cannot be "voluntary free-will" if it is a legally required 10th, can it?

[xzins]

What right do Churches have to weasle out of their civic (and, by implication from this article, Divine) duty by operating tax-free?

Churches do not weasel out of any civic duty.

The constitution specifically says that government must NOT restrict the free exercise of religion. It also says that government cannot establish a state church.

1. To take any percent of the money I give to God is specifically LESSENING the intent for which I gave it.

2. They are then telling me HOW I must spend a portion of my giving to God. To the extent that it goes for what THEY want instead of what I want, it is them telling me how to worship.

2.

[DouglasKC]

Also, I've always thought that the tithe "could" be given if one desired but that it wasn't required. I also viewed it as a 10th of "net" rather than of "gross."

The actual phrase used when tithing was first instituted was a tenth of their "increase". I'm with you. We never see the money that the government takes from us involuntarily. It's not an "increase". In a very real way that tax money taken is also a type of tithe. It's partly used to help the poor and needy which, if I remember right, Israel was commanded to do with their tithes.

[xzins]

Christ wouldn't condemn a biblical practice...tithing. Additionally, being Jewish, he would have participated.

Hebrews 7:18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. You are correct in saying that the OT tithe is positively spoken of. You are also correct in saying that it would now be voluntary.

[xzins]

see #7

[DouglasKC]

see #7

lol...oops. I should learn to read the whole thread. Nice job.

[JHavard]

Hi xzins, long time no talk.

A thousand years ago, when I was in the WWCG, we had a new family that began attending our Church who owned a small service station. While we were talking one day, I found out he was tithing on the gross $ as most of us did who had regular jobs and paychecks.

When I figured out that he was paying (my guess) 40 cents for a gallon of gas from his supplier, then reselling it for say 44 cents a gallon, and tithing on 44 cents plus offerings and others, which meant he was loosing around 5 cents directly out of his pocket on every gallon of gas he sold.

(Full tithe and building funds and special offerings back then amounted to around 25%, and 35% twice every 7 years.)

I almost flipped out, and told him he'd be bankrupt in a month at that rate, but he looked at me like I was trying to take away his blessings, and he couldn't understand what I was saying.

It bothered me so much, I finally asked the ministers to talk to him about it, and later he told me they got it straightened out for him. Lol

He was paying for his loss on the gas, by money he made on his other services they offered, so he couldn't understand how he was loosing, if he still showed an overall profit at the end of the month.

When the headquarters Church under Garner Ted Armstrong at the time, decided we should only have to tithe off our net pay, our local minister decided to over ride their decision, and said that he knew all of us well enough to know that everyone there could afford to pay off our gross income, so he announced from the pulpit that nothing had changed. :-)

Tithing was not an option, it was a command, and we were told we received no blessing from God for simply keeping his commands of tithing. God would however bless us for all offerings over and above tithe.

JH

[y2k_free_radical]

no it doesn't

[opus86]

I practice tithing 10%. Though I don't believe tithing is required of the NT church, the example of giving is obvious. As has already been said, it's all His anyway. My pastor preaches the verses in Malachi as being applicable to the NT church. Personally I give not because I'm required to, but because I want a full-time pastor, outreach ministries, missions, etc.