OK, my minister says pastor Melissa Scott is dead wrong demanding tithes under old law. What do you think?

Question

My minister says demanding % tithes is faithless. It shows lack of faith in Jesus and redemption through him.

Answer 1

I think that you cannot run something like a church without money. Deal with reality, not what some ancient text says or does not say.

Answer 2

Some churches suggest (not demand) a ten percent tithe, but it is usually not compulsory. People generally give what they can. I don't think it shows a lack of faith in Jesus. Quite the contrary. I think it shows devotion to him, and the people who donate are doing so out of the goodness of their hearts. At least that's the way it is in the Protestant churches that I've been to as a guest. Other faiths may have a different idea of tithing. Do you know where the money actually goes? It has little to do with whether or not one has faith in Jesus. It goes to help support the pastor -- to pay his rent and buy his food and support his family. How do you think he makes his living? I don't know what your pastor is thinking, but it sure sounds to me like he's cutting off his nose to spite his face, and I don't mean that disrespectfully, but the tithes are for his benefit, so why would he be discouraging them?

Answer 3

Demanding a tithe is wrong, besides if anyone studies the old testament the jews actually gave 4 tithes and 3 of them consisted of 30% of the goods. I dont see why Christians keep trying to live by the law that was set for Israel. In the New Testament it says to give with a glad heart and give from your increase. Its funny because a church looks down upon the lady making 10k a year and expects her to give a 10% but some multimillionare can be so proud he gives 10% when he should give much more. Give of you increase and with a cheerful heart and to where you feel God leading you to give to get out the word of God, that is new testament giving.

Answer 4

I have no clue who Melissa Scott is and I don't care. Why are you so concerned with what someone you don't even know says? Can't you read the bible for yourself and make your own decisions?

Personally, I do tithe, but I refuse to sign up for how much I will give. My grandmother did that, after years of service to the church, visiting shut ins, helping out with virtually everything, to get past due bills from them when she got alzheimers. They weren't very understanding about the fact that she had put down that she would give more than she even got in social security a month, due to the fact that her mind was out of order. Totally ticked me off, so I refuse to actually become a member of my church (not the same church, never when back there), nor will I ever sign a tithe promise.

Answer 5

I think the tithe is the least you should give. I don't know or care if the tithe is under the old or new covenant. I give as much as I can, which is more than 10%, and by doing so, the question is moot.


BTW, according to scripture, Melissa Scott should not be a pastor.

Answer 6

The word "demanding" bothers me.

Tithing is given in the Old Testament in Malachi 3:8-10
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
9 "You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!
10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."

If you don't want the command, neither will you get the blessing!

But Jesus also spoke of tithing.
Matthew 22:21
They said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said* to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."

Matthew 23:23
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others."

So, tithing is not just an OT command of the Law. Jesus said they should have been diligent in their tithes, but not to neglect the weighter matters.

Should you tithe?
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 9:5-8:
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.
6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

I recommend tithing, but only because you are in love with Jesus, and from a greatful heart. If you are going to give so people will see your gift, you have your reward. If you do it grudgingly, or ungratefully, then save your money; God is not pleased even if you empty your bank account.

Answer 7

I've been researching this:
Bare with me.

Among the 12 tribes of Israel, after they left Egypt, and settled in the Promised Land, they were all given a piece of land to farm and raise their sheep, etc.

All except one tribe. That tribe is the tribe of Levi. That particular tribe was given the job to be the Spiritual leaders of all of the Israelites, being in charge of the temple, etc. and THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO POSSESS LAND.

So, the other 11 tribes were commanded to give to the tribe of Levi 10% of their surplus of the land to support them. The 12 tribes of Israel were their own government, and the "tithe" they paid was the same as taxes we pay now -- it supports the government.

In the book of Malachi, God is condeming the people of Israel, saying "you are robbing from Me" because the 11 tribes were not faithful in tithing.

In the New Testament, when Jesus walked on this earth, Israel was not a nation anymore. They were taken over by the Romans. The Hebrews still tithed to the temple, because the Levi tribe still controlled their spiritual life, but they were not the government anymore.

Jesus never gave us a percentage of what we were to give. He never used the word "tithe" except in chewing out the Pharisees for tithing but their hearts were dark.

Jesus wants us to GIVE. There is no set amount we are to give. He said "let not your right hand know what your left hand is doing."

In other words, you are not to keep track of what you give. You are not to give because you are commanded to give, or pressured to give. You are to give freely, and not keep track of what you give.

So, there is no set percentage on how much to give. But, give freely. You see someone in need -- give.

But, I give to my church. I support my church. Because they do so much for me.

Answer 8

Your pastor is wrong!!!! Plus you should believe in the Trinity. Just remember your faith should be in Jesus Christ and what he did at the Cross. Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. Matt 22.21 That should answer your tithing question

Answer 9

No tithes is a good thing

Answer 10

If you do it because you think you are buying into heaven...then that is misguided.

I do it because it is my discipline to not let my money rule me and become a god in my life. I stop that from happeneing by making sure the first thing I do with my earnings is God's work.