Tithing (sp)?

Question

Who of you still follows the rule of tithing 10 percent of your income? What are people supposed to do who can't afford it?

Answer 1

Not in effect any longer...

Christians were NEVER commanded to tithe. (There were NO Christians during Jesus ministry which was spent teaching Jews who lived UNDER THE LAW.)

Ephesians 2:15 Through his body on the cross, Christ put an END to the LAW WITH ALL ITS COMMANDS AND RULES. He wanted to create one new group of people out of the two. He wanted to make peace between them.

Colossians 2:14 He wiped out the written Law with its rules. The Law was against us. It opposed us. He took it away and nailed it to the cross.

Galatians 2:16 ...No one can be made right with God by obeying the law.

Galatians 2:21 ...What if a person could become right with God by obeying the law? Then Christ died for nothing!

Galatians 5:4 Some of you are trying to be made right with God by obeying the law. You have been separated from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace... The ONLY verse that talks about falling from grace, and they did it by trying to follow the law!

Jesus said he didn’t come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. (Matt 5:17) The effect was the same. Once fulfilled it was no longer in effect. The very next verse, Matthew 5:18, looks forward to the time when the law would be set aside. "...Not even the smallest stroke of a pen will disappear from the Law UNTIL EVERYTHING IS COMPLETED." IF the law were intended to be permanent, the "UNTIL..." clause would be meaningless.

On the cross, Jesus' last recorded saying, "It is finished," is an important milestone. Because of Jesus life, Satan had been defeated. The law was finished and would no longer stand between God and mankind.

The 10 commandments along with the rest of the law ("commands and rules" from Ephesians 2:15) were "set aside" when they were fulfilled or completed at Jesus' resurrection. We are no longer bound by that law.

...kait writes "Paul states that believers should set aside a portion of their income in order to support the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)." This was NOT to "support the church" but to support needy Christians in Jerusalem. The "church treasury" is NOT a Biblical concept. The "church" did not create that until long after New Testament times.

Answer 2

Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the law in which all Israelites were give 10% of everything they earned and grew to the Tabernacle / Temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5). Some understand the Old Testament tithe as a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites of the sacrificial system. The New Testament nowhere commands, or even recommends that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system. Paul states that believers should set aside a portion of their income in order to support the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

The New Testament nowhere assigns a certain percentage of income to set aside, but only says it is to be “in keeping with his income” (1 Corinthians 16:2). The Christian church has essentially taken the 10% figure from the Old Testament tithe and applied it as a “recommended minimum” for Christians in their giving. Although the New Testament does not identify a specific amount or percentage to give, it does talk about the importance and benefits of giving. They should give as they are able, “in keeping with his income.” Sometimes that means giving more than a tithe, sometime that may mean giving less than a tithe. It all depends on the ability of the Christian and the needs of the church. Each and every Christian should diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom as to whether to participate in tithing and/or for how much he or she should give (James 1:5). “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Answer 3

Tithing, as practiced by the majority of Christians, isn't actually found in the Bible.

There are a couple of one time acts before the law of Moses.

Law of Moses has a few tithing comandments. It was all food. It could have been converted to money but that was penalized at 20% if memory serves. Total amount equals something like 23%. Only farmers had to tithe. None of the 12 disciples tithed under the law of Moses, nor did Jesus as a carpenter.

Answer 4

Yes, I do. And I try to give an offering on top of my tithe. At one time, I thought I couldn't afford it. I had 2 credit cards almost maxed out, a car that was getting ready to lay down and die, and I didn't see any way to tithe. Then I heard a sermon on the radio about a guy who was basically in the same predicament. The preacher asked him how much more he would need to "get by" each week. He said that he need another $200 a week. The pastor told him to start tithing on what he needed, not what he had. So the guy started giving an extra $20 a week and within 2 months, he was making the extra money. I started doing the same thing, but I gave $30. Within a few weeks I received a raise that more than paid the payments on a new car and my life insurance man contacted me and told me that they had been figuring my life insurance off of an old mortality table instead of a newer one, and he wrote me a check for $2800 dollars to correct the problem. Isn't God great. Try it, you can't outgive God.

Answer 5

Hi Sara,
Tithing was an Old Testament command for the Jewish People. We are told in the New Testament to "give as we have been prospered". This we are told, should be done on the first day of the week. Does that make sense? If you are still needing additional guidance, send a note and I will gladly respond. I am a Non-denominational Ohio Christian. Have a great day and a wonderful weekend.
Eds

Answer 6

I do and I can't really afford to but I do it. Just be patient and he will bless you with much more than you give. It does take time though like waiting on a plant to grow. I'm still waiting myself but I see that he always blesses people tremendously when they keep tithing when they can't afford it.

Answer 7

If you can’t give money, you can always volunteer some of your time. If you believe in the work the church is doing in the community, it’s good to help however you can. I would seriously question the priorities of any church that looks at tithing only in terms of cash. Time and talents are valuable contributions as well.

Answer 8

Yes you are still suppose to do this. If you can't afford it just do the best you can. Remember the story of the rich man who gave alot but the poor women who only gave (don't remember exactly) a cent. The women who gave only a little was more blessed. Because God saw her heart in giving.

Answer 9

I tithe and we are to give Him our first, and faith gives us the ability to afford it. It belongs to God and if we don't give it, that is the same as stealing from Him. So the thing to do is trust God, have faith and tithe! God Bless You!

Answer 10

Yes. My family has always tithed. And if we can afford it then we don't pay it. We know that god will forgive us and understand why we couldn't.