Is it okay to pay tithes?

Question

I'm doing a research on this subject and I want to know - is it really relevant, or do our ministers just want us to hang on to tithing because of the financial implications thereof? Pls help out - with Bible backing, if possible. Thanxxxxx

Answer 1

You should put your money to the best use.

I suggest not giving your church more stained glass windows or a new parking lot. Put your money where it'll do the most good.

I suggest charities. I'm not a big fan of the United Way because of the bloated bureaucracy, but many people like it. I prefer food banks and Big Brother programs.

If your minister really cares about people, he should be grateful that you're putting money into charities rather than the church.

Incidentally, I am not basing any of this on the Bible, because I feel that the sadness of the world should trump a book that was written by politicians centuries ago. Rather than focusing on a book that encourages you to murder children, you may be better off focusing on the world around you. If you do want the Bible, just remember that Jesus commands to love our neighbor. You do more love to your neighbor by helping them than funding your church's remodeling project.

Edit: I'm amazed at the number of thumbs-down. I had hoped that people would be more understanding that we need to help each other than fatten the coffers of corrupt ministers.

Answer 2

Not only is it ok but it is mandatory for Christians if they do not want to rob God. See Malachi 3:8-12. many teach you are not to go by the Old Testament but I ask why not? Is it not part of the bible? many places it talks about tithing. Jesus taught that it is right and good to tithe and it was to be done for all time. If you need more places to turn to find more info, check out the site below and click on the link, search scripture. it is a full concordance so just type in tithe and it will show everyplace it is used.

The tithe is to be used by the ministry but is to go into a storehouse, not as most do it today. It was to be the inheritance of the house of Levi as they were the priests that only could minister in the temple. They had no inheritance other than the service to God so they were to get the tithe and use it to support the ministers as is done today in some churches. Most churches will have the minister paid only through what is collected in the offering so if you have a large church you have a large income but a small church will have a very small income. That is why most have huge churches with thousands of members that is very popular but you see very few small ones that ministers want to go to. Some, on the other hand will do it the way the bible says and will put it in a storehouse and it will pay for the ministry. no matter if you have a small church or a large one, you get the same pay either way so you don't have to go get a second job to pay your way. You do not pay tithe to feed the poor or to do the things you want to do but it is to go for what God says it is to go for, which is the ministers.

Answer 3

Yes it is....Does this help? Malachi says that there will even be a blessing if you pay your tithe.

Lev 27:30 A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
Nu 18:26 “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you l as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD'S offering.
Mal 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.

Answer 4

The first mention of tithes is this:
Leviticus27; 30-34

30 " 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. 31 If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod—will be holy to the LORD. 33 He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.' " 34 These are the commands the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.


Tithes are mentioned in the New Testament in Luke, and Hebrews also

Answer 5

People should give what they can afford if they want to. There should be no compulsion on anyone. Any church that wants to tithe its congregation should be examined closely. What happens to the money?

Consider a church with a relatively poor congregation with families earning an average of $40,000 a year. If there are 100 families paying tithes, that's $400,000 a year to the church. That is a reasonable salary for the minister. In some large pentecostal churches there could be a thousand families. That's $4million a year - tax free!

Let's get into the god business, there are dollars in hallelujahs.

Answer 6

No. It gives too much power to the minister and or the church. It is not biblical either. Tithing in the Bible was a case specific example of a land deal; "The Promised Land"

commended by Jesus? -- I am checking it now.

Do not believe anyone who would go so low in order to support tithing that they would misquote Jesus. In Matt 23:23 Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees for tithing and the way they did it and the way they used it as an excuse to create disharmony. Slipping in "had done" does not even fit the theme of the message. I suspect in was a corruption by the 1611 Religious Empires when they translated the Bible into English. I believe in Jesus Quotes in the original scrolls, I suspect all other verses in the Bible.

I see I am outnumbered by all the sales pitches to make a church rich. Do the math and you will be shocked. (Use an example of a small church with 400 members; then use an example of a medium sized church of 800 members; the do how much money the Pope would receive if every member tithed.)

Matt 5:17 says nothing about tithing. It is apparently on someone's copy and paste list for this question.

I suggest you check each Bible citation and see if it isn't case specific or simply a misquoting of the Bible.

It is so easy to determine who is giving the thumbs down to "rev kev". Might we remember Jesus' main theme and specific warning to us,

"If you do not forgive others, your father in Heaven will not forgive you."

Like Jesus told the Pharisees, (paraphrased)

"Tithing is no excuse to hold a grudge."

Answer 7

Hi there, I'm Christian;
The paying of tithes as per the Scriptures (I study in the original manuscripts) should be done to the church, temple etc., WHERE YOU ARE FED THE WORD OF GOD IN TRUTH.
If you go to some "mass" where you recite memorized lines over and over each week, and a priest says a couple lines out of the Bible, then goes on about this weeks bake sale in the lobby, guess what: you are not being fed, and probably you are starving to death for truth.
You are not to pay a tithe there. I don't care how many long-handled baskets they hold out at the pews. God will not bless it, you are wasting your money if you think He will.
Now if you have a good Bible teaching church, Thank God for it, because they are few and far between these days; but if ya do, the standard tithe is ten percent of your income and that is simply a guide. You certainly are welcome to pay more, or you could give what is called a "love offering" which simply means to finance something like coats for the homeless, or even a new roof for the church. Thats fine.
But the most important thing to know is this:
You cannot give ten percent of something you do not have, and God does not require or expect that of you: If you, for example, are up in age and on a strict budget with only your social security check coming in, and you have to pay rent, electric, food, clothes, etc. - God knows that in the flesh you have need of these things, and you should pay for them first. When I hear preachers on tv telling people to send money from their social security, and not to worry because if they trust God, He will replace it - thats horrible, and not of God. They just want to hit the wallets of the elderly, preying on them. The older folks who know they will meet their maker soon, and want to do whats right are being preyed on horribly in this Country by these tv scam ministers. Hey, if ya don't have the money, don't worry - just pledge it to us and pay alittle each week. Nonsense.
You do not send what you do not have.
If you send your electric bill money, you will only have to depend on someone else to pay that bill for you. God does not send out beggars, but there sure are alot of them around these days.

Answer 8

I. It is SCRIPTURAL. Principle of tithing is seen in the garden of Eden.

A. Commenced with Abraham (Gen. 14:18-20).

B. Continued with Jacob (Gen. 28:20-22).

C. Commanded by Moses (Lev. 27:30-32)

D. Committed by Nehemiah (Neh. 10:37-39; 13:10-12).

E. Charged by Malachi (Mal. 3:8-10)

F. Commended by Jesus (Matt. 23:23).

1. Tithing is not a substitute for personal service.

2. Jesus practiced tithing (Mt. 5:17).



II. It is SENSIBLE.

A Rationality of tithing—Why would I do less under grace than an
orthodox Jew was required under the law? Jesus never lowered the standards
of the Law. He raised them to a higher level. (cf. Rom. 6:15).

B. Longevity of tithing— Sound investment (Mt. 6:19-20). A good
investment is an investment in something long lasting with guaranteed
returns (2 Cor. 4:18).

1. Investment in souls.

2. Investment in eternity.

C. Loyalty of tithing—A sign of allegiance (Mt. 6:24).

D. Equality of tithing— It is the same for everyone—Rich or poor. It
gives every Christian an equal part in sharing the cost of fulfilling the
Great Commission.

III. It is SPIRITUAL (2 Cor. 4:18)

A. A spiritual plan— God’s work (You are not spiritual when you
withhold the Gospel from a world that needs it.)

B. A spiritual purpose— To please God. (You are not spiritual when you use your money in a way that displeases God.)

C. A spiritual practice— Contrary to the flesh. (You are not
spiritual when you live according to the flesh)

Answer 9

Tithing, if you are a religious person, is a good thing. In fact, it's required, Biblically speaking. (Malachi 3:7-10)

If you are concerned about the way your tithe will be used, find a denomination which distributes the tithe revenues from ALL its churches amongst all of their ministers. That helps to ensure that your minister isn't just fleecing his flock.

Answer 10

I think that Christians are expected to tithe. Of course, I'm sure there are exceptions and I'm not going to judge but just look at Genesis. God makes it clear that He wants us to trust Him with everything, even our finances. Look at Genesis 4:2-5. Abel found favor in the eyes of the Lord because he took "fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock." Cain, on the other hand, "in the course of time [Cain] brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord." And there are other examples. I certainly think that tithing is relevant today. It keeps the body of Christ on the move. Think of how much the resources the church gives bless people in the community and all over the world! Also, the Lord promises to bless us when we trust in Him. He is the One who allows us to have money, the least we can do is give some of it back.

Answer 11

The priests (Levites in the Old Testament) are provided for in this manner. The tithe supports the church. It was designed by God to give the priests a way to focus on equipping us, the church.
Ultimately, tithe is a principle. It's about the fact that God has commanded it (read Malachi) and our choice about the matter reveals our heart. Do we care more about money? o we think God can do more for us with 90% or that we can do better with all 100%?

Great question!