What do you think? Is tithing a New Testament practice for believers today? If not, how should we give?
2007-03-21 15:18:43 · 15 answers · asked by attacksheep74 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good call, Abel. Wouldn't it be great if we followed the same example of the early church and made sure our brothers an sisters had what htey needed before we bought what we really didn't.
2007-03-21 18:32:11 · update #1
Good point ELM, the money we get isn't really ours to begin with. But do the 2 Matthew passages you shared teach that we should tithe, or does Jesus just mention the tithe?
2007-03-21 18:35:20 · update #2
Well said, anne p, we should give without a grudging heart, but with a cheerful heart.
2007-03-21 18:36:56 · update #3
Tithing was never taught by Christ. Neither was it taught or practised by the early Church. They shared things in common. (Acts 2,42).
Peace and every blessing!
2007-03-21 16:56:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will find some help in 2 Cor 9:6-15. Remember, God wants your first and your best, because everything you have came from him and should be used to His glory. Go back to Cain and Abel. What did Cain do wrong? If you really look at the passage, it was that Cain gave to God from his leftovers, after he had taken what he needed. Abel gave God his first and his best. For new testament Christians it is not about grudgingly handing over 10%. It is about giving what you can freely and cheerfully, but not what you have left over. The first and the best of your money, your time, your talent. Once you have done that, you can place your faith in the many times throughout scripture that God promises to meet your needs if you honor Him with the money, time, and talent He has given you.
2007-03-21 22:35:24 · answer #2 · answered by anne p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't want to tithe, I'd say money has your heart more than God does. Did you ever wonder why there was a tithe to start with? Do you really think God needs it? And if it isn't money, it's something else. Whatever would come between you and God - God wants. Because it's where your heart is. Probably the hardest thing to do is let go of what's OURs.
2007-03-21 22:34:32 · answer #3 · answered by JohnFromNC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prov 3:9 - "Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income ..."
The principle of giving is one that can be traced throughout the entire Bible - Much of our giving is refered to as the tithe.
- Adam and Eve - ate of the tree of good and evil; basically taking what didn't belong to them b/c they weren't content with what God gave them (the rest of the garden)
- Abraham was used to initiate the tithe (as we know it) by giving to Melchiszadk, a priest of God.
- Jacob consecrated a tenth of his substance to God
but it also existed under grace - Matthew 23:23 and Matthew 5:20
It is necessary for Christians to tithe - Mal 3:8-10
The tithe is really not ours to give, but it actually is already in God's Possession - the question should not be how much do i have to give, but how much do i get to keep ?
There is a principle of blessing in that God desires that we might give in order to release the blessing of God upon us. Our attitude always affects the situation we hare involved in, so we should give out of a cheerful and willing heart - God desires us to give in a manner that will bring Glory to Him
- Luke 12:34
2007-03-21 22:40:46 · answer #4 · answered by ELM 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We follow not the letter of the law but the Spirit. If you believe in your heart that you are obligated to give 10 percent and you don't, for you it is sin.
I believe we are to prayerfully discern the Spirit's leading in giving, but it's not tithing because tithing was welfare, basically. It had to do with the community getting through the winter, it had nothing to do with a church meeting its organizational needs like overhead costs and the like.
2007-03-21 22:25:10 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can do much better with 90% of your income with God's blessings than 100% of your income of your own.
Do not give if your heart s not right. God does not need your money, He wants your heart. And when your heart is with God, it is easy to open your wallet for the Kingdom purposes. All the money is God's anyway. He only asks you to give a part of it to help others. We cannot take anything with us when we leave this place. Mortality rate is 100%. I would ask you to invest in the right things. : )
I have never regretted giving my money to the church. I wish I could give more. Change your church if you do not trust it. : )
2007-03-21 22:26:09 · answer #6 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
since Gods church is a spiritual church (made up of individuals, not any one organization) tithing is also spiritual.
we give of ourselves of the bounty God gives us. we give to the orphans and the widows. most imporatantly we give back to God in being OBEDIENT. just because we are no longer "under the law" doesnt mean we are free to disobey God. if Gods word stipulates that an act, word, or deed, is wrong, then we are to avoid it completely. Jesus lived His life to be an example to us...if we dont live like He shows us to, then we are being disobedient.
2007-03-21 22:30:52 · answer #7 · answered by Tammy M 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes we should give our tithe
we are also following the bibles law
it says u should pay ure tithe because God has given u so much
not saying that God wants stuff back our God is not like that
2007-03-21 22:23:56 · answer #8 · answered by pebbles 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We are told by Paul to "Give as we have been prospered". That does not say to "Tithe" it does tell us to give and as we have been prospered. What you are able to give, you should give. When you are prospered with more then you should give more. Have a great evening.
Eds, Christian
2007-03-21 22:24:57 · answer #9 · answered by Eds 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Tithing is what Christians do, but it does not gain us any points toward heaven, if that's what you mean.
2007-03-21 22:23:56 · answer #10 · answered by ccrider 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋