Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny60
It has been very interesting to read through all of your thoughts and perceptions on tithing.
We tithed for 30 years because we were told it was Biblical. When we finally had the thought to study it out ourselves, we saw that it is not what we were taught it was and we stopped tithing. We continue to give offerings because God lays those on our hearts and the Bible makes it clear that it is good to do.
I've heard many people say that the ones who do not tithe are the ones who are tight with their money. My observation has differed. What we have seen is the people who tithe are striving to make ends meet, being faithful to God, are often living check to check, never really able to get ahead.
The interesting and troubling thing is that those who are on the other side of the coin, those recieving the tithing and offerings are often showing evidence of excessive resources. This is not always true, but it is true from where we come from.
Something else that has come to concern me is that pastors often quip little phrases like, "You can't out give God" and "Do you want net blessings or gross blessings?" amoung many others. There is rarely Scripture given and when it is, it is out of the Old Testament or from the New where it refers to the past, under the law.
Have any of you ever read Scripture where the Apostles exhorted the people to pay tithes? I've not seen it.
Another part of the tithe that is misrepresented is that we tithe on our income. In the OT when tithings was done, it was done on the increase. There is a difference.
Just my thoughts. Don't bash me too hard. I'm new here and I might be scared off. lol!!
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its my view that of something is important enough to reference a curse when demanding it be followed in New Testament times, it should be followed exactly how it was in the period of time the curse applied.
Dont threaten me with a curse for not following a Old Testament tax and welfare program when you have taken the liberty of modifying how it was collected, what was collected, how much was collected and why it was collected.
Yes I believe in giving and I give like crazy, freely out of the kindness of my own heart.
Stingy? I started a company just so that we COULD give and a heck of alot more than 10%
Of course now you will have people say, "But muh established principles before the law was written!"
Abraham tithed on things that was NOT his increase as a battle tax, one of the other patriarchs made a conditional vow to tithe IF God blessed him...
I think a bigger effort needs to be made teaching and encouraging financial responsibility and entrepreneurship in churches NOT "the more you give the more you will be blessed." just doesnt happen like that,sorry.
People will disagree and say,"Well you didnt give enough" or "You're not living right" all kinds of excuses.
Walking in your blessing takes effort other than the effort it takes to pull out your wallet or write a check.