~Great Teaching on Giving by M. Driscoll~

Pastor Keith · #1 04-02-2009, 05:06 PM

Great teaching on Giving/Tithing by Mark Driscoll

Balanced, Biblical Presentation on Giving/Tithing in the New Testament, only about 4 minutes long. Those confused or looking for some answers I think this to be a good concise summary on what the NT says about this doctrine.

http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/...ristians-tithe

Sherri · #2 04-02-2009, 06:07 PM

I still believe in the principle of tithing. I guess I've just seen God do too many miracles to not believe it's a Biblical principle.

Of course the guy says you should strive to give at least ten percent. But he also says they don't teach "tithing", per se. That's where I would disagree.

Digging4Truth · #3 04-02-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherri

I still believe in the principle of tithing. I guess I've just seen God do too many miracles to not believe it's a Biblical principle.

Of course the guy says you should strive to give at least ten percent. But he also says they don't teach "tithing", per se. That's where I would disagree.

There is a difference between believing in the principle of tithing and believing that tithing is a law upon the NT church.

Digging4Truth · #4 04-02-2009, 06:26 PM

First....

I agree with what he is saying wholeheartedly and I do see his approach as a balanced approach that calls to our personal responsibility to foster within ourselves a spirit of giving born out of a relationship with a God that gave all.

I only have issue with 2 statements.

1. "Should Christians tithe. This is one question that always comes up. And usually, to be honest with you, it comes out of a pretty corrupted heart"

I disagree. Sometimes... it certainly does. But this issue cannot be discussed without allegations of greed etc. Some study and discuss the subject because they are interesting in what is right. Not because they are interested in saving a buck. It seems that the allegation of greed & corruption will always be tagged on anyone who has the audacity to ask such questions.

2. "In the OT there was something called a tithe. That was 10%, a 10th of your gross".

I am assuming, and very safely assuming I might add, that he is stating that the tithe was on 10% of the people's gross income. Where? Where in the Bible is that found?

It is an assumption we were taught and run with for which there is no biblical evidence whatsoever.

But... other than those points I think he did a great job of presented a mature and balanced approach to the subject.

Pastor Keith · #5 04-02-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherri

I still believe in the principle of tithing. I guess I've just seen God do too many miracles to not believe it's a Biblical principle.

Of course the guy says you should strive to give at least ten percent. But he also says they don't teach "tithing", per se. That's where I would disagree.

I agree, you give and God will bless, I think Driscoll is giving a balanced view, I like the fact that giving should be

Cheerful
Consistent
Sacrificial

Anyone who practices this will always go beyond the minimum (which Driscoll says is 10%)

I think if the church as a whole would practice that, we would be even more blessed, and it will take away the argument from the naysayers.

Sherri · #6 04-02-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Keith

I agree, you give and God will bless, I think Driscoll is giving a balanced view, I like the fact that giving should be

Cheerful
Consistent
Sacrificial

Anyone who practices this will always go beyond the minimum (which Driscoll says is 10%)

I think if the church as a whole would practice that, we would be even more blessed, and it will take away the argument from the naysayers.

True! It's all about trust.

n david · #7 04-03-2009, 09:52 AM

Haven't been able to view this video yet, I will later though.

I was visiting a church earlier in the year, when the Pastor got up and rebuked people for not giving tithes. This is not a UPC church, it's a non-denom church pastored by an ex-UPC minister. He told us that with the current economic situation we better start paying tithes so God can help us and we don't suffer financial difficulty. He said if you weren't paying tithes you were selfish and robbing God.

*sigh*

I like my Pastor and his approach to giving. Tithing is not a law that you must follow or else you're penalized. It's more an opportunity both to bless the church ministries and to be blessed in return.

I wish more ministers and churches would just be honest and stop beating their saints up with calling them names and accusing them of stealing from God.

Tithes and offerings help support the staff and church ministries ... but instead of saying that, they try to make saints believe that somewhere God Himself has a bank account where churches deposit tithes and if people don't pay their tithes, they're robbing God.

It's fraud and a lie, plain and simple.

Digging4Truth · #8 04-03-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n david

Haven't been able to view this video yet, I will later though.

I was visiting a church earlier in the year, when the Pastor got up and rebuked people for not giving tithes. This is not a UPC church, it's a non-denom church pastored by an ex-UPC minister. He told us that with the current economic situation we better start paying tithes so God can help us and we don't suffer financial difficulty. He said if you weren't paying tithes you were selfish and robbing God.

*sigh*

I like my Pastor and his approach to giving. Tithing is not a law that you must follow or else you're penalized. It's more an opportunity both to bless the church ministries and to be blessed in return.

I wish more ministers and churches would just be honest and stop beating their saints up with calling them names and accusing them of stealing from God.

Tithes and offerings help support the staff and church ministries ... but instead of saying that, they try to make saints believe that somewhere God Himself has a bank account where churches deposit tithes and if people don't pay their tithes, they're robbing God.

It's fraud and a lie, plain and simple.

Indeed... and the "robbing God" scripture was talking about the priests robbing the tithe that people had given to God.

A.W. Bowman · #9 04-03-2009, 10:57 AM

I have to admit that this is one of the better "mainstream" church teaching on the subject of tithes.

My problem is with the setting of yet another religious standard by which most in church leadership measures another's level of spirituality (or degree/level of worship, holiness, etc.). In most churches of today, the amount of money ones gives (amount and percentage) is one of the two prime measure of one's spiritual standing before God. Give enough money and one can buy their way on to the platform.

What one will NOT hear in a church is the law of tithing preached from a Hebrew (Old Testament) point of view. It has to be changed (altered, manipulated) into something it is not, in order to accommodate our modern-day western culture.

The principle of giving, plus the supporting the work of the body of Christ is really rather simple. Its teaching, however, is very complex because of all of the distortions and misinterpretations that have been heaped upon this simple principle - and the un-scriptural purposes to which our modern doctrines have been used to justify.

Give to the poor and those in need. First to those within the body and also to those not counted among the believers. Support those who minister the word of God to the world's lost and dieing, not to those who live among you and teach, bring a song or psalms, a word of knowledge or wisdom, or one who give prophecies or speaks in tongues or interprets.

Give what you have set in your heart to give (according to your desire or in response to a need), without judgment or under compulsion. Do not allow others to condemn (or praise) you for your perceived "level of sacrifice". No one is to be accounted to (to give an accounting to) for your giving, but to God alone. On the other hand, if one wishes to receive a tax benefit from the world according to their giving, then your giving is no longer in secret, but open for all men to see and judge. (Or, take only the standard deduction if you want to go this route.)

For the poor among you - if one is set on paying tithes, then follow the law and give the poor their rightful portion, and do not withhold the tithe from them, or from the widow or the orphan, so a preacher can attend a conference or have a new suit If there are no poor among you then bless your community - like Jesus did!

Digging4Truth · #10 04-03-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaShaliach

I have to admit that this is one of the better "mainstream" church teaching on the subject of tithes.

My problem is with the setting of yet another religious standard by which most in church leadership measures another's level of spirituality (or degree/level of worship, holiness, etc.). In most churches of today, the amount of money ones gives (amount and percentage) is one of the two prime measure of one's spiritual standing before God. Give enough money and one can buy their way on to the platform.

What one will NOT hear in a church is the law of tithing preached from a Hebrew (Old Testament) point of view. It has to be changed (altered, manipulated) into something it is not, in order to accommodate our modern-day western culture.

The principle of giving, plus the supporting the work of the body of Christ is really rather simple. Its teaching, however, is very complex because of all of the distortions and misinterpretations that have been heaped upon this simple principle - and the un-scriptural purposes to which our modern doctrines have been used to justify.

Give to the poor and those in need. First to those within the body and also to those not counted among the believers. Support those who minister the word of God to the world's lost and dieing, not to those who live among you and teach, bring a song or psalms, a word of knowledge or wisdom, or one who give prophecies or speaks in tongues or interprets.

Give what you have set in your heart to give (according to your desire or in response to a need), without judgment or under compulsion. Do not allow others to condemn (or praise) you for your perceived "level of sacrifice". No one is to be accounted to (to give an accounting to) for your giving, but to God alone. On the other hand, if one wishes to receive a tax benefit from the world according to their giving, then your giving is no longer in secret, but open for all men to see and judge. (Or, take only the standard deduction if you want to go this route.)

For the poor among you - if one is set on paying tithes, then follow the law and give the poor their rightful portion, and do not withhold the tithe from them, or from the widow or the orphan, so a preacher can attend a conference or have a new suit If there are no poor among you then bless your community - like Jesus did!

Great Post..