Tithing…Is it a command?

[Originalist]

I wonder if someone who has 1800 a month in GENUINE expenses, but only makes 1200 a month currently, and never takes his family even to the park to save gas, and couldn't afford to celebrate his wife and daughter's birthday would be considered "greedy" by the tithe teachers.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Originalist

I wonder if someone who has 1800 a month in GENUINE expenses, but only makes 1200 a month currently, and never takes his family even to the park to save gas, and couldn't afford to celebrate his wife and daughter's birthday would be considered "greedy" by the tithe teachers.

One faithful brother of a Local church in our area was run off by a jealous pastor for buying a camper for his family to do events...(Pastor said... "could have been used for the worka God")

[obriencp]

Originally Posted by Sean

One preacher of one of our mega churches told the saints to try tithing on what you want to make(think of the implications).

What a joke....

heard it, done it, and may have even taught it...

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by Sean

That BIG church got ALL of our treasures, and almost nobody else prospered....I wont get duped again!!!!

Sean just so you know I am naming the things that I did just for sake of debate. The truth is that there are people who are wrong on both sides, and it isn't just tithe teachers. Christian giving doesn't mean giving what is left and I don't feel like you mean that either. I don't think that most of tithe teachers are as corrupt as this pastor you refer to. If you gave unto the Lord then I don't believe you were duped. The pastor who seeks after filthy lucre is the one who has been duped.

You shouldn't despise him, but instead you should pray for him.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

Sean just so you know I am naming the things that I did just for sake of debate. The truth is that there are people who are wrong on both sides, and it isn't just tithe teachers.


Brother, the non tithers are absolutely not wrong. They are the victims. It is the tithing doctrine at fault here.



Christian giving doesn't mean giving what is left and I don't feel like you mean that either. I don't think that most of tithe teachers are as corrupt as this pastor you refer to. If you gave unto the Lord then I don't believe you were duped. The pastor who seeks after filthy lucre is the one who has been duped.

You shouldn't despise him, but instead you should pray for him.

He's dead

[Rudy]

Now what do we do?

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Rudy

Now what do we do?

Just keep spreading the "good news" that tithing is not a New Testament doctrine for the saints to endure.

[Esphes45]

Now that I have caught up to what was discussed over the weekend

For the record, tithes and sacrificial giving I believe are two different things. Both were practiced in the OT.

In regards to sacrificial giving it was up to the individual how much and how often they gave "unto the Lord". If the spirit led them, they gave. I don't believe you should be pressured into paying a church light bill, a pastor's salary, a church mortgage or whatever just because you attend a church. You first duty is to your own house (I Tim. 5:8 & I Tim. 3:5).

I truly believe in giving but I believe in giving cheerfully, not of necessity. Also I believe your giving does not have to be with money. If you spend your weekend cleaning the church, cutting the glass, etc, That should be considered sacrificial giving also.

For you pro-tithes people, if a member does not have their tithes this month, can they pay it by cutting the grass or something else?

[Rudy]

Originally Posted by Sean

Just keep spreading the "good news" that tithing is not a New Testament doctrine for the saints to endure.

They will pressure them until they leave or be lead out by their ear. If we remove their support system they will need an alternative.

[good samaritan]

For you pro-tithes people, if a member does not have their tithes this month, can they pay it by cutting the grass or something else?

I don't think you can actually say you pay your tithes by mowing the church yard. To tithe means to give a tenth of something. If you have spent all your money including the tenth part then the tithe is gone. I do think though if I were on hard times and and couldn't financially support my family not to mention pay tithes I personally would want to try to give in another way like you mentioned. There was a time a while back that I got in some financial hardship and my pastor knew of my hardship and gave me odd jobs around the church for payment and the church helped me get through the hard time.

I tithed before my hardship and during my hardship and the church helped me also. You can speak so negatively about tithing, but if you don't support your local church weekly, generously, and as the Lord has prospered you it is wrong. And the NT does say for us to do that.(may not say tithing but it is a similar concept).

Do you really think most pastors are after a poor family's maybe $100 a month. I sincerely believe most teach to tithe because they feel it will bless the giver and giving is at the core of our salvation. Jesus gave His life for you and I. If you feel like you attend a greedy church find another one. If giving is that big and issue with people they may need to do an inventory of their own heart. Whether or not tithing is a salvation issue or not I have never met anyone who couldn't do it. It is a simple process if you get $1 dollar give ten cents before you spend it.

If you feel like tithing isn't for today you still have to answer for all the other NT testament teaching on giving. If you are being led by the Spirit of God in everything you do I don't believe you'll have to worry about a thing. Ten percent is easy for most people who love to give no matter their financial status. Matter of fact sometimes givers have to be careful that they don't get too carried away and forget to provide for their families.

I do think it is the heart that God is looking at and not just the number 10. Problem is that people can't see the heart so a lot of times they judge by the number.