My family does give 10% gross, but I think it bypasses God’s relationship with him. (We do so however, because my wife would stumble on this issue. Her relationship with God is more important than getting this 100% right) I struggle with this topic because I do believe that churches need money, and believers, apart from the biblical tithe, would be far too lazy(me included) to converse with God to see what the Churches needs are apart from the tithe message. But there’s a heavyness that shouldn’t be there–it’s old testament law which we we’re freed from.

It seems as though churches preach the tithe message out of fear based on God not meeting their material needs and then want you to believe in their message of faith–oh except this one part.

Not living in truth on this one is a major blow to our foundation of faith.

Why can’t we do what Paul did? He marketed his services and need for moeny to rich old wives. One way I’ve heard giving to the church was marketed like this:

“Here at XYZ church, we don’t believe in a tithe because it’s no where in the new testatment, but for many ten percent is a start. We do believe that giving is a bibical priniciple however. In fact many in the new testament sold all that they had out of simply having a relationship with God–not simply ten percent. While we don’t see God asking for such a radical change here at our church, we do ask that if you call this church your home, you give what God puts on your heart to give.”

I wrote a tithing post that Russell also commented on. I also failed to successfully contest any of the points Russell made. What I did realize was that my giving is joyful and it is sacrificial, so I don’t necessarily care what it is “called”, I just care that I am giving to the Lord’s work.

I am a huge proponent of giving to the Lord’s work and strongly believe that all Christian’s should seek freedom from debt to enable themselves to serve and give at a much higher level. I personally give between 10 & 11% of my gross income to my church. The financial blessings I have received since giving are enormously obvious. So again, whether I am defining it properly…I believe giving sacrificially is the most important element.

I do want to study what Russell brings up, so I can more accurately understand the biblical concept of giving.

But that doesn’t preclude a studied consideration of God’s intentions and our desire to meet them, which is more what I see occurring in the author’s discussion.

So in that spirit, may I lay another few passages on the table as instructive? Those would be in 2 Corinthians 8-9, where Paul refers to a gift for other believers that the Corinthians have expressed a desire to collect and give. There we find the famous “cheerful giver” verse (2 Cor. 9:7), which people often use to justify their lack of giving. “God commands me to not give unless I can give cheerfully, and I’m just not there yet.”

Considered in the context of both chapters (8-9), I think the cheerful giver verse and others around it are actually Paul’s way of saying, “This is the measure of your heart in giving. If this is not your spirit of abandonment to God, and your spirit of infinite gratitude to God, then you are not expressing God’s heart.” In fact, Paul has actually spent chapters 8-9 counseling the Corinthians to take up their offering in advance, while their hearts are expressing generosity, instead of waiting until Paul arrives and they feel compelled or pressured by circumstance.

I realize that this passage falls more into the area of “offerings” than “tithes.” But I see a connection in that Paul wants them to cultivate an ongoing spirit of giving.

I think the spirit of the tithe, then, is that ongoing expression of gratitude to God – the ongoing giving.

-Todd.

POINT #2: DEFINING “TITHE”: In God’s Word the Tithe was Always Only Food!

The false teaching is that biblical tithes include ALL sources of income.

Use God’s Word to define “tithe” and not a secular dictionary! Using a complete Bible concordance you will discover that the definition used by tithe-advocates is wrong. In God’s Word “tithe” does not stand alone. Although money existed before tithing, the source of God’s “tithe” over 1500 years was never money. It was the “tithe of food.” True biblical tithes were always only food from the farms and herds of only Israelites who only lived inside God’s Holy Land, the national boundary of Israel. No tithes were accepted from defiled pagan lands. The “increase” was gathered from what God miraculously produced and not from man’s craft or ability.

There are 16 verses from 11 chapters and 8 books from Leviticus 27 to Luke 11 which describe the contents of the tithe. And the contents never (again), never included money, silver, gold or anything other than food from inside Israel! Yet the incorrect definition of “tithe” is the greatest error being preached about tithing today! (See Lev. 27:30, 32; Num. 18:27-28; Deut. 12:17; 14:22-23; 26:12; 2 Chron. 31:5-6; Neh. 10:37; 13:5; Mal. 3:10-11; Matt. 23:23; Luke 11: 42).

POINT #3: MONEY: Money Was an Essential but Non-Tithed Item

The false assumption is that food barter usually replaced money.

One argument to support non-food tithing is that money was not universally available and barter from food was used for most transactions. This argument is neither biblical nor historical. Genesis alone contains “money” in 32 texts and the word occurs 44 times before the tithe is first mentioned in Leviticus 27. The word shekel also appears often from Genesis to Deuteronomy.

Many centuries before Israel entered Canaan and began tithing food from God’s Holy Land money was an essential everyday item. For example money in the form of silver shekels paid for slaves (Gen 17:12+); land (Gen 23:9+); freedom (Ex 23:11); court fines (Ex 21 all; 22 all); sanctuary dues (Ex 30:12+); vows (Lev 27:3-7); poll taxes (Num 3:47+), alcoholic drinks (Deu 14:26) and marriage dowries (Deu 22:29).

According to Genesis 47:15-17 food was used for barter only after money had been spent. Banking and usury laws exist in Leviticus even before tithing. Therefore the argument that money was not prevalent enough for everyday use is false. Yet the tithe contents from Leviticus to Matthew never include money from non-food products and trades.

Thank you for your thoughtful response to my post. I especially appreciate that you have given scriptural references to support your points. I knew that this post/topic would generate opposing comments and I especially appreciate your deliberate and respectful comment. We may disagree but we will not be disagreeable.

This is intended to be the first of several posts regarding the subject of tithing. You have presented several topics that I would like to respond to in like manner.

However, I would like to respond to the issues in your final paragraph. As far as “following the rule” of non-ownership of property which, I believe, was real estate. No, I don’t “follow” the rule because I do not consider myself a Levite and I do not accept tithes. Furthermore, my emphasis has been on the giver rather than the receiver of the tithes.

While I agree with you wholeheartedly on your last sentence describing NT giving, I do not consider that statement at odd with tithing. I believe tithing is just a part of the subject of NT giving.

Thank you so much for your comment. I hope to hear from you again.

CoolHappyGuy

Gentiles were never under Hebrew worship laws (Ex 19:5-6). The only way for Hebrews to be blessed by tithing was by observing all 600+ commands of the OT law which is impossible. See Deu5 28 and 29; Neh 10:29; Mal 4:4.

Also, nothing Abraham did in Genesis 14 is an example of faith for the Church. (1) only pagan spoils of war, (2) not his own property, (3) he gave it all away and (4) he gave the 90% to the king of Sodom.

Malachi 3:10 has been replaced by Galatians 3:10; 1:8-9; 3:1-2 and 2 Cor 3:10.

Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

According to Deuteronomy 28 and 29, the entire law was a TEST. Obey and be blessed; disobey and be cursed.

Although money was common in Genesis and essential for sanctuary worship, money is never included in 16 texts which describe the contents of tithes.

Tithes were not firstfruits either. Firstfruits were extremely small token offerings. Compare Deut 26:1-10; Neh 10:35-39; 12:44 and 2 Chron 31:5.

Jesus only discussed tithing as “matters of the law” in Mt 23:23. Tithing is never commanded o the Church in terms of grace after Calvary. Period. NT giving is primarily sacrificial with no set limit up or down. 2 Cor 8:10-15.

Also, those who received OT Levitical-tithes were not allowed to own or inherit property. Do you follow that rule when you teach tithing? NT giving is: freewill, generous, sacrificial, joyful, not by commandment or percentage and motivated by love for God and lost souls.

http://www.tithing-russkelly.com