Is Church Tithing an Abomination to God, or Unbiblical?

[newname]

Have you sold your house ?

I have no house. I rent an apartment. Those who owned 2 houses sold one.
I heard from Ken Gott once that ppl in his church sold their houses to go live cheaper, to build God's house.

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Btw I'm not saying that I'm as fabulous and selfless as these ppl. This is just wow revival.
Oh btw my uncle did that. They bought his land for the making of a road. He was a farmer. He got so much money for it and never spent a cent on himself. He gave it all to the good causes. Ppl took advantage of him though. It only works when noone is selfish.

 

[newname]

What would be Biblical is if a tv preacher w 2 houses would sell one or both and live in a normal house and give it to the poor. Instead they demand their tithes and use it for themselves.

 

[saginon]

A few comments...

When Jesus was around the Church wasn't yet established. So it's a no brainer why he didn't tithe.

In the New Testament, Paul made it very clear that every person was to give "as he purposeth in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2Co 9:7).

Was Jesus Christ and his apostle collecting salary? No.

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Jesus and his disciples paid money to the Temple. This wasn't tithe because tithe was agricultural produce, but rather money. It was called the Disdrachma, or Temple tax.

Tithing and paying money to God are two different things.

In Luke 20:19-26, Jesus said GIVE TO CAESAR WHAT IS CAESAR AND TO GOD WHAT IS GOD. That can have different meanings depending on your interpretation: We could say...

Whatever percent government demands of your income (TAX) give to government and whatever percent the church demands of your income (TITHE) give to the church.

You cannot serve God or money.

1. If God is your ultimate source - please honour him.
2. You can never out give God.
3. 10% is good starting bench mark.
4. Spreading the lovely gospel of Christ requires funding.
5. It is the job of the sower to find a good ground.

 

[Jellani]

Christ's words to the Pharisees where spoken while under the Law of Moses. If he had commanded them to stop the tithe he would have broken the Law. Christ was using them as an example, showing that the pharisees were hypocrites in what they did.

In the NT under grace tithing has never been Preached or taught by the Apostles or Christ. But instead we are told that the Law of Tithing is completed/finished along with the Priesthood(Hebrews 7:1-12)

Hi Greetings to you brother. Please kindly read Hebrews 7:1-12 again. I do respect your stand and we may have different views on the scripture. But i still stand on blessing the Lord with the 10th or even more with what i have. I still believe that this is the best way that i can do at least for the furtherance of His kingdom. Whatever I have now doesnt come from me. It all comes from the Lord.

But whatever our stand is, let us just remember this that “ Let everything that we do be done in love.”

Bless you

 

[saginon]

Hi Greetings to you brother. Please kindly read Hebrews 7:1-12 again. I do respect your stand and we may have different views on the scripture. But i still stand on blessing the Lord with the 10th or even more with what i have. I still believe that this is the best way that i can do at least for the furtherance of His kingdom. Whatever I have now doesnt come from me. It all comes from the Lord.

But whatever our stand is, let us just remember this that “ Let everything that we do be done in love.”

Bless you

There's nothing wrong with tithing. It's the basic standard of giving. We should also give a 10th of our talents, regardless of what they are. Everybody can do something for God whether through the church or not.

 

[Jellani]

What would be Biblical is if a tv preacher w 2 houses would sell one or both and live in a normal house and give it to the poor. Instead they demand their tithes and use it for themselves.

Hi sorry but I think your in the other side of the boat brother.

Honestly i dont want to comment about those people who uses God for their own sake, let God be the judge coz only God sees the heart of men.

But I still stand that tithing is biblical.

 

[newname]

Hi sorry but I think your in the other side of the boat brother.

Honestly i dont want to comment about those people who uses God for their own sake, let God be the judge coz only God sees the heart of men.

But I still stand that tithing is biblical.

I think it's Biblical too, but it is meant for the pastors, not to live in luxury and the poor. I don't think you have to give it to a church. If the pastor has enough and there are no debts and they don't give it to the poor, then give your tithes to someone who needs it. I think it's absurd if you make debts for someone who has way more than you. I paid debts off for years for some rich ministers in Canada who wanted some extra. Had to live from 50 a week w 3 kids. Then finally it was paid off. I get an email. Can you send us a gift? Bye. Why don't you send me gifts?
Why do pastors in India get no money when they are getting the harvest in?

 

[newname]

The poor tithe, or poor man's tithe (Hebrew: מַעְשַׂר עָנִי ma'sar ani), also referred to as the pauper's tithe or the third tithe, reflects an obligation to set aside one tenth of produce grown in the third and sixth years of the seven-year sabbatical cycle for the benefit of the Levites and the poor, both, during the days of the Temple in Jerusalem, and after the Temple's destruction.

Poor man's tithe - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Trevor]

I have no house. I rent an apartment. Those who owned 2 houses sold one.
I heard from Ken Gott once that ppl in his church sold their houses to go live cheaper, to build God's house.

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Btw I'm not saying that I'm as fabulous and selfless as these ppl. This is just wow revival.
Oh btw my uncle did that. They bought his land for the making of a road. He was a farmer. He got so much money for it and never spent a cent on himself. He gave it all to the good causes. Ppl took advantage of him though. It only works when noone is selfish.

Hi Newname, I, as I believed I said earlier, am a street musician. I play mainly secular music on the streets interspersed with Christian songs. My music I believe is a gift and it moves people, I believe this is of God and from this, people put money into my guitar case, so the money I receive is also a gift from the Lord to me. I have never been without my needs and so to put some aside for others in need seems only appropriate. It wasn't just me who was moved to put money aside, my wife Helen also felt the Spirit for this, this was over forty years ago and we've given ever since. The scripture in Malachi promised that if we honour God by bringing the whole tithe into his storehouse, and he called us to test him in this, he would pour out so much blessing we will be hard put to handle it. Well we do keep finances in our house, we also give in other ways as well, such as our time in running people around in our car etc... in return the Lord has blessed us beyond measure with love and harmony in our family and answers in prayer. So whether what we do is acceptable to the cannon of the church or not, it is biblical, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I would counsel anyone who asks my advice to, if they seek blessings from the Lord to put him to the test, he certainly came through for us.

 

[Jellani]

I think it's Biblical too, but it is meant for the pastors, not to live in luxury and the poor. I don't think you have to give it to a church. If the pastor has enough and there are no debts and they don't give it to the poor, then give your tithes to someone who needs it. I think it's absurd if you make debts for someone who has way more than you. I paid debts off for years for some rich ministers in Canada who wanted some extra. Had to live from 50 a week w 3 kids. Then finally it was paid off. I get an email. Can you send us a gift? Bye. Why don't you send me gifts?
Why do pastors in India get no money when they are getting the harvest in?

Brother, honestly i cant say anything but let us just pray for them.

 

[newname]

Brother, honestly i cant say anything but let us just pray for them.

Yes I read some ppl were told to pray for some minister who is well known and completely tied in this money thing and they saw him in a vision, that he said: thanks guys! This could have meant my death.

 

[DiscipleofYHWH]

Hi Greetings to you brother. Please kindly read Hebrews 7:1-12 again. I do respect your stand and we may have different views on the scripture. But i still stand on blessing the Lord with the 10th or even more with what i have. I still believe that this is the best way that i can do at least for the furtherance of His kingdom. Whatever I have now doesnt come from me. It all comes from the Lord.

But whatever our stand is, let us just remember this that “ Let everything that we do be done in love.”

Bless you

Hebrews 7:1-12 says the Law is fulfilled. Only two things are spoken of the first is the Law of the Tithing and the other is the Priesthood.
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

When you receive a blessing from giving, it is not from the Law of tithing that you receive it. It is from the promise of the Lord that we all should give with a cheerful heart because it is more blessed to give than to receive(Acts 20:35; Luke 14:12-14; Luke 12:33), and to have Charity is to show the Love of God within us(1 John 3:17; 1 Cor 13:1-4,8,13; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Peter 4:8). The Lord does not demand money from us, but instead asks that we give freely of what we have to those who need it. Giving when there is no law that threatens us to give(Malachi 3:3-4) is giving from a cheerful heart(2 Cor 9:7) and with true compassion(1 john 3:17; Philippians 2:3-4) because there is no curse compelling us to give, just the love we have for our neighbor and for God.

 

[Dave M]

Hebrews 7:1-12 says the Law is fulfilled. Only two things are spoken of the first is the Law of the Tithing and the other is the Priesthood.
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

NO one is arguing that we are required to tithe under law we are not under the law

we Tithe to honor God because we want to, frankly a tithe is just training wheel to real giving

every time we are paid God is testing us to see what we will do with his money that he has allowed us to steward for him,
you can never go wrong giving it away,
but you sure can go wrong when you store it up for your self and become dependent on money rather then God.

 

[newname]

Hebrews 7:1-12 says the Law is fulfilled. Only two things are spoken of the first is the Law of the Tithing and the other is the Priesthood.
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

When you receive a blessing from giving, it is not from the Law of tithing that you receive it. It is from the promise of the Lord that we all should give with a cheerful heart because it is more blessed to give than to receive(Acts 20:35; Luke 14:12-14; Luke 12:33), and to have Charity is to show the Love of God within us(1 John 3:17; 1 Cor 13:1-4,8,13; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Peter 4:8). The Lord does not demand money from us, but instead asks that we give freely of what we have to those who need it. Giving when there is no law that threatens us to give(Malachi 3:3-4) is giving from a cheerful heart(2 Cor 9:7) and with true compassion(1 john 3:17; Philippians 2:3-4) because there is no curse compelling us to give, just the love we have for our neighbor and for God.

Yes but if noone gives anything out of stinginess, you still have the curse of Malachi. There will be no food in the house, simply because almost noone will work full time for free. The law is for the flesh, not if you're lead by the Spirit.
Malachi 3 is about when Jesus came. The law wasn't all of a sudden done away, else all the pharisees eating the widows houses would be okay.

And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,”
Says the Lord of hosts

 

[DiscipleofYHWH]

NO one is arguing that we are required to tithe under law we are not under the law

we Tithe to honor God because we want to, frankly a tithe is just training wheel to real giving

every time we are paid God is testing us to see what we will do with his money that he has allowed us to steward for him,
you can never go wrong giving it away,
but you sure can go wrong when you store it up for your self and become dependent on money rather then God.

Tithing is giving ten percent by command/law. Giving ten percent or any other amount freely by no law is giving freely you choosing to do it and giving it in secret(Matt 6:3-4). As we are both talking about giving freely and not tithing/giving tithe(as giving tithe is by law) then we can agree. But as soon as giving tithe is some requirement or benchmark for Christians(New or Old to the Faith) that is where I disagree based on Scripture.

God bless

 

[DiscipleofYHWH]

Yes but if noone gives anything out of stinginess, you still have the curse of Malachi. There will be no food in the house, simply because almost noone will work full time for free. The law is for the flesh, not if you're lead by the Spirit.
Malachi 3 is about when Jesus came. The law wasn't all of a sudden done away, else all the pharisees eating the widows houses would be okay.

And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,”
Says the Lord of hosts

If the Curse still exists then the Law still exists, as every curse of the Law was attached to the Law.

If people choose not to give then they lack Charity, which is described as:
Colossians 3:
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

So in not giving they lack what is required of them, and they lack the Love of God within them(1 John 3:17).

If you are referring to ministers being paid, then that is not an issue since ministers receive no monetary reward for their ministry(Matt 10:8-10; Luke 10:4). If you are referring to the fact the Church will be penniless if nobody gives, then you are right. If the people of the Church are to greedy to give to the Lord(freely from the heart) then it should be counted a shame and a dishonor to them for it.
As to the widows being robed, Christ tells us the reward these thieves will receive.
Mark 12:
38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Luke 20:
45Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, 46Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; 47Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

Christ tells us these people will recieve the greater damnation. Again we do not need the Law of Moses and it's curses, we have the Law of Christ and all those who commit sin within it will be punished as the Lord said.

The Law of Moses is Finished/Completed in Christ, the Whole is Complete. Not just one Jot or one Tittle but every Jot and Tittle of The law is Completed/Finished in Christ. That includes every Curse of the Law as well.

 

[newname]

If the Curse still exists then the Law still exists, as every curse of the Law was attached to the Law.

If people choose not to give then they lack Charity, which is described as:
Colossians 3:
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

So in not giving they lack what is required of them, and they lack the Love of God within them(1 John 3:17).

If you are referring to ministers being paid, then that is not an issue since ministers receive no monetary reward for their ministry(Matt 10:8-10; Luke 10:4). If you are referring to the fact the Church will be penniless if nobody gives, then you are right. If the people of the Church are to greedy to give to the Lord(freely from the heart) then it should be counted a shame and a dishonor to them for it.
As to the widows being robed, Christ tells us the reward these thieves will receive.
Mark 12:
38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Luke 20:
45Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, 46Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; 47Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

Christ tells us these people will recieve the greater damnation. Again we do not need the Law of Moses and it's curses, we have the Law of Christ and all those who commit sin within it will be punished as the Lord said.

The Law of Moses is Finished/Completed in Christ, the Whole is Complete. Not just one Jot or one Tittle but every Jot and Tittle of The law is Completed/Finished in Christ. That includes every Curse of the Law as well.

For believers who follow Him, yes. I don't have to give exactly 10 percent. I think it was even 30 and it was for farmers with a harvest for the poor and the levites. The idea behind it is to take care of the poor and the disciples got money from the wealthy women that followed Him. They should give freely and not take a money bag, because the ppl who received em would feed em. They could stop fishing and they had money they gave to the poor.
I think it's weird to turn it into a law for the church to have to give 10 percent to the church. A preacher always said: God is not the maffia. 10 percent, 10 percent.
They even preached that you had to give 10 percent of your time, so I put my clock on 2.4 hours Bible reading and praying and in the middle of the prayer: yay!! Time is over. Bye God! Then you might as well keep the sabbath to the letter. Don't walk, don't work when you're a doctor and someone is sick. Sorry it's sabbath. We went into His rest.
But Malachi was about the time that Jesus came and they did get the curse, those pharisees.

 

[newname]

What I see in the Netherlands is that a lot of evangelical preachers don't get paid, even if the church has a nice building and money enough and so they have some elders or guest speakers who do it for free, but it's not like in America. When you need counselling or help it's very hard to get. You need to go to America or Canada where they get paid. There was one guy on a forum who needed help. They send him to some psychiatric organisation that's also christian. Didn't help one bit. I asked a preacher for him. No response. Finally found a woman who prayed for ppl for free via Facebook. There is not much bread in the house when ppl have to work for free. They're too busy with their normal paid jobs. Only in real big churches or in reformed and catholic churches they get paid. One preacher we had just said that he received an income from the govt, that you get when you're jobless and his preaching everywhere was charity work.

 

[B-A-C]

The Law of Moses is Finished/Completed in Christ, the Whole is Complete. Not just one Jot or one Tittle but every Jot and Tittle of The law is Completed/Finished in Christ. That includes every Curse of the Law as well.

Actually the Bible says the exact opposite.

Matt 5:17; "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

Jesus didn't abolish the law. It's still here.

Matt 5:18; For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, untill all be fulfilled.
Luke 16:17; And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Boy, talk about misquoting the Bible...

But since you believe this, let me ask you. Can we now steal, lie, murder, fornicate, make idols, commit adultery, and covet?
God is OK with all of this now?

 

[newname]

The weird thing about that tithing teaching is that they say everyone has to tithe. So someone in Africa who can barely eat must tithe in order to get rich and it never works. The tithe is to give to that poor man in Africa. That's what you see in Acts. The rich gave to the poor and everyone had enough.