Very Confused About Tithing!

[Jasmin]

I just read something saying that tithing is not required from Christians under the New Testament, that it was to do with the Israel law in history, and that we should be giving cheerfully, from the heart when we so feel the need. whether that giving be time, resources, money or other...

In my head I can recollect a lot of sermons about how tithing is Law and that the 10% that belongs to God goes to the Devil if you don't tithe it, and that if you don't tithe, you're asking for financial trouble etc. The other argument is very convincing, people say that there is no New Testament reference to a weekly tithe to the church, and that kind of makes sense to me because I can have all the good intentions possible, and somehow when it comes to tithing time my money is sometimes unexpectedly taken by bank fees, I might lose it, or genuinely forget/miscalculate how much I've spent and just now I tried to tithe via online banking and it wont work. I can't help but think God would make it possible if He finds it important (as an obligation). I've found that when I really want to go to Church, a way will always present itself for me to get there, as I know God wants me to go. But as for tithing, I'm so confused!

If someone has some more spiritual maturity and understanding, please help, or please pray for clarity on this topic.

Thanks so much for any help/prayers

 

[LaMatadora]

I just read something saying that tithing is not required from Christians under the New Testament, that it was to do with the Israel law in history, and that we should be giving cheerfully, from the heart when we so feel the need. whether that giving be time, resources, money or other...

In my head I can recollect a lot of sermons about how tithing is Law and that the 10% that belongs to God goes to the Devil if you don't tithe it, and that if you don't tithe, you're asking for financial trouble etc. The other argument is very convincing, people say that there is no New Testament reference to a weekly tithe to the church, and that kind of makes sense to me because I can have all the good intentions possible, and somehow when it comes to tithing time my money is sometimes unexpectedly taken by bank fees, I might lose it, or genuinely forget/miscalculate how much I've spent and just now I tried to tithe via online banking and it wont work. I can't help but think God would make it possible if He finds it important (as an obligation). I've found that when I really want to go to Church, a way will always present itself for me to get there, as I know God wants me to go. But as for tithing, I'm so confused!

If someone has some more spiritual maturity and understanding, please help, or please pray for clarity on this topic.

Thanks so much for any help/prayers

Heavenly Father, Adonai Jehovah Ori, The LORD God Our Light:

I agree with this prayer, as there IS a lot of confusion about tithing, and churches frequently disagree with one another. Adonai, the 64,000-dollar question (so to speak) is this: does tithing hold up in the New Testament, or is it up to the believer? Scripture doesn't seem clear as to whether the 10% rule carries over to the New Covenant. On the other hand, Jesus said, "If any man doesn't give up all that he has, he cannot be my disciple!" So you see, LORD, what the problem is. In these EndTimes, LORD, shed Your light on this subject, let Thy Will be known and done! I pray this for Jasmin, but also for myself and the church at large!

In the Name of Jesus,

AMEN.

 

[GaryArnold]

The first time tithe is mentioned in the Bible is Abraham's tithe of pagan spoils of war, and Abraham kept NOTHING for himself. This was NOT an act of worship. The goods that Abraham gave the tenth from didn’t even belong to Abraham:

Genesis 14:21 (NIV) - The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.â€

Notice in verse 21 the king of Sodom didn’t ask Abraham if he would give back to him the people, but rather said GIVE ME the people and keep the goods for yourself. The way that is worded indicates that the king of Sodom was claiming that the people and the goods belonged to him and those he represented.

Genesis 14:22-24 (NIV) - 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.â€

Notice in verses 23 and 24 Abraham also acknowledges that the goods belonged to the king of Sodom and those he represented.

Therefore, it is clear that both the king of Sodom and Abraham acknowledged that the spoils of war did NOT belong to Abraham, yet he gave a tenth of the spoils to King Melchizedek. This would seem that Abraham did something wrong, if not even illegal, but Biblical historians agree that it was custom in Abraham's day to give the king a tenth of the war spoils. Had Abraham not given the tenth, he would have gone against custom.

Conclusion: Abraham did NOT give a tenth of his income, or his wealth. Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of war that didn’t belong to him. That is NOT an example for Christians to follow today.

The next mention of a tithe is Jacob's VOW to tithe. Jacob set the conditions, not God. Nowhere in The Word does it tell us that Jacob actually tithed. Genesis 28:10-22

Next is The Lord's Tithe. God gave His definition as a tenth of crops and animals which came from God's hand, not man's income. God NEVER commanded anyone to tithe on anything that man made or earned. Leviticus 27:30-33.

The ordinances (instructions, or laws) for The Lord's Tithe are in Numbers 18. God gave strict orders to take His tithe to the Levites. God NEVER changed that command. Anyone who takes God's tithe to anyone other than the Levites is being disobedient to God's Word.

There are others tithes in the Bible such as the Festival Tithe and the Tithe for the Poor. It is The Lord's Tithe that churches pattern their teaching after.

Church leaders ignore God's definition of His tithe, and ignore God's ordinances for His tithe. They change the words to fit their pocketbook. This is nothing but manipulation of God's Word. They are false teachers.

The Bible CLEARLY SHOWS that the tithe ENDED at the cross in the Book of Hebrews. In the first nine verses of Hebrews 7 the words tenth or tithes appears SEVEN TIMES. The ONLY place in the Bible, after Calvary, that tithing appears is in Hebrews 7.

In Hebrews 7:5 we are told that Levi (the Levites) took the tithes under the law. In Hebrews 7:12 we are told that when the priesthood changes, the law will change. Hebrews 7:18 is telling us that Numbers 18 was disannulled. Numbers 18 established the Levitical priesthood, and part of that establishing included tithing. When the Levitical priesthood ended (at Calvary, or at least in the year 70AD when the temple was destroyed), all laws that established that priesthood were canceled. If Numbers 18 wasn't canceled, we would still be under the Levitical priesthood.

Those who argue they didn't have money or income then really need to study the scriptures. They had money and wages, even in Genesis. The farmers had income from barter exchanges, and they had markets to buy and sell as proven in Deuteronomy 14:24-26.

Those who argue Malachi 3:8, robbing God, need to start with verse 7. God is talking about His ordinances in Numbers 18 which we learned were disannulled according to Hebrews 7:18. Also, if you start with Malachi 1, you will see that God is speaking to the priests, not the people. The priests robbed God of the tithe (Nehemiah 13) and the priests robbed God of the offerings (Malachi 1).

In the New Testament we are taught to be generous, sacrificial givers, from the heart, according to our means. For some, $1 might be a sacrifice while for others, even giving 50% of their income might not induce a sacrifice.

We should pray and be Spirit led in our giving as well as in our spending.

 

[LaMatadora]

Thank you, Gary!! That was some EXCELLENT teaching! Praise God, I'm glad our prayers were answered!

 

[simpleB]

2 Cor 9:7-8

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

These are 2 verse concerning giving. I am one who does not believe the tithe is part of the Church of the Body. It was part of the OT and was used to support the Levites. It was one tenth of there increase, crops, animals and such. But there is a spiritual law concerning giving. and I believe these two verse explain it quite well. If you give a tithe, it is a good thing, but it is a tithe and therefore out of necessity. If you give and your heart is not into it, then there is no profit to you. So you must want to give and then when you give you open the flood gates of God's blessings. So give. And it doesn't have to be just money. It is in all that you do, give with your heart and God will bless you back. Make your life a life of giving, a smile, a hand, a heart and then when you do give in the financial sense you will be thankful that your were able too. It does say that that labor is worthy of his hire, and to support those who are feeding you spiritual. This is so they don't have to have a secular job, but can concentrate on the Lord's work. Remember it is as you purpose in your heart. Any other giving is not worth your time or effort. Have fun in giving. It can be a real blast!

Lord please open the eyes of Jasmin understand in this area of our walk with you. Show him how you desire his heart and would have him act out of love and respect. Show him in your Word what your will is and teach him how to act on it with a heart that does not need to fear. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen