Question:
Just curious to see how many people tithes and what everyone's opinion is on tithing.
Answer:
My personal view of tithing is that I should be giving about 10% of my income to advance God's kingdom - not necessarily just to my local church. So I give about half of my tithe to my church, and about half to various missionaries and other worthy causes.
I know that some people think that God expects us to give 10% directly to our local churches, but I see no support in the Bible for that: Paul asked people to tithe, not to support their local congregations, but to support the church in Jerusalem during a hard time, etc.
Answer:
I don't believe Christians are obligated to tithe (10%) to the local church.
I do, however, believe Christians are obligated to be generous, to give cheerfully, to give so that "The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing", and that often times this well exceeds 10%. I once heard a story about John Wesley where some people found financial records of his after he died - he lived on almost the same income per month all his life. Near the end of his life he was making over a thousand pounds a month (a lot for those days) and still only lived on 50 or so and gave away the rest. All this was unknown until they found the records after his death.
All this to say: I don't believe tithing is required of Christians - I believe generous giving (which, if you think about it, should exceed 10%!) with a cheerful heart is the command.
Answer:
I'm kind of like Ephras. I believe that we should give a portion of what we have back to the Lord. It should be cheerful giving, and not legalistic. I give probably more than 10% most of the time. Granted I'm only 17 and don't have a lot of expenses, I'm working and have $ coming in. The majority of what I give doesn't go to my church.
Answer:
I firmly believe that we should tithe 10% to our local church and then give to other ministries on top of that.
I made a commitment a fair while ago to God to tithe more than 10% and I can see definate blessings in my life financially and with work situations. (Not that that had anything to do with the reason i committed to give more. I just felt that that was what God wanted me to do).
One of the things i think is important about tithing (or if you don't think it is necessary like Epaphras - then being generous to God) is that giving to God should come first. Not from the left-overs but out of what we started with.
Of course I could see an arguement for a new testament model of giving, like the end of Acts chapter 2 where people sold all. But I don't think I have enough faith to do that, so tithing for me!
I can see that there is a possibly valid argument in what Epaphras is saying, but I find that people can sometimes use this reasoning to get away without being generous. An even if you think tithing is no longer required - it has to be a good guide on how to be generous to God. (Well in my opinion it would be).
Answer:
The tithe (10%) is not mentioned in the New Testament.
The NT model for giving is that everyone who joined the church gave nearly everything they had to further the work of the Lord. 10% is no longer applicable.
Answer:
Originally Posted by MrCrabby The tithe (10%) is not mentioned in the New Testament.
The NT model for giving is that everyone who joined the church gave nearly everything they had to further the work of the Lord. 10% is no longer applicable. Titheing is mentioned in the New Testament. While the 10% value may not be mentioned i take this as a minimum guide of what we should give.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Simo Titheing is mentioned in the New Testament. While the 10% value may not be mentioned i take this as a minimum guide of what we should give. Would you mind showing me where? Not that I don't believe you, I have just never seen it.
Answer:
Matthew 23v23 has a reference to tithing.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Answer:
My wife and I use 10% as the bare minimum. We support other ministries like Compassion International, World Vision, Samaritan's purse, local churches, friends in need, etc. on top of that. Giving over all the years has been a blessing for us. But, probably not as blessed as the poor widow who gave her last two mites. Or the amazing church in Acts whose members sold all their possessions and gave to those in need.
While at first tithing was hard, now we have an abundance to share. Seems like we could do more though.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Epaphras I don't believe Christians are obligated to tithe (10%) to the local church.
I do, however, believe Christians are obligated to be generous, to give cheerfully, to give so that "The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing", and that often times this well exceeds 10%. I once heard a story about John Wesley where some people found financial records of his after he died - he lived on almost the same income per month all his life. Near the end of his life he was making over a thousand pounds a month (a lot for those days) and still only lived on 50 or so and gave away the rest. All this was unknown until they found the records after his death.
All this to say: I don't believe tithing is required of Christians - I believe generous giving (which, if you think about it, should exceed 10%!) with a cheerful heart is the command.
Actually the Bible says that we are to tithe. It says it in Malachi 5, and also in the new testament. I don't know the reference for the 10% though