The practice of Tithing has been the subject of much controversy in recent times.There are Christians who do not Tithe and for various reasons. Some do not understand the practice. Some understand but disagree with it. Some understand, agree but lack the discipline. Still others understand, agree, but make a lot of excuses not to give to the church.
So why then should Christians today maintain this practice?
The sole reason for the Church’s existence is fulfilling the Mission of God. There is no other reason why we are brought together. Congregations in various places use a variety of methods, which we call ministries, to give expression to their understanding of God’s Mission. In most cases these ministries require some kind of financial support for them to be implemented. The purpose of every ministry should be toward the transformation of lives and community.
It is on this that I premise the need for the continued financial support of the mission of God. Christian giving comes out of an understanding that all of our financial resources like everything else that we have, comes from God. It is a gift, not for hoarding, but for continued use in building up the Kingdom of God. When viewed like this, giving is not seen as a burden. You will give joyously because you know you are only managing what God has entrusted you with.
So here are the 5 Reasons I believe Christians should Tithe.
1. To advance, through financial support, the Mission of God The church needs financial resources to fund its mission. We who are members of the church must give this support, to the best of our ability.
2. To foster fellowship this is not readily obvious. But the church that has a lot of members giving financially and the burden isn’t only on a smaller group, enjoys much better fellowship. It is the freedom people experience when they know they are part of something. There is no guilt for not giving, or resentment for carrying all the weight.
3. To respond in obedience to God that you will give back to God (which is what you do when you contribute in church, contribute to various ministries, make donations to various organizations, help those who are in need and so on) what God has
4. Develop the discipline of self-denial and rise above selfishness, greed and sheer meanness or lack of generosity. The world has grown heavily skewed toward selfishness. Christians should struggle against becoming like this. When you give, you are becoming more and more unlike the world.
5. To experience personal blessings Don’t get hung up on this but it does give a heady feeling to know that what you have given has made a lasting difference in the life of someone else. So much so that that person whose life was touched is moved to glorify God (not you, God). It gives immeasurable satisfaction.
There is no rocket science in it, you don’t even need to read ‘the secret’ to get it. Just try it and you will see the profound difference it makes in your life to open your heart, purse or wallet and start giving to your church and its ministries.
Do share your stories with us on this controversial subject.
Make a change,
Marvia
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Russ: Before the 1870s no non-state church in the USA taught tithing so it is a new doctrine. Before AD 560 it had not been in the early Church and did not become enforceable church law until AD 777. Most early church leaders boasted about being very poor and self-supporting. See Acts 20:29-35.
Marvia: The sole reason for the Church’s existence is fulfilling the Mission of God. There is no other reason why we are brought together.
Russ: The OT tithe was never used to support missionary activity while fulfilling its Mission of God. And the NT church was never told to do so either.
Marvia: Christian giving comes out of an understanding that all of our financial resources like everything else that we have, comes from God.
Russ: Yes but that does not teach tithing. The same was true in the OT but tithes were always only food from farmers and herdsmen inside Israel.
Marvia: When viewed like this, giving is not seen as a burden.
Russ: Tithing was cold unemotion-related law and a burden. There are no texts which say otherwise.
Marvia: You will give joyously because you know you are only managing what God has entrusted you with.
Russ: That is true of freewill giving –not tithing.
Marvia: 1. To advance, through financial support, the Mission of God – The church needs financial resources to fund its mission. We who are members of the church must give this support, to the best of our ability.
Russ: This is true of freewill Spirit-led giving. Again, OT tithes were never used to evangelize Gentiles.
Marvia: 2. To foster fellowship. … There is no guilt for not giving, or resentment for carrying all the weight.
Russ: There was serious guilt for not tithing in the OT and the fellowship excluded Gentiles.
Marvia: 3. To respond in obedience to God that you will give back to God
Russ: Freewill giving is “heart giving” while tithing was “mandatory taxation.”
Marvia: 4. Develop the discipline of self-denial
Russ: Freewill giving. No tithing texts.
Marvia: 5. To experience personal blessings
Russ: Freewill giving, not tithing. Compare Galatians 3:10-13 with Deuteronomy 28 and Malachi 3:8-12.
Marvfia: There is no rocket science in it
Russ: No and the Bible is extremely clear that tithing is not for the church. According to 2 Cor 3:10 that kind of doctrine has zero glory.
Marvia: Do share your stories with us on this controversial subject.
Russ: My web site has over 150 articles.
Maria: Make a change,
Russ: I am. Thank you.
Russell Earl Kelly, PHD
Russell,
Your feedback is most welcome.
It goes without saying though, from your line of argument obvious in the way you interacted with the post, that we have differing positions on the issue.
Moreover, we arrive at different positions based on our approaches to the Bible, Biblical interpretation, our understanding of the church and the Mission of God.
Admittedly in this post I did not get into the difficulties with the term “tithing”. Neither did I state that practice of ‘Tithing’ is based on understanding Tithing as a principle of giving commended to the church and not as a literal extraction of an Old Testament practice of ‘one-tenth’ to impose it upon our contemporary context.
This post was not intended to get into the history of the practice. But you have certainly sparked the need to do so. Since this Blog is not exclusively devoted to the subject, overtime several other posts will be added here to cover the subject of tithing at which time most if not all your objections will be looked at.
Thanks again for your contribution to the subject.
Marvia
It’s because of faith and obedience that I and many other worshipers humbly give such that we have, be it silver, gold or ourselves to the Lord
Tithes and offerings were ordained by a God who changes not and according to Jesus Christ, who was not concerned with the semantics of giving, in Luke 6:37 givers can expect to be rewarded.
His assurance is enough encouragement for me to give as much as I can as often as I can.
Bro,
Thanks for making your contribution and sharing why you continue to give. There are many others who feel as you do.
Marvia
It’s very important for us to be obedient to God’s will. I use to have a problem giving $5–that was too much! Now, I give my 10% or more freely and unto God. I don’t necessarily look for blessings when I give, but I look for trouble if I don’t. Thanks for this post.
Stephen,
Thanks for sharing. Continue to give of your best to God. That’s what matters:-)
Marvia
My son says that the tithe is not absolute, but give as you are able. Because, in biblical times the tithe was used to pay taxes. He’s quite a bible scholar, so I was very surprised at this!! I tithe my 10% as did my parents until the day they died.
Sammye,
Thanks for visiting and sharing your story. It is true that present day Tithing in the Christian church has its roots in the tradition from the ancient Near East of (a) temple taxes to be paid in support of the priests and sanctuary and (b)that practice might have resulted from the cultural practice of paying taxes to Kings. So given its interesting past some believe tithing is an “unbiblical” practice and should not be continued.
As ancient peoples dealt with their practical realities and responded to the need to support their practice of worship and those who have dedicated themselves to serve in this way – they established a system of tithing. They set their figure of one tenth of the yield of their crops – essentially 10% of their earnings.
The Christian practice today of Tithing today that I hear so much controversy over, looks nothing like what took place in Biblical times. And like your son, I agree that what we maintain as the 10% is not an absolute but a guide. However, I firmly believe that if we are going to maintain a church and fulfill its mission then there has to be financial support from its membership.
Don’t stop giving your 10% but if you can give more then by all means do so. You are not limited to 10%. That is my principle – give as you are led and ensure that you are satisfied that you are giving your best.
Do come back again and share your views.
Outreach team request
Dear brother in the name of Jesus I glat to see you. I am X-YWAMer,my name is B.Devilal I born broght in Banjara Hindu Tribal family.In 1992 as the year Jesus call to me then GOD changed to my as Isarael. I was trained DTS and SOFM.I am writing you that remember experience of YWAM.By GOD grace I started ministries in Hyderabad location at Nagaram area.Now our sunday service is running at four villages then we are reaching surrounding of Nagaram area 25 villages.Then we started ministries around 4 Districts in A.P.I am praying and requesting you please for needing outreach team to send through YWAM.
Thanking so much.
Your faithfully in Christ
Bro:Isarael,
Redeemer Gospel Ministries,
Kamalabai Nagar Colony,
Nagaram(Village & Post),
Keesara Mandal, R.R dist,
Hyderabad-500 083,
AndhraPradesh, INDIA.
No were in the bible it’s mention that tithing was about money. in the old testments; tithing was consider a law and these were the things that were tithe, food, herb, spices and other items but no money. and it was giving to widower, and the needy. it was given to levites decent of aaron and it follower. In the new testment no mention of it. I read the bible. God does ask not a oblgation that we give offering from our heart cheerfully not in obliation. 10% of food, herb, spices is what I get out of 10% tithing. money is never mention. God free us from the law and gave us grace and to support your church write a check monthly for what ever bill your heart desire to help pay. Monthly no were in the bible it say you have to give 10% of all your check. When you give it suppose to help not only the church but also the people around you that need it. Give from your increase not your decease. When God bless us it would be nice to share it with others.
I agree with marvia, tithing is one of our expression how we love God. God does not need our finance, because it is from Him.
what is the difference between 10% tithing and offering isn’t both money? Offering is what ever you want to give it could more than ten percent. 10% of tithing it just that. so you telling me that God would accept you ten percent of tithing, but not your offering. They both money while would God want money from you twice why? Can you just give one amount of money. So you telling me that you would be curse if you don’t give 10% out of every paycheck. but he would overlook and not bless you for giv ing offering. Nothing is being said about offering when it both the same thing. There is no difference in tithing and offering it money!!!! Jewish law one is obligation, and law for the jews , and the other offering is free will for all, after Jesus Christ death were now we live threw grace.
These 5 reasons you give sound like your own opinion. Give bible text to what God saids in the new testestment and old were he is speaking to the gentile the old testment was all hebrews. What does Jesus Christ said who died on the cross for our sins were we don’t have to do anything to show him we love him because he loves us first. We are to help and love each other not just the church like I said he want to support your church write out a check like you do with your monthly bills for what ever bill you want to help out with. God bless us with the money but he also wants us to be careful what and who we give it too.
Gladys,
Thanks for visiting and for sharing your opinion on tithing with us. You’ve prompted me to respond with an outstanding article on this issue. It will be posted shortly.
It all comes down to obedience. The bible tells us to give as God has prospoured us to give. This means that He has entrusted us with the responsiblity of stewartship. To do well with our finances, our giving and all other aspects of our life. The 10% is guideline that is used by most; but some of us are blessed to go above and beyond the 10%. Our giving is an expression of our trust and committiment to God. As stated before, He does not need our MONEY, everything belongs to Him. With any relationship it requires a sacrifce, proven support and comittment. (Example -You can tell me you love me all day long; but you can show me better than you can tell me). Be Blessed!
Thank you Cheryl!
It is about obedience to a principle that what we have is not our own but is a gift from God to be used in the service of God. We get hung up on whether we call that ‘tithe’ or ‘offering’ the point is as you say count it a blessing to give more than any man made requirement, give with joy to the glory of God.
Blessings!
Marvia