Opinions on Tithing???
@blackrose1151 (93)
United States
August 30, 2008 11:46am CST
I have been doing some studying lately on the Old and New Testament...pinpointing on the old covenant that God made with his people, the Israelites, and the new covenant that started after Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. The New covenant was for Israel and for all the nations.
The law under the "old" covenant, concerning tithing , was that 10% must be given from what you earn or from your crops, not including your offerings.
In the New Testament, Jesus teaches us to give but he never says a certain amount. I can't find where he says 10%. The Jews would know this because of the old covenant (the laws) but the Gentiles (non-Israelite) wouldn't have known.
I found a verse in:
Hebrews 8:13, By calling this covenant "new", he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
There are laws under the "old" covenant that Jesus included under the "new" covenant so not all old laws are obsolete. For example laws against, stealing, idolatry, murder, adultery...ect. Jesus also talks about giving and about tithing. He doesn't say that a person must give 10% but just give.
My purpose for asking this question is not so I can come up with a reason not to give my 10% so please don't misunderstand me. I believe in giving even more than that and I believe in enabling ministries to reach others by giving to them.
My question is, going by Jesus' words, his actions and the new covenant, should we make someone feel guilty or feel wrong for not giving a certain percentage even though they are giving. There are people who can't be a member of a church because they have failed to give 10% of their tithes to that certain church. Even my church requires me to give 10% in order to say an active member.
Is there still a percentage or are we suppose to just give where the needs are? Give not just money but everything that we have to offer.....love, time, money,items...etc. I not think Jesus was just talking only about money when he talked about giving.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@wsamboer (186)
• South Africa
31 Aug 08
Tithing, was under the "mosianic" law (the law of Moses)as it was also known as.
Yes, it was effective to the Israelites, which of cause included the Jews (the tribe of Juda) For that reason it was meant to be fundamentally inculcated into every jew, to pay the tithe on the first day of the week to the high priest.
But this was an obligation on the house/tribe of Israel only, in "old testament times" or the Old Covenant era. There were also the "temple tax" - which I think was any amount that you could afford to give when visiting the temple (Synagog)- remember the case of the "poor old widow," who put in only a quarter penny-and, Jesus remarked that, she has given everything she had, while the rich can give from their abundance they have. The Tithe was then still functional. After Jesus' resurrection and accention the New Covenant came into being and the old law was no longer in effect; at least not for Christians I think.
So the tithe was instituted under the law, which was under the old covenant. The Apostle Paul, in the new testament, refers to giving in accordance as you can afford. Which means; if you can afford to give 10% than give that, if not than give what you honestly can afford.
@headhunter525 (3548)
• India
1 Sep 08
I don't think there is NT teaching on which basis we need to give 10% as if it is a law. Generally we are supposed to give, and therefore if people give 10% that's a different matter. But if we teach as if it is a law, I believe we are not giving right teaching.
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I think Jesus is more concerned with who we give to rather than how much we give. And also in the spirit in which we give it. Also we are supposed to give a part of all our gain not just part of what we earn on a job. There are people all around us that are in need. Single mothers with kids to raise and the old people should be our first concern. People that can't do for themselves for what ever reason are the ones we should be trying to help.
I do not believe in giving money to any church or the person(s)that run it. This is not the church Jesus set up. If you remember Jesus didn't have any need for money in His church. In fact he told the Apostles to not even take any money with them when He sent them out to set up His church. Jesus sent the Apostles into the homes of people that would accept them. Jesus had no need for that high dollar building we call a church either.
Tithing is very important but who our tithing helps is much more important.
@thesongwriter (143)
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
30 Aug 08
The Widows Offering (Luke 21:1-4)
Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coin. "I tell you the truth," he said "This poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people give their gifts out of their wealth:but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
God looks at and he knows our heart
@sharay (2769)
• India
30 Aug 08
yes...you are right...Jesus wanted us to share anything that we had with us, either be food or clothing or money or gold or silver, anything that we possess...in that way, i dont think you trying to spend your money to some other beneficial would be wrong in any way....i am really surprised by your church which demands you to pay the 10%....one must give the money to church or any other ministries out of his/her own will, it shouldnt be snatched from us...my church does not say so, anyway i pay them according to how much i can afford that particular month apart from all the other necsry commitments, i dont exactly pay that 10%, as you said i sometimes give 5% to my church and other 5% to an orphanage
