Tithe

Get It Right!!

It's called Bar-B-Q down here, boy!

Get It Right!

:thumbs:

 

That IS what you offer to God, then?

 

Question: "What does the Bible say about Christian tithing?"

Answer: Tithing is an issue that many Christians struggle with. In many churches tithing is over-emphasized. At the same time, many Christians refuse to submit to the Biblical exhortation in regards to making offerings to the Lord. Tithing / giving is intended to be a joy, a blessing. Sadly, that is rarely the case in the church today.

Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the law in which all Israelites were give 10% of everything they earned and grew to the Tabernacle / Temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5). Some understand the Old Testament tithe as a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites of the sacrificial system. The New Testament nowhere commands, or even recommends that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system. Paul states that believers should set aside a portion of their income in order to support the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

The New Testament nowhere assigns a certain percentage of income to set aside, but only says it is to be “in keeping with his income” (1 Corinthians 16:2). The Christian church has essentially taken the 10% figure from the Old Testament tithe and applied it as a “recommended minimum” for Christians in their giving. Although the New Testament does not identify a specific amount or percentage to give, it does talk about the importance and benefits of giving. They should give as they are able, “in keeping with his income.” Sometimes that means giving more than a tithe, sometime that may mean giving less than a tithe. It all depends on the ability of the Christian and the needs of the church. Each and every Christian should diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom as to whether to participate in tithing and/or for how much he or she should give (James 1:5). “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

http://www.gotquestions.org/tithing-Christian.html

 

Gotquestions has given the best answer I have heard to date Linda.

 

I used to tithe to the last pastor, er, church that I attented. But, I got tired of paying for the pastor's kitchen remodel, new deck, vacations, asst. pastor's new vinyl siding, ceramic tile floors, etc. Not to mention the year end bonuses to his son-in-law & daughter who play the piano, the pastor's wife, the deacon & other assorted freeloaders who attented this church. Plus salaries for the above, utilities, taxes & insurance for the "parsonage". Not to mention the time the pastor paid for one young lady's trip to Europe to visit relatives with church funds. You get the picture. Of course, the men of the church who went along with this abuse were all the pastor's golfing buddies. No, I don't tithe anymore. I give to those that I see that truly need it, not freeloaders.

 

OUCH! :tear:

 

No doubt you didn't read his post. Not your typical Pastor paying Church there Ann. You seem to have left off 1Corinthians 9: 15-18 Ann. Paul didn't preach for money. He had a job, tentmaking. Your Husband could do what my dad did his entire 20 some years of Preaching and Pastoring, get a job. I'm not saying paying pastors is bad if extortion(tithe teaching) isn't used.

 

If you don't preach tithing(which has been annulled in the NT btw) the Biblical way and not Webster's dictionary way, you are either teaching it out of ignorance or extortion. Either way it is unacceptable. Tell it to God when you see Him.

 

It has nothing to do with paying a pastor a living wage, unless you are using tithe teaching for NT Christians to pay him. I'm not against paying Pastors, i'm against telling a NT congregation they are supposed to tithe to do it. God never intended for Christians to tithe or He would have told them to do it. Tithing was for Israel in Israel from the land of Israel, and it was never money. If a Church has the means to pay a Pastor from funds gathered from freewill offerings, I see nothing wrong with it. But, the title of the thread is "Tithe", not "paying Pastors".

 

Nobody denied him anything. He makes sure he is well taken care of. As a matter of fact, he lives better than many of the folks that hand over there hard earned pay so the pastor can turn around & have a new deck installed on the rear of his house, paid for with church funds. You think it's fair that his son-in-law gets a year end stipend {again, church funds} because on Sunday he does Bible quiz? No, the pastor makes sure that he & his family are comfortable. The asst. pastor {another relative} doesn't have a job, he has a salary paid for with church funds. And had new ceramic tiles installed in his house, paid for by people that go to work every day. Excuse me, I didn't know that tithing was for the purpose of ensuring that the pastor & his family can enjoy an evening barbecue on their brand spanking new deck. Yea, that's a real necessity.

 

Nobody denied him anything. He makes sure he is well taken care of. As a matter of fact, he lives better than many of the folks that hand over there hard earned pay so the pastor can turn around & have a new deck installed on the rear of his house, paid for with church funds. You think it's fair that his son-in-law gets a year end stipend {again, church funds} because on Sunday he does Bible quiz? No, the pastor makes sure that he & his family are comfortable. The asst. pastor {another relative} doesn't have a job, he has a salary paid for with church funds. And had new ceramic tiles installed in his house, paid for by people that go to work every day. Excuse me, I didn't know that tithing was for the purpose of ensuring that the pastor & his family can enjoy an evening barbecue on their brand spanking new deck. Yea, that's a real necessity.

 

The deck was new construction, not a replacement. This pastor's salary was $30,00/yr. Plus a health ins. policy, $8,000, utilities, $2500-3,000, property taxes, $2,000. All paid by tithers. Not too bad. Plus he owns his own business, & works there on Sundays & sermons others about the Lord's Day & not working, then turns around & hires church youth to work for him on that day. I'm not saying that any pastor should live in a run down shack. But, it galled me to see a new deck installed on his house paid for with church funds. I no longer attend that church because I could no longer stand the hypocrisy. Many of the church members were on the low income scale. Just working to make ends meet. But, they tithe. For what? So the pastor & his family can enjoy their new kitchen remodel?