- 10% was not the minimum amount for Israel. They gave less than 10% at times. (Hebrews 7:4; Numbers 31:28-30)
- The New Testament does not command, address, or mention tithing to the Gentiles who are unfamiliar with Jewish practices.
- Jesus’ own ministry operated from freewill offerings. He also commanded the disciples to receive freely. (Luke 8:1-3, Matthew 10:8-10)
- The children of God under his family are not taxed. They are free to give (Matthew 17:25; Galatians 4:5)
- Tithing was not a requirement prior to the Mosaic law considering Jacob freely offered God 10%. (Genesis 28:20)
- None of the Israelites tithed while outside of the promised land. (Deuteronomy 12:5)
- Abraham’s tithe was under the Old Covenant, which was established before Moses and was also fulfilled (Genesis 3; Hebrews 8:13)
- Giving would be the only spiritual gift with a minimum requirement and not led by the Spirit.
- There are no commands to modify tithing with how we practice it today, so people have to make up correlations to get it to fit into the church.
- Israelites who did not grow food or raise animals did not tithe. (Leviticus 27:30)
- Giving is not by compulsion. (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)
- The Levitical priests were required to serve 25 years, and just like tithing, the New Testament doesn’t recall this requirement either
- Unless giving 10% is the spiritual nature of God’s holiness, then it falls under the same classification of other interim tokens in the Old Covenant that Christ fulfilled
John says
God bless you, Obedient! In everything we do, may the Lord be forever praised!
thank you.
anonymous says
Jesus was addressing Jews stil under the law of Moses in Matthew 23:23 not the redeemed from the law. John, the point is that we are tired of being taught the wrong way to give, & lied to that is is still a law! We are commanded to pay God ten percent or they say you are cursed with a curse. It creates harm, fear, pressure, boasting pride and guilt.
anonymous says
John
The point is it is not a commandment anymore and it is being taught as if it is with all kinds of tactics using fear like you will be cursed with a curse. Also Matthew 23:23 was addressed to Jews still under the tithe law, not the redeemed.
Jesus said ask what you will for free not if you pay Him!
Susie says
John:
You never understood what our point was. We are not against tithing just against the lies being told to enforce it. It is not a New Testament Commandment that must be kept in order to avoid being cursed.
We commend you for your giving of your finances. However, most Churches are not teaching it according to the New Testament of Grace but as a Must do commandment. You have some nerve calling people stingy because we want the truth to be told on how to give voluntarily. You don’t know a thing about us. For your information, I was tithing off of my welfare checks as a single parent when my husband left me, with no other help coming in, not even from my Church. I got a job before I was put out on the street. The way they teach Tithing, it hurts the poor!
Also you quoted Jesus saying to tithe in Matthew 23:23 but Jesus was talking to Jews who were still under the Mosaic law. My guess is that you are so busy being a Business man that you have not had time to read your New Testament on the Matter.
We are not saying don’t support the Church, just that we are opposed to the tactics and lies they use to get people to tithe. John, read your New Testament word for word then get back to us. Also the Cross covers more than just Salvation. We have many promises and privileges because Jesus went to the Cross. Jesus said, if you abide in Him & His words, you can ask what you will and it will be done, assuming when you are abiding in Him you will not ask for something outside of His will.
Notice He did not say, first I will check your tithe record then you can ask. You prove our point that you are holding on to something no longer mandated and by refusing to hear the truth you sound as if you are brainwashed.
John says
I leave it all up to you.
If the debate here is tithing vs giving without the word tithing, I rest.
I am a tither not because I was forced to. It is my conviction.
If you don’t believe in tithing, oh, well…….
Melina Corpus says
Hello everyone,
I am reading the discussions here and it’s pretty interesting.
I also am a tither and I tend to agree with obedient and john.
My church did not force me to it. It just my faith that led me to it.
Most of you are too hard on tithing. Let’s say I am a member of your church, will you stop me if you find out I am doing it?
Susie says
In Jesus name would you please hear this” Just like people brainwashed you are not hearing the point.
The issue that is that most Churches are using the Old Testament and the Malachi 3:7 curse to enforce tithing when Jesus by His death on the Cross redeemed us from the curse of the law. It is called Grace! His grace extends to every area of our lives. Maybe your Church does not uses fear, declarations of doom and gloom if you aren’t tithing 10 percent of your gross. Maybe your church is not using manipulation, fear or enforcement of twisted scriptures whey they enforce tithing but many do. If you have ever been lied to and then discover the truth don’t you get just a little ticked off? Especially if the lie is repeated and blindly followed without question. Those of us who know our New Testament verse by verse cover to cover know they have lied to enforce the tithe. You really seem programmed to what you have been told and not read for yourself in the New Testament.
For your information I often give more than 10 percent but I don’t call it having to pay God a tithe, when my New Testament Bible tells me God who did not spare His own Son but freely gave Him up for us all, does not need payment for His favor and free blessings.
A Happy & Set Free Grace Giver says
Save your breathe folks in trying to point out that Old Testament laws is no longer required to not be cursed.
Ever tried talking a Roman Catholic out of worshiping Mary, they will quickly deny it and say they don’t but that Mary is just interceding in prayer for them, then when you show them in the Bible that there is only “One Mediator and it is Jesus Christ” they still deny and make excuses. Ever try telling a Jehovah Witness that Jesus claimed to be the God and not “a god” even showed them other Scriptures where Jesus is revealed as God in the book of Revelation and called referred to Himself with the title “I AM” they also deny and refuse to hear. I thought it was coming on too strong to call the tithe like some blogs are saying, but it is starting to resonate as the truth listening to these people defend it when all that is stated is it is not a required ordinance in the New Testament.
A Happy & Set Free Grace Giver says
I think I now agree that the doctrine is a cult doctrine cause like many blogs are stating cause it is perpetuating a lie in the way they enforce it!
I am much more blessed giving by Grace but I can’t tell that to my Pastor or I would catch hell. He said don’t even associate with people that don’t pay God his tithe and calls them cursed people!
Debbie says
Hey how did we Catholics get dragged into this. We have more Charities than any other group around the world helping the poor. In all my years of going to Mass I’ve never heard the Priest say that you will be cursed for not paying God tithes. Priest don’t demand you how have to bribe (tithe) God for a blessings. I know we Catholics have had our problems with Priest and the Altar boys but don’t include in this scandal of the way they force tithing. This is one modern day controversy we are not involved in. As for Mary I stop praying to her when I found out in my Bible that I could pray straight to God in the name of Jesus so there —- I read do my Bible and don’t follow blindly!
Pete says
Speaking of false teachings in the Church having to do with money. Didn’t the Catholic Church once teach that the Priest could say a service for your dearly departed loved ones soul to get out of Purgatory? (Purgatory is when you’re not good enough for Heaven but not bad enough for Hell. There is no New Testament Biblical bases for this teaching either. However, there was one example that may be viewed as such, but it’s kind of a long shot. It’s that example that Jesus used of the rich man that went to hell while Lazarus was with Abraham in a waiting place. The rich man looked across a wide gulf and saw Lazarus on the other side with Abraham. The rich man started barking orders to Abraham to let Lazarus go tell his 5 brothers not to come to the place of torment. This rich man allowed Lazarus to starve and lay sick at his gate everyday while they were alive. Since this was before Jesus died so we could go before Gods presence and live in Heaven could it have been like Purgatory? Now that Jesus has died there is a choice of two places Heaven or Hell not three. You even have people saying there is no Hell when Jesus said there is. This is why reading the Bible and having a personal relationship with the Lord and reading His Holy Word is vital!!
Martin Luther a Catholic Priest protested the teaching of the Catholic Church of having to pay for souls to get out of Purgatory. He had cited 95 errors against false doctrines, thus began the Reformation–Protest-ant Churches. There is always going to misinformation passed and counterfeits whenever there is the real but to God be the Glory God will always have men like Martin Luther of the Reformation, Martin Luther King Jr who taught that slavery was not the perfect will of God as many Pro-Slavery Pastors were teaching and Dr.Russell Kelly. I hope Dr. Kelly’s book sells a million copies and wakes people to the right way to teach giving. I feel some kind of law should be passed against Spiritual Abuses. What is worst than calling someone who loves the Lord and may be too poor to tithe cursed by God? That has to cause some emotional anguish. Can’t they just trust people to give by choice and not have to use labels and the fear factor? I heard of someone that came into a great deal of money and tithe off of it but still got very sick and died. When it is your time to go you cannot pay your way out of it.Then how you spend eternity is set the second you die. Priest can pray till Jesus comes back but you aren’t getting out where ever your Spirit lands, not even for a trillion dollars! There are a few precious things still left that money can’t buy!
anonymous says
Yep!
That Purgatory stuff is a lie too. Jesus emptied out the place where the Old Testament Saints were waiting. The bible said “he lead Captivity captive. Jesus got them out of there and took them with Him to Heaven. If any Catholic out there is paying for prayers for the dead in Purgatory, you can save your money. There is no place like that!
You Don’t have to pay God either to avoid being cursed. It great that the majority on this site is informed on that issue. Give support money to the Church like John is doing from your heart, but DON’T buy into the you have to tithe, like John & others that promote tithing.
God is NOT going to curse His own people who have now put their faith in Christ!
At my Church Tithers lose their jobs and experience hardships just like anybody else walking the planet. The Bible quote that come to mind is:
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous but God delivers them from them all”!
Our righteousness-Right-standing and promises come from having faith in Jesus, not tithing! That is so plain even my four year old understands it.
Kevin Mitchell says
To Obedient? 1st of all you do not know me.Because i don’t agree with you i am bitter? Keep your holier than attitude to your self. i asked you to bring facts to the tithing debate.you continue to express you opinion. i wonder why? is it because you are blissfully ignorant? Reading difficulty perhaps? Or just close-minded? I challenge ALL of you tithers to read Russell Earl Kelly’s book on tithing.But sadly you won’t because you love YOUR tradition more than the milk of the Word…GOT MILK!
obedient says
Kevin- now you are effectively boring me with your shallow mind.Oh please hold the door open at the pearly gates.Opinions matter. All of us have provided facts. You have chosen not to listen. Remember – no one is telling you to tithe. Do what your heart says — and do your best to cut the tone of your responses. That is what is seemingly bitter. You have obviously had a bad church experience in your history with this subject. Sorry that has happened for you Kev.
anonymous 2 says
I just read this bible verse on another blog:
It is in 2nd Corinthian 1:20
“All of our promises in Christ are Yes and Amen”
There was not a requirement for those promises in Christ that said this was for people paying God a tithe either!
This false teaching that declare you had better pay God the tithe or else, is causing all kinds of division in the body of Christ & messing up a lot of the Lords good people! Why? Because it is not in the New Testament and some of us that know it, refuse to go along with their lie!
anonymous 2 says
Just for anyone who now wants to call me stingy, as a matter of fact I voluntarily give large sums of my money even when I don’t have much of it, in secret and not for fear of some outdated curse, showing off or approval of others are my Pastor. I love the Lord that is all!
Marvin says
Allow me to share my experience.
At first Anti-tithing people sounded petty and divisive but my uneasiness was like a splinter in my finger. Could there be some validity in what these people are angry about? Had I been too hasty in my judgments of them? I recently started paying more attention to how the tithe is implemented in my Church. I had also taken it to the Lord in prayer but like most people I’ve yet to read every verse and chapter in my New Testament to make note of which points are valid. My assumption like the majority of people is that my Pastor is the Theologian and has the Teaching gift to help build up the Lord Church. I continued to see verses in the Old Testament that mandated tithing but after careful attention my Pastor quoted continually from Malachi then to the God loves a cheerful giver in 2nd Corinthians 9:7 it was like throwing a ice cold glass of water in my face. My thought was, wait a minute, two extreme opposite instructions were just taught and no one seemed to pay any attention this gross contradiction, some people even clapped as the offering was taken. Determined to support my Church and the Pastor’s instructions I still did not to believe the anti-tithers remarks. However, I forgot that I asked the Lord to show me the truth, did he still require the tithe as a commandment? The following Sunday the Pastor was speaking on that misfortune and lack will fall on you if you rob God of his tithes. His next word was like someone hit me over my head. He went on to say if you did not pay your tithes don’t be surprised when God does the devour is not rebuked and your car breaks down or your wife divorces you. You were not under the Lord’s blessing because of your disobedience to not tithing. That was my wake up call because my car had broken down cost me hundred of dollars for my engine and my wife is still living with another man! So put me in the ranks of the people whose eyes have been seriously opened. It is time to believe the Words in my New Testament over any teaching to the contrary! To Pastors I say, teach it the right way or don’t teach giving the right way or not at all because deception an deceit will always backfire!
Edwin says
To Marvin:
If anyone has ever had a background in Sales, you quickly learn that it is never good to over-promise, twist the facts, falsify or give misleading information. It will always come back to bite you.
In the Business world I’m sure John & Obedient can tell you that misleading & false advertisement is against the Law. Why is it so hard to comprehend that it should not be allowed in Church either?? John pointed out Churches are in need of finances to keep their bills paid and doors open.
If the Church is like a business that needs to keep going there should be no exception to the rule of law against false advertising.
John & Obedient the anger from the anti-tithers is because of the misrepresentation in the way tithing is promoted and the use of bible verses that do not properly represent New Testament instructions. Some of it is crossing the line into absurdity.
In my case, I called into a Religious program on cable in the wee hours of morning for prayer, being careful NOT to mention that I was experiencing financial hardship and depression. If you’re thinking I should have known better you’re right but depression at times can cloud your thinking and make you desperate. My logic was that if this Minister was from God he would know my need like he was demonstrating on his show. He also said God gave him the gift of healing and Word of knowledge.
A little less than two weeks later his letter came in my mail, asking me for $39.00 dollars to break the curse of depression and financial lack over my life. This really threw me for a loop knowing I did not tell him what my need was. As I was about to write the check to send in money that I was going to pay a past due bill with, I decided to first call my Christian friends that passionately love Jesus. The bible also said, “wisdom can be found in the multitude of godly counsel”.
My friends took me right to the verse in Matthew 18:19 it’s a promise from the very words of our Lord:
“Whenever two of you on earth agree about anything you pray for, it will be done by my Father which is in Heaven.
For where two or three come together in my name, I am there in the midst”. We took the Lord at his word. Shortly afterward things began to turn around for me but ironically it was when I was not able to tithe. The Lord still gave me deliverance from depression and better job.
I agree with Marvin, that financial support for the Church should be taught the right way or not at all!
There are enough people trying to scam us on programs and deceptive policies,
(that’s a topic for another subject) without going to Church and have our Pastors mislead us too. Maybe if how to give is biblical and right according the New Testament by grace, it will end all the anger, pettiness and divisiveness over how money is collected at most Churches.
Kevin Mitchell says
To Obedient? i don’t care if iam boring you.Obviously you do not know the meaning of the word DEBATE.if you think that you have provided anything more than your opinion you are a LIAR.if you don’t like it, Tough! i think you are a phony. You cannot objectively debate me because you are not an objective thinker.You lack honesty.There are honest christians who want to know the truth about tithing.Obviously you are not one of them.To defend myself from your innuendo i would have to come down to your level to do so.Therefore; i must decline.
Jared Brian says
obedient and kevin,
Maybe it’s time to take a break from the debate for a little?
– jared