To Tithe or Not To Tithe…
Should you tithe off of gross pay, net pay, or not at all? Thoughts!
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April 4, 2008
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April 7, 2008
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61 Responses to “To Tithe or Not To Tithe…”
Net…and off tax refund…
Give radically far and above – I think we should all aim for living on 10% – giving 90%! Not there yet…
the is a twitter?? I am so behind the times…
I would say tithe off gross as a starting point and then build from there… the tithe is the ground floor, not the ceiling.
BD
Gross, at the very least.
– remember, you can’t outgive God, but you can try!
– I attempt to live on less, so that I can give more (time, talent & treasure).
Gross.
God says to bring the first tenth.
Do you really think God’s going to bless you for trying to find a loophole around what he’s called you to do?
It’s always been said do you want “gross” blessings or “net” blessings… For me it is definitely gross blessings!
God isn’t chincey with His blessings. Imagine if He only gave what was absolutely necessary. I give off the gross of everything that comes in and that includes tax returns. I decided when I started tithing that I’m not going to nickle and dime the Lord; He doesn’t nickel and dime me. Everything I have, I have because He chose to give it to me. It’s really His to begin with. I agree with Patrick. Doesn’t looking for a loop-hole take away the entire spirit of giving from the heart? Can you imagine what the world would be like if every single Christian tithed? WOW!
I’m a gross man myself!
Gross.
If we give off net, then Uncle Sam is getting our first fruits. Jesus doesn’t talk about tithing in the New Testament. He talks about giving it ALL away. Like Chilly and BDD said, it’s the start…the ground floor. Work your way up, baby.
Gross. (I first typed “grass”…what?)
If you have to think about it….you might as well keep it…just sayin’.
So far your answers are all gross and unbiblical.
First, OT tithes were not the minimum starting point of giving except for farmers and herdsmen who lived inside Israel. Craftsmen and tradesmen were only required to give freewill offerings.
Second, although money was expected for meny offerings it was never included in any biblical description of tithes. That is from 16 of l6 texts covering 1500 years from Leviticus to Malachi to Matthew.
Third, NT giving principles of grace and faith are freewill, generous and sacrificial. There is no percentage. Those who argue gross or net are playing games with the truth.
Fourth, God never gave the law of Moses or tithes to the church. 2 Cor 3:10 says that system has zero glory unless blessed by the Holy Spirit and tithing does not come with a Spirit blessing after Calvary.
http://www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com
since all of you seem to be blindly following/singing of the same song sheet I thought I might present a different view point. I am interested in your thoughts Scoot I mean Scott I have noticed you really don’t appear to have many opinions just a pretty blog.
The first mention of tithing was in Genesis 14:20 where Abraham ‘gave tithes of all’ to Melchizedek. Notice how Abraham did this freely and it was not a commandment from God. Then the next mention of tithing is in the mosaic law in Leviticus 27.
So what about the new testament? Is tithing mentioned? Well we can see Jesus apparently endorsing tithes in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42……or is he? Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. (Matthew 23:23)
These scriptures are the ones that people use as proof text that Jesus commanded that we tithe today, but while Jesus was alive he was still operating under the old testament laws and the new testament had not fully been ratified. How do we know this? I would say for two reasons.
Firstly, when Jesus healed people, one of the first things he told them was to show themselves to the priests (Matthew 8:4, Mark 1:44, Luke 5:14, Luke 17:14). This was part of the levitical law (Leviticus 14:2) and we do not have to do this today.
Secondly, Hebrews 9:15-17 makes it clear that a new testament can only come in place after the death of the testator.
15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.
The other references to tithing are in Hebrews 7 which just reference the old testament stating historical fact so again, they are not a commandment to us. 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 give us the principles for giving today. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity (which tithers do); for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor 9:7)
In a sense, it is harder to give from the heart as God sees the motives for why you are giving. There are many people giving tithes to the church out of what they don’t have and as a result, get into real debt. I think the bible says something different.
11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality , that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. (2 Cor 8:11-14)
If you are in serious debt then you should be doing what you can to pay back that money to the loan company and then when you can, then give . This is called good stewardship and should not be seen as ‘not putting God first”. If you don’t have, you can’t give and should not be made to feel guilty for ‘not paying your tithes’. As the scripture above says, there should be equality, but that it not what we see these days. A lot of churches are getting fatter financially and their members are suffering as a result.
Jewish theologians know better than their Christian counterparts. They are well aware that only Levites have the right to receive tithe of the people. After all, the Jewish leaders have the Old Testament as their Scripture and that’s what it commands. And since there is no Temple in existence (and consequently no ordained Levites or Priests serving in a Temple), then a major factor in fulfilling the laws of tithing does not exist in our modern world.
While many Christian ministers today teach that Christians may be in danger of missing salvation itself if they do not pay tithe to the church, Jewish rabbis know better than to say such a thing. They realize that it is biblically improper (actually, it is a blatant disobedience to the laws of the Bible) for anyone to pay or to receive the biblical tithe today. And any minister or ecclesiastical leader who uses the biblical tithe (or any one who pays to a minister the biblical tithe) is a sinner in the eyes of God.
S-DUB! Did you read my blog yesterday? Yours today sounds eerily similar to mine. Hahaha!
I guess for me, the real question isn’t “gross” or “net” or “do” or “do not.” The real question is “How BIG is your God? How MUCH has He shown His love for YOU? In light of both questions, your answers should dictate your response – both in giving and serving.
I DO NOT agree with Russ’ comments above. Christ made it clear in Matthew 5:17-20 God values obediance to His commandments – including the tithe. I DO agree that the tithe should not be limited to 10% only, but should also include sacrificial gifts – the kind that hurts and requires great faith to give. However, 10% IS the standard and we should be careful to teach others otherwise (Matt. 5:19)!
Thanks for all of the comments and perspectives!
What about- Thanks for the feedback on the fact that I have a pretty blog, I would personally say cool instead of pretty; BigIsTheNewSmall is more of the masculine type. Classic Quote
I always have an opinion; whether I always share my opinion is a different story.
I will reference one New Testament passage that you referenced for my thoughts, if I may:
23″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. Mathew 23:23
Notice Jesus said, “You should have practiced the latter (justice, mercy and faithfulness), without neglect the former (tithing).” Since Jesus said not to neglect the former, that being tithing… I believe it’s black and white.
scoot, kyle and others here are some laws from Leviticus which you can find in the Old Testament it’s the first part of the book you are refrencing. I think you guys should get busy reading not just listening.
Don’t let cattle graze with other kinds of Cattle (Leviticus 19:19)
Don’t have a variety of crops on the same field. (Leviticus 19:19)
Don’t wear clothes made of more than one fabric (Leviticus 19:19)
Don’t cut your hair nor shave. (Leviticus 19:27)
Any person who curseth his mother or father, must be killed. (Leviticus 20:9) Have you ever done that?
If a man cheats on his wife, or vise versa, both the man and the woman must die. (Leviticus 20:10).
If a man sleeps with his father’s wife… both him and his father’s wife is to be put to death. (Leviticus 20:11)
If a man sleeps with his wife and her mother they are all to be burnt to death. (Leviticus 20:14)
If a man or woman has sex with an animal, both human and animal must be killed. (Leviticus 20:15-16).
If a man has sex with a woman on her period, they are both to be “cut off from their people” (Leviticus 20:18)
Psychics, wizards, and so on are to be stoned to death. (Leviticus 20:27)
If a priest’s daughter is a whore, she is to be burnt at the stake. (Leviticus 21:9)
People who have flat noses, or is blind or lame, cannot go to an altar of God (Leviticus 21:17-18)
Anyone who curses or blasphemes God, should be stoned to death by the community. (Leviticus 24:14-16)
Romans 6:14. In this passage, Paul is specifically discussing the process of sanctification in the Christian life. After all, those who have been buried with Christ (vv. 1-10) are also dead to sin (vv. 11-23). Verse 14, then, contends that sanctification cannot come from following the Mosaic Law, but rather by grace through Christ. The fact that Paul is speaking of the Mosaic Law in verse 14 is evidenced in 7:4-7. Rather than basing progressive sanctification on the deeds of the Law, Paul stressed that believers are not under the Law. For him the Law was not a means of sanctification any more than it was a means of justification.
EEEEOOOOOEEEEEOOOOOOEEEEEOOOOOOEEEEEOOOOO!
Know what that is? That’s the “2 Timothy 4:3-4 Alarm.”
What about – Thanks for the encouragement to get reading. God knows I need it. While I’m at it, you better get busy scratching your ears.
Kyle – why do you think many Jewish rabbi’s teach the tithe is not in effect until the temple is restored and only then is it to be given to Levite priests?
Whoops there I go again asking a question!
What about – as far as questions go, consider this one: Which side of this issue would you rather err? Which is the greater sin – to give the 10% tithe out of “presumed” obediance to God’s Word or to “presume” you know better and not give it at all?
If I’m wrong on this issue, which I don’t think I am, then in the end, what have I lost? 10% of my income over the course of my life to my church who then used it to further the Gospel, meet the needs of the poor, and help fund other ministries? Is that so bad?
But, on the other hand, what if you’re wrong?
I’d rather face God after erring on the side of obediance to His Word to the best of my abilities rather than a Rabbi’s teaching.
Gross is good, more is better. Oh yea, I am a big fan of a little something called “your tithe goes to YOUR church where you are getting fed”. It concerns me when people say they give their tithe to a tv personality or some other para-church organization!!!
Comments on this are great. I tithe what I am drawn to
Nice topic Scott. You just can’t help it can you? Me neither. (grin)
Hey, what if the rule was, no tithing in cash, just in kind…what would that tithe look like?
I know you said it first, but you didn’t say it like that. (grin)
GROSS BUT GIVE, GIVE, GIVE!
any one [sic] who pays to a minister the biblical tithe is a sinner in the eyes of God.
That may be the greatest thing I’ve ever read.
it’s all religous anyway. 1/2 dozen – 6 the other way
I desire mercy, not sacrifice. let’s not argue – the greatest gift is LOVE!
you can tithe off of gross, but have the heart of stone – and tithe your last penny, but have a heart of love – the real question is – what’s the condition of your heart when you’re giving?
Dang.
Oh, and Scott? Next time, just ask them what their favorite cereal is. MUCH easier
Great Comments my friends. Kyle thanks for being a big part of this small post. BigIsTheNewSmall!
I have found all of this quite amusing. First I run across a blog post where everyone is singing Coom ByeYaa this is what my pastor says no need to read scripture … and examine it for myself. I ask a few questions and present some dissenting thoughts…and wham.
KYLE’s alarm is going off because somebody challenged his brain to think. He assumes I don’t give to my church and to others and wants me to open up my get into heaven insurance policy. Hope yours works dude.
CINDY wants to talk about Cereal.
SCOOT actually took a position on something he blogged about becasue the issue is black and white.
And sweet PATRICK is cracked up by my statement so much so I get top billing on his blog…thank you.
My intent was to challenge the cattle to look up for a moment (from grazing) and to see that there are some very strong arguments against something many of you take as gospel. When scrutinized by a deeper look into scripture we find questions when we truly look at the historical/cultural dynamics. Our answer to often when challenged with something that doesn’t fit nicely into our personal slice of Christianity is ala PATRICK we make fun, or as KYLE put it …say someone has itching ears because they are questioning something… or just ignore because well something is “BLACK AND WHITE.” God has commanded us to examine everything we are taught.
Here is another thing to think about when giving…
Mark 12 30-31 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
That “love your neighbor as yourself” bit always troubles me. Do I love my neighbor like I love myself? Let me review my bank account via the sweet website my credit union (who by the way charges me way to much in banking fees) provides.
Did I buy my neighbor an I-pod? no… did I help with their electric bill? no… did I buy my neighbor OU season tickets like I did for myself? no…did I give them $75 for a night out? no… what about my car payment, did I get a cheaper one so I could take the money saved and get a car for a single mom who works her butt off to make ends meet? no… What about my neighbor who can’t afford to send her kids to camp did I pay for her kid’s enrollment when I paid for mine? no…
Do I love my neighbor like I love myself? Dollar for dollar I spent more on me and my own than on my neighbor. SURELY SURELY!!! Jesus doesn’t expect me to spend as much on them as I do myself?
No He just wants to make sure I give at least 10% maybe or maybe 12% if we can do it. Then someday when the house is paid off, and the kids college is paid off, when we have enough in the bank to feel secure we can do something crazy like reverse tithe…SOMEDAY.
Years ago, I changed from paying tithe on net to gross. I looked at it this way. Do I receive a benefit from my taxes? I have a road to drive on to get to work. I can send my kids to school for free. (even tho I choose not to) I have a military to protect my freedom.
I guess the point is that even though I don’t always agree with how it is spent, Uncle Sam does give me a benefit from what I pay him; therefore, gross is where I fall in this argument.
What about, hey! Get yer own thing! I was here being all sarcastic and confrontational and stuff long before you were…just kidding. The thing that bugs me the most is Scott is now one of the local alien bloggers that can start a firestorm of comment responses by simply asking a simple question or two. He’s done it more than once now, so he joins the ranks with anne jackson. Besides, I think this comment will move this post comment count just above sex and money and just below race. lucky 31 baby!
Sorry Scott, I’m having an “inner wolf” moment. (grin)
Jimmy (grin, laugh)
There seems to be several new readers, welcome and thanks for stopping by.
I think what What about is trying to say in his/her own way is that your standing with God is not dependent on giving 10% of your gross or net. You can in no way shape or form give your way into earning Gods love.
I believe what he/she is trying to say is that we are not to give out of an obligation or from legalistic heart. If I may, What about, he/she is trying to say that we are to share and redistribute the abundance of wealth we have been entrusted with because it is not ours to begin with.
So this question of net or gross is a legalistic questions that makes him/her want to vomit!
What about, if I am off on this feel free to say so. This too is also my opinion.
This is now me giving my two cents. Don’t give to a church, give to a Kingdom!
WOW! TOO MUCH TENSION!
I like how when it comes to the tithe… pastors will always quote the scripture authoritatively and dogmatically… and expect people to obey… but when it comes to the other multiple millions of issues a million times more important than the tithe.. (like the one Jesus was talking about above), that we handle those things more subjectively or practically, for example issues like sin, hell, and judgment…
.
since these subjects are authoritative why do we call those whe speak about them authoritatively as dogmatic fools…
.
I have found that tithing is something easy when you have something worthy of tithing for… and belong too…
.
Hey pastors.. here is an idea…
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Either be as authoritative on the scripture on all the subjects it contains… that way when you do so on the tithe people won’t think your manipulating them, or…
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Just have a ministry and vision that people will naturally want to give to, instead of saving up for the next wave of high def video screens that now have to be paid for… and those ever increasing campus costs, and exresso machines that look oh so cool but are really expensive…
.
doh!
Hey here’s another idea that is relevant, and also teaches people to give…
Since today most churches are taking their cue from the world, how about you guys host a church sponsored type of “Oprah’s Big give”… and example giving… heck you could probably even write it off at the end of the year as a further exemption and knock it out in one shot…
I also know of this fairly high rated show called “Extreme home makeover” or something like that, where they pick really needy and wounded people and build em a house… (I bet they didn’t have much trouble getting people to give to that cause”… all it would probably cost the church is a shameless plug here or ther for some of the people giving…but it is great marketing and priming the pump for giving…
I remember going to a nice lady’s house once when I wnet to Life Church seven years ago, (Cheryl, wow has it been that long) and evaluating costs for improvements for her house to help fulfill a promise when her husband had passed… people came out of the woodworks to give, not to mention while I was there she was giving stuff to me, boy that was humbling… (thanks for the can of coffee, you’ll never know how that act humbled me)…
Anywho… maybe Scott can get a few more hits on this thread, and make everyone feel bad for not giving gross income… gee thanks Scott…;)
10% of whatever you get i.e. gross is the way it should be. Cmon guys we cannot scrimp when it comes to God and should be actually giving more than 10%. I wrote an article on the same and you should check it out at http://www.nela.in/how-to-give-more-when-you-have-less-and-benefit-more-than-ever/ as I am sure it will be a blessing to all.
Finally do note its tithes plus offerings so it is more than 10% any which way you look at it. In fact the more you give, the more you get.
I think there have been some great posts about this sensitive issue. As a Stewardship pastor, I always taught about the tithe, and found out that there were so many different questions and opinions on it. Many people do not understand that the word tithe is a unit of measurement and means literally “one tenth.” I would hear people say they were “tithing” 12%, which showed their misunderstanding.
I like what Andy Stanley has done at his church, rather than using the word tithe, he challenges people to become percentage givers, and also mentions that the Bible had a good starting point of 10%. I like this thinking because so many people get caught up with the tithe, they forget that it is just a starting point, and should increase as our ability to give increases.
Finally, I have to comment on Avery’s post from the 18th where he says “Since today most churches are taking their cue from the world, how about you guys host a church sponsored type of “Oprah’s Big give”.” Oprah took her cue on this idea from the Church, specifically Coast Hills Community Church in Aliso Viejo California. Pastor Denny Bellesi and his wife Leesa came up with a Kingdom Assignment that shocked their congregation, and was the basis of Oprah’s idea. Oprah had the couple on her show in 2003 and profiled their book.
Thanks Jason I didn’t know that… wonder why it took her five years?
Wow… if we effected Oprah with that idea, what about preaching the gospel as if its the only truth that can save people…imagine if she followed suit with that too!
People might actually listen to Oprah, and believe that Jesus Christ, His Word, and His salvation is the only truth…!
As a pastor, there are two things I have never done. I never presented this “new teaching” – as “the tithe,” and I never laid this man-made concoction on the brethren – claiming God requires 10% of one’s gross earnings to go in cash to the local church for life. What I have taught is: “If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1Tim 5:8) and “Owe nothing to anyone” (Ro 13:8). Those calling for this “tithe” are doing so – claiming God’s authority behind their message and often warn of consequences for “robbing God.” One definition of extortion is “to get (money, etc.) by violence, threats, misuse of authority …” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, 1974). This “new teaching” is extortion.
By the way, I have a short “Tithe Test” on my website and at the beginning of my ebook “No Tithe for the Christian”. If one takes it, (maybe 3 minutes) and then grades himself/herself – ones knowledge level on this subject will be immediately apparent.
As a pastor, there are two things I have never done. I never presented this “new teaching” – as “the tithe,” and I never laid this man-made concoction on the brethren – claiming God requires 10% of one’s gross earnings to go in cash to the local church for life. What I have taught is: “If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1Tim 5:8) and “Owe nothing to anyone” (Ro 13:8).
I’am your fan
Well, Scott, you sure know how to stir the messes!
I’m both encouraged and outraged at some of the responses. I do not mind a healthy discussion about any topic, but when one person says another’s opinions are wrong, well…
Then again, being a teacher of sorts, I want to correct incorrect thinking when I see it.
However, my mandate from God is to love, love, love. Love ‘em when they’re right, love ‘em when they’re wrong, love ‘em when they are clueless. Just love ‘em. Let me tell you, when someone is loudly challenging what God has told you, it’s kinda hard to love ‘em.
Gross or net? For my family, after prayer and Bible study, we decided that when we tithe, it will be on the gross. Firstfruits and all. That includes the 168 hours every week that we are given. Percentage? Our OPINION is that God owns it all anyway, so if I give 10% this week and 50% next week in order for people to hear about the saving grace of Jesus Christ and to feel Him loving them through this group of believers, then that’s between me & the Owner.
As for loving your neighbors as yourself, I think it much more important that you’ve loved them into the Kingdom — whether it’s by acts of kindness or camp membership — than providing them everything you have. If a man has everything and misses heaven….
So, there’s my .02 worth. Scott… {FistBump} for a great post!
Net, gross, before taxes, after taxes, 10%, more, are we robbing God?,…
First, I will say I believe in the tithe but not in the Malachi 3:8-9 usage as leveraged by many churches. I’ll elaborate later. I will say now, I believe any pastor invoking Mal 3:8-9 is shamefully in the wrong and borders on extortion.
“Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.” (Mal 3:8-9 ESV)
During the late first century and early second century, before Roman Catholicism, the Jewish-Christian church held the following view:
“Blessed is he that giveth according to the commandment;
for he is guiltless.
Woe to him that receiveth;
for, if a man receiveth having need, he is guiltless;
but he that hath no need shall give an account why and wherefore he received;
and being put in confinement he shall be examined concerning the deeds that he hath done, and {he shall not come out thence until he hath given back the last penny.}
Yea, as touching this also it is said;
{Let thine offering sweat into thine hands, until thou shalt have learnt to whom to give.}”
What commandment? There is no explicit New Covenant commandments regarding giving other than give gladly to him who has a need. Maybe the view was honor the Old Testament command? That could be true for the Jewish-Christians, but what about gentiles? We are gentiles.
The Jerusalem Council ruled gentiles coming into the faith were to adhere to four regulations — do not eat meat sacrificed to idols, do not meat from animals strangled, abstain from blood, abstain from sexual immorality.
Notice tithing is not in the list.
Why did I say “extortion” above? Notice the usage of “the whole nation of you” in Mal 3:9c. This announcement was given to a specific people (Hebrews), of a specific nation (Israel), under obligation to a specific covenant (Mosaic), for which they violated. Of course they were robbing God!
Does the same pastor who invokes Mal 3:8-9 also condemn eating rare steak or tattoos or body piercing? If not, I rest my case.
As I said above, I believe in tithing and more. We are given Abraham’s example. Moreover, since everything belongs to God and God channels provision for the needy through the hands of people, we engage in a form of embezzlement when we keep more than we need to ourselves.
Everything more than we need is to be given to those in need.
Oh! And not necessarily to the church, we can give directly to those in need as our consciences bear witness.
Scott,
My above post is directed toward those who quote as New Covenant principle…
?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. Mathew 23:23
Your opinion: “Notice Jesus said, “You should have practiced the latter (justice, mercy and faithfulness), without neglect the former (tithing).” Since Jesus said not to neglect the former, that being tithing… I believe it’s black and white”
What should be “black & white” and may not be some is this, although above is recorded in the New Testament, it is Old Covenant. The new Covenant had not yet been ratified by the blood of the Lamb.
Have you ever noticed that under the Law, gold & silver (money) was never mentioned in tithe?
Typo correction
What should be “black & white” and may not be to some is this, although above is recorded in the New Testament, it is still Old Covenant era. The new Covenant had not yet been ratified by the blood of the Lamb.
Have you ever noticed that under the Law, gold & silver (money) was never mentioned in tithe?
Pastor’s knowingly & willfully using Mal 3:8-9 to increase church revenue streams reminds of Roman’s use of selling access to relics & indulgences.
GROSS! I’m a single parent and I’ve been faithfully tithing for the past 5 years since I accepted Christ. I remember it was the hardest when I was on welfare getting $321 a month and living in a apartment. I TRUSTED God and now 5 years later and close to a six figure income I have SEEN God’s promised unfold. I believe that trusting God in our finances first opens the door to obedience, increased faith and TRUST in every area of our lives.
Gross – definitely. Here’s a thought on tax refund. Not saying right or wrong – just a thought. When you tithe on gross, you tithed on taxes withheld. Your refund is a fraction of what has been withheld. It seems that tithing on tax refund would actually be offering above and beyond tithe. Simply because you have already paid tithes on taxes withheld. Just a thought. You can never give too much to God!
I tithe off gross – not because I have to or because I’m “scared” of robbing God – I tithe as an outpouring of the love and appreciation I have for God who loved me so much He was willing to give His all. What’s a mere 10% + giving, in comparison. The second tithing becomes a religious noose – stop. We are not under the law but under grace – and grace EMPOWERS us to do what’s right. So – regardless of all the scripture presented on this blog for not tithing – it comes down to heart. Why do we argue over this stuff? It’s just not important. Let’s look to God and love and adore Him – and let that adoration build faith in our hearts to be generous givers who give well and above the minimum 10%.
Be blessed!
Expand your faith!!!
How much do you want God to bless? Do you want Him to bless all of it or only some of it?
Give…
Give back God what is Gods!!!!!!! Our life is nothing. His Purpose is Everything!!!!
I have thoroughly enjoyed this post. If not for the question I would not have run into some other great websites. I will say that I don’t think people expressing their preference of tithing or not tithing is arguing over an issue, it’s just answering the blog post question.
I personally do not believe in tithing. I believe in the laws of seeding and of giving. I think why so many people are passionately expressing their distaste for the way tithing is presented in a lot of modern day churches is because they are not fortunate enough to have a church that actually collects and distribute tithe according to the text in which they invoke. Very little taking care of the poor, or widows, or distributing amongst those in need right there in the church. What we mostly see is tithe being collected for means other than the furthering of the gospel. You can argue that a television spot or new church lighting plays into furthering the gospel, but most of us know better. Also, I have personally heard my own pastor say that if you do not tithe you are not in covenant with God and will not go to heaven. Something is really wrong with the church and I pray we get back to studying in order to present Christ who is the Word in the correct light and not based on this other stuff we have added to God’s word. Remember the warning for those who do add or subtract from the Word?
For most of the gross/netters, the notion of giving to get is really big to them. However whoever gives with the express intention of getting more back in my opinion need a serious character adjustment. This goes against the grain of everything Christ in His selfless sacrifice attempted to teach us. It is not about us! Our money nor our lives are our own and should both be given in service to God and each other. But feel good Christians should also not fail to know God’s Word. He would not want us to be ignorant. As a people grafted in we are in no way under the law, nor as brought out in Charley’s post required to be held to the same law as that of the Jewish nation. As indicated in the New Testament, if you are going to attempt to live under the law you must fulfill all of its obligations; the only one who was able to do so was Christ. If you feel you are up to the challenge, well then by all means knock yourself out.
There was one who stated he wish to err on the side of giving the tithe rather than not giving it. I do not believe you will or will not go to heaven based on this church hang-up, but I would caution that if you are erroneously dividing God’s Word on this issue what else might you be doing that is not of God but of the Religious thought of the day (Pharisaic)?
I think that tithe is a cop out for many lazy saint’s who don’t want to take the time to truly give of their talents and fruits to furthering the kingdom. For some it’s the equivalent for giving $30 to Feed The World organizations in order to ease your conscience when passing by the homeless downtown. Truth is Christ envisioned a Kingdom where nothing belonged to one, but it belongs to all; no one is super wealthy while others are impoverished. It’s the argument for national health care, or welfare, or any other entitlement. Because we all give if we can, but even if we can’t we will all eat, and sleep on a bed, and be free to worship together.
I love God’s Word, in it we are not just sheep, we are also friends of Christ and joint-heirs. We don’t have to just believe what we hear from a pastor, but we can inquire of Christ Himself without a middleman.
Many testify that they paid tithes and I now have a 6 figure salary, for every story like that I can give you one, where someone paid tithes and lived a life in debt and died in debt without anything very significant in the form of worldly riches at all. Tithe is not the key to Kingdom living. If we have that understood then tithe or don’t tithe all you want
SparkWisdom, kudos girl. Your answer is a testimony to the rewards of trusting God and His Word and makes good spiritual sense to those that are listening. The tithe is indeed a trust issue, not a money issue as so many try to make it out to be. I will remember your testimony when I write out my next tithe check .. lol.
I second the praises to SparkWisdom.
I have “tithed” for years. I started with 10% of whatever was written on my paycheck – as well as 10% of every birthday check, Christmas check, wedding or funeral honorarium – and then bumped it up every year after that, trying to increase the percentage (not just the amount) by a little more. God has always been faithful.
It’s not about giving to get. It’s all God’s anyway, right? If your mom bakes you a birthday cake, do you not give her at LEAST one slice from that whole cake as a way of saying thank you? Do you really need to eat that whole cake yourself? Tithing is a thank offering, recognizing God’s gracious bounty extended to you, and recognizing that God always gives us more than we truly “need.”
I tell my congregation that there are tithes, gifts and offerings. If we do not recognize the distinctive natures of each, then we deprive ourselves of some of the blessings of giving. (I don’t claim that these terms are authoritative – other people may use different terms).
Our tithe is our way of saying thank you to God for His gracious abundance towards us. In returning 10% to God – no strings attached (i.e., not designated for a specific purpose) — we are witnessing in a very practical way that God has provided us with more than we need. It is the foundation and the first giving for a Christian, and it is given to the Church, not to a charity, etc.
An offering is what is collected/given in order to contribute towards a need – Katrina evacuees & victims, e.g. This is over and above the tithe, because the motivation and aim is different. We are helping those in need, giving to others out of our abundance just as God does with us.
A gift (just like a birthday or Christmas gift) expresses our personal appreciation for a person or something else. Wealthy people give huge gifts to universities because they appreciate the work those schools do. Someone may give a gift to the youth fellowship for the witness they made over the summer, or to the band or choir for the worship leadership they provided during the revival.
Each of these is a way of stewarding our bounty in a faithful and joyful manner. I think that keeping the distinctions clear in the minds of the congregation goes a long way towards warding off the mentality that would see the weekly offering during worship as the payment of “membership dues.” But apart from the questions above concerning the biblical basis (or not) for tithing – AND apart from the very important, but different, questions of how the pastor asks for money and how the church stewards the money it receives — returning to God 10% (or more) of what He gives you is a very simple, sensible and (I believe) faithful act of thanksgiving for His bounty.
Well, I didn’t read through all of the comments, but the initial 50 or so seem to fall pretty much into one camp or the other – DO tithe (it’s in the Bible) or DON’T tithe (It’s not in the New Testament). While I agree that Jesus’ sacrifice frees us from the obligation to tithe, I also believe that there is a blessing associated with (at minimum) tithing and that blessing is not limited to strictly Jewish boundaries. For more on my opinion and the insight I received, which I believe was from God, check out this post on my blog: http://fftf.1330productions.com/2007/07/17/what-controversy-tithing-vs-offerings/
Once everyone understands that the Bible defines the Holy tithe as food grown from inside the Land of Israel,(Lev 27:30 and Numbers chapter 18) and that it was specified for Levites only, then it is a foregone conclusion, no one has God’s authority to change God’s word by redifining the tithe to money. Once I discovered that a tithe was never money I Resigned From the Doctrine of Tithing so I would not be Judged by God for Changing his Word. Now I give according to the teachings of Paul in the New Covenant.
http://blackchristiannews.com/bloggers/2009/12/how-to-resign-by-dr-frank-chase-jr.html
Charles Spurgeon responded to the question of tithing much better than I ever could have; he said…”But you are not under a system similar to that by which the Jews were obliged to pay tithes to the priests. If there were any such rule laid down in the Gospel, it would destroy the beauty of spontaneous giving and take away all the bloom from the fruit of your liberality! There is no law to tell me what I should give my father on his birthday. There is no rule laid down in any law book to decide what present a husband should give to his wife, nor what token of affection we should bestow upon others whom we love. No, the gift must be a free one, or it has lost all its sweetness.”
Great information! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!