Comments on: Why is Giving Down?

By: Giving Statistics | Tithing & Stewardship

Giving Statistics | Tithing & Stewardship — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:23:59 +0000

[...] will make you think, question, and doubt the responsibility of your leaders. I will admit, these giving statistics are not pretty, but i hope they make you re-think some things about stewardship in the Church [...]

By: Toddo

Toddo — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:48:13 +0000

It grieves me that so many (most) churches REQUIRE tithing to become a member and to be accepted into the local church. I know of a number of churches in my area that require believers to sign a card vowing to tithe…such coercion! Giving of any amount that doesn’t cheerfully come from the heart is not pleasing in the eyes of God

By: tithe

tithe — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:02:28 +0000

Glenn,
you misunderstand the issue at hand here. No one is bothered that people are giving 10% of their income. Just like no one is bothered that people are still being circumcised. The problem is the enforcement of tithing on people. As long as tithing is enforced on people, then i will fight back against it.

I am not standing up for my cause. This is the word of God i’m standing up for. You said it yourself, ‘we are no longer under the law of tithing’ and yet you have no backbone to stand up against those who rob widow’s houses. Maybe that’s not a cause worthy enough to stand up for. I don’t know, why don’t you see the response of Jesus in Matthew 23.

-jared

By: Glenn

Glenn — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:39:18 +0000

As a Pastor that loves Gods Church I feel it is so sad when Christians fight over an issue that should unite us not divide. Giving is a form of worship to God, who can forget the words of Jesus about the old widow with a couple of pennies.

It is very simple and this is what we teach our church:

1/ Be a cheerful giver with a good heart.
2/ Tithing is a God given pricipal that we can choose to use in our giving but we are no longer under the law of tithing.
3/ Know way in the NT does it say tithing is wrong.

I would say to both camps on this issue please don’t teach or make out the NT teaches Yes or No on tithing, instead show the maturity we should all show to one another that if one chooses to tithe thats OK, if one chooses not to, then make sure your giving is still from the heart.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:43:08 +0000

Maybe…it’s as simple as God’s people live in a world where unemployment has risen. The unemployed can’t give…even if they believe they should.

By: Toddo

Toddo — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:14:53 +0000

Mike…such vitriol in your tone! Forgive me if I responded to you in that way.

A couple of points:

I started with the desire to learn what the Bible says about stewardship. After much study God revealed to me through His word that the mandatory payment of a tithe is not binding on the Church. You are incorrect to assume that I (and perhaps others) BEGAN with the premise that tithing is not for today.

You are also incorrect to assume that I do not give 10%- in fact I give more that a tenth, though I am not obligated by the Scripture to do so. I do it voluntarily and cheerfully. THAT’s Biblical!

I am certainly no “bible expert”, just a sincere follower of Christ. However, there are many true Bible scholars/theologians who have reached the same conclusion regarding tithing.

Regarding grace, I know that I could have fellowship with you as a believer, even with your view on tithing. Could you do the same? If not, you need to evaluate if you are capable of extending grace to others.

Blessings.

Toddo

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:15:41 +0000

I CORRECTED MY SPELLING ON THIS ONE BEFORE YOU ATTACK ME ON THAT ALSO !
I just love all this talk about LEGALISM. You ‘ Bible Experts’ don’t even know what LEGALISM is.
By definition : Legalism is a religious system of good works whereby a person hopes to obtain salvation. Legalism is follwing the law in order to be saved.
Next time you throw legalism around use it is context.
By the way - all you GRACE GIVERS…
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Grace is an OT/NT truth. You people make me laugh with your lack of understanding. You start with the belief that tithing is wrong and then twist truth to justify your sin.
By the way - I’d love to see your GRACE GIVING record just once. Not only would I guess that your NOT tithing - I would venture to say that your not GRACE GIVING either.
God Bless you wonderful know it alls !

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:13:21 +0000

I just love all this talk about LEGALISM. You ‘ Bible Experts’ don’t even know what LEGALISM is.
By definition : Legalism is a religious system of good works whereby a person hopes ot obtain salvation. Legalism is follwing the law in order to be saved.
Next time you thorw legalism around use it is context.
By the way - all you GRACE GIVERS…
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Grace is an OT/NT truth. You people make me laugh with your lack of understanding. You start with the belief that tithing is wrong and then twist truth to justify your sin.
By the way - I’d love to see your GRACE GIVING record just once. Not only would I guess that your NOT tithing - I would venture to say that your not GRACE GIVING either.
God Bless you wonderful know it all !

By: Donald

Donald — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:49:11 +0000

If giving was done in the NT manner of the 2nd Corithians chapters 8 & 9 passages, which is grace giving or giving in the age of grace, I don’t believe giving would be down at at all.

Mike

Those passages are Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees’ self-righteouness not instructions for tithing.

That is legalism.

Those are weak proof-texts in isolation for the purpose of building a doctrine tithing from the New Testament.

No honest expositor or student of scripture can look objectively at a single New Testament passage or text of scripture, and pull tithing out from their.

By: Toddo

Toddo — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:52:39 +0000

I have to respond to Mike. Your attitude is a perfect example of the kind of OT style legalism that has infected the NT church since the 6th century. Prior to that, the early Church gave their money, not to building projects, staff salaries, etc., but to aid the poor and the widows.

Perhaps you might want to go to the website: shouldthechurchteachtithing.com to discover what God teaches the NT church regarding our finances. Allow God to fill your heart with grace, rather than judgment and condemnation.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:23:10 +0000

Caring for widows and orphans from those tithes is also Biblical. Not to care for these people is non-Biblical. ‘Devouring widows houses’ ? I am sorry that a pastor somewhere let you down but we must stick with the Bible.

Jesus taught tithing. Mt 23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Lu 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

We are to tithe. This is an OT and NT truth. We are also to give offerings - thus we give God more than ‘10%’. A proper understanding of tithing begins with the fact that ALL 100% belongs to God. As a steward we are to oversee EVERYTHING God has given to us.

By: tithe

tithe — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:13:43 +0000

Mike. . . Mike. . . Mike. . . (sigh),

What makes you think that God is happy with 10%? What makes you think that pastors devouring widows houses and forcing them to tithe is holy?