Bible Discussion Thread

There is nothing in the New Testament commanding a follower of Christ to tithe;period. Stop lying on GOD and telling people that tithing and giving an offering is the same thing.If you feed people things that the Bible does not say.that,s antichrist speaking.'God says H e loves a cheerful giver,not a cheerful tither. Revelation 22:18&19,2 Tim.4:1-3.All scripture is given by inspiration of GOD;not man.when I think about tithing i think about Exodus 35and36 when the people were told to stop bringing.GOD,s people will give without being told.GOD Bless.

You're quite correct James; tithing was an OT practice & of course, offerings are generally regarded as gifts aside from tithes. "That every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" ( 2 Cor 9:7). So we are advised to give out of the willingness & cheerfulness of our hearts, so whether our gifts are big or small, it is God that will multiply & use it for His Purposes. However, tithing is a good way to guide believers, particularly new ones, as to responsible giving. After all, 10% is not much, & for those struggling to even give this, then they can give what they can cheerfully, or even see the Lord "pour them out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" ( Mal 3:10). I knew a young man, who gave 30% of his salary & then put aside some for the provision to missionaries. May have been a big sacrifice, but he never had a shortfall. He is Faithful.

Hi Chris: tithing is under the Jewish Law, we Gentiles were never part of the Jewish law or the convenant God made to the Jews, so to teach new belivers to tithe as part of giving is confusion, and confusion is not of God ( Ist Cor 14:33 ) your intentions might mean well, however 2nd Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of truth. Pauls revelation was given to him by Christ himself, we are told Today we are under grace not the law. Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

This is for chris:I didn,t comment on tithing being anywhere in Ephesians.That,s number one.number two what I said is scripture.You don,t have to add anything else to it.GOD Bless you and keep the faith.Faith is from GOD.And like I said;by faith of Abraham,Law given through Moses and by grace we have been saved through faith.The promise was given to Abraham before the Law was given through Moses .GOD would never go back on His promise to the Father of many nations through His SEED, JESUS CHRIST.SEED not seeds.By the Law no one will be saved:Scripture alone;Christ alone;Grace alone;Faith alone;Glory of GOD alone.GOD Bess.

James: No.1. I didn't comment on Ephesians 3 either. You might have mistakenly assumed that from the strange, usually incorrect, subject that follows our names around. Maybe, the post had its roots in Ephesians at the beginning.

And No.2. I couldn't grasp your point & relevance to Tithing. I did say that Tithing was an OT requirement not found in the NT. However, since it was given & sanctioned by the LORD, it must be a worthy model/rule of thumb for us to follow, IF WE DESIRE TO. The Lord be with your spirit, too.

Rod,

Tithing was more strict under Jewish ceremonial law but it started before the law with Abram and Melchizedek. Tithing is very much for today, Chris is right. However, its dependent on our trust in God. Besides the promise of Malachi 3:10, we read in gospels how even though Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for leaving out judgment and mercy, he commended them for the tithe. But that is a secondary issue and not to take precedent above the former. Besides in Hebrews 7:8 the Bible says "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth"

In other words Jesus still receives our tithes in Heaven as a pattern of how it worked under the law. Giving of our tithe or our firstfruits of our increase shows God our faith in Him that he will provide for us, plus giving of our tithes also shows that we are faithful in the "least of things", bible says money is the least of things and that if we can trust Him in that arena he can entrust us more

Hi Travis: Thanks for responding, yes Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, which was before the Law, and he did it out of his free will being there was no law to say otherwise, but when the law came it was a command for the Jews to bring in there tithes unto the Lord, never was it required for the Gentiles to bring tithes unto the Lord, so why do you say it is for us today? Also where was money instituted as a tithe? it was of there crops, fruit and herds, as I read plainly in scripture, never did I read money under the old Testament Law. Question who changed it to money? 2nd Question - (you say tithing is for us today) my question is, which Gospel are you following? I look foward to your response.

Hey Travis;peace be unto you.Again about tithing;Preachers should never read anything into the Bible,but read from the Bible.What the Bible says not what they want it to say.Tithing was for the Jews not for us believers in Christ.You see GOD divides the whole human race into three distinct groups--the Jews,the Gentiles and the Church of GOD.WE are the church,both Jew and Gentile,who by faith have received the LORD JESUS CHRIST and been born from above.The Jews;not us are the only ones who were ever commanded to pay tithes.As far as Mal.3:10 goes I suggest you read John Gill,s commentary on that passage,you will get clarification.Now quickly;When GOD said if I will not open you the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing,that there shall not be room enough to receive it.He was talking about opening up the Heavens and send rain for the crops.The preacher using the curse threat;GOD don,t curse what He has already blessed.Ephesians !:3 says that we are blessed with all spiritual bles

James, just to clarify the reference I made to Mal 3:10: the pouring out of blessing by the LORD may well have been a deluge of rain for the crops (but this is not the point in that Scripture). The point is that because the people were encouraged to bring their tithes (probably crops, animals, etc.) into God's storehouse, and if they did so, He would reciprocate with blessings. Likewise, when we give cheerfully to the Lord's Work (whether by way of tithe or as we feel led to give), or even over & above what we can afford to, we know that the Lord will still meet our needs (in whatever way He chooses). It really boils down to the measure of faith we have in the Lord for doing what seems impossible to man. I just put this in as it directly applies to my comment as it does to Travis'.

James, very well said.

N.T. believers are not commanded to tithe. Many today are being taught that they must tithe and give 10 percent of their income to the church. I know of at least one group that has an annual sit down audit of their members, and they have to show proof that they gave what their church told them to give. From my understanding on what was commanded of the Jews, it didn't mean just money, it was 10 percent of everything they owned. I don't know of anyone today who does that. I am not against tithing if people wish to tithe. But I think that is between them and the Lord. A person should only give if the Lord puts it on their heart to give, not out of obligation.

Amen Well said James Brooks!