mkh_77 said:
There is a tax benefit to tithing as well, so there is really no distinction but the one you make when you choose to use the word "tithe" instead of "give".
I agree. It's personal, and I don't believe God cares if we give 0% or 100%, he cares about what's in our hearts. Some people don't have anything to give but their faith and devotion (the intangibles), and as I've asked many times before, are they going to be penalized because they are poor? Will God love them any less?! Additionally, along with free will comes common sense, and if I have a starving child and $20, I'll do everything in my power to feed my child before I give $20 to a church without the fear that God will punish me for having done so.
Since tithing isn't a requirement for Christians, I think it's unfortunate that people are looked down on for not tithing or believing that tithing creates/supports a relationship with God. Just a way to create more division.
You're absolutely correct about getting tax benefits for tithing as well. That's yet another reason to do it!
And with regard to what people can give, people can tithe their time if they don't have finances. The church needs money to run, e.g., lights, gas, etc. So I believe the Lord would have us to give money toward the running of the house of God because money is the modern-day necessity for the exchange of goods and services. The issue is that everybody ain't saved and there are some crooked people out there who take advantage of this, that's why it's important to know and be clear with the Lord where you're worshipping financially, if you will.
You asked about the poor being penalized because they are poor. Well, we know the Bible says the poor will be with us always:
Matthew 26:11:
For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always
; Mark 14:7: For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always;
John 12:8: For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
And, the Bible says very much about compassion toward the poor, giving to the poor. The Bible says in
Proverbs 19:17 that He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. And there are many ways to do this.... both through in-church programs as well as other programs worldwide. Again, just as I said earlier, it matters where you give so you are sure that your funds are being used properly.
You said: "and if I have a starving child and $20, I'll do everything in my power to feed my child before I give $20 to a church without the fear that God will punish me for having done so."
Here's another, how shall I say, misapplication with regard to the balance of tithing versus personal survival. Of course, God nor a decent human being would want a child or adult to suffer and starve. By definition, to tithe would be 10 percent, or in this case, $2 would go to tithes. So how much does it take to feed a child with $18? This is an example more of being a wise steward over the finances that one has been given. And as I said before, if one may not have finances, then one could tithe in other ways. Also, where's does one's FAITH to give enter in a situation like the one described here? I know we're all at different levels, but if we truly believe God's word, then there's gotta be a point where we draw the line to say, Lord, I trust Your Word to tithe and give BEYOND my need.... I'm reminded of the widow in 1 Kings 17, which talks about the story of the widow who, with her son, were preparing to eat their last meal and die:
The Widow at Zarephath
7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" 11 As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
12 "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die."
13 Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.' "
15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"
19 "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!"
22 The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!" 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth."
Finally, you said: "Since tithing isn't a requirement for Christians, I think it's unfortunate that people are looked down on for not tithing or believing that tithing creates/supports a relationship with God. Just a way to create more division."
I can speak for me that I'm not looking down at anyone for not tithing, but I share passionately out of my concern and hope that people realize that there's even more goodness and blessing in the Lord through the principle of tithing. I believe it does SUPPORT a relationship with the Lord. There are already PLENTY of divisions in the body of Christ. It would seem like this one would be a no-brainer, since tithing goes toward the furtherance of building the Kingdom of God through much-needed finances along with the personal relationship with the Lord.
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