| Author | Message | ||
| Cazperth Registered user Username: Cazperth Post Number: 17 Registered: 4-2013 |
I am sorry if this has been covered already. Do Former Adventists tithe? I am trying to decide if I agree with the practice based on scriptural evidence. I have no problem at all with giving freely to help the less fortunate, and I do. However, I do not want to be emotionally blackmailed into giving a set 10% (which is how I felt at the recent meeting of an evangelical church I started attending) through misquoting of OT passages about first fruits and NT passages that I am sure had no relation to money but were talking about a spiritual storehouse. Sorry I can't give references I am not so well versed in the bible as to recall books and passage numbers. I just feel like if I can't trust them to apply biblical evidence honestly, how can I trust them to spend the money honestly. Kind regards Carolyn | ||
| Nowhitehats Registered user Username: Nowhitehats Post Number: 83 Registered: 4-2010 |
I do not pay a 10% tithe (tax) but give freely, from the heart, not under compulsion. Here is an online article that summarizes how I now understand tithing vs. free will giving. Billboards, Slot Machines, and Robbing God | ||
| Lyrical Registered user Username: Lyrical Post Number: 177 Registered: 4-2012 |
Tithing is not a NT Christian command, requirement, or expectation. We are only encouraged to give as we are able... 1 Cor. 16:2 "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made." Heb 7:5 "Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who became priests to collect a tenth from the people - that is, from their fellow Israelites - even though they also are descended from Abraham." Note: As New Covenant Christians, we are no longer under "the law." The order of Levi doesn't apply to us, nor is the temple system still in effect. The Levi's were commanded to collect a tenth from the Israelites, of which we are not... And, at that, the tenth was not money. It was the harvest/grain/food! Many Christian churches have gotten caught in the "tithing trap" because it's a way to ensure income into the church. I don't think many churches realize this motivation or the underlying fear they have of becoming broke if they were to teach against mandatory tithing. It has become part of the infrastructure of the financial workings of the business side of the church. Tithing completely removes the motivation for giving as being an outpouring of the transformation of the converted, Spirit-filled heart. Perhaps the churches wouldn't "thrive" or become mega-churches if they relied only on the converted... | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 3071 Registered: 7-2007 |
Carolyn; when someone told me that tithing wasn't in the New Covenant (New Testament), I read through it to see if that was true. I didn't find anything about tithing at all, so I quit doing that... Some churches are mixed up as bad as the SDA church, when it comes to legalism. They teach tithing and teach that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday when it wasn't changed at all. It was fulfilled. Jesus is now our Sabbath Rest! For the SDA church to teach it isn't surprising because they include so much of the obsolete Old Covenant in their doctrines already! Have you noticed how hypocrital their quoting of Matthew 5:17-18 is? Jesus said that "not an iota, not a dot" would pass from the law until it was fulfilled; so why aren't they offering sacrifices? I mean, that's part of the law and the prophets and they claim that the law WASN'T fulfilled. (Also, I don't remember if this subject has been covered or not, but it doesn't hurt to cover things over again because there are new people on/reading the forum all the time and it's also a good reminder for those of us who've been on it a long time!  ) | ||
| Punababe808 Registered user Username: Punababe808 Post Number: 419 Registered: 4-2012 |
The Lord loves a cheerful giver. The SDB church I attended when I lived in California had a basket on the.back table with that on a notecard. Worked out fine. The basket collected enough to cover what the money was ment to cover. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9996 Registered: 3-2004  |
The Calvary Chapel I attend has a box with a slot on it for offerings. This box is on a table at the back of the church. The box has the word "tithe" on it, but the minister never mentions tithe or offerings. Diana (Message edited by Flyinglady on April 29, 2013) | ||
| Kbuhler Registered user Username: Kbuhler Post Number: 18 Registered: 4-2013 |
Interesting discussion. The church I just started going to had a big deal on tithing yesterday. At first I was a little put off...but was impressed with the humility the tithe is spent in that church, the spiritual and financial blessings members talked about in the testimony service when they started tithing. There was no manipulation like I've experienced in SDA churches. Everyone is allowed to determine what "tithe" is for them. It seems for most who spoke up about this the message was loud and clear...you can't out give God....and the faith walk it took to make those decisions had enhanced their spiritual walk with Jesus. I didn't hear any "I'll pay my tithe so God will give me everything I want" attitude. I haven't been real faithful with tithe, and that is an area that needs to be addressed...trusting God to provide for my needs. I went home blessed and encouraged not to have such a strangle hold on my Finances...and let more of God into them. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 14398 Registered: 12-2003  |
Lyrical, I thought your post really summed things up. I agree; many churches are afraid not to teach tithing. Yet when people are born again, the desire to give to God's work as He impresses one is something that flows out of him. Great point, too, about the levitical tithing laws being completely different from the tithing taught today by so many Christians. The New Testament actually holds us to an even higher standard than did the OT law. In the New Covenant, everything we have is God's; He asks us to give sacrificially, and He takes responsibility for impressing us with how He wants us to give. Colleen | ||
| Kbuhler Registered user Username: Kbuhler Post Number: 19 Registered: 4-2013 |
BTW...I learned when our SDA church plant had reached it's 5 year experiment,that it takes $7000.00/month to support a pastor, who of course doesn't see hardly a fraction of that amount. We got dropped because we weren't able to come up with that much tithe. Our pastor ended up dropping out of SDA and staying with our church. That left lots of money to put toward community service, and benevolent needs. We were able to operate a free medical clinic, pay morgtages for people who had lost jobs, etc. We also had a box on a table for tithe...but money never mentioned. | ||
| Cazperth Registered user Username: Cazperth Post Number: 18 Registered: 4-2013 |
Thank you for the replies. It looks like I am back to "church shopping". Why is it SO difficult to find a church that simply follows the New Testament? It was this kind of hypocrisy that turned me from religion and God and caused me to be lost for so long. I will pray and keep looking. and if anyone knows of a true NT church in Perth, Australia please let me know. | ||
| Angel9 Registered user Username: Angel9 Post Number: 7 Registered: 5-2013 |
Wow, Kbulher... that tells you a lot about the main SDA church, doesn't it? I've often wondered why the local church seems to need so much money. It's really sad to me how corrupt the SDA church is at it's roots. I recently read some testimony from Canright, and it gave me a perspective on the turmoil even back then at the very beginning. Nothing that has evil as a foundation can ever be good. And as you all know, it's gotten much worse, and it appears they're making a LOT of money. I wonder who gets most of it?? Cazperth ~ I am also searching for a church. Looking at the map, it appears you have many churches in your area. I've found the best way is to find their website, explore their beliefs, and then visit. Have faith that God will guide you. Best wishes in your search! | ||
| Punababe808 Registered user Username: Punababe808 Post Number: 437 Registered: 4-2012 |
The gospel stays the same. My suggestion is to find a church that sticks to the gospel and from there look at policy. For instance there are 38 recognized Lutheran denominations. All hold the basic gospel and basic core tenants of Christianity. However, policy is from one end to the other. I was unaware of the big differences and ended up attending a Lutheran church that was so different from my understanding that I disconnected myself from that church and now when I'm across the island i attend a Lutheran church that doesn't exclude certain groups of people and when I stay local on Sundays I attend a UCC church. Look for truth first then policy. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 3090 Registered: 7-2007 |
I like the non-denominational Christian churches, myself... but whatever church you pick, just make sure that it has the basics - salvation through Christ alone! | ||
| Cazperth Registered user Username: Cazperth Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2013 |
Hi I just wanted to share with you where God is guiding me. I was connected with a former Anglican priest who now has a street ministry and house church. We are reaching out to people that would not usually go to a church. We meet in coffee shops and even a gay bar to befriend sinners and give a message of hope to those who think they are beyond saving. I think this is where Jesus would be reaching out to people if he were on earth today. Andrew has written a small book that illustrates his point using John 4:1-48, the Samaritan woman at the well. Yes, Asurprise it is salvation through Christ alone and what a beautiful message that is! God bless. | ||
| Doc Registered user Username: Doc Post Number: 752 Registered: 2-2003  |
Cazperth, Sounds great! We are doing something similar with Hungarian Gypsies in small villages. Seeing conversions and miracles too! Adrian |
