Dave, you make a great assumption when you say “often”! It would better be said: “There are a few”. In the bigger picture Dave, the majority of people who hold to that biblical princple do it with a good heart.
Fortunately, the tither always has Romans 8:28 going for him, among many other positive teachings on giving. So, as I think David is pointing out, the onus of fiscal responsibility rests on the church leadership. It’s the tither’s job simply to give back to the Lord that portion of what is already His, in faith and with a smile in his heart.
I agree that, by and large, the malfeasance David illustrates is probably relatively rare. In most churches, I think fiscal irresponsibility is caused by short-sightedness and ignorance, or sometimes by a crippling lack of trust and faith. But not greed. Thankfully.
It is wrong to require people to tithe. It is wrong to imply that there are financial rewards for tithing. Leadership can, and SOME do, take wrongful advantage of these false teachings and practices.
Can you, in a nutshell, deconstruct “tithing” and say why it is wrong or will not be rewarded by God?
A tither my whole life…based on what I was taught using a couple of “pro-tithe” and “pro-reward” verses of Scripture…I’ve recently started questioning whether this is a false teaching.
Can you point me to any resources as I wrestle with the concept?
Thanks.
Are you feeling better yet? Hope you’re on the mend…
I can tell you why tithing is “wrong”. Because it is based on the bible (religious tradition) independent of human reasoning. If the bible prescribed eating glass we would be discussing that also.
True story: When I was a believer in church back in the mid 80’s, I tithed at least 10% every payday by writing a check. As I “grew” in my faith, I decided that it was not any ones business how much I gave, so I started putting cash in an unmarked envelope and placing that in the offering plate twice a month. A month or so after I started doing that, a close friend of mine in church came to me and asked if everything was ok. Sure, why? He said the church leadership (pastor and deacons) were concerned for my spiritual well being because I had stopped tithing. I informed him that I was still tithing.
I soon stopped tithing. I began saving my tithe and when a need in the church family arose (someone need money for medical, food, rent, etc) I would just give that person in need some money. There were times I gave people $300-$400 dollars, rather than tithe.
Is it not the case that the only reason Christians give to their church is because of some words in their bible? If that is the case, then it would not matter what the bible said to do, Christians would do it.
On a side note, I had read years ago that the Hebrews in the Old Testament gave their tithe to the Levitical Priests, which were in charge of enforcing the laws of the faith, and that was, in essence, a tax. So, every tax paying Christian today gives his or her tithe when they pay their taxes to the local, state, and federal government, who is in charge of enforcing the laws. What they should give their church is a gift, or just pay dues if they like. They have already paid their tithe to the government.
Ministers say that they teach charity. This is natural. They live on alms. All beggars teach that others should give.–Robert G. Ingersoll
I know there are some, but most pastors I know don’t have too many feathers in their nest.
But that’s irrelevant. A true teaching of tithing has nothing to do with how much a pastor makes. It’s not for the benefit of the pastor. It’s for the benefit of the giver.
David Hayward is a pastor artistically stripping to the essential.
Good one!!
charge for the laying on of hands…
sell “holy water”…
build a “Sodom and Gomorrah” themepark…
we are limited only by our creativity, right?
Giddy up! Let’s ride the Tithing Horse! Don’t mistake tithing with the snake oil freaks out there! By the way, tithing was established before the law!
I love riding horses. Especially dead ones!
Did I tell you I love your cartoons?
Are you really implying that tithing is “about” feathering someone’s nest?
Fred: often, yes.
Dave, you make a great assumption when you say “often”! It would better be said: “There are a few”. In the bigger picture Dave, the majority of people who hold to that biblical princple do it with a good heart.
Fortunately, the tither always has Romans 8:28 going for him, among many other positive teachings on giving. So, as I think David is pointing out, the onus of fiscal responsibility rests on the church leadership. It’s the tither’s job simply to give back to the Lord that portion of what is already His, in faith and with a smile in his heart.
I agree that, by and large, the malfeasance David illustrates is probably relatively rare. In most churches, I think fiscal irresponsibility is caused by short-sightedness and ignorance, or sometimes by a crippling lack of trust and faith. But not greed. Thankfully.
It is wrong to require people to tithe. It is wrong to imply that there are financial rewards for tithing. Leadership can, and SOME do, take wrongful advantage of these false teachings and practices.
David,
Can you, in a nutshell, deconstruct “tithing” and say why it is wrong or will not be rewarded by God?
A tither my whole life…based on what I was taught using a couple of “pro-tithe” and “pro-reward” verses of Scripture…I’ve recently started questioning whether this is a false teaching.
Can you point me to any resources as I wrestle with the concept?
Thanks.
Are you feeling better yet? Hope you’re on the mend…
I can tell you why tithing is “wrong”. Because it is based on the bible (religious tradition) independent of human reasoning. If the bible prescribed eating glass we would be discussing that also.
True story: When I was a believer in church back in the mid 80’s, I tithed at least 10% every payday by writing a check. As I “grew” in my faith, I decided that it was not any ones business how much I gave, so I started putting cash in an unmarked envelope and placing that in the offering plate twice a month. A month or so after I started doing that, a close friend of mine in church came to me and asked if everything was ok. Sure, why? He said the church leadership (pastor and deacons) were concerned for my spiritual well being because I had stopped tithing. I informed him that I was still tithing.
I soon stopped tithing. I began saving my tithe and when a need in the church family arose (someone need money for medical, food, rent, etc) I would just give that person in need some money. There were times I gave people $300-$400 dollars, rather than tithe.
Is it not the case that the only reason Christians give to their church is because of some words in their bible? If that is the case, then it would not matter what the bible said to do, Christians would do it.
On a side note, I had read years ago that the Hebrews in the Old Testament gave their tithe to the Levitical Priests, which were in charge of enforcing the laws of the faith, and that was, in essence, a tax. So, every tax paying Christian today gives his or her tithe when they pay their taxes to the local, state, and federal government, who is in charge of enforcing the laws. What they should give their church is a gift, or just pay dues if they like. They have already paid their tithe to the government.
Ministers say that they teach charity. This is natural. They live on alms. All beggars teach that others should give.–Robert G. Ingersoll
I know there are some, but most pastors I know don’t have too many feathers in their nest.
But that’s irrelevant. A true teaching of tithing has nothing to do with how much a pastor makes. It’s not for the benefit of the pastor. It’s for the benefit of the giver.
Dave, so if I am a tither – are you saying that I am following a false doctrine?
john: no.