Two points to consider: #1. The Tithe was 10% of the increase of the land - it was agricultural products, not money. The Tithe was never money! Only the land owner or herd owner or grove owner could participate in the Tithe, because it was not the hired hand's property to give. The Tithe was taken to Jerusalem (or designated place) once per year for two years, and there was a giant feast that the Levite priests, the orphans, widows, and aliens were invited to. The Tither was there also. The leftovers (which was most of it!) stayed with the Levites in their storehouse. The 3rd year the Tithe was kept in the hometown for the local Levites,orphans, etc..
#2 There is a difference between Tithes and Offerings. The instance cited in the article (the old lady) is a great example of an offering - but the article is about Tithing. Christians are called to generously give freewill offerings. To answer the question posed: no, Christians are not called to Tithe. They should always give!

Oops...We do NOT compare...corretion there.

I would like to make something else very clear. We give financially to our church and other charities throughout the world. We do compare the percentage of what we gave to our overall income. We give and rejoice that we are able to do so and help those out that are less fortunate. It is definately a blessing to give and, without waiting or expecting anything from the Lord in return.

B.L.J. & Furnituremaker...right/write on Brothers. It is so refreshing to hear other believers rightly divide the Word of God. I am worn out with the trite phrases and redundant mantras of the tithing crowd but never the pure Word of God. I am tired of leaving church on Sunday morning after hearing the pastor or teacher rebuke the members for not tithing. Some of the single mothers that I know, or the families that can barely drive to church leave the building so depressed that they are "stealing" from the Lord.

However, it is up to each member of the body to work out their own salvation. We must diligently search the scriptures to make sure that what we hear is true. Just because a pastor or elder says something is from the Bible and the truth, we shouldn't believe it because of their position in the church. The Word also says that we have no need of anyone to teach us since the Holy Spirit will be our teacher and guide.

He is the best there is so trust Him.

I grew up in a house of eight, parents included. My mother and father set a great example, therefore I didn't know difference and it's never, ever hurt me to give my 10%. First of all, WE never went hungry and God always, always provided for us. It might sound so called typical for a long-time Christian to be saying this but it's the truth. Not until lately, and i mean in the past few years have I experienced what a real blessing it is to GIVE. I love it and I get excited giving. God gave Jesus to us, we'll never ever be able to repay him.....he owns the world and everything in it. Why are we arguing??? If we have a genuine relationship with our Maker and he asks something of us, we are to do it...it's called obeying. If we don't want to obey, we'll always find an excuse or a verse or a reason not to.
How is a church to be God's hands and feet if it doesn't have the funds? How would it keep a pastor? or the necessary staff?
How would it stay open....if we all had the same mentality?

I am one of those who has spoken out against tithing as a rule or law. Again, I am not against anyone giving 10% or 100% IF they can meet the needs of their family first. I oppose this tradition Biblically and cannot see how anyone can justify it in the New Covenant! It is not GIVING that I oppose!!
We are also straying into a much larger area called "authority". This doctrine seems to feel that there are some believers who are much more able to determine what other believers should do. Yes there are teachers, preachers, evangelists, etc. but we are to submit to one another. Paul opposed Peter for his error. We are to try all the spirits. We are to work out our own salvation in fear and trembling. Truth is never sacrificed for unity. We are free to think for ourselves and judge for ourselves based on scripture and the leading of the Spirit. I am very wary of anyone that wants to tell me how to vote, how to use money and what to eat and drink etc. Jesus set me free from the priesthood

(3) Jesus could not have told his Gentile converts to tithe because it would not have been accepted from them.



“There are many practices in the Old Testament that don’t make sense to us today, yet many of these ancient ways carry over to the New Testament law of grace as part of Christ’s promise to not abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17) – in other words, just because something is written in the Old Testament doesn’t mean it lacks application to us today in some way or another.”



Please tell us what principle of interpretation you use to determine which of these to carry over into the New Covenant? This is crucial. Like you said, animal sacrifices and circumcision are not found in the New Covenant to the Church – but neither is Sabbath-keeping, unclean foods or tithing! You need to pick a hermeneutic and be consistent with it. Storehouse tithing could not possible be taught in the New Covenant because the church had no “storehouse".

“Just like God tells us to keep sex within marriage, to love one another and to seek first His kingdom, tithing is a blessing to our lives” – in the Old Covenant custom you could have unmarried sex with your slave or concubine. Tithes are included in these abolished customs.

“He will help us escape the curse that is already in the world if we do tithe” – the only curse in the New Covenant is adding to the Gospel which Paul preached and he never taught tithing.



“I also understand that there may be some church leaders who try to guilt and coerce people into giving” --- “some”???

“The tithe is also referenced in the New Testament -- in Matthew 23:23 -- neglecting the more important issues of justice, mercy and faith.”

You have just committed three great errors: (1) Mt 23:23 is NOT New Covenant because it occurs before Calvary. (2) Like most tithe-teachers who quote this text, you omitted three important words --- OF THE LAW.

Although money was an essential part of worship, it was never included in over 1500 years of tithing from Leviticus to Matthew.



“When we are able to release at least 10% of our income” is not a New Covenant statement. God did not even require OT laborers such as carpenters, fishermen and tentmakers to tithe because their products were man-made and did not come from the land of Israel.



“Everything we have has been given to us by Him” is true but it is never used as a reason for tithing in the Bible. God would not accept tithes from pagan defiled land outside of Israel.



“10% doesn’t even feel like enough” is not a sentiment of those in poverty who cannot feed and shelter their families. Fist Timothy 5:8 still has priority.



“Do God’s standards really keep us in bondage?” assumes that tithing was God’s standard when it was only such for farmers and herdsmen living inside national Israel. It was not a standard then and it is not a standard now.

Is Tithing for the New Testament Believer? Cortni Marrazzo, Crosswalks
Tithing is restricted to the Old Covenant unless the Holy Spirit simply forgot to inspire it through any writer to the Church after Calvary. Mt 23:23/Lk 11:42 do not count because they are discussing “matters of the law” before Calvary.

It is neither a “bad” thing nor a “good” thing for today’s believer – it is a “nothing” because no texts teach it to the church.

Neither is it a “matter of the heart.” In the Law it was a strict commandment that did not involve the heart. NT giving is sacrificial, generous, joyful, not by commandment and motivated by love for God and others. There is no percentage involved. Many should give far more than 10% but those who cannot and are giving sacrificially at 2% or 4% are still not cursed. Gal 3:10-13.

“The Bible mentions money over 800 times” – yes, and not once is money included in any definition of “tithes.”