Ministry News
To Tithe or Not to Tithe
- Details
- Tuesday, 13 October 2009 13:32
When it comes to giving among church members, there's good news and bad news, according to the latest annual report from Illinois-based research firm Empty Tomb.
The good news? Those who are part of a church easily give more than the general America public, with 2.26 percent of all funds given to charities coming from church members—compared to 1.8 percent from the general population. In addition, a whopping two-thirds of all charitable contributions go through churches or religious institutions.
On the negative side, however, is something most pastors would rather not hear: The average church member gives only 2.56 percent of what he earns to the church, instead of the biblical tithe of 10 percent. Empty Tomb researchers estimate the difference between the standard tithe and what those in the church currently give to be a whopping $161 billion. Furthermore, the study found that the average church still uses most of the money given to it to meet internal needs rather than those outside of its own community.
“Money is training wheels,” said Sylvia Ronsvalle, executive vice president of Empty Tomb. “If we’re not faithful in giving, how will we see the church grow?”
Ronsvalle and her team based their research on 2007 numbers gathered within the religious community. Even before the economic recession hit, church members' benevolence giving (e.g., giving toward international or local missions) was at an all-time low or 14 percent, compared to a high of 21 percent in the late 1960s. The average American parishioner gave $70 toward international ministries. [Religion News Service, 10/9/09]
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Comments
We also felt that if churches wanted a 10% tithe of their church then it was their responsibility to give 10% of their income away as well and not self-support like so many do with unnecessary and expensive items for the church.
http://rolfhousechurch.bravehost.com/to_tithe_or_not.html
If you add up the tithes God COMMANDED from the Jews, it would add up to over 23%. So, 10% giving is still robbing God.
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Uhh by the preaching of the Word! Is it not the Gospel that is the power unto salvation? Not money... Get back to preaching the WOrd and not self help and God will bless His church again and money will never be an issue. It is His church not ours...
I do not read in these scriptures that the church was funded in this way. People were sharing with each other.
Paul writes in 2 Kor. 8:14 about there being equality among believers. To me this seems to be the main thing in regard to giving. Even the tithes were part of a system of giving that would create equality. The Levites were not allowed to own land so God compensated them by giving the tithes to them.
Also the widows, orphans and strangers were mentioned as recipients of the tithes. The same"equality principle" was applied to them.
Who came up with the idea that giving to God is predominantly giving to the church as opposed to giving to people? Part of the debate among "modern" church goers has to do with the discrepancy between giving in the "ancient" church and what we see in the contemporary church.
There was never a commandment given to pay "tithes".
As far as money is concerned, Jesus taught that the love of money was the root of all evil. We are to work until He comes back. Those who won't work, won't eat. We earn money to take care of our families, & we are to give offerings of money to help others who are less fortunate than we are.
I can only offer the scripture which tells us to give all to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not just words.
Luke 18:22; Acts 4:34-37; Philippians 4:10, 14-18
We are instructed by Jesus to "Sell All" in Luke 18:22. The New Testament Church was founded and financed by the members doing just that, Acts 4:34-37. Finally, we see Paul praising the New Testament Church for providing for his needs while he was in the field preaching, Philippians 4:10, 14-18.
If we limit ourselves to the measly 10 percent tithe, we are limiting our Faith and Service to Jehovah, who we call our Lord of Lords.
It is not unusual for members of other religions to give 40 to 80 percent of their income to support their Faith in their idols.
Our lack of support for our Christian Faith shows where the true Faith of our 'Modern' Christians lie. In our own wallets and comfort.
Can anyone show me where the apostles taught on the tithe or where they actually collected a tithe? Did they teach this to the gentiles just getting saved? NO! They were taught to abstain from idolatry, fornication, things strangled, and from eating blood. If it was so important, why didn't the apostles feel the need to talk about it here?
The tithe is a golden calf used today to build huge buildings that stroke egos and give a sense of accomplishment. By the way, Jesus said, "You can't do anything without me." Please don't make a lame excuse about neglecting the world based upon money when you are too lazy to go yourself!
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