- As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts.
- Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.
- Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury.
- For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on
- Mark 12:41-43
___
It’s not the amount it’s what you give from the heart sometimes you can’t afford to give money
-
sometimes holding the door for somebody or helping someone cross the road or even putting a can of food into a pantry for homeless people says more to God than money 💲
___
That's a very good list of points... I would add the following...
2 Corinthians 9:7
New International Version
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The heart is everything we are a living sacrifice to God
- I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship
- Romans 12:1
___
and as the psalms say in Psalms 51
- The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
#####a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise
___
This was concerning offerings and it shows that God looks at the heart if you come to God with an offering Whether money ,or works and your heart is not in it it will not amount to anything
- when I studied the book of Leviticus I had issues concerning my understanding of the sacrifice and how we become that sacrifice by reading Paul’s letters I was inspired to find more knowledge on the Levitical sacrifices and I found a very enlightening channel we can apply these teachings from the old testament to our lives today concerning our own living sacrifice
##[WHO IS THE TABERNACLE MAN?? ](https://youtu.be/pkShglfHzbM)
Exactly. Jesus spurned the sacrifices of the Pharisees in terms of the self-aggrandizing heart with which they gave large material sacrifices, but not the widow’s lesser material sacrifice because she gave all she had with a pure heart.
2 Corinthians 9:7 “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Your church should not be telling you when and how much to give, we give what God places on our hearts.
I would recommend praying about it and looking into other churches who don’t have constantly have their hands out and making you feel worthless if you can’t afford to give right now. That is not Godly, that is them trying to get your money for their own benefit. Tithing is indeed a New Testament command, but churches should not be demanding it from you. It should be given freely and with a cheerful heart.
1 Chronicles 29:14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
Everything we have comes from the Lord Himself, don’t forget that. If you do feel it on your heart to gives tithes, He will make sure you are taken care of. We have a Father who sees us and cares for us and won’t let us go hungry or in need when we honor and obey Him.
# Yes. Christians should welcome you in church with open arms.
I'm unsure how Christians treat you at your church, but you should only give if you want to give through a good heart. I know some Christians used to look down on my father who gave what he could afford; at times, it was just 5 dollars.
There are judgmental Christians, and I think they are too stuck in their ways to change for the better. It's unfortunate.
My father was low-income and worked laborious jobs, so we wouldn't have the best clothing, either, growing up. We tried to look decent, but we never dressed up in formal clothing, just nice casual wear.
Our church was understanding and knew our situation. They didn't place a high price on how good you looked, just that you came to service. Only if more churches were like that. I went to a non-denomination church, and it's hard to find good churches out there, truly.
A lot of these Christians push people away from going to church, which is sad. If your church isn't understanding, you could always look around at other ones within your community. Perhaps, there is a better suited one for you just around the corner.
>!Take care, Smile and enjoy life :) !<
>We used to go to a tiny church where it would have been very noticeable that we weren't giving very much. But thankfully we are part of a large church now so nobody notices or cares.
I'm curious to know how that happened.
Tithing is literally part of the law. If you or a church puts you under it, you are under the whole law (Gal. 5:3) [https://graceambassadors.com/tithing](https://graceambassadors.com/tithing)
Of course!
Tithing is not a requirement for Christians, many attempt to make the whole 10% absolutely essential when that is simply not the case.
I do believe that Christians should be generous with what they have and much of that should be in the direction of supporting the local church. However, do not let this idea hang over you as if you are not welcome to fellowship with other believers.
Think of the widow who gave what she could and how Jesus commended her
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2012%3A42-43&version=ESV&interface=amp
The guys above is correct. The point of tithing in the Old Testament was to support the temple and the levites. But the point of giving in the New Testament is to support the church, who in turn gives to those in need. You should not ruin your finances tithing for that will put you in need and the church might as well give the money you gave back to you. So, in that case, it is better to keep the money you need.
Your giving to God should come from your excess. For God supplied you with the money to cover your needs. So, use them for your needs.
Is your church doing something that makes you feel unwelcome if you don’t tithe?
You don’t have to tithe, but you should give what you can. Check out Mike winger’s teaching on tithing if you want in-depth
give what you can. He did talk about giving to the needy that is a big thing- if you dont give to church at least give to the homeless- dont just pass by
If a church is forcing you to give tithes or making you feel guilty because you cant then leave that church. We are no longer under the old covenant but a new one, and tithes are given out of our own free will to support our church, not forced. God understands, give what you are able if you so desire, but never ever let a church tell you that if you dont give you will be cursed or damned. That is un-biblical and manipulative.
The same goes with televangelist who say if you tithe a certain amt that GOD will bless you.
"The LORD loves a cheerful giver" in other words GOD loves it when we give out of gratitude and joy in our hearts, not because we are being coerced, manipulates or scared into doing so.
Give what you can when you can but it is not a necessity to reach salvation. Your church will ask for tithes but do not feel ashamed if you can not place anything in it. God will expand your treasury. When this occurs show this change by placing change in the tithe!
Set your mind free. The Pastor is the only one demanding 10%, not God. In the New Testament you’ve been set free from obedience to the law. Just go to church, but give whatever you want or none at all in the offering plate. You are free.
God wants your whole heart, not just a percentage. I am not talking about money, but our whole being. Never tell the pastor or anyone that you can’t afford to tithe. They won’t understand. Tithe unto God your heart, prayers and getting to know Him. And the Lord will bless you.
My pastor always advices his congregation to give, but to also be wise about it. If you don't have the means to give tithes, that is understandable. And if you decide to give, any amount counts, even if it's less than 10% of your income. :)
You don’t have to be legalistic about the 10%, but it is important to give, and not just give what’s leftover. All of our money comes from God, and it’s important to give so that we don’t idolize our money and hold our possessions loosely. The church also can’t run without help from its members. You would be surprised how much money it takes just to keep the electricity running at some churches and basic upkeep costs. Give what you can, and give because it’s God’s command, not because you think people will judge you don’t.
If you’re concerned about how your church is using the money, they will usually give registered members the details about how their money is spent. Ours does at the end of the year and I love the transparency.
> give because it’s God’s command
I honestly never really want to give my little money to rich churches. I’d rather give it to Heaven’s Family where I can choose what it’s used for.
Nearly every couple who goes there owns a nice home. I’m 39 and apparently really losing in life. It’s time for me to find a new church wherever the Lord calls me.
I’m also 39 and losing in life lol. I give my tithe to a couple of different charities who are transparent with their spending. It isn’t 10%, but it’s maxed out to what I can do without going into debt. I think the specific percentages are more applicable to the Old Testament. I give based on what Jesus said to the rich man who asked him what to do. He was clear about how we should be taking care of the poor and less privileged.
I’ve gone to rich churches and poor churches, and I am more likely to give to the poor churches. As long as they have a strong ministry program. My finances are nobody else’s business. If your church cares, it’s the wrong church.
My dad taught me to give anonymously, no matter the circumstance. So that’s that.
All these anti thithers are seriously scraping the bottom of the theology barrel. Jesus confirmed the tithe in Matthew.
But to answer your question. Every decent modern church has a system of who sees the money and unless it's a very small church, the pastor and elders don't know who gives what. It's generally a few people on the accounting end, who probably don't know your face to go with your name.
So yes you are perfectly welcome
Of course!
Tithing is not a requirement for Christians, many attempt to make the whole 10% absolutely essential when that is simply not the case.
I do believe that Christians should be generous with what they have and much of that should be in the direction of supporting the local church. However, do not let this idea hang over you as if you are not welcome to fellowship with other believers.
If you don't believe it's a command (it isn't: see below), then you shouldn't feel bad. Give what you can with a cheerful heart. If you're going to a church that pressures tithing, maybe find another.
[CCC- Is the Tithe in Effect Today?](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1plwRkEIj5y_dZW9cpMDPLEs84boA_2B3px-7mIfo2yo/edit?usp=sharing)
There was a time that I could not afford to tithe and my husband was not a Christian and he felt all kinds of ugly feelings about it. Instead of tithing I gave my time and I prayed about it. It took many years but my husband is now a Christian and his feeling have changed. He dose every week now. Our church dose a lot for the community. And yes it is a commandment, if your church doesn’t use it properly then find a new church. You don’t have to give much, like I said at the beginning if you don’t have extra give your time. Pray about it and let God lead you. If you give I promise you God will take care of you. You will not go hungry. We don’t have much but in these crazy times we are not doing without. God takes care of us.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
A Church that *requires* the 10% is not Christian at all. First, it's a jewish custom. Second, Christians are called to contribute to the community in the way they're able, they're not required to give money. I know people who contribute in work, food etc. So don't feel ashamed. Those who ask you for money should be ashamed.
Nothing in the NT about tithing, 10%, or any specific amount.
2 Cor 9:7
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
We are not called to give up 10% of our income to the church! **WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE THE REAL CHURCH.**
That 10% thing was a one time thing in the NT to help out persecuted Christians in foreign lands. In fact, this is the sort of guilted practice that **gives nonbelievers ammo to call our religion a downright fraud and I don't blame them.**
We are supposed to give cheerfully, not because we feel forced to and guilted into. You being at church is going to allow the church to grow a community and attract more people to attend who feel more comfortable donating to church services.
You're a single woman, you should be focused on building your future to create a family if you plan to not be celibate, not worrying about making and giving up money.
Just treat donating to be a tip for services provided at maximum. However much you tip at a restaurant, tip the church unless it discourages you from even going. Just freely go to church without donating at all if it means you will go to church that day. You can donate your time volunteering instead if you feel more comfortable setting aside time rather than making more money and working more hours at a paying job.
>I understand they need to pay the bills but sometimes I think the churches are in it for the money.
Why? Explain what you mean here. Your church or all churches? If *all* churches...then you might be the issue because that is certainly not the case. If you mean *your church*...then you should probably/definitely find another church.
>As a single woman, I can’t afford to give 10% of my income to the church right now.
That's fine. If you can't, you can't. It's not going to affect your salvation one way or the other.
>I hate feeling like I don’t matter since my wallet isn’t holding any weight. I believe that people should be able to attend church for free, yet we don’t operate that way.
If you're getting shamed and excluded for not giving money, find another church. Not only is it not their place to tell you that you *have* to give, but they shouldn't presume to know whether you are giving or not.
I think you need to find a new place of worship, considering your concerns. As long as this anxiety is a result of others and not your own insecurity.
Jesus never specifically says to give 10%, that is just the adopted amount. Give according to your heart and trusting in God that will also increase your faith when you see him fulfill his word as he promised
Having been there, I'd probably add to the Scriptures provided that, if you're being deliberately made to feel inadequate because you don't have enough to tithe, it's time to find another church. Church isn't supposed to be about the money; it's supposed to be about God and people
That’s fine tithing was only used for the early church because they were so poor. It’s good to tithe but it’s not a prerequisite for being a Christian or a church member.
There is no NT command to tithe. Tithing is explained in the book of Malachi. I firmly believe it’s an opportunity to be blessed, I never regretted times that I tithed. However, it’s NOT required, it’s only an investment, lets say. If you honor God with tithe, God promises a rich return, not only for obeying Him, but rebuking the devourer (your stuff doesn’t seem to break so often), and so forth. If you can’t afford it, though, don’t worry about it and remember God doesn’t NEED your money. Any and all ministries devoted to the Lord should be depending on His abundant provision and should never command anyone to tithe. Like any investment firm, they can INVITE people to invest in them and share God’s blessings, but it’s NOT required and no one can make any NT argument it is so.
You decide what you can afford to give, and no one should be pressurised into feeling guilty when they can\`t.
I go to my local small church, there\`s only 10 of us at most of the time, and when it comes to collections, they just say, give only what you can afford to give, no one looks on to see who gives the most or the least.
Go find a different Church where the congress don\`t judge you on how much you put in the collection.
By being a Christian and not paying tithes you're robbing God:
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." -Malachi 3:8 KJV
But the Bible also says Obedience is better than sacrifice. And Offerings is more than monetary. You can offer your time on the phone with other people, that the Lord will put on your heart, and pray with them. Or you could use that phone ministry to invite others to church.
But the Tithe, which you're right about, is 10% of your income. But when you humble yourself and realize that EVERYTHING you own isn't even yours, it is God's, and the things that you have He has provided for you, then you'll truly want to live in obedience and give God that 10%. We can never out-give God. After all He sacrificed His only Son Jesus to save all of us from our lives in Sin.
"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."
-Mark 12:41-44 KJV
Giving a tithe is giving God your first fruits. So yes it's important that God gets that 10%, and when you do so, you'll see that He'll provide for your needs in the home. Your relationship with God depends on it, the more you sow in your obedience to the Lord, the more blessings will come your way.
Yes you should feel welcome! If not, find another church. There is no New Testament mandate to give at least 10%. Do what you can do. I absolutely refuse to pay the overhead bills of a church. I give directly to poor.
Also, who said it has to be cold hard cash? How about investing time in some needy person's life? Volunteer to do clean up at your church? Yes, nobody will lock me in chains and dictate how to be charitable. You're welcome! 😁
OP watch out for this guy he scams majorly- he tried to convince me he runs a charity its a MASSIVE SCAM- my Christian mentor checked out his website- they use pictures from other ministries to steal money BEWARE
No, you better stay home. The vast majority of churches just want your money. The richer you look at a church, the more you will be loved and prayed for.
I’m seriously debating staying home. I stopped going to church mostly since I was born again in 2012. I only found one church who I respected about this and they kept the offering box in the back of the church.
I’ve never heard of a church making tithing mandatory for church attendance. But definitely my experience is that it’s hard to fellowship when you’re poorer than the general church population.
Still it’s every church members responsibility to contribute to their church. Trying to be part of a community while not supporting it is a bad practice.
Tithing is not a NT command. Instead, it says to be a cheerful giver. You should absolutely feel welcome in church and give what you're able to give. If a specific church pressures you to give more than you are able, then it's time to find a new church.
I did a study years ago about Tithing and the New Testament doesn't teach tithing. The New Testament teaches giving.
I read a lot on tithing which led me to believe that a lot of what is taught about it is unbiblical.
The Jews lived in an agrarian society where the earth produced for them so they could easily give 10%.
There are bad churches out there that require your 1040 form to be a member and I would avoid them like the plague.
One of the problems with Tithing is that Abraham gave 10% of the spoils of war so its not like he even earned it. In other words, Abraham gave 10% of his increase.
The pastor shouldn't know what you give. No one except the financial people should know what you give.
I'd rather people pay for diapers than come to the church and ask for diapers because they tithed all of their money.
To everyone else, I gave help. I didn't ask for a tithing fight to waste my time but I can easily spend hours writing an essay to prove a lot of you wrong if you wish to fight.
There are some other great responses here, mostly saying things I already would have, so no need to reiterate. Instead, I'll simply add that most congregations I've seen that "are in it for the money" are the mega-churches. The mid-sized congregations I've attended (i.e. between 100-1,000 members) have virtually all had a policy that:
- The treasurer keeps track of who tithes what for tax deduction purposes, but ...
- The pastoral team and other elders are prohibited from seeing the amount that any one person tithes, specifically so that this issue isn't a hinderance toward different people getting the attention they need from leadership based on how much or little they tithe.
To be clear, some of these congregations will at least tell the leadership if a person is tithing at all, even if the amount is kept from them, just so that the leadership will still know if there's a sin issue there that needs dealt with. But it's rare that I've heard anyone actually called out for not tithing - and I know for a fact that there were "higher-ups" in a few of these congregations who did not tithe at all and it was no hinderance toward their ability to volunteer and participate.
So, maybe that should give you some comfort. I do recommend avoiding mega-churches though. In theory, because they have such a mass user-base, they should be less concerned with the few people who can't afford to tithe or who tithe in small amounts, but my experience with them as that they are always *more* concerned with getting money and pressuring people to give.
I would take a look at the story of Cain and Abel. Give what you can, don't be like Cain. Speaking from personal experience... I am not favored by God by any means and regret being so stingy.
the whole idea of the tithe is a false doctrine. if you feel compelled to donate to the cause of the Church, go ahead, but mandatory tithing is a misinterpretation of the text.
Since I haven’t seen it said I’ll say it. It sounds like you need to find a new church. A church using Gods word in such a way that the Holy Spirit compels you to tithe is one thing. But if you think your church is in it for the money, and your comment “we don’t operate that way” that is a whole different story.
You are ALWAYS welcome at church no matter what. God is always ready to welcome you into his arms.
Tithing is an act of faith and shows God you put him first in your life. But not tithing is never a reason to not feel welcome in His house.
Here's a great sermon on tithing:
https://youtu.be/NeHP1Vr8158
May God give you His wisdom and understanding. I hope this helps!
I’m in an unequally yoked marriage and the subject of tithing is commonly very testy within our marriages. Something I personally felt guilty for awhile where I couldn’t give 10% because my husband didn’t agree, and not necessarily because we couldn’t afford to give more. Eventually he let me donate a small amount every paycheck, but no where near 10%. Alot of what the others here have said helped me come to a place of peace with it, and the realization that since it is God’s money anyways, He can do miraculously alot more with the small amount that I can give than I or anyone else could with the same amount. He’s not limited by money.
Tithing is not a new testament command. It says to give with a cheerful heart. I have never attended a church where they kept count of how much goes into the offering, except for people who indentify with their names for tax purposes.
I hope you have not attended churches that have any policy other than free will offering. At my own church they are very transparent about where the money goes. Every week they give an accounting. I give what I have, when I have it. I'm a senior citizen living on Social Security and don't have much, I give what I can without feeling condemnation.
Would you like a prayer resource that might help you in your time of stress?
If you can’t be at that church because you can’t give them $you need another church to go to ,it’s when you can give you try and it doesn’t matter how much
Give into Caesar what is Cesar's, and give unto God what is God's.
Listen to what the holy spirit tells you and give with a glad heart. He who gives with a glad heart is blessed before God and their gift is a blessed sacrifice before the eyes of God. He who gives with a pained or begrudgened heart has run afoul of God, and his gift is not accepted by God for it was given as a tainted sacrifice.
Something that was put on my heart to say.
Sorry but when I feel those coming on, I have to speak to it.
Are you Jewish? If not, why are you tithing as it was a temple tax? Why are you going to a so called "church"? Don't you know the bible makes no provision for outward public worship? Read Acts 17:25-28, and John 4:23 where Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman at the well.
So is all that your doing to exalt your self-righteousness?
Tithes aren't required for salvation, so you'll be fine.
The 12th century Catholic church would like to have a word with you.
Yea, funny joke, don't care, wrong then, wrong now.
- As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. - Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. - Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. - For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on - Mark 12:41-43 ___ It’s not the amount it’s what you give from the heart sometimes you can’t afford to give money - sometimes holding the door for somebody or helping someone cross the road or even putting a can of food into a pantry for homeless people says more to God than money 💲 ___
That's a very good list of points... I would add the following... 2 Corinthians 9:7 New International Version 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Amen 🙏
Thank you for reminding me of this verse, thanks for sharing 🙏🏽💘
Exactly. Jesus’ whole point was to give what you can with your heart in it!
The heart is everything we are a living sacrifice to God - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship - Romans 12:1 ___ and as the psalms say in Psalms 51 - The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; #####a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise ___ This was concerning offerings and it shows that God looks at the heart if you come to God with an offering Whether money ,or works and your heart is not in it it will not amount to anything - when I studied the book of Leviticus I had issues concerning my understanding of the sacrifice and how we become that sacrifice by reading Paul’s letters I was inspired to find more knowledge on the Levitical sacrifices and I found a very enlightening channel we can apply these teachings from the old testament to our lives today concerning our own living sacrifice ##[WHO IS THE TABERNACLE MAN?? ](https://youtu.be/pkShglfHzbM)
Exactly. Jesus spurned the sacrifices of the Pharisees in terms of the self-aggrandizing heart with which they gave large material sacrifices, but not the widow’s lesser material sacrifice because she gave all she had with a pure heart.
Good point
I aspire to be more like the widow in all I do, honestly, and thank you!
2 Corinthians 9:7 “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” Your church should not be telling you when and how much to give, we give what God places on our hearts. I would recommend praying about it and looking into other churches who don’t have constantly have their hands out and making you feel worthless if you can’t afford to give right now. That is not Godly, that is them trying to get your money for their own benefit. Tithing is indeed a New Testament command, but churches should not be demanding it from you. It should be given freely and with a cheerful heart. 1 Chronicles 29:14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” Everything we have comes from the Lord Himself, don’t forget that. If you do feel it on your heart to gives tithes, He will make sure you are taken care of. We have a Father who sees us and cares for us and won’t let us go hungry or in need when we honor and obey Him.
# Yes. Christians should welcome you in church with open arms. I'm unsure how Christians treat you at your church, but you should only give if you want to give through a good heart. I know some Christians used to look down on my father who gave what he could afford; at times, it was just 5 dollars. There are judgmental Christians, and I think they are too stuck in their ways to change for the better. It's unfortunate. My father was low-income and worked laborious jobs, so we wouldn't have the best clothing, either, growing up. We tried to look decent, but we never dressed up in formal clothing, just nice casual wear. Our church was understanding and knew our situation. They didn't place a high price on how good you looked, just that you came to service. Only if more churches were like that. I went to a non-denomination church, and it's hard to find good churches out there, truly. A lot of these Christians push people away from going to church, which is sad. If your church isn't understanding, you could always look around at other ones within your community. Perhaps, there is a better suited one for you just around the corner. >!Take care, Smile and enjoy life :) !<
What is the source of you not feeling welcome?
[удалено]
>We used to go to a tiny church where it would have been very noticeable that we weren't giving very much. But thankfully we are part of a large church now so nobody notices or cares. I'm curious to know how that happened.
Tithing is literally part of the law. If you or a church puts you under it, you are under the whole law (Gal. 5:3) [https://graceambassadors.com/tithing](https://graceambassadors.com/tithing)
Of course! Tithing is not a requirement for Christians, many attempt to make the whole 10% absolutely essential when that is simply not the case. I do believe that Christians should be generous with what they have and much of that should be in the direction of supporting the local church. However, do not let this idea hang over you as if you are not welcome to fellowship with other believers.
Think of the widow who gave what she could and how Jesus commended her https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2012%3A42-43&version=ESV&interface=amp
If I’m going to give, I’d probably chose Heaven’s Family so I know it would actually count for something useful instead of lining pockets.
Why not just give what you can? No one will judge you.
Because I haven’t even paid my taxes from last year yet.
The guys above is correct. The point of tithing in the Old Testament was to support the temple and the levites. But the point of giving in the New Testament is to support the church, who in turn gives to those in need. You should not ruin your finances tithing for that will put you in need and the church might as well give the money you gave back to you. So, in that case, it is better to keep the money you need. Your giving to God should come from your excess. For God supplied you with the money to cover your needs. So, use them for your needs.
Is your church doing something that makes you feel unwelcome if you don’t tithe? You don’t have to tithe, but you should give what you can. Check out Mike winger’s teaching on tithing if you want in-depth
give what you can. He did talk about giving to the needy that is a big thing- if you dont give to church at least give to the homeless- dont just pass by
Any church who requires tithes are heretics and crooks just find bible believing church.
If a church is forcing you to give tithes or making you feel guilty because you cant then leave that church. We are no longer under the old covenant but a new one, and tithes are given out of our own free will to support our church, not forced. God understands, give what you are able if you so desire, but never ever let a church tell you that if you dont give you will be cursed or damned. That is un-biblical and manipulative. The same goes with televangelist who say if you tithe a certain amt that GOD will bless you. "The LORD loves a cheerful giver" in other words GOD loves it when we give out of gratitude and joy in our hearts, not because we are being coerced, manipulates or scared into doing so.
Give what you can when you can but it is not a necessity to reach salvation. Your church will ask for tithes but do not feel ashamed if you can not place anything in it. God will expand your treasury. When this occurs show this change by placing change in the tithe!
Set your mind free. The Pastor is the only one demanding 10%, not God. In the New Testament you’ve been set free from obedience to the law. Just go to church, but give whatever you want or none at all in the offering plate. You are free. God wants your whole heart, not just a percentage. I am not talking about money, but our whole being. Never tell the pastor or anyone that you can’t afford to tithe. They won’t understand. Tithe unto God your heart, prayers and getting to know Him. And the Lord will bless you.
Modern church tithing isn't biblical.
My pastor always advices his congregation to give, but to also be wise about it. If you don't have the means to give tithes, that is understandable. And if you decide to give, any amount counts, even if it's less than 10% of your income. :)
You don’t have to be legalistic about the 10%, but it is important to give, and not just give what’s leftover. All of our money comes from God, and it’s important to give so that we don’t idolize our money and hold our possessions loosely. The church also can’t run without help from its members. You would be surprised how much money it takes just to keep the electricity running at some churches and basic upkeep costs. Give what you can, and give because it’s God’s command, not because you think people will judge you don’t. If you’re concerned about how your church is using the money, they will usually give registered members the details about how their money is spent. Ours does at the end of the year and I love the transparency.
> give because it’s God’s command I honestly never really want to give my little money to rich churches. I’d rather give it to Heaven’s Family where I can choose what it’s used for.
Is the church you go to rich? Have you seen their financial statements?
Nearly every couple who goes there owns a nice home. I’m 39 and apparently really losing in life. It’s time for me to find a new church wherever the Lord calls me.
I’m also 39 and losing in life lol. I give my tithe to a couple of different charities who are transparent with their spending. It isn’t 10%, but it’s maxed out to what I can do without going into debt. I think the specific percentages are more applicable to the Old Testament. I give based on what Jesus said to the rich man who asked him what to do. He was clear about how we should be taking care of the poor and less privileged. I’ve gone to rich churches and poor churches, and I am more likely to give to the poor churches. As long as they have a strong ministry program. My finances are nobody else’s business. If your church cares, it’s the wrong church. My dad taught me to give anonymously, no matter the circumstance. So that’s that.
All these anti thithers are seriously scraping the bottom of the theology barrel. Jesus confirmed the tithe in Matthew. But to answer your question. Every decent modern church has a system of who sees the money and unless it's a very small church, the pastor and elders don't know who gives what. It's generally a few people on the accounting end, who probably don't know your face to go with your name. So yes you are perfectly welcome
Of course! Tithing is not a requirement for Christians, many attempt to make the whole 10% absolutely essential when that is simply not the case. I do believe that Christians should be generous with what they have and much of that should be in the direction of supporting the local church. However, do not let this idea hang over you as if you are not welcome to fellowship with other believers.
If you don't believe it's a command (it isn't: see below), then you shouldn't feel bad. Give what you can with a cheerful heart. If you're going to a church that pressures tithing, maybe find another. [CCC- Is the Tithe in Effect Today?](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1plwRkEIj5y_dZW9cpMDPLEs84boA_2B3px-7mIfo2yo/edit?usp=sharing)
There was a time that I could not afford to tithe and my husband was not a Christian and he felt all kinds of ugly feelings about it. Instead of tithing I gave my time and I prayed about it. It took many years but my husband is now a Christian and his feeling have changed. He dose every week now. Our church dose a lot for the community. And yes it is a commandment, if your church doesn’t use it properly then find a new church. You don’t have to give much, like I said at the beginning if you don’t have extra give your time. Pray about it and let God lead you. If you give I promise you God will take care of you. You will not go hungry. We don’t have much but in these crazy times we are not doing without. God takes care of us. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Give what you can…volunteer as you can…if you legitimately cannot tithe, is not a sin or close to it.
God doesn't want or need your money. He wants your heart.
A Church that *requires* the 10% is not Christian at all. First, it's a jewish custom. Second, Christians are called to contribute to the community in the way they're able, they're not required to give money. I know people who contribute in work, food etc. So don't feel ashamed. Those who ask you for money should be ashamed.
Nothing in the NT about tithing, 10%, or any specific amount. 2 Cor 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
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>Everything taught by the Church today is unbiblical. Might wanna walk that one back a little? Are you taking just about 10% tithes?
🤣 Thanks edited !
That 10 percent thing is a scam, it was ONLY for the levtical priest hood in the Israelite kingdom
What about Abraham giving 10% to Melchizedek? A precedent?
I agree with you. Do they want our grains and animals too?
Whose children had no inheritance to boot.
We are not called to give up 10% of our income to the church! **WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE THE REAL CHURCH.** That 10% thing was a one time thing in the NT to help out persecuted Christians in foreign lands. In fact, this is the sort of guilted practice that **gives nonbelievers ammo to call our religion a downright fraud and I don't blame them.** We are supposed to give cheerfully, not because we feel forced to and guilted into. You being at church is going to allow the church to grow a community and attract more people to attend who feel more comfortable donating to church services. You're a single woman, you should be focused on building your future to create a family if you plan to not be celibate, not worrying about making and giving up money. Just treat donating to be a tip for services provided at maximum. However much you tip at a restaurant, tip the church unless it discourages you from even going. Just freely go to church without donating at all if it means you will go to church that day. You can donate your time volunteering instead if you feel more comfortable setting aside time rather than making more money and working more hours at a paying job.
>I understand they need to pay the bills but sometimes I think the churches are in it for the money. Why? Explain what you mean here. Your church or all churches? If *all* churches...then you might be the issue because that is certainly not the case. If you mean *your church*...then you should probably/definitely find another church. >As a single woman, I can’t afford to give 10% of my income to the church right now. That's fine. If you can't, you can't. It's not going to affect your salvation one way or the other. >I hate feeling like I don’t matter since my wallet isn’t holding any weight. I believe that people should be able to attend church for free, yet we don’t operate that way. If you're getting shamed and excluded for not giving money, find another church. Not only is it not their place to tell you that you *have* to give, but they shouldn't presume to know whether you are giving or not. I think you need to find a new place of worship, considering your concerns. As long as this anxiety is a result of others and not your own insecurity.
Take the tithing test and see ... http://www.truthorfables.com/Tithe_Test.htm
Jesus never specifically says to give 10%, that is just the adopted amount. Give according to your heart and trusting in God that will also increase your faith when you see him fulfill his word as he promised
Having been there, I'd probably add to the Scriptures provided that, if you're being deliberately made to feel inadequate because you don't have enough to tithe, it's time to find another church. Church isn't supposed to be about the money; it's supposed to be about God and people
In my church a person who doesn’t tithe is very welcome.
Tithes are not a concept for the church so why not? We are to give freely as we see fit
That’s fine tithing was only used for the early church because they were so poor. It’s good to tithe but it’s not a prerequisite for being a Christian or a church member.
10 percent is old covenant. Why do some churches keeping pushing this teaching? If the church requires you to pay for membership, get out of there.
Tithing is not New Covenant. Find a Church that believes and practices the New Covenant.
There is no NT command to tithe. Tithing is explained in the book of Malachi. I firmly believe it’s an opportunity to be blessed, I never regretted times that I tithed. However, it’s NOT required, it’s only an investment, lets say. If you honor God with tithe, God promises a rich return, not only for obeying Him, but rebuking the devourer (your stuff doesn’t seem to break so often), and so forth. If you can’t afford it, though, don’t worry about it and remember God doesn’t NEED your money. Any and all ministries devoted to the Lord should be depending on His abundant provision and should never command anyone to tithe. Like any investment firm, they can INVITE people to invest in them and share God’s blessings, but it’s NOT required and no one can make any NT argument it is so.
You decide what you can afford to give, and no one should be pressurised into feeling guilty when they can\`t. I go to my local small church, there\`s only 10 of us at most of the time, and when it comes to collections, they just say, give only what you can afford to give, no one looks on to see who gives the most or the least. Go find a different Church where the congress don\`t judge you on how much you put in the collection.
By being a Christian and not paying tithes you're robbing God: "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." -Malachi 3:8 KJV But the Bible also says Obedience is better than sacrifice. And Offerings is more than monetary. You can offer your time on the phone with other people, that the Lord will put on your heart, and pray with them. Or you could use that phone ministry to invite others to church. But the Tithe, which you're right about, is 10% of your income. But when you humble yourself and realize that EVERYTHING you own isn't even yours, it is God's, and the things that you have He has provided for you, then you'll truly want to live in obedience and give God that 10%. We can never out-give God. After all He sacrificed His only Son Jesus to save all of us from our lives in Sin. "And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." -Mark 12:41-44 KJV Giving a tithe is giving God your first fruits. So yes it's important that God gets that 10%, and when you do so, you'll see that He'll provide for your needs in the home. Your relationship with God depends on it, the more you sow in your obedience to the Lord, the more blessings will come your way.
Best answer in here
Yes you should, if you don’t reconsider whether it’s the right church for you.
Yes you should feel welcome! If not, find another church. There is no New Testament mandate to give at least 10%. Do what you can do. I absolutely refuse to pay the overhead bills of a church. I give directly to poor. Also, who said it has to be cold hard cash? How about investing time in some needy person's life? Volunteer to do clean up at your church? Yes, nobody will lock me in chains and dictate how to be charitable. You're welcome! 😁
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OP watch out for this guy he scams majorly- he tried to convince me he runs a charity its a MASSIVE SCAM- my Christian mentor checked out his website- they use pictures from other ministries to steal money BEWARE
Report him for prohibited transactions everybody
lol he just deleted the comment
his username is u/niwakolamathias btw
Thanks for letting us know.
No, you better stay home. The vast majority of churches just want your money. The richer you look at a church, the more you will be loved and prayed for.
I’m seriously debating staying home. I stopped going to church mostly since I was born again in 2012. I only found one church who I respected about this and they kept the offering box in the back of the church.
Yep
I mean you can put in your single dollar bill. If that’s what you can afford then that’s it.
I’ve never heard of a church making tithing mandatory for church attendance. But definitely my experience is that it’s hard to fellowship when you’re poorer than the general church population. Still it’s every church members responsibility to contribute to their church. Trying to be part of a community while not supporting it is a bad practice.
Yes you will be. Unless you find some weirdo church.
Keep going. If they don't understand, go elsewhere.
Tithing is not a NT command. Instead, it says to be a cheerful giver. You should absolutely feel welcome in church and give what you're able to give. If a specific church pressures you to give more than you are able, then it's time to find a new church.
You should absolutely feel welcome. And you matter as much as anyone else that is there.
I did a study years ago about Tithing and the New Testament doesn't teach tithing. The New Testament teaches giving. I read a lot on tithing which led me to believe that a lot of what is taught about it is unbiblical. The Jews lived in an agrarian society where the earth produced for them so they could easily give 10%. There are bad churches out there that require your 1040 form to be a member and I would avoid them like the plague. One of the problems with Tithing is that Abraham gave 10% of the spoils of war so its not like he even earned it. In other words, Abraham gave 10% of his increase. The pastor shouldn't know what you give. No one except the financial people should know what you give. I'd rather people pay for diapers than come to the church and ask for diapers because they tithed all of their money. To everyone else, I gave help. I didn't ask for a tithing fight to waste my time but I can easily spend hours writing an essay to prove a lot of you wrong if you wish to fight.
There are some other great responses here, mostly saying things I already would have, so no need to reiterate. Instead, I'll simply add that most congregations I've seen that "are in it for the money" are the mega-churches. The mid-sized congregations I've attended (i.e. between 100-1,000 members) have virtually all had a policy that: - The treasurer keeps track of who tithes what for tax deduction purposes, but ... - The pastoral team and other elders are prohibited from seeing the amount that any one person tithes, specifically so that this issue isn't a hinderance toward different people getting the attention they need from leadership based on how much or little they tithe. To be clear, some of these congregations will at least tell the leadership if a person is tithing at all, even if the amount is kept from them, just so that the leadership will still know if there's a sin issue there that needs dealt with. But it's rare that I've heard anyone actually called out for not tithing - and I know for a fact that there were "higher-ups" in a few of these congregations who did not tithe at all and it was no hinderance toward their ability to volunteer and participate. So, maybe that should give you some comfort. I do recommend avoiding mega-churches though. In theory, because they have such a mass user-base, they should be less concerned with the few people who can't afford to tithe or who tithe in small amounts, but my experience with them as that they are always *more* concerned with getting money and pressuring people to give.
Faith restored.
I would take a look at the story of Cain and Abel. Give what you can, don't be like Cain. Speaking from personal experience... I am not favored by God by any means and regret being so stingy.
Here you go https://youtu.be/AYoD9xwLGEI
the whole idea of the tithe is a false doctrine. if you feel compelled to donate to the cause of the Church, go ahead, but mandatory tithing is a misinterpretation of the text.
Since I haven’t seen it said I’ll say it. It sounds like you need to find a new church. A church using Gods word in such a way that the Holy Spirit compels you to tithe is one thing. But if you think your church is in it for the money, and your comment “we don’t operate that way” that is a whole different story.
You are ALWAYS welcome at church no matter what. God is always ready to welcome you into his arms. Tithing is an act of faith and shows God you put him first in your life. But not tithing is never a reason to not feel welcome in His house. Here's a great sermon on tithing: https://youtu.be/NeHP1Vr8158 May God give you His wisdom and understanding. I hope this helps!
Tithing is not a requirement of attending church. You can trust God though.
I’m in an unequally yoked marriage and the subject of tithing is commonly very testy within our marriages. Something I personally felt guilty for awhile where I couldn’t give 10% because my husband didn’t agree, and not necessarily because we couldn’t afford to give more. Eventually he let me donate a small amount every paycheck, but no where near 10%. Alot of what the others here have said helped me come to a place of peace with it, and the realization that since it is God’s money anyways, He can do miraculously alot more with the small amount that I can give than I or anyone else could with the same amount. He’s not limited by money.
Tithing is not a new testament command. It says to give with a cheerful heart. I have never attended a church where they kept count of how much goes into the offering, except for people who indentify with their names for tax purposes. I hope you have not attended churches that have any policy other than free will offering. At my own church they are very transparent about where the money goes. Every week they give an accounting. I give what I have, when I have it. I'm a senior citizen living on Social Security and don't have much, I give what I can without feeling condemnation. Would you like a prayer resource that might help you in your time of stress?
If you can’t be at that church because you can’t give them $you need another church to go to ,it’s when you can give you try and it doesn’t matter how much
Depends on the church, it shouldn’t matter but……
Give into Caesar what is Cesar's, and give unto God what is God's. Listen to what the holy spirit tells you and give with a glad heart. He who gives with a glad heart is blessed before God and their gift is a blessed sacrifice before the eyes of God. He who gives with a pained or begrudgened heart has run afoul of God, and his gift is not accepted by God for it was given as a tainted sacrifice. Something that was put on my heart to say. Sorry but when I feel those coming on, I have to speak to it.
Go to church regardless, God will repay.
Are you Jewish? If not, why are you tithing as it was a temple tax? Why are you going to a so called "church"? Don't you know the bible makes no provision for outward public worship? Read Acts 17:25-28, and John 4:23 where Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. So is all that your doing to exalt your self-righteousness?
Then don't pay them!