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Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*
This is not always necessarily true. I used to attend a church where tithing was not taught, free will offerings were taught as the way to go. This church rarely ever had any fundraisers. Well, I honestly don't remember having any at all. It was a decent-sized church, too. A nice building. Full-time pastor who was supported by the church. I don't remember the pastor ever begging for money. Just passed the offering pans each service, and that was that. The windows of Heaven were not closed, either. It was a blessed church.
I've attended churches where tithing was taught as a command, and they constantly were having fund-raisers and money struggles.
So you can't go by that alone. You have to stick with scripture. Does the Bible require it, or does it not.
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I don't see any Scriptural reference in your response. In fact, you are going against Scriptural reference. The windows of Heaven opening is Scriptural, based on Tithing and giving. And, a great deal of people may have Tithed in that church, others not knowing if they did. Many people carry this conviction from the past and maintain this practice without wavering.
Also, numbers help a church, which you stated your church as being large. The more people, the less giving is needed to sustain. Starting a Home Missions work 11 years ago, no one knows what sacrafice is until they have experienced this type of ministry. Every resource possible was needed to get this work off the ground.
You also did not respond to what Jesus said; Give what belongs to Ceaser, and give what belongs to God.
What belongs to Ceaser? and what belongs to God? Percentage has to take part in both of these.