Tithing…Is it a command?

[gloryseeker]

Originally Posted by ChristopherHall

But the love offering as purposed by an individual in their heart is the only offering the New Testament Church sees. We don't plunder widows houses. To require tithing from some would be equal to extortion.

"plunder widows houses" is equivalent to teaching the tithe? Depending on your usage of the word "require" I guess you could be accurate. Teaching the tithe is not to be done under duress just as teaching prayer, study, church attendance. Ultimately it is the believer who is going to accept the Word of not, but that to think teaching the Word is some form of extortion would be totally ludicrous.

Can we find a single verse commanding "Christians" who are part of the "Church" to tithe in the New Testament?

Heb 7:5
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: (KJV)

So at the very least, while under the Law

One of the biggest mistakes non-tithers make is to think that the tithe is "under the law." The tithe is present WAY before the law was ever given.

For example, our pastor allowed us to go a season without tithing to pay our bills and keep from loosing our home.

That was mighty nice of him, but very unscriptural. What ever happened to believing God? Would it be okay for a pastor to give you approval to rob from the local 7/11 to catch up on past due bills? Why is theft in one area okay and not in another? Personally, I would find a new Pastor...and I don't just say that, if my Pastor ever recommended something like that I would actually get under a different Pastor.

Furthermore, I think the bigger question would be why were you loosing your house. Have you ever considered that correct tithing may have prevented the circumstances that caused you to get into the situation?

I am not making that statement for the purposes of this thread. I had a guy call me on Saturday with a financial problem. $1,500 shortfall for the month. He wanted me to write him a check and bail him out I talked to him about his faithfulness in giving.

Tithing is important in many ways...but the most important things are justice, mercy, and faith.

I do agree with you here. I am not saying that tithing is the most important thing known to man. It is the command of God and it works. So many Christians are trying to get God to bless what they are doing and God is saying do what I said because it is already blessed.

The mark of the Pharisee was exemplified in that they practiced tithing to the nth degree...yet they were unmerciful.

Not even close. The mark of the Pharisees were that they were separatist who focused more on their status, rules, and rituals than the heart. Yes they practiced tithing to the nth degree, but notice in the scripture you quoted Jesus said they should continue it, He only reprimanded them on the lack of mercy was was of a higher priority.

I think we've all known pastors and brethren who would command tithing without mercy for those who were overburdened in economic hard times.

your usage of the word "command" here makes me wonder if we are not more on the same page then different pages. God commands, not man. God in His commands still gives us the right to choose what we will do. If you are in a church where you have to do things under duress, whether it's tithing or any other thing you are in the wrong church.

Economic times has nothing to do with anything. God's system is not subject to the worlds system. You need to build your faith in God's system and know that when He has your life in control it doesn't matter what gas prices, taxation, inflation or anything else is going on. God is able to handle all things.

Matthew 23:14
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Key word here is "devour". That is different than teaching God's system of economy. It has nothing to do with the tithe.

There is a time for tithing and giving. And there is also a time for being just and merciful.

Couldn't disagree with you more. There is not "a time" to be merciful. We are to be merciful as God is merciful. It's a lifestyle. The same is true in giving, we should live a giving lifestyle. There is however a time for tithing....every time we increase.