Do we have to pay tithes?

[n david]

Originally Posted by 1ofthechosen

I do wanna say I'm not part of the ministry, so I have no bias one way or the other. All I can say is I always give God His first, and He supplies all my needs. I believe its a good practice it's tried and true in my walk, whether y'all agree or not. But I can see a lot of evidence that you should do it. Way more than, that I shouldn't. That's my stance.

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Everyone agrees with you.

I believe people should give as Paul said in 2 Corinthians:

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

My issue with tithing is there is not one NT command to the early church to give tithes as most churches do today. And Paul's words above say not to give "grudgingly" "or of necessity." The message linked to the OP is just that. The minister is demanding people give 10% tithes or they will go to hell.

When I paid 10% tithes as a younger man, I did so "of necessity," not because I wanted to. Not because I believed I should. I did it because I was taught that if I didn't pay tithes, what God didn't get in tithes He would make me pay in other ways. I wasn't told I would go to hell for not paying tithes, but I was told I would experience more trials and nothing I did would prosper. I was also told if I didn't pay tithes, I wouldn't be able to be used in the ministry or on the platform. (Hey, MWBs aren't the only one's excluded from ministry and the platform!)

So I paid out of necessity, compulsion, extortion, guilt, etc. I certainly wasn't a cheerful giver, especially since I was to tithe from my gross and not net.

That's why Paul says once to give according to your means, and in the verse above to give "according as he hath purposed in his heart."

Paul understood you have to pay the bills and take care of your family. I know ministers who have preached families onto food stamps and government assistance because they couldn't pay a full 10% and support their family.

That doesn't mean people get a pass to run up the bills and live beyond their means and then complain they don't have enough to live on once they give tithes/offering. People are to be good stewards - that includes living within your means.

I do agree that God blesses those who give cheerfully and abundantly. I do not agree that the 10% mandate is required of us today.