A thought on tithing

[Aquila]

I think the overall issue is that "tithing" is taught as a "Heaven or Hell" issue. A great book (with plenty of references) titled, Pagan Christianity?, illustrates the history of tithing well. Christians didn't tithe. They shared their lives, all of their belongings, and heartily supported the ministry. It wasn't until around the mid to late 700's that the tithe was revived as a land tax instituted by the Catholic Church. After the Protestant Reformation Protestant churches began demanding the tithe.

Salvation comes by grace... not works of the law (tithing in this instance). It is by grace that we are called to the Gospel through prevenient grace, it is by grace that we receive an inner and outer calling of the Spirit, it is by grace that we are afforded an opportunity to believe and repent of sin, it is by grace that we are justified, sanctified through the name as applied in baptism, it is by grace that we are regenerated through the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It is by grace that we grow in sanctification into the perfection of Christlikeness. Grace. Not deeds of the law or traditions of men.

So, what are we to do??? I call it "grace giving". We are to give all possible to the advancement of the Kingdom of God, meeting needs where they arise and supporting our ministry heartily as unto the LORD.

One can "vow" a 10% tithe (and be bound to it by God)... but this is done through free will as one is led... not cohersion.