How do you tithe? Do you feel that your tithe has to go directly to your church? Or do you consider outside organizations when tithing? What about political contributions? Leviticus 27:30 says "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD." It doesn't say that the tithe is the First Methodist Church's, or St. Paul's Episcopal Church's . It says that the tithe is the Lord's.

I can't write a check to the Lord, so I feel that I should give my tithe to the people or groups that I feel most effectively accomplish the Lord's work. But, while my church is certainly a part of that, it isn't the entirety of it. I think that Heifer International and the American Red Cross are equally deserving of my tithe. I feel that President Obama's desire for abortion on demand is an abomination. Should my tithe include his opponent's political campaign?

How do you handle it?

As long as your giving with the heart of furthering the kingdom I would think it would be hard to go to wrong. I've thought this over as well. I go with the full 10% to the church, they have fixed costs that I am partaking in so they get the first fruits from me. Such as light bills, ect. After that I give to individual missionaries or missionary groups. I don't give anything to the red cross or these type groups because their first mission is the saving of life and limb, not the gospel. I prefer groups like baptist mens disaster relief the give the gospel first and meet the physical needs to help get that message across. It is very hard to go wrong with giving, its not like he needs our money.

I recently started tithing online. For some reason they have started crediting back to my bank account. Does this mean I get to keep my tithes?

I think it is a matter of the heart. See Cain and Able.

So when I start deciding on how 'my' tithe should be spent or where it goes, it is no longer what it should be. So we give it straight to our church (or man of God like Abraham if we are between churches). If they spend it on hookers and blow, then that is between them and God. (Obviously I'm not going to be involved with a church that is outwardly corrupt)

Then we give to specific ministries or needs that we see during the year outside of the tithe.

That is just the way we felt led to do tithe. My heart and mind go into a whole nother mode when I start trying to determine how best to spend money or where to send it.

Gifts to secular relief agencies and others is "charity", not "tithing"...

This is exactly what tithing means. Ten percent back to God of your increase and I believe this means your gross income. God has put us in stewardship of his world and we are responsible for it. Note though the blessings that come from this commandment. Imagine the windows of Heaven poured out upon you.
As for your offerings.... that is above and beyond. If you feel the need to give more to other places then do so. Just understand God's will and commandment here.

Tithing in Biblical times was used to support the nation of Israel... not just the religious side of their lives. Match what we pay our government in taxes to support all the social programs and we are already giving more than 10%. Now I'm not saying not to give to church because they have their bills to meet each month like us. We give to our church too but we also give to our soup kitchen and food pantry with both our time and financial resources. Saying that giving 10% to your local church meets your 'tithing' responsibility is both legalistic and fraudulent.

No...Tithing was the means to support the priesthood in Old Testament times. It freed the priest from everyday labor, so they could be about the work required to support the temple.

I think tithing should only be given to faith based organizations (of your faith). I don't think political contributions should be considered, since I am of the belief that God couldn't care less what your political affiliation is. I think if abortion is your key issue on giving to Obama's opponents, it might be better spent being given to organizations such as the Liberty God-parent home or the Blue ridge pregnancy center. These are organizations that provide alternatives to abortions to mothers of all types and provide adoption services as well as presenting the gospel to those that go there. These are two local examples for me, but there are many others around the country.

I don't give entirely to my church, but I will give more to them if I see a legitimate need. I have seen too much waste by the churches I have been to in my life. The church I currently attend is very freugal, but well provided for, so I give much of my tithe to compassion international and Gospel for Asia.

While we are on the subject, does anyone know of any legitimate ministries similar to Gospel for Asia that minister strictly to muslims overseas?

Yep, there are a bunch of martyrs that were kill preaching to the Muslims. In fact if someone felt drawn to "die for the cause" a standard practice was to go to a Muslim city and start preaching Christianity.

For example:

I was told when i first became saved that i should emulate the person or persons whom had spiritually what i wanted...later i just depend on my heart and i remember another thing i9 was taught...when in doubt dont do anything! that too has saved my bacon many times...judge not Gods servants we are commanded because we dont see into a man's heart....I do not give to people who arent Gods people..the great commission should be the priority after that take care of the poor,afflicted,children,widows...titheing is already Gods ....your offerings are gifts to God...I pray this helps some....


waynesprt

Jesus Christ as the Leader of the Church unto Himself, or the New Covenant Church, if you will, said about the Law of Moses,'' Not one letter or stroke will pass from the Law until all things have been fulfilled.''

Well, what should a christian person make of this statement then?

Were not all things fullfilled as our Lord and Savior said on the cross,''It is finished'', and then commitited His Spirit unto God the Father?

Well, as I understand even in the prophetic sense no, not completely, because all things that are contained in Bible prophecy have not all come to pass as of this time right now.

I believe one reason that some christians have some difficulty at times understanding and thus discerning some of the finer points of God's commands concerning issues that should interest all christians, one being tithing, is because we as humans beings who live in the finite, are trying to naturally reason that way about what is spiritual and thus ultimately eternal in its entire scope and nature as infinite.

Now, here is a question that I think that everyone who considers themselves called of God through the medium of Jesus Christ should consider?

What is it in truth that money really means to me? You know, I find it fairly interesting after participating in several threads about tithing and being the OP in one or two myself, that there are usually one or two posts contained in most of the ones that I have experianced that say to the effect of,''If I give to some christian based ministry then how will I know that it is God's will for me to do this, or how will I know if the money that I send will go to the right cause or not be squandered by some big bad wolf in sheep's clothing?''

So again here we go back to the basics of christian giving, godly wisdom and godly knowledge and what are these?

Well, if you don't know then I will tell you you were to find them.

The Bible.

Old and New.

So what is the complete word of God?

It is the complete Word of God in the form of the Almighty Jesus Christ.

There is a denominational church here in america which has as I understand effectivly thrown out the Old Testament of God's word, or the christian Bible because they say that when Christ died at Calvary then that part of God's word became of non-effect as the,''New Covenant,'' at that point was all important as far as what a christian should know, and proclaim to others.

You know to me however, it is truly sad that someone, that being anyone would look upon God's word in that particular sense and thank God most christians don't because God's complete word, or Word, is the complete detail of the eternal existance and exact representation and nature of our Lord and Savior, that being again, Jesus Christ.

And if this is true, then why would someone want to take this beautiful and wonderous picture of Jesus Christ as the Bible through God's Spirit wills it to be for us and then as a picture rip it in two and then by only giving half of that picture to another with only half of the detail, thus understanding, and then saying to them,'' this is what He looks like.'' is worse than wrong because its there again like attempting to learn how to fly an aircraft without the portion of the manuel, or any instruction concerning the take-off proceedures or how to even how to turn on the instrument panel displays.

It is no wonder that some who consider themselves to be christians will not recieve many blessings that God is supposed to have already blessed us with.

Thats right!

Every single blessing that God can or will ever give you or me as christians He has already given.

In the heavens.

And through Christ Jesus!

Has God not said that He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever?

What should this mean to us as the word dictates about our own personal giving not only to our local churches, but other ministries as well.

Are we truly under obligation, better yet God's command to do these things?

Here is a secret to the keys of unlocking this door.

As for tithing, start at Malachi 3: 7-18, and then proceed up from there anywhere in the Bible in which contains more clarity about tithing and the reasons with benifits for tithing.

Remember here too, tithing done correctly is supposed to lift us all up which is faith, love, honor, and in our own personal confidence about our ownselves.

And confidence about what you might ask?

Well, the confidence that comes from God toward us when we as christians from a pure heart go ahead and do the right things.

Tithing is right, just as loving your neighbor is right.

So should one tithe ten percent all of the time? Well I will say this, when God calls on you to give, He at least expects at least ten percent, as I believe that some christians here might agree with me, that probably closer to twenty percent, or a double portion, from a cheerful giver is more what God favors, and truly blesses, when we give, as we should expect to recieve from God in just such a way as that!

And this speaks not unto men out of an evil heart, but to God out of an elected spirit!

There is only One for us!

Again,''This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. The one who says,''I have come to know Him,'' without keeping His commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected (or truly completed*). This is how we know that we are in Him: the one who says he remains in Him should walk as He walked*.''

''Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command, but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the message that you have heard. Yet I am writing to you a new command, which is true in Him and in You, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

The one who says that he is in the light yet continues to hate his brother is in the darkness until now. the one who loves his brother remains in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness, walks and proceeds in the darkness, and doesn't even know where it is that he's going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes''.

1 John 2: 3-11

Thanks,

SAE

Our Lord Jesus Christ felt it was important as in Matthew 23:23




That said your last sentence I have highlighted in red is important, you do what you can do. Now if you aren't helping the Church because you need those premium cable channels you might want to check your priorities...

Again tithing is only part of it. Eastern Orthodox believe we are called to tithe to the Church (which helps pay the parish bills, pay the priest's salary, etc) but that is separate from charitable giving. Links and here.

In the end we each have our own unique gifts to bring to the Body (the Church) and they are all equally important. Some are called to be clergy, some are called to cut the grass, some are called to work with the poor, some are called to visit those in prison. All these callings are EQUALLY important. If your church teaches (in words or actions) that the choir director is more important than those that wash the dishes after coffee hour you may want to step back and look at your church...