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So, what is the point? Are we to look for scriptures to back up the fact that it is not necessary to pay tithes? Or are we to find scripture to validate that we must pay tithes? All of my life, I have been taught to pay tithes and my church continues to flourish. I, since giving myself wholly unto God, do not neglect to pay tithes and I continue to flourish. All that we have comes from God, Yes? Therefore, how shall I say to God, "Thank you, but I will not trust you to make up for the 10% that I must tithe"? Rather than me giving the 10%, is it not God allowing me to keep the 90%? I have observed people who do not tithe and people who do. My conclusion is this: The people who tithe never run short of their needs being met, the people who do not tithe often struggle even though they have more money to begin with than the others. Now enters the heart: Tithing, unless it is from a cheerful heart, is not tithing at all. It is ritualistic and obligatory. Also, I think that tithing should incorporate more than money. Will we tithe our time, emotions, personal wants? Tithing, like many other things, is a debate which seems to have no definitive right or wrong. Yet, personal convicton and instruction compel me to tithe and so I do. I do it cheerfully and with much thanks. I would also instruct others to do so as well. Bottom line: whether it is a commandment or not, you will never go wrong by doing it. And as I am instructed, I also give gifts. God holds nothing back from me, shall I hold back from Him? I gratefully say no! In His Service, 2006-07-22 10:20:20 Posted by Teri ()

I thank you greatly Teri. You express very much the thoughts I feel about ritualistic and obligatory compulsion foisted upon people by a burden of guilt that is possibly not even proper to be doing. (by not proper, I am saying that things are being taught as doctrine where their teaching may be flawed!) Giving is proper, and I think the heart of the matter is again the heart, as you point out so well. Please understand, I am not telling people not to tithe. I, in fact, would tell a person to not do so if they are convinced that they must, is a sin. (even if it is not a sin for any other reason than for their conscience!) I think that the teaching is clear that giving is proper and even desired, but possibly not required in the way that you and I were taught. The points may be esoteric, but I think they are important, because they do center around matters of the heart and grace versus works. Every time I post, I hope and pray for someone like you to step forward and bring in another point of view. Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) 17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. I specifically do not wish to teach per se, but it is my desire to provoke thought, and in doing so, possible learn more from all of you brothers and sisters who have so much to give as well! Grateful for your Boldness, Mel 2006-07-22 12:38:57 Posted by Mel ()

With what shall I come before the Lord & bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man what is good And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly & to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:6ff Note the last line! If I give a tythe of all I have I feel good, but if I give my all, does not God feel Good!!!! Does tything mean you give no more after a sunday morning? When we give from our hearts it is pleasing to our God, when we give from our guilt who does it please then?? We should give that which we can afford, our God, I believe wishes us to receive from him blessings, is it not from him all blessings flow? Jesus did not single out any amount, but commented on the widow who gave the most relatively!!! He commended her. It is what we do with the money that we give, not the amount. We see churches all over the world whose priests dress up in golden finery, where the people are so poor they have nothing, we also see churches with huge buildings that are empty on a Lord's day morn. We see meetings in a school gymnasium that are full with young folks. I believe with all my heart that our God does not wish you to give indiscriminately to causes which are not : a) in the spirit of giving b) not for his glory. Who deserves you money given by a God who has blessed you: A person with nothing after a disaster? or a committee who have more money than the will ever spend? Waiting for the roof to collapse, maybe in twenty years time? The person caught up in a hurricane deserves God's blessings more, this is only my opinion, but it is one which I believe comes from the "Spirit of Giving" Mel you gave your daughters your money, which then became theirs! What they do with it is up to them, I say that with my tongue half in my cheek!!!! Love in His name Stuart 2006-07-23 04:03:37 Posted by Stuart (stuart@sadrankin.com)

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