People love to claim that with the first coming of Jesus, the Old Testament became null and void. Jesus claimed more than once that he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Speaking on tithing specifically, in Matt 23:23, he rebukes the pharisees, stating "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others."
That seems to indicate that tithing (among other parts of "the law") was still expected by Jesus himself. Now, whether that only applied to Jews or all Christians, I can't answer. I'm not well-studied enough on the topic to get into a high-level debate on it.
But I tend to agree with Pwyse's statement above....looking at this strictly from a practical standpoint, there's no denying that it costs money to run a church, it's just a simple fact. I have no problem with a church asking for tithes and offerings to pay for normal day-to-day operating costs, especially if the congregation expects the staff to be a full-time staff. You can't expect to have a full-time staff without being paid to be such.
What I do have a problem with is churches that go so far as to guilt members into it and the idea of a church asking to see members' Tax Returns is absolutely insane. Every church should be 100% transparent about every penny that is collected and how it is spent. If you attend a church that encourages giving, but is unwilling to discuss financial details with you, then I'd be very suspicious of that church.
Regardless of whether it's required or just encouraged, I think the Bible is pretty clear that your attitude toward giving is what's most important. You can give 100% of what you have, but if you do it begrudgingly, then you might as well not give it at all. We are called to give joyously.
Last edited by GomerPyle; 03/12/25 02:58 PM.
