Hey Christians: do you tithe 10 percent?

[Illusio]

Originally posted by: MAME

Originally posted by: apologetic

Originally posted by: MAME
god does not need money

Very true. I wonder who would actually believe that he has any needs at all???

But churches (good ones) can use the money for charitable things.

churches strive to convert the rest of the non-christains because they feel as if their religion is the right one

of course this manages to rape culture and tradition in the process

Rape culture and traditions? You think christians are going in to cultures like the mafia and destroying all other holy sites to make sure they are the only game in town? The crusades are over. They present an alternative to people and people get to make their choice. If they choose it and abandon their old ways is that raping culture or progress?

What about people in other countries who don't even get the luxury of choice, where christians get jailed just for presenting their ideas?

 

[dugweb]

Originally posted by: Nik
No no no no no.

If you can quit smoking (which you can) you choose to continue to smoke or to quit. That's not proving anything to yourself because you already know what you've chosen to do.

If you know you can work in a soup kitchen, actually doing it isn't going to be proving anything to yourself because you already know you can do it. You either choose to or choose not to.

that's the most ridiculous piece of logic i think ive read on atot in a while now

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Dark Jedi
is that raping culture or progress?

How is believing in a different invisible friend progress?

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: Dark Jedi
Rape culture and traditions? You think christians are going in to cultures like the mafia and destroying all other holy sites to make sure they are the only game in town? The crusades are over. They present an alternative to people and people get to make their choice. If they choose it and abandon their old ways is that raping culture or progress?

What about people in other countries who don't even get the luxury of choice, where christians get jailed just for presenting their ideas?

Psh... get your anti-anti-christian views and historical logic and reasoning bullsh|t out of here! There's no place in this thread for anything other than what is right and true: anti-religious sentiment!

 

[psteng19]

Churches are supposed to be non-profit organization, as far as I know.
The money given through tithes is obviously not going to God's savings account, but to fund the expenses needed to run a church, which includes salary for the pastor and other full time staff.
Money donated to the church usually ends up benefiting the community, because churches offer services for "free" to the public.

Of course that's not saying there are no corrupt churches and cults out there.

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: sao123
Mark 12:41-44

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.
42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-- all she had to live on."
(NIV)

Great illustration about how giving a set amount is nothing more than legalistic, "religious" BS.

Not really.

It's more of a lesson on:
1. Giving willingly, no matter the amount, with no ulterior motives (i.e. Pharisees giving publicly to seem lawful in the eyes of others to receive praise).
2. Having faith that God will provide for your necessities

The rich who gave a lot, gave just enough to not hurt their pocketbooks but she gave her all. That's the difference.

Yes, you can easily argue that it is easier to give when you have little to begin with, since you have nothing to lose but I won't get into that (see parable of the rich man).

The rest of the Bible still mentions tithing 10% as law, as quoted in previous posts, so it is not BS.

 

[Transition]

Church is for tools. /flame on

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: psteng19
Churches are supposed to be non-profit organization, as far as I know.
The money given through tithes is obviously not going to God's savings account, but to fund the expenses needed to run a church, which includes salary for the pastor and other full time staff.
Money donated to the church usually ends up benefiting the community, because churches offer services for "free" to the public.

Of course that's not saying there are no corrupt churches and cults out there.

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: sao123
Mark 12:41-44

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.
42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-- all she had to live on."
(NIV)

Great illustration about how giving a set amount is nothing more than legalistic, "religious" BS.

Not really.

It's more of a lesson on:
1. Giving willingly, no matter the amount, with no ulterior motives (i.e. Pharisees giving publicly to seem lawful in the eyes of others to receive praise).
2. Having faith that God will provide for your necessities

The rich who gave a lot, gave just enough to hurt their pocketbooks but she gave her all. That's the difference.

Yes, you can easily argue that it is easier to give when you have little to begin with, since you have nothing to lose but I won't get into that (see parable of the rich man).

The rest of the Bible still mentions tithing as 10% as law, as quoted in previous posts, so it is not BS.

You can learn more than one thing from the same passage, ya know. There's a post in this thread showing the places in the Bible where tithing is mentioned and I only see a set amount listed once.

Specifically tithing 10% is neither Old Testament nor New Testament law. I don't care how many times you quote that one verse that says one-tenth because it's not an objective translation of the original text.

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: Nik
You can learn more than one thing from the same passage, ya know. There's a post in this thread showing the places in the Bible where tithing is mentioned and I only see a set amount listed once.

Specifically tithing 10% is neither Old Testament nor New Testament law. I don't care how many times you quote that one verse that says one-tenth because it's not an objective translation of the original text.

Doesn't tithing literally translate to 1/10?

Yup, found it.

Q: What does the word tithe mean in Greek?

A: The word for tithe in the Greek of the New Testament is apodekatoo, which means to take from or give from a tenth. It is a compound Greek word from apo, which is the preposition that means from and dekatos, which means a tenth.

This word for tithe is found in only two places in the New Testament, Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42. The word tithe, dekatos (without the preposition) is found in Hebrews 7:6 and 7:9. As you can see, the word for tithe in the New Testament is in the Hebrew or Jewish literature ? Matthew and Hebrews ? because the tithe was given by God to the Jews in the Law. Luke?s account in Luke 11 is the same as Matthew 23:23 and was spoken to the Jews.

Text

 

[Ferocious]

I went ot a service just recently with my friend...and one of the "Deacons" or whatever they're called had a little speech about tithing.

He clearly stated that it must NOT be 10% of your left over money after other expenses are paid. It must NOT be 10% of your net wages after taxes.

It must 10% of your gross wages...whatever you make. That is a requirement by God.

(he also reminded us that the weekly offerings did not count towards that 10%.....but he did say the offerings were not a requirement of God)

 

[EyeMWing]

The way I see it, Jesus Christ died for everyone's sins... Not believing in God is a sin. So, even if the big man does exist, I'm all set

Now if any of the other religions are correct, I'm still screwed, but hell, what do I care, it's just eternity.

 

[SilverThief]

Originally posted by: Nik
10% is actually just a "religious" installment, not what the original text said/implied. The original text described "first fruits" not a specifically set percentage of your monthly or yearly income. Furthermore, the original text doesn't say anything about giving directly to the church, either. You could be taking whatever you feel led to tithe and walking it down to a homeless shelter or donating it to charity or giving it to some homeless guy you see at random.

By all means tithe, but don't think that if you tithe anything other than 10% that it's some kind of sin.

"A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord, it is holy to the Lord. The entire tithe of the herd and flock - every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod- will be holy to the Lord."
Leviticus 27:29

The principal of titheing is to show your obedience to the Lord. In biblical times, a man's wealth was measured by the size of his herd, his flock. or the fruits of his lands. Today, a man's wealth is measured by how much money he has/makes.
God asks for a tenth of your wealth, a sacrifice of something that is not so easily given up.
Yes there are churches/religions that abuse this principal.....remember that "people" run these organizations. Wherever money and people are involved, there is always the possibility for unethical practices.

You are not giving 10% to the Church, you are giving to God in obedience to His word and promises, He is allowing the Church to care for the money. What they do with it at that point, they will have to answer to Him for.

 

[Landroval]

This is starting to remind me of the tipping thread