AThornquist
Puritan Board Doctor
What resources do you believe give the best arguments for and against tithing (that is, 10% as the baseline for giving) as the Christian standard for giving?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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Here is an article by T. David Gordon against the requirement of the tithe.
B. It is proper for the ministry of the word to be supported with the resources of the church.
1Cor. 9:14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
1Tim. 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; 18 for the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves to be paid."
Gal. 6:6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.
If communicant members feel willing and able to give 10% as their usual giving that is fine. But if not, they shouldn't be brow-beaten into it.
Those who enjoy the benefits of the minister's labours have a responsibility to ensure that the minister and his family are without care and solicitation. As the minister has continual week by week needs it is the duty of the members of the church to give systematically to that end.
Those who enjoy the benefits of the minister's labours have a responsibility to ensure that the minister and his family are without care and solicitation. As the minister has continual week by week needs it is the duty of the members of the church to give systematically to that end.
Agreed. And this is the point that those who so vehemently oppose the tithe leave unaddressed.
Doesn't Paul say in II Corinthians 9 to give as one decides in his heart to give?
BTW, for the record, I believe that 10 percent is a good baseline anyway. And if you are moved to give more, so be it.
Who exactly are you accusing of 'brow-beating'?
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
One has to remember though that the Pharisees were still under the Mosaic law. Also, as stated in the article by Gordon, the tithe mentioned is not monetary but has to do with food tithed for the priests.
Those who enjoy the benefits of the minister's labours have a responsibility to ensure that the minister and his family are without care and solicitation. As the minister has continual week by week needs it is the duty of the members of the church to give systematically to that end.
Agreed. And this is the point that those who so vehemently oppose the tithe leave unaddressed.
Your language is questionable. At least for me, I do not oppose the tithe. I believe it is not commanded for Christians to give 10%, but that command is abrogated in Christ. To oppose the tithe would be one who says, "You can't give 10%, but you can give 9 or 11%." So I don't oppose the tithe, I am convinced that 10% isn't God's command for us.
Does that mean that if I don't give a tithe, that I am being unsystematic? I can't give 5% systematically or 15% to support the minister? Now is 10% a good number based on application of Scripture? Sure. But we aren't commanded to give that. We aren't bound by conscience to give 10%. Rather, we are commanded to give voluntarily, with cheerful hearts and according to our conscience. In all actuality, we should be giving everything for the sake of the Gospel for His glory. But that doesn't mean we must give 10% exactly. If anything we should be compelled to give more than that.
So I guess I fail to see how the one who doesn't hold that we are bound to give a tithe to support the minister, is automatically unsystematic in his giving.
Yes, but the tithe was instituted before the Mosaic law with Melchizedek & Abraham in Genesis 14:18-20. We give money so that our Pastor can buy his own food.
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
One has to remember though that the Pharisees were still under the Mosaic law. Also, as stated in the article by Gordon, the tithe mentioned is not monetary but has to do with food tithed for the priests.
Yes, but the tithe was instituted before the Mosaic law with Melchizedek & Abraham in Genesis 14:18-20. We give money so that our Pastor can buy his own food.
But it should be explained to communicant and non-communicant members that tithing is not mandatory but voluntary,
I encourage you to read it. What you find with Abraham is descriptive of what he did, not prescriptive for all.
Are there actual Reformed churches that teach that tithing is mandatory or is this a straw man?
This section was weak in that we need to give to our Mechisedek, and it is useful for us to have some biblical guidance as to a regular proportion, yet Gordon facetiously lumps the tithing with things like pouring oil on to a standing stone, etc.
This is a separate issue. We give our tithe to God, not to the pastor. That the church funds the pastor through the money given by tithing shows good stewardship of the money used to advance the kingdom.Those who enjoy the benefits of the minister's labours have a responsibility to ensure that the minister and his family are without care and solicitation. As the minister has continual week by week needs it is the duty of the members of the church to give systematically to that end.
So, our guidance for proportion is 10% but as to regularity, just once?
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
One has to remember though that the Pharisees were still under the Mosaic law. Also, as stated in the article by Gordon, the tithe mentioned is not monetary but has to do with food tithed for the priests.
Yes, but the tithe was instituted before the Mosaic law with Melchizedek & Abraham in Genesis 14:18-20. We give money so that our Pastor can buy his own food.
Bethel,
That is also addressed by Gordon in the article I linked above. I encourage you to read it. What you find with Abraham is descriptive of what he did, not prescriptive for all.
So, our guidance for proportion is 10% but as to regularity, just once?
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.(II Tim 3:16-17,ESV)
He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (Rom 4:11-12,)
That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring--not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."(Rom 4:16-18)