Why do Churches pass around an offering plate? When I look at the Minister or Paster and see watches, Big rings, chains on the neck, fancy suits and an extremely well dressed Family whom live in a giant fancy house, I get my answer. What reason can you think of for an offering plate? I know that Churches will say that the offerings go towards missionary trips or fund the Thursday dinner gathering of the Men's Praise Group. I have even heard that some of the offering is going to a neighbouring Church needing start up monies. I can not understand this, every Church I have ever attended there has been a plate or bowl passed around and it is whispered that we must give 10 percent of our income to the Church as ordered by God. What? Here is a verse from the Bible about tithing.
OLD TESTAMENT
"Tithe" means a tenth or 10 percent. The Old Testament law required that a tenth of all produce, flocks, and cattle be given to support the Levites (the priestly class in ancient Israel). In turn, the Levites were to give a tenth of that for support of the high priest (Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18:21-28).An additional tithe, collected every three years, was to be used to meet the needs of the Levites, foreigners, orphans and widows. (Deuteronomy 26:12-13). Additional tithes were taken for festival purposes.
In addition, everyone was to be generous with those in need:
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be open handed and freely lend him whatever he needs. (NIV, Deuteronomy 15:7-8)
New Testament
The New Testament does not give any specific rules about tithing, and most aspects of the Old Testament Law do not apply to Christians. (See What Does the Bible Say About the Old Testament Law?)
However, Jesus made it clear that we are obligated to be generous to those in need (Matthew 25:31-46).
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (NIV, Matthew 5:42)
Giving is to be done cheerfully, rather than as an obligation (2 Corinthians 9:6-7), and not for the purpose of public recognition (Matthew 6:1-4). The amount to give is not necessarily ten percent (Matthew 19:21, Luke 18:22, 21:1-4, Hebrews 13:16, 1 John 3:17). Generous giving is an acknowledgment that everything we have is a gift from God, and is to be used in His service (Luke 12:33, Acts 20:35, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, James 1:17, 1:27, 1 Peter 4:10).
Rather than give a certain amount as an obligation, Christians are urged to share generously of whatever talents, abilities and wealth God has entrusted to them:
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. ( NIV, Romans 12:6-8)
There is nothing in the Bible saying we should give a certain amount or a certain percentage to a church.
Now as you can see, there is a difference in what the Old Testament says about Tithing vs the New Testament and what Jesus has to say about Tithing. After reading both I come to the conclusion that Tithing is to make the Church Richer and the congregation poorer. I am so grateful for Jesus and his absolute resolve to help the poor and I just can not put my money into some offering dish and not know who is benefiting from my money, I would rather hand money to a man standing on the side of the road holding up a sign saying I am hungry than an offering plate, it is my intent to follow Jesus teachings and give to those in need. Please draw your own conclusion and make up your own mind, I would not judge nor feel differently about those who do Tithe, I am just offering a common sense way to look at the idea of tithing today.
Namaste Live in Love and Light Sandi~
OLD TESTAMENT
"Tithe" means a tenth or 10 percent. The Old Testament law required that a tenth of all produce, flocks, and cattle be given to support the Levites (the priestly class in ancient Israel). In turn, the Levites were to give a tenth of that for support of the high priest (Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18:21-28).An additional tithe, collected every three years, was to be used to meet the needs of the Levites, foreigners, orphans and widows. (Deuteronomy 26:12-13). Additional tithes were taken for festival purposes.
In addition, everyone was to be generous with those in need:
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be open handed and freely lend him whatever he needs. (NIV, Deuteronomy 15:7-8)
New Testament
The New Testament does not give any specific rules about tithing, and most aspects of the Old Testament Law do not apply to Christians. (See What Does the Bible Say About the Old Testament Law?)
However, Jesus made it clear that we are obligated to be generous to those in need (Matthew 25:31-46).
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (NIV, Matthew 5:42)
Giving is to be done cheerfully, rather than as an obligation (2 Corinthians 9:6-7), and not for the purpose of public recognition (Matthew 6:1-4). The amount to give is not necessarily ten percent (Matthew 19:21, Luke 18:22, 21:1-4, Hebrews 13:16, 1 John 3:17). Generous giving is an acknowledgment that everything we have is a gift from God, and is to be used in His service (Luke 12:33, Acts 20:35, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, James 1:17, 1:27, 1 Peter 4:10).
Rather than give a certain amount as an obligation, Christians are urged to share generously of whatever talents, abilities and wealth God has entrusted to them:
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. ( NIV, Romans 12:6-8)
There is nothing in the Bible saying we should give a certain amount or a certain percentage to a church.
Now as you can see, there is a difference in what the Old Testament says about Tithing vs the New Testament and what Jesus has to say about Tithing. After reading both I come to the conclusion that Tithing is to make the Church Richer and the congregation poorer. I am so grateful for Jesus and his absolute resolve to help the poor and I just can not put my money into some offering dish and not know who is benefiting from my money, I would rather hand money to a man standing on the side of the road holding up a sign saying I am hungry than an offering plate, it is my intent to follow Jesus teachings and give to those in need. Please draw your own conclusion and make up your own mind, I would not judge nor feel differently about those who do Tithe, I am just offering a common sense way to look at the idea of tithing today.
Namaste Live in Love and Light Sandi~