Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 1/19/2009

Question
I have recently attended 2 AoG services the last 2 sundays after not being in a church since I was a child (except weddings & funerals) I enjoyed the services.  My question is reguarding the 10% tithing as I see nowhere in the New Testament where it states a 10% tith, from what I've read the 10% is an Old Testament law for the 11 tribes of israel to support the 12th, I ask this question not out of trying to get out of anything as I believe we should give offerings to support the church and give back to god, but because I want to follow Jesus and not a rule created by fellow mortal men, as Jesus said follow me...not follow these people.  I just feel as though my heart is not in the right place by having to get out my calculator to figure out what my minimum would be.

Thank you

Answer
Sean,

Thank you for your question, and the opportunity to help.

First, I would like to ask if you have received Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour? If not, then any answer I may give you concerning tithes with be meaningless. If you have not, or if you are not sure what this means, please read over the info in this link...

http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1/HowtobecomeaChristian.dsp

Second, may I say that I was happy to read that you have been going to church again. This is an important step to your spiritual growth. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches us to attend every service humanly possible...

Heb. 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The Lord is saying here that He has a "minimum" expectation for His children to attend every worship service. Of course, there are exception (illness, emergencies, ect...) but the pricable is that He wants us to not miss any possible.

Sean, the same is true of tithing. God is interested in every part of the Believers life. Not just our spiritual life, but our relationships, our physical well being, and also our finances. And just as He has given instructions for our church attendance, He has done the same in the area of our finances for our benefit.

Tithing was before the law (Gen 14 & 28) established by the law (Lev. 27) and re-affirmed by Christ and the New Testament (Matt.23, Lk.11, Heb.7).

In my own life, my wife and I tithe 10% of our gross income, and give offering above that. Let me tell you, we are blessed because of it! Please allow me to share with you the truths I have found in the God Word about tithing and giving unto the Lord.

The only place in the Word of God that the Lord ever challenged His people to put Him to the test is in the area of tithes and offerings (Mal. 4). He told His people to "Prove Him". In other words, try tithing and giving offerings and see if He will not "pour you out a blessing you will not be able to contain". God promised us that when we pay our tithes, and give our offerings above tithes, that He would pour out such blessings that we would be unable to contain them. WOW! That is powerful my friend.

The Bible teaches us that it is the will of God for every Believer to have more than enough to meet their needs, to have enough left over to bless others and to give into the work of the Lord. I believe poverty, debt, and lack are a curse. We believe as Christians are obedient in tithing to the local church, sowing financial seeds into ministry, giving of their first fruits, and blessing the needy they will reap a harvest. Provision is having an adequate supply to fulfill the vision (destiny) God has given the Believer, and prosperity is anything more than what meets your needs.

Mal. 3:8-12; Gen. 8:22; Gen 14:20; 1 Kings 17:10-16; Neh. 10:35,37; Prov. 3:9; Lk. 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6; Gal. 6:7; Phip. 4:10 ,14-19

Here is a link that may also help you understand tithing...

http://www.echristianfinance.com/eChristianFinance/a_defense_of_tithing.htm

Please let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions.

Elder Greg Madden