I find it interesting that for all Christians and pastors like to remind us that we are not under the law any more and our works do not do anything to move us toward God or compel him to bless us, when it comes to tithing, they are virtual pharisees.
I know people who above and beyond tithe and still are having financial difficulties and people who don’t tithe who don’t have financial problems.
We are so legalistic in this one area, and it’s perfectly acceptable in the vast majority of churches.
Give and Give cheerfully. Support your church, it has operating expenses, it may need to help those in need, it may have missionaries to support. None of that happens for free.
It is not a ‘legal’ issue, it should be what one Wants to do.
I agree with you. Tithing = legalism. Not pertinent under Grace. But the preachers sure hit you with the concept. Everyone involved in a local church should give to support the ministry, but actual “tithing” is not Biblical now.
Another thing that I have a problem with is the concept of having to become a member of a local church. There’s nothing wrong with it — if you want to — but I don’t see it mentioned in the Bible.
I donate cash, no name.
To church, and others.
Take std deduction. (No house payment.)
The Church (organized, as a business-like entity) is too dependent on the tax deduction, to the point of saying ‘its good stewardship to claim your tithe deductions.’
Those ‘Churches’ and we Believers better learn to live without that deduction.
It is true, people have gone into debt and lost their homes and their marriages because they tithed when they could not afford to.