Tithing Question

[TNOE]

I read a post here several moons ago - probably in GD where there are disputed verses regarding tithing.

Anybody got any?

[varkam]

1. Got any what?

Tithes? Questions about tithing?

[TNOE]

2. Tithing Verses

that contradict each other. For my mother. Who is very torn on the issue.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. The Wikipedia has what looks like a good article

Tithe

[LSparkle]

4. The only thing I know is the "render unto Caesar that which is

Caesar's and unto God that which is God's."

It almost makes me think that parishioners should pay their MONEY to their
government, and give their SERVICE (not necessarily funds) to their church.
Congregations need money to exist but I think the focus on fundraising is
often a turn-off and makes people with good hearts but empty pocketbooks
feel ashamed when the plate is passed.

I don't know if there's a Biblical reference to how much one should tithe
(if motivated) but I did get into a discussion with fellow church members
once about whether the tithe should be a percentage of pre- or after tax
income ... The consensus was that it should be pre-tax (which at the time
floored me ... even 10% off my gross would have been a huge burden!).

[Hugabear]

5. Look in the Book of Malachi

It's the last book of the Old Testament. I don't remember much, but when I was growing up, my father used to always quote verses from that book to show that 10% of your income was supposed to go to the church.

[Zebedeo]

6. Malachi, Matthew and Luke

"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:8-10

"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." Matt. 23:23 (KJV)

"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone." Luke 11:42 (NIV)

[moobu2]

7. All I know is you’re going straight to hell

If you don’t give 10% to the church.

[kwassa]

8. No, you are going straight to hell if you don't give 10% to me.

Public Service Announcement on Behalf of Your Eternal Soul.

[Igel]

9. The wiki article seems to sum up the OT well enough.

I have a minor quibble.

Three tithes, the first for the Levites (some modern churches argue that equates to 'church' these days), second for going to the holy day feasts, and the third for widows/poor/strangers. The third is, in Wiki, for every 3rd year. There's an alternate view which puts it in the framework of a 7-year cycle (for the year of release), so it' the third year in every 7.

Note that Wiki quibbles over applying the idea of tithing to money, saying the tithe was primarily agricultural, applying to things like barley and oxen. One has to wonder what happened in towns and cities.