I struck a nerve when I ran a small brief on tithing in April.
For those who are not familiar with the term, tithing is the practice of giving 10 percent or more of one’s income to the church.
I asked readers to let me know if they tithe or not and they were more than happy to respond. We ran several comments, but we got so many we did not have room to run them all in the newspaper.
I’ve chosen to run some more at the bottom of this post. Also I wanted to alert readers to the Dave Ramsey column in Monday’s You! section of The Oklahoman. Many may know of Ramsey, a Christian man who has developed financial management principles (many based on Scripture) that are being taught in many places including churches.
Ever hear of Financial Peace University? Well, Ramsey created it. In his Monday column, Ramsey answers a reader’s question about bills and tithes — whether one should pay bills or pay tithes when money is tight.
Look below for more readers’ comments on tithing:
Nora Copeland, Purcell: “Concerning the issue of tithing, the New Testament says little about tithing. Each time (tithing is mentioned) goes back to the Old Testament. … As rules for Christians, there is no certain amount I could find. In 1 Cor. 16: 1-2, Paul told them to lay aside on the first day of the week. In 2 Cor. 9:7 it says ‘Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so let him give: not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver’.
“I hope all people will look at this last scripture and keep it in mind when considering how much to give.”
And Georgia Williams of Lawton said: ”I find it ironic that religious bodies that bind tithing on its members do not enforce any of the other Old Testament laws.
“Yes, you can give 10 percent, but if your circumstances are such that you cannot give that much or that you can give more, that is certainly acceptable to God. God hasn’t set a minimum or a maximum!!
He tells you ‘to purpose’ … as you have “prospered” ..what you are going to give. To be told that you HAVE to give 10 percent or any other amount by anyone or any ‘church’, is teaching and enforcing error. What a person gives is between God and the giver. No-one else should factor into what an individual purposes and gives to the Lord.”
Beth Worstine says this: “How can anyone who claims to be a faithful Christian and a follower of the Bible not tithe? Isn’t that what God tells us to do in the Bible? YES it is!
“When I gave my life to the Lord I knew this was as important as the Ten Commandments and have always tried to at least do the 10 percent as asked, but try to always do more as my heart leads me. My husband and I have always had the confidence that God would take care of us because we do live by His rules and one of them is to tithe. Tithing is just one of many ways to keep the word spreading. Lots of ‘church goers’ complain about the pastor asking for money, guess they forget how much it costs to maintain a church building or how much it can cost to help take care of others or to just spread His word. True believers feel good about giving back. Have regretted over some decisions in my life, but have never regretted tithing or helping with spreading the word of the Lord.”
——-
Thanks to all who responded. I’m sure we’ll be discussing more on the topic in the future.