seekinggod wrote:I do not tithe 10% to my church because I feel i would be a bad steward. How so? My church uses the cash for self-perpetualtion, and uses less than 1% of its tithes for evangelism (try less than $500), missions, etc. I feel my money is better spend by supporting ministries that are money inline with Biblical priorities.One common misconception is that tithing is part of Mosaic Law. Actually, it precedes Mosaic Law and was practiced by Abraham. It is refered to in Hebrews, as part of Melchizidek's ministry being a type of Jesus.With regard to stewardship, the tithe is outside of stewardship, because it wasn't yours to begin with. The tithe is the Lord's, here men receive, but their He receives it. Tithing is separate from "properity doctrine" (in a bad sence of the term), because greedy preachers tend to indirectly ask for the tithe, when making their extraordinary claims toward financial increase, rather than directing you back to your own "storehouse", which is the local church.One question I have is this, if you are worried about your church's handling of its finance, and you are expressing disagreement with its vision, then maybe you need to consider finding another "storehouse" to sow your tithe into. This may not mean that you leave your church, but submit yourself to the leadership of another that you can respect. In my observation of christians who leave churches, unless they leave with tears, aginst their own will, under the submission of God, they tend to find the same problems at the next church. This is because the problem tends to be internal, rather than external.This doesn't mean that we need to sit under false doctrine, etc.. but we need to realise that doctrine's are "kid's stuff (according to Art Katz)", and that there is greater maturity that can arise over willing submission to ungodly leaders, for God's glory, than we could ever know in a place of comfort.An interesting thought was expressed to a friend of my, who is currently facing divorce in his marriage (the things that God allows to get our attention astounds me at times), was that there are many in the body of Christ who can afford to wear the burden of tithing for others that can't afford it. This thought deeply challenged me, as a man who lives life almost contantly on the poverty line, yet alway having exactly enough to provide for my family.Regarding how you personally view the tithe, and the rationale of paying your tithe into your own ministry, I'll leave you to sort out with God. These are areas that escape my comprehension, at this time (mainly because they aren't relevant to where I'm at in my own personal pilgramige). Myself, I'll pay my tithe into the church I attend. My logic is that God will never judge me for showing integrity, being mindful of possible disobedience, if I stop tithing. What my church does with my tithe is not my responsability, because it was never mine to begin with. However, I am very prayerful with want I give beyond this, being mindful of giving out of compulsion. I know that I have missed God's prompting, regarding giving, in the past. One instance that stands out, is an offering toward a visiting missionary. I gave excessively, and he stated that, the offering came to $1 more than the amount I gave (not that he knew what I gave). He told me that he was thinking of throwing the whole thing in, until he received this. If I hadn't given, this $1 offering, would have cause him to leave the notion of serving on the field.This man was caught in some horrific sinful circumstances, during his training, which would have been avoided, had I obeyed God. Not that this would have spared him (as it probably would have happened somewhere else), but there were people involved, who definitely would have been, as this person would not have ever met them (maybe this is hard to understand, but integrity demands that I veil the circumstances).I share this as an example of a circumstance of disobediencethat I know, first hand happened. Imagine the things that have happened, that are beyond our knowledge. In this day and age, it is of paramount importance to "be perfect as (He) is perfect", rather than living by "mere principle".
