R
RebeccaJ
Guest
Although the Church teaches that offering some form of material support to the Church is obligatory for all Catholic adults who are able to do so, it doesn’t specify what percent of one’s income should be given. Remember, tithing was an Old Testament obligation that was incumbent on the Jews under the Law of Moses. Christians are dispensed from the obligation of tithing ten percent of their incomes, but not from the obligation to help the Church.In the Old Testament (not the ten commandments) 4 scriptures I will cite about tithing ---- again tithing is clear before you response back to me and say no it is not ---- tithing is clear
If you misinterpret these scriptures, this explains to me why tithing is not the Lord’s law of finance in most churches, including Catholicism.
- Genesis 14:18-20
- Leviticus 27:30-34
- Deuteronomy 14:22
- Malachi 3:8-11
Payment of tithing is a commandment — this notion of forgiving ---- have that make sense, if you will??? God gives us everything and so payment of tithing, is more than just paying it, it shows our faith in his gospel.
The key to understanding how God wants us to give to the Church is found in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On the first day of the week [Sunday] each of you should set aside whatever he can afford,” and in 2 Corinthians 9:5-8,
So I thought it necessary to encourage the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for your promised gift [donation], so that in this way it might be ready as a bountiful gift and not as an exaction. Consider this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.
To paraphrase: God doesn’t demand a fixed amount of money from us; he wants us to give from the heart. If people are forced by their church to give a certain percent of their income, that’s extortion. If they give freely and cheerfully the amount they are able, that’s a gift.