Tithing

I have been bothered by the economy down turn and all the churches focusing on tithing. I just got finished reading Habakkuk  this whole book is about one man speaking to God on the behalf of Israel because they are about to be destroyed. Lets just say God does not change his mind and he is still going to destroy Israel and Judah. 

"Hab 3:17  Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 

Hab 3:18  Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 

Hab 3:19  The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds' feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments. "

Even after this Habakkuk puts his home in God. This is should be our position in hard times. No matter we should have hope in God.

On another note, tithing shouldn't be focused in every Church service which I have seen at most churches I have been to lately. Here is what one of my teachers said(I am going to keep his identity a secret because I didn't ask for permission)

"The Foursquare position is that tithing is 'God's financial plan for the Church.' This is argued on the basis of Deut. 14, Mal. 3, and Luke 11:42/Mt. 23:23.

Now that I've given you the 'party line,' I should tell you that I respectfully disagree with this position. I don't see tithing actually being renewed as a principle under the new covenant. Jesus' affirmation of tithing should be seen on the same level as his affirmation of offering sacrifices (Mt. 5:23-24). That is, if Jesus affirms sacrifices, but we don't see any reason for them to continue to today, I need much more than a passing affirmation of people tithing at the time to see it as being renewed under the new covenant. Further, where one would expect Paul to refer to tithing as a means of gathering a collection to provide for others (1 Cor 16; 2 Cor. 8-9) he doesn't. He talks about regular, sacrificial, and generous giving, but doesn't mention anything about setting aside a tithe. In light of this, therefore, I see that the NT principle seems to be bound up in being a regular, sacrificial, and generous giver. Ten percent seems like a good place to start, and I practice that, but I don't see it as a requirement. For some, giving sacrificially may mean less than 10% (for some 3 or 5% would be a sacrifice because of their income). For others giving sacrificially would mean giving more than 10%. 

Overall, the key thing is to give because it all belongs to God anyway. There's no magic formula associated with tithing (those that argue that you won't be blessed if you don't give the 10% have a very low view of God in my perspective - God 'sends his rain on the righteous and the wicked'). If you give 10% of your income great. If you do more than that great! If you can only sacrificially give less than that is great as well."

Stop worrying about you paychecks and you programs and start worrying about people.