Thanks for sharing the discussion. A few other thoughts: Money isn't the root of all evil. It's only a man-made tool. Placing a focus on it above God's tenets is wrong. Neither God nor Jesus ever asked anyone for their money and there's no biblical precedent for tithing from earned wages. Not New Testament, or Old. Jesus mentioned money to relate to those he was speaking, not as instructional on what to do with their money. He only emphasized giving to the poor. But yes, we should support the church we attend as well as ministries and other charities as we feel led and are able. There's nothing wrong with choosing to tithe, money or otherwise, to a church or otherwise, but there's nothing biblically binding on anyone today to continually pay 10% of your earnings to a religious institution, and there never was. We're free to give, not bound to pay.
One Old testament tithing was used to maintain the temple priesthood. Under the new covenant we are ALL Royal Priests and if we have needs then this is met vis the apostles doctrine as demonstrated in acts2v43-47 and acts4v32-37. You will not find a single believer tithing or teaching about tthing including Jesus and the apostles. There is zero requirement for any new testament believer in Jesus to give a tithe of money to a church period. It's simply a method of extorting money. Paul's offering for Jerusalem is simply the apostles doctrine in action.
Thanks for sharing the discussion. A few other thoughts:
Money isn't the root of all evil. It's only a man-made tool. Placing a focus on it above God's tenets is wrong. Neither God nor Jesus ever asked anyone for their money and there's no biblical precedent for tithing from earned wages. Not New Testament, or Old. Jesus mentioned money to relate to those he was speaking, not as instructional on what to do with their money. He only emphasized giving to the poor. But yes, we should support the church we attend as well as ministries and other charities as we feel led and are able.
There's nothing wrong with choosing to tithe, money or otherwise, to a church or otherwise, but there's nothing biblically binding on anyone today to continually pay 10% of your earnings to a religious institution, and there never was. We're free to give, not bound to pay.
One Old testament tithing was used to maintain the temple priesthood. Under the new covenant we are ALL Royal Priests and if we have needs then this is met vis the apostles doctrine as demonstrated in acts2v43-47 and acts4v32-37. You will not find a single believer tithing or teaching about tthing including Jesus and the apostles. There is zero requirement for any new testament believer in Jesus to give a tithe of money to a church period. It's simply a method of extorting money. Paul's offering for Jerusalem is simply the apostles doctrine in action.