This is perhaps one of the most controversial topics in ‘modern-day’ Christianity. Perhaps the reason for this is well founded. Perhaps it is not. Let’s get into it!
Tithe and burnt-offerings were names associated with the Old-Testament. Just like blood-offerings for sin. However, for every of these offerings that existed previously, there was a distinct reason for them. God is unchanging, after-all. In the Old-Testament, we weren’t joint heirs with Christ. Our relationship with God isn’t as it is now in the New-Testament. Just as we no longer need to offer blood-offerings for sin in the New-Testament age, we no longer need any of the rituals of old. Christ has offered himself as the offerings once for all. However, just as the fact that we no longer need to offer other blood-sacrifices doesn’t mean that we should keep sinning, the fact that we no longer need to offer tithes and offerings doesn’t mean we should stop giving. Just as you can’t experience the true fullness of Christ if you remain in sin, you can’t truly express love if you don’t sacrifice for the one you love.
In the New-Testament, there are no more time-dependent and specific-name rituals. This, however, doesn’t mean that there aren’t sacrifices to be made by each and every one of us.
The greatest commandments are to love God and our brothers and sisters. To love means to sacrifice. You can’t say you have love if you can’t show love by means of sacrificing for others. Imagine a father who says he loves his kids, but won’t sacrifice part of his salary or earnings to feed and clothe the kids. Do you think he really loves his kids? Once you are a stingy person, you love the material things around you more than you love Christ and your brothers and sisters.
If you love Christ, He should become priority. When He is priority, everything else is lesser or worthless before Him. As such, you realize that you gradually lose love for the materials around you. You essentially don’t care as much for or about them, anymore. You would sacrifice these materials for the Kingdom of God. Not just even sacrifice these things, you would sacrifice them willingly and cheerfully.
There is no specific gift to designate, there is no specific cause to designate to (unless there is a pressing and obvious burden that you and the fellow believers in Christ you fellowship with want or need to address), there is no specific amount, and there is no specific deadline. When you give with love, you aren’t giving from a sense of duty or fear for reprisals, you are giving out and with love. When you love Christ, you would be conscious of the needs of the people around you, and the members of Christ’s Church. If the members of Christ’s Church have material needs that you can satisfy, you should be able to say, ‘Amen!’, and help. If your brothers and sisters have material needs that you can satisfy, you should be able to say, ‘Amen!’, and satisfy these needs.
It is in giving for the purpose of God’s work and the assistance to His Church and creations that you know you really have that love that prioritizes God. After-all, you would give to the things you deem to be important. The bible says that where your treasure is, that is where your heart would be. Giving, however, must be from your spirit. Not from anywhere else, otherwise it is vain. There is a reason why the ‘Rich man’s‘ offering was not considered as anything in-comparison with the widow’s might.
For your own study, there was only one time in the New-Testament that tithing was mentioned; this was Mathew 23:23, and it was not even in favor of it.
Experiences of journeying humans 