Tithe or Give?

I know there are many, many preachers that advocate the tithe as a required duty of a Christian and in doing so I believe they bring undue guilt, burden, and grief upon their congregations. I know there are many who will disagree with me and some Christians that would even go so far as to say that those who do not give the ten percent as commanded by God in the Old Testament, but rather, give as they feel led to give by the Spirit, are not of Christ or are at best disobedient Christians.

But the questions I put before you is, since the tithe was instituted under the Old Mosaic Law which was given to God's people, is it to be kept, while all the other Laws are not? If the Law of Moses is a commandment to be kept for tithing, then are we not still required to keep the whole Law according to the Word of God? That would include the food Laws, clothing Laws, circumcision on the eighth day, the stoning of sinners caught in the act, the fasting Laws and animal sacrifices for the sins of the people. Well, how you doing so far? Hello!

Do you truly believe that ten percent is enough to give God after all he has given you? Do you really think that ten percent of all you have is enough to thank God for given His Son for you on the Cross? Shouldn't we truly lay face down on the alter every week with 100% of what God has given us as an attitude of thankfulness? If giving ten percent is a requirement for Christians to keep, then it is nothing short of another punch in their ticket of salvation by works, and the danger of becoming a cold heartless Pharisee is ever so near. Give abundantly, give cheerfully, give as it has been given unto you, give as you are lead to give and let God be the judge of the heart, for to tithe is lawful but to give is graceful.

Galatians 3:10 "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."

Galatians 3:23 "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed."

Galatians 4:4-5 "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."

Galatians 5:18 'But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."

Recommended reading "A Biblical Model for Giving, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and The Truth about Tithing.