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Kyle wrote:
I'm glad you can quote the Bible, Ted. But going by that I'd have to assume you are a Judaizer and therefore a heretic. Why don't you answer my questions? Are we obligated to obey the ceremonial and civil ordinances of the Mosaic law?

Is what Jesus says about the Law is too "hard?" Perhaps a little "grace" is needed?

Galatians 3:10-12 (ESV)
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."

Our original question was:
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Are Christians mandated to tithe? That is to give a tenth of their goods to the church?

I have responded as follows:
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I would respectfully submit that the question you ask doesn't get to the heart of what the Bible teaches.

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Frankly, I think your original question ("Are Christians mandated to tithe?") is not a particularly good one.

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The Biblical problem surrounds this line of thinking . . . .

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Pilgrim said:
. . . . no one has yet established the biblical mandate which would require all believers to tithe 10% of their gross income.

. . . . which is just NOT a Biblical question/issue.

I think that the problem we are having here is that we are blurring the distictions between justification and sanctification.

We are justified before God by God's grace and by HIS glorious grace alone. However, God (through the work of the Holy Spirit) is sanctifying us from the moment we trust in Jesus' atoning work on the cross.

The original question, "Are Christians mandated to tithe? That is to give a tenth of their goods to the church?" is, in regard to justification, a simple "no." There is NOTHING we can do to be justified before God (short of keeping ALL the Law -- which we know is impossible!).

BUT as to what followers of Christ (who are in the process of being sanctified) do in regards to giving? From what I read of Scripture, we are called to a higher standard than the Law - we are called to glorify God. And I just can't image, in this culture, that glorifying God would look like anything less than a tithe -- especially for those of us with the relative leisure (time and money) to make entries on this discussion board (myself included!).

Amen?

Thankful to the LORD who atones for the sins of those whom He calls -- and for the grace of those who have been "discussing" this matter with me,
Ted