How to tithe

[Unregistered]

I starting to go to church. Now I do not know how you become a member of the church. The church I went to is Pentecostal. Now do I give each week at the offering. Do I cut a cheque, or do they tell me how much to give according to my income. I feel very very confused about this and I wish I didn't. I mean, I have a partner that doesn't believe in church and all that stuff. Now I am the first to admit I am no good with money. I am now giving my money to him and he is paying all the bills and my car payment. I have an allowance every month. How do I go about that? am I cheating god? I feel so upset over this. Please give me some insight.

in his name,

K

[grandpa]

:angel: Hello K. Grandpa Here. Bless you for going to Church and asking about Titheing. I an going to respond to each of your statements and questions in order in the Post.
The Minister or Church officials can tell you about Church Membership. Probably the first question that you will be asked is "Have you been saved?" This means, Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior or something meaning this.
The normal Tithe is 10% of income. Some people give 10% after taxes. My wife and I presently are giving 12% of the gross before taxes and the other 90% minus taxes does what we need it to do.
Your Minister should discuss this with you. You should feel comfortable with this and if not ask some of your friends what they think.

Now: "Your Money": If you are not married, You should have charge and total use of your own money. If there is a need to share expenses, this can be worked out evenly including the work around the house.

Cheating God?? Read Malachi 3-6 t 12. The question is asked "Will man rob God?"

In Luke 6-38 we Read. "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

In closing: Pray about your relationship with the person you are living with. Ask God for Holy Spirit Wisdom and Guidance.

Keep us posted. We care. Agape. Grandpa.:) :D :biggrin: :cool:

[Ann]

Hello
I am so glad to hear that you have started going to church. I hope you will find a lot of blessing and all the help you need to come into a read deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your Savior and your Lord.

Many churches have a time when they invite new members to join the church. Other churches welcome new members any time. The best thing to do would be to make an appointment to talk with the pastor about your interest and questions about joining the church. Most Pentacostal churches and most other Christian churches believe that a person must be saved or born again to become a member of the church. The term born again comes from the words of Jesus in John 3:16. All people whoever they are have sins in their lives. We can't get rid of our sins by ourself no matter how we may try. We need help. Jesus died on the cross to pay the full penalty for our sin. If we receive Him as our Savior we are cleansed from our sin by His blood sacrifice and we have a new life (are born again) in Him. Here are two links that will tell you more about this.
http://www.ilovejesus.com/worship/light-in-ga/gift.html
http://www.worldoutreachcenter.com/try_jesus.html

Most churches have a time each week to pay your tithes and give an offering as a regular part of the service. The term tithe is from an old English term meaning a tenth. The general teaching on tithing is that believers tithe (contribute) 10% as a way of showing that they belong to God. One pastor I know expressed it as being "rent" for the space we take up on earth. Offerings are gifts or contributions above and beyond the tithe. The Bible tells us there are many blessings that come to someone who puts God first in their financial matters. The third chapter of Malachi (the last book in the Old Testament) verses 10-12 tell some of thise blessings "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. . The 28th chapter of Deuteronomy (the 5th book of the Bible) tells more blessings that come with obeying God and also warns or the bad consequences of disobeying Him. God is far more concerned about the state of your heart than with your money. But as you have discovered when a person's heart heart turns towards Him they will start to want to honor Him with what they do with their money.

It may take a little while for you to work things out to be able to give a full 10% or more of all you have since you do not control your own money and you have given someone who does not yet believe control over it. God understands this. Pray and ask His help and He will show you how to work things out. And in the meantime give what you can give. It might be reasonable to start by giving 10% or a bit more of the money that is in your control like your allowance.

I am concerned that someone else is controling your money simply because that gives them control over you and limits your freedom. but I believe that as you walk with Jesus and grow in Him He will show you how to work this out.