No more Tithing!

No more Tithing! God loves a cheerful giver.
"If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over." Luke 6:38 (NLT)

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

You may realise something very thought-provoking if you read this teaching from Paul.

There is no talk of tithing here, but rather a free-will offering. With all the teaching in Jesus' time through to Paul's time, there is actually NO directive or command to tithe.

Why is that?
There is only one indirect reference to us tithing when Jesus confronted the Pharisees about their tithing, but "neglecting justice and the love of God". (Luke 11:42, Matt 23:23-26)

"This argument appears strong, but it’s not persuasive. Jesus also mentioned offering sacrifices in the temple (Matt. 5:23–24), but Christians don’t think—even if the temple were rebuilt—that we should do that. Our Lord’s words are understandable when we think about his location in redemptive history." - The Gospel Coalition (see below).

The second reference in the New Testament is in Hebrews referring to the priesthood of Melchizedek who received tithes and the fact that Jesus' priesthood supersedes any other priesthood. This would have been the place to instruct Christians to tithe but again there is no such command.

"Abraham’s gift to Melchizedek was a one-time event; there is no evidence he regularly gave God a tenth." - The Gospel Coalition.

Some say that tithing came before the Mosaic law, but what about the Sabbath, if this is the case? Why don't we practice the Sabbath day's rest?

The dispensation we live in now is Grace and no longer the Law (or Mosaic covenant), or hundreds of laws that no longer relate to the New Testament (the New Agreement) between God and man, where Christ fulfilled the law for us through His death and resurrection.

Plus, "tithes were given to the Levites and priests, but there are no Levites and priests in the new covenant" and "nowhere is tithing mentioned when commands to give generously are found in the New Testament". - The Gospel Coalition

Actually, the act of giving in the newly birthed church in Acts, was far more radical than tithing. There are many references to this radical departure from tithing:
1. "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need." Acts 2: 44-45 (NIV)

2. "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." Acts 4:32-35 (NIV)

My conclusion is that tithing belongs to the Old Testament period and that loving, free-will giving, giving based on the community's needs and gifts of worship have replaced the old law and are far superior to the old legal directive.

In addition, considering all Jesus' teachings to His apostles and that of the apostle Paul (and all the epistles) there is no directive anywhere. In actual fact, getting back to the earlier teaching above by Paul, it goes directly against tithing.

Why is tithing used as a key directive and "law" in churches to collect money?

I personally believe the church endorses it to ensure the church gets in enough money on a monthly or subscription basis to meet its budget - instead of living by faith!

Please don't be offended but investigate this further. Below is a very challenging resource to start with.

Reference
The Gospel Coalition; www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/7-reasons-christians-not-required-to-tithe