In the old Testament, the law had a series of provisions to provide for worship and for those who were poor. One of them was tithing. You were to give a tenth of your crops — and by extension your income — to the temple.
There were other parts of this that most people ignore. Every 50 years all debts were to be forgiven, and all land return to the original owners. (Buyng farmland was in fact a lease of the land until the Jubilee). Debtors could indenture themselves to relieve debt. There were specail tithes for those with no incomes.
But the old covenant has gone. Paul, who knew the law, advised us this way
1Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia. 2On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come. 3And when I arrive, I will send any whom you approve with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem. 4If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
Paul is preaching generosity. He is not giving them a percentage. I think one should give generously, after providing for your family… from dealing with their debts to getting them what they need.
Tithing is not Pauline. It is part of prosperity gospel — seen as a cause of blessing, as if God is a collection box or a one-armed bandit that we can manipulate. He is sovereign.
I hesitated to comment on this one because it is an issue I waffle back and forth on. It is a constant struggle mainly because I do not believe that the Bible, the NT, supports the principle of tithing. But we go to a church that teaches the principle of tithing.
I have found the same thing you have through an exploration of the Scriptures. Every other believer I am in close relationship, save one family is adamant that tithing is a matter of obedience to God and a refusal to do it is the same as invoking a financial curse upon your family.
*sigh*. Tough issue in the church today as many believers who believe in the principle still don’t do it because their bills are so much. And they live in abject fear of something going wrong as a punishment for not paying their tithe.
The reason I blogged on this is that it is seen as a sin not to and a reason for punishment in many churches. Your pastor needs to re examine scripture.
My advice to struggling families is to make sure everyone is fed, clothed, warm and growing… then give generously.