圣经问答 - 十分之一捐献~Q&A - TITHING

十分之一捐献-Acts-13-1112

是否有圣经章节提及教会不需给十分之一的捐献？有些教会规定信徒把薪水的十分之一献给教会。

林后9：6-8⁶少种的少收，多种的多收。这话是真的。⁷各人要随本心所酌定的。不要作难，不要勉强，因为捐得乐意的人，是神所喜爱的。⁸神能将各样的恩惠，多多地加给你们。使你们凡事常常充足，能多行各样善事。

保罗说各人要随本心所酌定的。他也鼓励信徒们帮助其他人。但是这里强调不要作难，不要勉强，因为捐得乐意的人，是神所喜爱的。

可12：41-44⁴¹耶稣对银库坐着，看众人怎样投钱入库。有好些财主，往里投了若干的钱。⁴²有一个穷寡妇来，往里投了两个小钱，就是一个大钱。⁴³耶稣叫门徒来，说，我实在告诉你们，这穷寡妇投入库里的，比众人所投的更多。⁴⁴因为他们都是自己有余，拿出来投在里头。但这寡妇是自己不足，把她一切养生的都投上了。

这穷寡妇给的是最少的，但是在神的眼中她所献上的是最多。捐款的价值不在于它的数额，最重要的是诚意与态度。如果一个人是不愿意或是为了个人的名誉，那么捐款是没有意义的。无论捐多少，只要我们诚恳和全心全意地献上，真神都会接受。

使4：32-35³²那许多信的人，都是一心一意的，没有一人说，他的东西有一样是自己的，都是大家公用。³³使徒大有能力，见证主耶稣复活。众人也都蒙大恩。³⁴内中也没有一个缺乏的，因为人人将田产房屋都卖了，把所卖的价银拿来，放在使徒脚前。³⁵照各人所需用的，分给各人。

在使徒时代，许多人将田产房屋都卖了，东西都是公用。他们将所拥有的都献上，比十分之一还多。根据圣灵报，早期的真耶稣教会有些信徒也是如此。

起初有十分之一的捐献，为何现在没有呢？

旧约圣经没提及强制信徒献上十分之一。

创22：13-14¹³亚伯拉罕举目观看，不料，有一只公羊，两角扣在稠密的小树中，亚伯拉罕就取了那只公羊来，献为燔祭，代替他的儿子。¹⁴亚伯拉罕给那地方起名叫耶和华以勒（意思就是耶和华必预备），直到今日人还说，在耶和华的山上必有预备。

在真教会里我们必需有着一个信念，那就是当神的教会需要钱时，真神会感动我们的心去献上多于十分之一。我们不需要准备一大笔钱，只需依靠真神的能力来彰显祂的大能。新约圣经也没提及强制信徒献上十分之一。

有些教会有实行十分之一的捐献。为什么吉隆坡真耶稣教会没有实行呢？

使徒行传记载早雨圣灵时期，东西都是公用的。圣灵创立了教会。信徒们每天聚集在教会敬拜真神。当时教会需要他们的捐献，有能力的信徒都会把东西捐献给教会，使大家都可以使用，不分你我。也有信徒把田地卖了，把钱捐献给教会。

在中国大陆晚雨圣灵早期时，信徒按照早雨圣灵使徒时代的做法，全部东西都是公用的。当教会开始稳定并有存款时，公用东西的做法就不再有了。吉隆坡真耶稣教会没有实行十分之一的捐献因为我们依照圣经的教导。在新约圣经里，主耶稣基督并没有教导要献上十分之一。祂甚至指责法利赛人假冒为善，因为他们在众人面前夸自己献上十分之一，要众人知道他们所献的数额。

太6：1-4¹你们要小心，不可将善事行在人的面前，故意叫他们看见。若是这样，就不能得你们天父的赏赐了。²所以你施舍的时候，不可在你前面吹号，像那假冒为善的人，在会堂里和街道上所行的，故意要得人的荣耀。我实在告诉你们，他们已经得了他们的赏赐。³你施舍的时候，不要叫左手知道右手所作的。⁴要叫你施舍的事行在暗中，你父在暗中察看，必然报答你。（有古卷作必在明处报答你）

我们遵守圣经上的教导，各人要随本心所酌定的。不要作难，不要勉强，因为捐得乐意的人，是神所喜爱的。（林后9：7）吉隆坡真耶稣教会遵守圣经教导，捐献都是随本心所酌定的。我们依照各人的能力捐献。即使使徒时代也没有实行十分之一捐。保罗见证信徒中有捐得乐意的人，超过了自己的力量。

林后8：2-3²就是他们在患难中受大试炼的时候，仍有满足的快乐，在极穷之间，还格外显出他们乐捐的厚恩。³我可以证明他们是按着力量，而且也过了力量，自己甘心乐意的捐助。

圣经教导我们要按照能力，而不是超过能力把十分之一献上。主耶稣基督要我们按照能力，不要作难，不要勉强，乐意地献上。

林后8：12因为人若有愿作的心，必蒙悦纳，乃是照他所有的，并不是照他所无的。

如果我们强迫其他人捐献，那么这就不是出自于乐意的心。若强制收入不多的兄弟姐妹献上十分之一，或许他们的生活就会有困难了。保罗说我们应该按照自己的能力乐捐，才会得到真神的悦纳。今天，真教会实行的捐献是以乐意的心并按照圣经的教导，不是按照人的意思。

（2009年灵恩大会-圣经问答）

Tithing-Acts-13-1112

Are There Records Of Bible Verses Which Indicate That Tithing Is Not A Necessary Practice In The Church?

Some churches require their believers to offer up a tenth of their salary to the church.

2Cor. 9:6-8⁶But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ⁷Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Paul said that every man should give according to the purpose of his heart. He also encouraged believers to lend help to others. However, he emphasized that giving should not be done grudgingly or out of necessity, because God loves a cheerful giver.

Mark 12:41-44⁴¹And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. ⁴²And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. ⁴³And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: ⁴⁴For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

The poor widow had given the least, but in the eyes of God, she had presented the most. The value of our offerings is not determined by the amount but it is our sincerity and attitude that matter the most. The contribution does not bear any value if a person contributes unwillingly or to gratify his personal reputation. God will surely accept our offerings regardless of the amount if we offer to Him sincerely and wholeheartedly.

Acts 4:32-35³²And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. ³³And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ³⁵And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

During the apostolic period, the multitude of those who believed sold their possessions and they shared all things in common. They gave everything that they had which was more than a tenth of their possessions. According to the Holy Spirit Times, some believers acted the same way during the early True Jesus Church period.

Tithing Was Practised In The Early Days, But Why Is It No Longer Enforced?

There was no indication in the Old Testament that believers were forced to pay a tenth of their possessions.

Gen. 22:13-14¹³And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. ¹⁴And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

When God’s church requires financial aid, God will move the hearts of His believers to offer up more than a tenth of their possessions. God will demonstrate His great power. There was also no indication in the New Testament requiring believers to pay tithes.

Some Churches Enforce The Rule Of Tithing. Why Does The Kuala Lumpur True Jesus Church Not Implement This?

Acts of the Apostles records that all things were shared in common during the early rain period. The Holy Spirit had established the church. Believers gathered in the church to worship God daily. At that time, the church needed contributions from believers and those who had the capability donated more to the church without claiming credit so that everyone might utilise the funds. There were also believers who sold their lands and gave the money to the church.

During the latter rain period in mainland China, believers emulated the practices of the early rain apostolic period whereby all possessions were shared in common. When the church began to stabilise and had funds, they no longer practised the act of sharing all things in common. The Kuala Lumpur True Jesus Church does not observe tithing because we live in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus Christ did not teach us to pay tithes. On the contrary, He reprimanded the Pharisees for being hypocritical, because they boasted to the crowd saying that they had paid tithes, wanting everyone to know of the amount that had been offered.

Matt. 6:1-4¹Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. ²Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. ³But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: ⁴That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Tithing was also not adopted during the apostolic times. Paul bore witness that there were believers who gave willingly even beyond their ability.

2Cor. 8:2-3²How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. ³For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

2Cor. 8:12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

Conclusion

We follow the teachings of the Bible and everyone should give offerings willingly and according to the purpose of his heart. We should contribute according to our individual abilities. We should not give grudgingly or out of necessity because God loves a cheerful giver (2Cor. 9:7).

If we force others to donate a tenth of their possession, then it is not from a willing heart. If we force those with low incomes to pay tithes, it would perhaps affect their livelihood. Paul said that we should give offerings according to our own abilities, for this would be pleasing unto God.

(2009 Annual Spiritual Meeting – Q&A)