For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Meshack Gachago
Jeff has clearly explained from scripture how tithing is a principle, and not a law, and i would add that helps God's people learn how to live in the earth and make the best out of it. Doctrine can also be built from one reference, like Jesus mentioned only once that one should be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven - that has become the foundation for new life in reaching and teaching the gospel ti all in evangelism. Even the free will offering in the NT can be abused if not done with the right heart. Of course matters of accountability in handling money in the church is important, but we cannot do away with the issue of money and related "business" in the church even if it has been abused.
Larry Truelove
Tithing in the OT was not a "principle", it was a direct command. The OT saints were not given guidelines to tithe, they were commanded specifically. Sometimes, there was more than 10%, more than one tithe.
In the NT, tithing was condoned, but only prior to Jesus' death and resurrection. Afterwards, in the NT it was treated as a type.
Jason Rusk
I agree with the reference to Matthew 5:17, and we must also Luke 21:1-4, when Jesus commends the widow for her donation of what she had to live on. While I do not believe this is an instruction for us to give everything we have, we should not lose sight of the fact that all we have comes from God, and we cannot out give God. The giving back to the Church is an act of faith in God. Further, the act of giving of tithes in the Old Testament was only one form of giving. The reference of giving tithes and offerings refers to both, the act of tithing and the act of giving a further offering. It is an act of worship. The tithe is a guideline.
Robert Tan
The Gospel or the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the central message of the Bible, does not give a law which can potentially be abused to judge others as less righteous and to make the user of it look "more righteous" than others. The apostle Paul has done away with numbers for spiritual activities. He exhorts Christians to pray without ceasing without mentioning how many times they should pray. He encourages Christians to rejoice or be thankful to the Lord always without mentioning the number of times of rejoicing. In giving for needy Christians in Jerusalem, he says this to the Church in Corinth: "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:6-7, ESV). He does not make mention at all of giving a tenth of your income. And for a living, he does not wish to burden others unfairly. "For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate" (2 Th 3:7-9, ESV). There are various purposes in giving our money as a sacrifice to God (Heb 13:16), such as: for the work of the Gospel, for the very needy, for church office expenses, etc. and it can be channeled also through different means, such as the Red Cross, a local church, etc.
Robert Tan, Singapore