First thing I’d say is if we’re looking in the Old Testament for instruction on how to dress for worship, consistency demands that we do the same thing with food, annual treks to Jerusalem, etc. Though the Old Testament might teach us some things, authority for church practices is found in the New Testament (Ephesians 2:14-15, Colossians 2:13-14).

With that said, there’s no mandate in the New Testament that Christians should dress in certain clothing for worship. In fact, there’s only passage which directly speaks about it is James 2:1-13. With that said, we can certainly show God that we lack respect for Him in a variety of ways - including not giving our attire ANY consideration (could say a lot on this).

The teaching I heard most growing up was “Jesus gave His “best” for us… so we should dress in our “best” for worship. In my opinion, that’s horrible hermeneutics because for one, Jesus didn’t give His “best” - He gave His all. Second, it’s impossible to make that leap when the New Testament is so silent on the matter. If God wanted us to dress in specific clothing for worship, He would have made it plain to us in language very similar to Exodus 28:4.

Also worship is just not restricted to the church building on Sunday. Our lives are our worship.

If you go to a church where most wear suits you will stand out in jeans or whatever
Could’ve swore I read don’t stand out or draw attention to oneself

It’s all up for interpretation I guess

🤷‍♂️


I’ve been pondering with this debate, whats the deal with tithes. 10% or what and how what about Churches that ask for W2s?

None of their business what an individual makes and tax exempts need to stop. A lot of churches have better portfolios than rich folks.

I don't believe tithing 10% is a requirement for the New Testament Church. I've never heard of a Church asking for W2s. We're supposed to be cheerful givers. I wouldn't be very cheerful in a Church that required a peek at my tax info.

Yall know how I feel about the tithe. Biggest scam ever pulled. If you want to give 10% fine. But if they teach that the tithe is still in effect for today’s Christians they are LIARS, plain and simple. Even when it was required it was only required of the Jewish people. If your a Orthodox Jew and believe only in the Old Testament then tithing is still a requirement for you.

I am guessing that "Cheerful" givers of God's money because we don't own anything, is much more than 10%.

Funny how that works.

I lean more to the traditional side of things but I also can adapt to my environment. When in Orange Beach, the majority of men and women at the church we attend dress very casual. At the beach and I get it. At our home church, the majority of men and women dress more like business casual ( men khaki's and a collard shirt ) except for the elders. They always were a suit.

But here's the thing I think about in order to get more people to attend. Several years ago at the church we attend for some twenty plus years there was a big push to have a contemporary service before the traditional service started so we did. Older members left the church and so did their money. We went this path for a couple of years but that wasn't good enough to bring in more "young people" so the contemporary folks wanted to completely end the traditional service so we did. Then that wasn't good enough so the contemporary folks went full blown liberal and against God's word in the bible so we traditionalist left. Not only did we plant a new church we had to pay a large some of money to do so.

So I don't understand why going to church has to be so complicated. Go to the church that best fits you and your beliefs but don't change what's been working for thousands of years because you aren't comfortable and don't feel welcomed.

I fully believe in giving, but would not attend a Church that wanted to see my returns.

So just because it is in the Old Testament doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. The law is still full of good things. We don’t throw out the 10 commandments or proverbs. Is it a sin if you don’t tithe? Maybe, maybe not. Is it wrong to use the facilities of the church and not help pay for them? I think it is. If you pray about tithing, and He says don’t do it I would be surprised. Just like if you prayed about following a lot of the wisdom in proverbs I don’t think He would say don’t follow it. Now is it a sin to not adhere to proverbs? Maybe, maybe not. Are you genuinely asking God if it is His will for you to do it or not?

People love to claim that with the first coming of Jesus, the Old Testament became null and void. Jesus claimed more than once that he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Speaking on tithing specifically, in Matt 23:23, he rebukes the pharisees, stating "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others."

That seems to indicate that tithing (among other parts of "the law") was still expected by Jesus himself. Now, whether that only applied to Jews or all Christians, I can't answer. I'm not well-studied enough on the topic to get into a high-level debate on it.

But I tend to agree with Pwyse's statement above....looking at this strictly from a practical standpoint, there's no denying that it costs money to run a church, it's just a simple fact. I have no problem with a church asking for tithes and offerings to pay for normal day-to-day operating costs, especially if the congregation expects the staff to be a full-time staff. You can't expect to have a full-time staff without being paid to be such.

What I do have a problem with is churches that go so far as to guilt members into it and the idea of a church asking to see members' Tax Returns is absolutely insane. Every church should be 100% transparent about every penny that is collected and how it is spent. If you attend a church that encourages giving, but is unwilling to discuss financial details with you, then I'd be very suspicious of that church.

Regardless of whether it's required or just encouraged, I think the Bible is pretty clear that your attitude toward giving is what's most important. You can give 100% of what you have, but if you do it begrudgingly, then you might as well not give it at all. We are called to give joyously.

Technically, the literal tithe doesn't exist under the new covenant. "Tithe" literally meant a tenth. . It originated when Abraham tithed to Melchizedek and was carried into Jewish law, and it consists of a tenth of ones monetary income. When you read Leviticus, we see that on top of that there were several other requirements of giving under the law.

Under the New Covenant (us) we are no longer under the law. But we are supposed to cheerfully and sacrificially give as the Lord purposes in our own heart. This can be the tenth if God purposes it for you, or it can be more, or less. You won't read about the "tithe" in the New Testament because it isn't there. I've heard a LOT of strawman arguments that refer back to the law to try to put it there, but it isn't there. Also, the New Testament speaks of giving in a different context because of the New Covenant. I know this will make some people mad when they read it and that isn't my point. I'm not making an case for not giving. I believe a Christ follower should give as Christ directs them to give. That's all.

I'll add that God loves a cheerful giver and you cannot out give Him.

Obviously, God doesn't need our money. I believe tithing is a form of sacrifice on our part that shows commitment on our part as well as a form of worship and in turn helps to run the Church. I will say this, I don't believe you give to get a blessing from God (i.e a return on investment) but I've never since I started tithing/giving really had any significant financial issue.