How is paying tribute different from paying tithe?

Your Question:

How is paying tribute different from paying tithe? Why didn’t Jesus feel it right to pay tribute? Are churches not asking for people to pay tribute and masking it as tithes? After paying your tithe is it right for the church to pass the plate for other projects or should they not be using the tithes that they already have and maintaining that budget? I sometimes feel trapped when a singer that I don’t particularly like sings for the church and then passes the plate, you feel like you have to give because they already sung for you. What do you think about that?

Bible Answer:

Well, Jo-Ann, I don’t know if you are speaking of a Bible passage per se, but tribute, tithing and the collection the saints made in the New Testament are three different things. They are not related to each other at all.

As for the tithe, I’ve written on that subject before. That was something the Jews did in keeping with the Mosaic Law. You can read more about it here:

http://crosswordspage.blogspot.com/search/label/tithing%2Foffering%2Fcontribution

In particular http://crosswordspage.blogspot.com/2008/03/is-10-of-my-income-what-i-should-be.html which talks about the difference between contributing and tithing.

Our contribution to churches is largely governed by the principle of giving with joy in your heart and not under compulsion, as explained in the previous link.

Tributes are like taxes. We only pay those to the government or other entities. It seems to me your church is selling services it doesn’t belong selling. Singing for money is something done in a stadium for entertainment purposes, not in the assembly of the saints. We do not see such practice in the New Testament.

I would like for you to examine the teachings of your church and make sure they are in keeping with the Spirit of God. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 that the Father seeks worshippers who worship Him in spirit and in truth. You need to be willing to be a student of the word to be sought by the Father and learn to please Him.