I Do Not Tithe to Any Given Church. I Tithe By Helping The Homeless On The Street. Question is: Is My Form of Tithing Acceptable By God? If Not, Why Not? (With Scripture)
A:
Before answering your question, it's important to understand the concept of "church" from Jesus' point of view:
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18--ESV)
In this verse: it's important to note that the word Jesus used here for church, "ecclesia", did not mean "God's Elect" or "God's Chosen" when Jesus spoke it. When Jesus spoke "ecclesia", it meant 'those who come out to the common area to make decisions for the community.' Or basically He pointed to the broadest form of government there was at the time. He could have used other words here, Kingdom, Synod, Temple, etc, which point to a walled garden. but the word he used meant 'everyone who'll come out'.
It is important understand what "ecclesia" meant to Jesus to frame an answer to your question about "tithes to the Church". Here's a hint: Church isn't a building. Church means people... all those you share your life with. It doesn't mean a chosen few, It means everyone who is part of your life.
Those who seek to make that word mean 'God's elect' or "God's chosen" or "the golden spire at the corner" pervert the Word of God.
-----
Now to answer your question:
The tithe you say you do (helping the poor) is in the Bible, but it's separate from the tithe you ask about.
Tithe to the Lord:
22 Put on one side a tenth of all the increase of your seed, produced year by year. 23 And make a feast before the Lord your God, in the place which is to be marked out, where his name will be for ever, of the tenth part of your grain and your wine and your oil, and the first births of your herds and your flocks; so that you may have the fear of the Lord your God in your hearts at all times. 24 And if the way is so long that you are not able to take these things to the place marked out by the Lord your God for his name, when he has given you his blessing, because it is far away from you; 25 Then let these things be exchanged for money, and, taking the money in your hand, go to the place marked out by the Lord your God for himself; 26 And with the money get whatever you have a desire for, oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your soul's desire may be: and make a feast there before the Lord your God, and be glad, you and all your house; (Deuteronomy 14:22-26 Basic Bible).
Tithe to the Poor:
27 And give a thought to the Levite who is living among you, for he has no part or heritage in the land. 28 At the end of every three years take a tenth part of all your increase for that year, and put it in store inside your walls: 29 And the Levite, because he has no part or heritage in the land, and the man from a strange country, and the child who has no father, and the widow, who are living among you, will come and take food and have enough; and so the blessing of the Lord your God will be on you in everything you do. (Deuteronomy 14:27-29 Basic Bible).
Forgive Debts:
1 At the end of every seven years there is to be a general forgiveness of debt. 2 This is how it is to be done: every creditor is to give up his right to whatever he has let his neighbour have; he is not to make his neighbour, his countryman, give it back; because a general forgiveness has been ordered by the Lord. 3 A man of another nation may be forced to make payment of his debt, but if your brother has anything of yours, let it go; 4 But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will certainly give you his blessing in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for your heritage; 5 If only you give ear to the voice of the Lord your God, and take care to keep all these orders which I give you today. 6 For the Lord your God will give you his blessing as he has said: you will let other nations have the use of your money, but you will not make use of theirs; you will be rulers over a number of nations, but they will not be your rulers. 7 If in any of your towns in the land which the Lord your God is giving you, there is a poor man, one of your countrymen, do not let your heart be hard or your hand shut to him; 8 But let your hand be open to give him the use of whatever he is in need of. 9 And see that there is no evil thought in your heart, moving you to say to yourself, The seventh year, the year of forgiveness is near; and so looking coldly on your poor countryman you give him nothing; and he will make an outcry to the Lord against you, and it will be judged as sin in you. 10 But it is right for you to give to him, without grief of heart: for because of this, the blessing of the Lord your God will be on all your work and on everything to which you put your hand. 11 For there will never be a time when there are no poor in the land; and so I give orders to you, Let your hand be open to your countrymen, to those who are poor and in need in your land. (Deuteronomy 15:1-11 Basic Bible).
Free Slaves:
12 If one of your countrymen, a Hebrew man or woman, becomes your servant for a price and does work for you six years, in the seventh year let him go free. 13 And when you make him free, do not let him go away with nothing in his hands: 14 But give him freely from your flock and from your grain and your wine: in the measure of the wealth which the Lord your God has given you, you are to give to him. 15 And keep in mind that you yourself were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God made you free: so I give you this order today. (Deuteronomy 15:12-18 Basic Bible)
First Fruit:
19 All the first males to come to birth in your herd and your flock are to be holy to the Lord your God: the first birth of your ox is not to be used for work, the wool of your first lamb is not to be cut. 20 But year by year you and all your house are to take a meal of it before the Lord, in the place of his selection. 21 But if it has any mark on it, if it is blind or has damaged legs, or if there is anything wrong with it, it may not be offered to the Lord your God. 22 It may be used for food in your houses: the unclean and the clean may take of it, as of the gazelle and the roe. 23 Only do not take its blood for food, but let it be drained out on the earth like water. (Deuteronomy 15:19-23 Basic Bible)
That is contributing to the poor is expected, from your own hand. But it is expected separately from contributing to the good of the community.
As for the well-being of the teachers of the Word, the proper contribution listed in the bible is "first fruits". NOT a tithe, but a first fruit. But, what is a first fruit?
So, there's the tithe for the poor and the needy (10%), and another tithe for the well-being of the community (10%), and another expectation that you support the teachers of the Word (2%, but putting a number on it isn't exactly right.)
But you can't write one check for this and let someone else take care of it for you.. the expectation is that you are involved in the community... you personally get involved with the poor, and the community support, and the the support of the teachers.
