According to the scriptures, it is not necessary to pay your "tithe" to a church. Scripturally, you decide how to pay your tithe, you also decide if you don't want to pay it. It all depends on whether you have faith in it or not.

The reason is because Tithing in the Bible are of two approaches, either by vowing to God that you will pay it (with reference to Abraham paying tithe to Melchizedek and Jacob in Genesis) or paying via the mosaic law in Deuteronomy 14.
And since we don't live by the law which suggest that you pay it to a levite (specifically, a person from the tribe of Levi), then you can take a cue from that of Abraham, who did it by vow (this is totally optional depending on your faith).
I believe that most churches cherrypick the laws of Moses into persuading members to pay it. It's understandable when they do that, because this is actually the major source of funds to run the church
However Galatian 3 vs 10-14 specifies that if you live by the law, you are bound to obey all part of the law. If you miss any, you are bound by the curses, it means that cherrypicking only tithe is tantamount to curses.

"10. Those who depend on obeying the Law live under a curse. For the scripture says, "Whoever does not always obey everything that is written in the book of the Law is under God's curse
11. Now, it is clear that no one is put right with God by means of the Law, because the scripture says, "Only the person who is put right with God through faith shall live."
12 But the Law has nothing to do with faith. Instead, as the scripture says, "Whoever [does] everything the Law requires will live."
13 But by becoming a curse for us Christ has redeemed us from the curse that the Law brings; for the scripture says, "Anyone who is hanged on a tree is under God's curse."
14 Christ did this in order that the blessing which God promised to Abraham might be given to the Gentiles by means of Christ Jesus, so that through faith we might receive the Spirit promised by God."

So try to pay your tithe through faith and not through the law given to the children of Isreal for we are not bound by those laws. And if you don't have faith in tithe, don't pay it.


Even Jesus Christ made it clear Matthew 23: 23 and 24 that Tithe is not the most consequential thing for a Christian. It doesn't have much weight
Matthew 23:23-24 New King James Version (NKJV)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

So as a Christian, Jesus christ is really not interested in your tithe. He's interests in Justice, Mercy and "faith".

In conclusion, so whether you want to pay it or not, or you want to pay it to your church or individuals, it's not so important to Jesus. What matters is whether you have faith. If you have faith that paying it to individuals is what works for you, go on. Don't pay it if you don't have faith in it enough to make that vow.

An atheist allowing jesus matter live rent free in his head....so much trouble over what does not exist

advanceDNA:
An atheist allowing jesus matter live rent free in his head....so much trouble over what does not exist

Does this prove that I understand the bible more than many Christians?
I don't believe because I have read it

Workch:
Does this prove that I understand the bible more than many Christians?
I don't believe because I have read it

Prove?? An atheist looking for validation ontop jesus matter?? This is fvnny

Workch:

So as a Christian, Jesus christ is really not interested in your tithe. He's interests in Justice, Mercy and "faith"....

Go and check it, Justice, Mercy and "faith" are still the Things The Law Commanded. So The Law is still running its course.

And God has already told us His preferances eg obey His Words, do no evil, etc but people continue to do as they please.

advanceDNA:
An atheist allowing jesus matter live rent free in his head....so much trouble over what does not exist

abi ooo. Jesus is not real and una won die for e matter

Workch:

According to the scriptures, it is not necessary to pay your "tithe" to a church. Scripturally, you decide how to pay your tithe, you also decide if you don't want to pay it. It all depends on whether you have faith in it or not.

According to the Bible TITHE is compulsory if i'm an adherent of the old covenant:

“At the end of every three years, you should bring out the entire tenth part of your produce for that year and deposit it inside your cities. Then the Levite, who has not been given a share or an inheritance with you, the foreign resident, the fatherless child, and the widow who are in your cities will come and eat their fill, so that Jehovah your God may bless you in all that you do" Deuteronomy 14:28-29


So it's not optional but mandatory for all those practicing what the law says to pay their tithes otherwise a curse will follow them for defaulting:

“Will a mere human rob God? But you are robbing me.” And you say: “How have we robbed you?” “In the TITHES and in the contributions". Malachi 3:8

But the misconception today is that most people don't know that this covenant has been CONDEMNED and replace with another when the Christ breathe his last on the torture stake from that very moment whoever wants to worship the God of Abraham has no business paying tithes monetarily because the old temple in which it was mandatory has been demolished and a new temple has replaced it! John 2:19
So whoever wants to pay his or her tithes today must do so directly to Christ by spending his/her time in preaching and teaching about God's kingdom! Hebrews 7:11-12

May you have PEACE!