There are some who would propagate that it is not right to tithe (give) to the Christian church, because it is not stated in the New Testament.
Does a Christian have an obligation to tithe to his or her home church?
Should a Christian take complete ownership with where and how they give or is there a structure, commandment, direction in the New Testament on how to give?
The word tithe comes from the Hebrew word, "tenth," which means a 10% portion of your earnings/first fruits you made.
Well for me, I give to a tree planting organization to help remove CO2 from the air and serve people in Africa (One Tree Planted, $1/tree, established in 2013) and more importantly, an organization that keeps the lights, heat and A/C on for those who can not afford energy (KWW/CF - Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund, established in 1996). While I do not give 10%, I do give an hour or two's wage per month to these organizations. In the coldest months, and hottest months, my money goes to the KWW/CF (December, January, February and June, July, August). All I have to do is find an organization to donate to during the mild months. So, for March, the tree organization made sense. Now, I need to find some org. to donate to in April and May and has ethical practices.
Why can one give to an NGO such as a foodbank or energy fund? This is why: The New Testament encourages Christians to use one's own resources to help those in need, and giving to a food bank or energy fund for the benefit of the poor is an excellent way to do that. In fact, Jesus himself commended those who gave to the needy and taught that true faith involves caring for others (Matthew 25:31-46). So, while attending church and supporting its ministries can be an important part of Christian life, giving to help those in need directly is also a valid expression of faith and obedience to God's call.
The New Testament does not specifically command Christians to tithe by giving a fixed percentage of their income, such as 10%. However, it does teach the importance of giving and generosity. In the New Testament, giving is presented as a voluntary act of worship and an expression of faith, rather than a legal obligation (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
Jesus and the early Christian leaders commended giving and emphasized the importance of a generous heart. They encouraged believers to give cheerfully, sacrificially, and generously to support the needs of the church and help those in need (Matthew 6:2-4, Acts 2:42-47, Galatians 2:10).
So, while the New Testament does not mandate tithing as a requirement for Christians, it does emphasize the importance of giving and generosity. Each Christian is free to prayerfully consider how much, where, and to whom they will give based on their personal circumstances, convictions, and opportunities for service. Ultimately, the goal should be to support the work of the church and help those in need with a cheerful heart and a generous spirit. And for me, the church means the people who I serve in a Christian way.