I know that tithing has been used sometimes as a form of guilt tripping church members into "not robbing" from God's House, but in actuality, the pastor and the church is robbing themselves of ever knowing God's unspeakable gift of providing by raising up cheerful givers just what the church needs in ministry.
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:..........15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
So when He provides sparingly, He will be reaping sparingly.....when He provides bountifully, He will be reaping bountifully. It is really nobody's business except between you & the Lord for how much you give, and how you give it.
Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Many give to get tax deductions; and that is okay, but Jesus did say that you have done it before men and have already received your reward. There is a better way to give which is anonymously, but that is a challenge in these latter days.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Those who give to church, should first consider giving to family members in need, especially the widows. The church back then used to take care of members that are widowed that have no children to take care of them. We do not see that today.
Before a church or pastor gives judgment on any not giving at all....that is not their place to judge when a pastor has a salary and benefits and a pension that others hardly have. And that is a poor attitude and an example of lack of faith in God providing for them to have. Who should believe a pastor in his sermon that God will provide for them when his "dependence" is on the church members to "tithe" and keep their pledges of giving, and blow off steam about believers robbing from God's church? This is what James was talking about in James 2nd chapter when the church was abusing the poor by sending them away after service. expressing their faith in God's Providence to provide for the poor and yet gave them nothing from the bounty collected after church service. That is the faith in God's Providence that was dead and that faith in His Providence will not "profit" the poor nor save the poor when the church is hardly living by example in having faith in God's Providence.
We need not brow beat members into tithing or giving, and neither should any one be brow beating members for tithing and giving for they know not what they do.
We really should not be making pledges to give because we do not know what tomorrow will bring, and believers are warned about just making plans for tomorrow.
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
If a giver falls in hard times, then they will not only sin by boasting of tomorrow but also breaking a pledge to give. You are not bound to give so that you feel you have to give. God will provide for the church. The church may claim necessity to know what's coming in to plan ahead, but since a pledge is not a guarantee and they can only operate on what has been received, then it is really vain and superficial to be asking for or giving a pledge to give. So ask the Lord to forgive you for pledging to set you free and give cheerfully what you want to give next time the collection plate comes around.
Oh... and forgive the pastor & the church for making you tithe and make pledges of giving, even if they refuse correction. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Good Shepherd to help you discern if He wants you to stay or not.
Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.