There is no scriptural basis for requiring Christians to tithe

I am gladly to say thank you for your argument, first, I will cross all your argument my dear fellow: "Each man should give what HE has decided in his heart to give" This does not sound like the tithing mandate at all. The "man" decides what he wants to give in this example, not God. It does not even state that one should give "what the Holy Spirit places upon your heart". It states that we make the choice." _ I believe so, but still in fact, Christians still go to church with all their hearts and give money, why? I believe that's not because some preachers gave them some menace that God will pour disaster on their homes, I have gone to church for years, 2 churches and none of those churches told me so. "not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" This also makes it clear that the giving should not be painful. What we give should be out of what God has blessed us with, out of our abundance, not an Old Testament "sacrificial offering". _ True, but again, please look at this Malachi 3 that you said God punished those for giving the priest rotten food: Malachi 3: 13-14 " 13 "You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?' "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.' " So God did not punished them for giving the priest some rotten food but God punished them for believing that it's pointless to tithe God, so God punished them for blasphemy and believe in heretic things. Furthermore, you said "I agree. I think we should be willing to give to anything that we feel we want to support. But, things drastically change when preachers teach that one is CURSED for not tithing when, again, there is no scriptural premise for that arguement. They use Malachi 3 to teach from, but forget to read Malachi 1 which clearly states that the people WERE tithing. But, the food was rotten and making the priests sick. That is what Malachi 3 is addressing. Again, tithe was always food." Like I said, God really didn't care if their food were rotten, but why did God punished those people? The point was those people with their darken heart had given the Lord bad things, 'cause they said: "Oh well, what's the point of tithe God anyway." I found it similar between this story and the story of Cain and Aben, God accepted Aben offer clearly because Aben offer was better than Cain. My opponent also stated: "This is another example of free will offerings that we actually taken up - get ready - FOR THE SAINTS. The gentile churches regularly contributed towards the disciples' campaign to provide for the poor in Jerusalem. In addition, early Christain giving was always aimed at meeting needs, not providing for the livelihood of pastors and buildings." Yes, of course for the saints, because the saints were the heads of the church, if you didn't give money to them then to who? The money indeed did come to the poor but also to provide for the church, for the saints in their campaign because I believe Jerusalem was not just poor about their lives but also lots and lots of them also poor about their faith, they didn't know or didn't want to accept Jesus, therefore they do really need those money, and I am sure lots of churches nowaday really need us to contribute money for their campaign too preach the gospel to the people who never have a chance to listen to the power and the love of Jesus. Like you said again, EARLY Christians did indeed always aimed for metting needs, not to providing for pastors or buildings but the time we're now is the time of struggle and money is the only way to get through really, while the pastors themselve spend years of years to study and to preach the Bible to us, I think it's make sense to contribute to the church to provide for them, plus not all of your money go to the pastors, I believe the tithe also help the church have enough equipments and materials to go out there and help the people who don't know about Jesus, know and accept Jesus to be their Lord. My friend, let's me quote this Bible verse to you: Luke 21: 1-4 1As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.[a] 3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in ALL she had to live on." I think 10% is kind of still somehow too small to compare to what Jesus wanted us to give, He wanted us to be like that widow, to put all we have for Him, amen. I'm aalso looking forward to a great response my friend.