Biblical Answer

Step 1: Understanding the myth that all tithe must go to the local church

The idea that all one's tithe must go to their local church is a myth that stems from an Old Testament principle. In the Old Testament, the tithes were brought into a central place, the storehouse, and then distributed to the people. However, this principle has no bearing on the Christian community today.

Step 2: Examining the New Testament teaching on tithing

In the New Testament, there is no command to tithe as there was in the Old Testament. However, the principle of giving generously to support the work of God and the needs of others is still emphasized. The Didache, one of the earliest books of the Christian community, teaches that it is legitimate to designate a portion of our tithe for the support of other Christian ministries that need our help.

Step 3: Determining the proper allocation of one's tithe

While there is no command to tithe, it is still a good idea to give generously to support the work of God and the needs of others. The lions share of our tithe should be given to our local church, as it is responsible for providing spiritual guidance and care to its members. However, it is also perfectly legitimate to designate a portion of our tithe for the support of other Christian ministries that need our help. This can include organizations that provide disaster relief, support missions work, or help those in need.

The final answer is: $\boxed{No}$No, the tithe does not have to go only to the local church. While the local church is an important part of the Christian community, it is also legitimate to designate a portion of one's tithe for the support of other Christian ministries that need our help. This can include organizations that provide disaster relief, support missions work, or help those in need. The lions share of our tithe should be given to our local church, but we should also be open to supporting other ministries that align with our values and goals. This allows us to be good stewards of our resources and to support the work of God in a variety of ways.