Quote:
Originally Posted by Tithesmeister
I think at this time (until further research proves otherwise) that the tithing in America was begun by Joseph Smith in the LDS church (to the extent of tithes being rendered in money or property other than agricultural goods). Earlier (in colonial America) it was actually a levy on the church members and was collected in agricultural products (specifically tobacco as an example) and was charged according to the number, gender, and racial makeup (basically the intrinsic value) of slaves possessed by the farmers.
It is my opinion, based on my own research at this point, that the Pentecostal churches adopted tithing from the Mormons and really elevated it to, in some cases, a salvation issue. Then some have declared tithes to be the sole property of the pastor. No scripture seems to be safe from the reach of pastors’ ability to twist or downright contradict in the name of the god of mammon.
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Can you point us to the sources you have found that indicate "Pentecostals adopted tithing from the Mormons", and also the sources that indicate the LDS was first to adopt monetary tithing in the US?