I applaud those who tithe out of their heart. I see it as a consecration (something set apart to the Lord). Similar to fasting, or giving something unto the Lord as a act of lifestyle worship/commitment.
My primary question: If tithing is New Testament, why did the early church not practice it as doctrine for its first 300 years until its mentioned in Apostolic Constitutions and later made official doctrine in 585 AD by the Counsel of Synod of Macon?
The bonus second question is that if we are to collect all 3 types biblical tithes like those under the law, should our "priesthood" / clergy SPEND THEM like the Old Testament instructs us to? Are they sinning because they are saying we are back under the law of tithing and yet don't obey the same law when they collect tithes? Food for thought.
Did Paul collect tithes while in Corinth... or did he work a job? If all the para-doctrines I see in the modern church about tithing were true was Paul sinning by not having the Corinthian church tithe... or is something misunderstood in our modern setting.
A survey of all the writings of the Early Church up to A.D. 600 (easy to dowith computers) is silent about tithing in the Church being a necessity.
In fact, it was the position of the great early Church Father Irenaeus that tithing was a legal obligation in the Law of Moses and therefore is no longerbinding. He explains this in chapter XIII of book IV in “Irenaeus Against Heresies”…
Irenaeus (A.D. 120-202)
And for this reason did the Lord, instead of that [commandment], “Thoushalt not commit adultery,” forbid even concupiscence; and instead of thatwhich runs thus, “Thou shalt not kill,” He prohibited anger; and instead ofthe law enjoining the giving of tithes, [He told us] to share all our possessions with the poor;
And again in chapter XVIII of book IV he again states…And for this reason they (the Jews) had indeed the tithes of their goodsconsecrated to Him, but those who have received the liberty set aside alltheir possessions for the Lord’s purposes, bestowing joyfully and freely notthe less valuable portions of their property, since they have the hope ofbetter things [hereafter]; as that poor widow acted who cast all her living intothe treasury of God.
Tertullian –c. 150-220 (apology, XXXIX, 1-18)…Our presidents are elders of proved worth, men who have attained thishonor not for a price, but by character. Every man brings some modest coinonce a month or whenever he wishes, and only if he is willing and able; it is a freewill offering. You might call them the trust-funds of piety; they arespent… on the support and burial of the poor.
Tertullian (c. 197, W 3.46) Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs (p.9)…Though we have our treasure chest, it is not made up of purchase money,as of a religion that has its price. Rather, on the monthly day, if he likes,each puts in a small donation – but only if it is his pleasure and only if he isable. For there is no compulsion; all is voluntary.
Hastings Dictionary of the Apostolic Church says: "It is admitted universally that the payment of tithes or the tenth of possessions for sacred purposes did not find a place within the Christian church during the age covered by the apostles and their immediate successors".
Encyclopedia Britannica says: "The Christian church depended at first on voluntary gifts from its members"
The Encyclopedia Americana says: "It [speaking of tithing] was not practiced in the early church"; "The Christian church depended at first on voluntary gifts from its members".
The Catholic Encyclopedia says: "The early church had no tithing system—it was not that no need of supporting the Church existed or was recognized, but rather that other means would suffice"
Portions of this were exerpted from
http://www.allnationsmin.org/Downloa...on_Tithing.pdf