A thought on tithing

[Sam]

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a thought on tithing






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[deacon blues]

I don't know where you stand on the subject Sam, but I have found in my lifetime people who practice tithing tend to be pretty generous, giving people anyway, and people who bristle at the notion tend to be tight wads with very little generosity in their spirit. It's just an observation. I'm sure there are exceptions.

Anyone who feels like they "have to give their tithes" to anything or anyone misses the point. I gladly give a tenth of my income plus more to the One who it all belongs to.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

I don't know where you stand on the subject Sam, but I have found in my lifetime people who practice tithing tend to be pretty generous, giving people anyway, and people who bristle at the notion tend to be tight wads with very little generosity in their spirit. It's just an observation. I'm sure there are exceptions.

Anyone who feels like they "have to give their tithes" to anything or anyone misses the point. I gladly give a tenth of my income plus more to the One who it all belongs to.

I've always had a problem with giving ALL of the tithes to one person when that isn't how it was done in the OT. The money was used for other purposes, but now one man gets all of that benefit. Other organizations use tithing for church purposes. When we gave in the Catholic Church, it wasn't just for the priest, it was for operating expenses of the church as well. Why don't Apostolics copy that example? Seems there would be less need for fun raising.

[Sam]

Personally, I think tithing was part of the Old Covenant that has been replaced by the New Covenant. The tithes in the Old Testament were used to feed the Levites and Priests, to help the widows and orphans, and for party money when you made your trip to Jerusalem. In my opinion under the new covenant we are owned completely by Jesus Christ so everything we have is His. We are to use money, time, talents, etc. wisely since they are only loaned/entrusted to us.

I do not write a check each month for 10 percent of my pension and Social Security checks (actually direct deposit) to my local church. However over the period of each month more than 10 percent goes to the Lord's work.

[jediwill83]

Honestly I've been blessed when I've tithed and when I haven't...just because I wasn't tithing at one point or another doesn't mean I wasn't giving or was being stingy.I can't believe the position of being cursed or being in sin because if I don't tithe.I have to take Sams position...the early church wasn't limiting themselves to 10% they were giving as they were led by the Spirit out of love without fear of curses or judgement.After studying what tithes were and what they WERE NOT in context to the law and the culture I've come to the conclusion that I would rather be led by the Spirit in my giving and not out of a feeling of fear or obligation.

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

I don't know where you stand on the subject Sam, but I have found in my lifetime people who practice tithing tend to be pretty generous, giving people anyway, and people who bristle at the notion tend to be tight wads with very little generosity in their spirit. It's just an observation. I'm sure there are exceptions.

Anyone who feels like they "have to give their tithes" to anything or anyone misses the point. I gladly give a tenth of my income plus more to the One who it all belongs to.

Excellent post!

[seekerman]

For some the problem isn't tithing, but where to give the tithe. Abraham gave it to Melchizedek, others later gave it to the levitical priesthood, now we have a great high priest, after the order of Melchizedek to give the tithe to.

How do we pay tithes to JESUS?

[DaveC519]

Originally Posted by seekerman

For some the problem isn't tithing, but where to give the tithe. Abraham gave it to Melchizedek, others later gave it to the levitical priesthood, now we have a great high priest, after the order of Melchizedek to give the tithe to.

How do we pay tithes to JESUS?

Hi seekerman,

Apparently, to his representatives:

"So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel." (1 Cor 9:14 NASU)

"So also" referring back to the preceding verse 13:

"Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?"

Paul uses the general principle of tithing in support of the Lord's command for ministerial maintenance. Although we are no longer under the Levitical priesthood, we are under the Melchisedec priesthood, and that priesthood also received tithes of men (Abraham, Levi et all: Heb 7:9).

[Aquila]

The tithe was an agrarian land tax in ancient Israel to support the Levites. Christians didn't "tithe" in the NT. They gave as they felt led to give to meet needs. Many gave EVERYTHING for the Lord's work in the beginning. After that people began to give as they had purposed in their hearts. And yes, full time workers in the Gospel were supported. But remember, that would be supplies, clothing, travel (perhaps a horse), etc. They didn't sit pretty in a nice cushy chair on a platform receiving tithe check$ from the congregation.

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by DaveC519

Hi seekerman,

Apparently, to his representatives:

"So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel." (1 Cor 9:14 NASU)

"So also" referring back to the preceding verse 13:

"Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?"

Paul uses the general principle of tithing in support of the Lord's command for ministerial maintenance. Although we are no longer under the Levitical priesthood, we are under the Melchisedec priesthood, and that priesthood also received tithes of men (Abraham, Levi et all: Heb 7:9).

I agree that we are under the Melchizedektic priesthood, but that priesthood exists today in the person of Jesus Christ. We, as followers of Christ, are also partakers of that priesthood and it isn't limited to those who call themselves preachers, pastors, bishops or priests.

There is no temple today in which to perform sacred services nor is there a literal altar on which to offer animal sacrifice unto God. A building isn't the 'house of God' nor is the clergy a continuation of the levitical priesthood with it's various rituals and ordinances.

Giving isn't the issue with me, it's the issue of WHERE to tithe. How does one give the tithe to the great Melchizedektic high priest? I'm His representative, you're His representative. How do we determine who receives the tithe as unto Jesus?