A thought on tithing

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by DaveC519

Hello seekerman,

Right now I'm understanding your comments as a form of "arguing from silence", so please help me out!

Have you found any specific NT injunctions against building a structure dedicated as a meeting place for Christians? If you have, I'd certainly be interested in reading them.

Nope, not a form of arguing from silence. The pattern of meeting New Testament church was from home to home per scripture, the bible isn't silent at all about that. Never was it taught to build some building, call it a 'church' or 'tabernacle' or 'house of God' or 'bro so-and so's church' and replacing that with the bible based teaching of house to house.

The Romanists introduced the building-based system with all it's trappings and the oneness pentecostals are following it very well. It's not according the teachings of the bible though.

So no, it's not arguing from a position of silence. It's arguing between following the Roman system or the New Testament system.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by seekerman

Yes, they met in homes, not in some building-based religious system called a 'church'.

"When ye come together therefore into ONE place" 1Cor.11:20
That 'ONE place" was called the church of God. 1Cor.11:22
V34 let him eat at HOME being distinquished from the church.
"Yet IN the Church" 1Cor.14:19
"If the whole church be come together in ONE place"1Cor. 14:23
"when ye come together"14:27
"let him keep silence IN the church"14:28"
"let them keep silence IN the churches"14:34
"let them ask their husbands AT HOME for it is a shame for a woman to speak IN THE CHURCH" 14:35 home and church again contrasted
"how to behave thyself IN THE HOUSE OF GOD" 1Tim3:15
Might need quit studing Roman history and read your Bible. Just saying.

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

"When ye come together therefore into ONE place" 1Cor.11:20
That 'ONE place" was called the church of God. 1Cor.11:22
V34 let him eat at HOME being distinquished from the church.
"Yet IN the Church" 1Cor.14:19
"If the whole church be come together in ONE place"1Cor. 14:23
"when ye come together"14:27
"let him keep silence IN the church"14:28"
"let them keep silence IN the churches"14:34
"let them ask their husbands AT HOME for it is a shame for a woman to speak IN THE CHURCH" 14:35 home and church again contrasted
"how to behave thyself IN THE HOUSE OF GOD" 1Tim3:15
Might need quit study Roman history and read your Bible. Just saying.

A very simple bible study of one word would do wonders for your understanding. This may help you to get started.

ekklēsia
ek-klay-see'-ah
From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.

The 'church' is never a building. You have a very basic misunderstanding between the assembling of the saints, the church, and a building, which isn't the church.

[Hoovie]

Yes, "church" is synonymous with assembly of believers - regardless where the assembly occurs... If they are gathered in his name He is there with them!

[HRea]

Originally Posted by seekerman

A very simple bible study of one word would do wonders for your understanding. This may help you to get started.

ekklēsia
ek-klay-see'-ah
From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.

The 'church' is never a building. You have a very basic misunderstanding between the assembling of the saints, the church, and a building, which isn't the church.

This has been an excellent discussion thread (with a very good spirit in back-and-forth posts and responses), and I've received a great deal to "gnaw on".

Concerning the assembly of believers - the NT believers would meet in the temple, synagogues, great houses, humble houses, etc., basically anywhere they could assemble. They didn't focus on the building, they focused on Jesus. There was no exclusive place to assemble but each type of building is mentioned as having been used for NT believers' assembly. The fact is they assembled; the "where" was wherever the local assembly could meet.

Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Paul references both synagogues and houses; James does, too. Peter taught in the temple (Jerusalem), in small houses (Simon at Joppa), and in great houses (Cornelius at Caesarea).

[DaveC519]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

Yes, "church" is synonymous with assembly of believers - regardless where the assembly occurs... If they are gathered in his name He is there with them!

[navygoat1998]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

Yes, "church" is synonymous with assembly of believers - regardless where the assembly occurs... If they are gathered in his name He is there with them!

[DaveC519]

Originally Posted by seekerman

Nope, not a form of arguing from silence. The pattern of meeting New Testament church was from home to home per scripture, the bible isn't silent at all about that. Never was it taught to build some building, call it a 'church' or 'tabernacle' or 'house of God' or 'bro so-and so's church' and replacing that with the bible based teaching of house to house.

The Romanists introduced the building-based system with all it's trappings and the oneness pentecostals are following it very well. It's not according the teachings of the bible though.

So no, it's not arguing from a position of silence. It's arguing between following the Roman system or the New Testament system.

Hello seekerman,

While I agree that "ekklēsia" applies to the body of believers, it appears that the location/building where they actually congregated was inconsequential. Nowhere do we see in the NT a prescription against a particular meeting place and/or building. In fact, nowhere do we see a prescription in favor of such. It simply isn't discussed, therefore, it was inconsequential. This is why I said that to argue for or against a building is to argue from silence.

[DaveC519]

Originally Posted by HRea

This has been an excellent discussion thread (with a very good spirit in back-and-forth posts and responses), and I've received a great deal to "gnaw on".

Concerning the assembly of believers - the NT believers would meet in the temple, synagogues, great houses, humble houses, etc., basically anywhere they could assemble. They didn't focus on the building, they focused on Jesus. There was no exclusive place to assemble but each type of building is mentioned as having been used for NT believers' assembly. The fact is they assembled; the "where" was wherever the local assembly could meet.

Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Paul references both synagogues and houses; James does, too. Peter taught in the temple (Jerusalem), in small houses (Simon at Joppa), and in great houses (Cornelius at Caesarea).

Hello HRea,

Welcome to the discussion, and thank you for your input!

[shag]

I know a church that gathers at a bldg where swingers gather the evening before, and plan their events. The church meets, cleans the place, and proceeds to break open the word. They dont have to pay a dime for rent since they clean up weekly. Its just a tin bldg, nothing fancy.

In the NT, (which is post gospels btw) the term house of God ONLY refers to the people, which is the church, never the bldg, which is NOT the church, but can house the church. It can be the "church house", but NEVER "The House of God" or "God's House", ACCORDING to NT scripture.

1 Peter 4:17
1 Tim. 3:15
Heb. 3:6
1 Peter 2:5

(Acts 7:48-51
Acts 17:24-25
Eph 2:19-22
1 Cor. 6:19-20
2 Cor. 6:16-17)

Its irritating when people call a bldg made with mans hands, the church, or especially even worse:Gods house or the House of God. "Oh, but, its dedicated and set asside to the "service" of God..."
NT Unscriptural nonsense.






Seekerman, IMO, the church can meet anywhere, but I agree to meet in a large bldg generally can come with many extrabiblical requirements(yokes). I believe that they primarily met in homes in the NT, but attended the temple for the purpose of converting jews to Christ.(Before God had it destroyed!)





E Epley,
I believe you are in the wrong(if u operate this way) for requiring the rest of the people you gather with, to give you 10% of their personal income(plus free will offerings), so that you can distribute it wherever you think is right/best. "Gods money, but you distribute it".
I also believe ALL shepherds that require 10% of income from the poor, may likely be in danger concerning judgment. (Especially since God required the opposite in the OT)


You said earlier that the NT church tithed. Please show then, where the CHURCH tithed, show who exactly was required to pay, and who exactly was required to receive, according to scripture.

At what point in scripture, did carpenters, fisherman, tax collectors, doctors, or tentmakers, EVER tithe? Can you show where they ever recieved tithes either?
What about even after they(apostles) began spreading the gospel? Which of the 12 paid, and which received, according to scripture?

Why do you require money, but not dill and mint, based off scripture?

Do you believe we should still have the year of jubilee every 7 years, so folks dont pay or receive tithes?

How do you comprehend that the Gentile church was taught tithing in the NT, when it hasnt been explained or shown so in scripture?