Show Me the Money

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by crakjak

God will bless the faith of the giver, however that does not confirm method of giving as the law.

why do you say that? Sure we all know you can ask and receive by faith, but what verse do we use to show that giving, by faith, will earn a blessing...

[SDG]

J-Roc ... the quote/exegesis you provided from Elder is earth-shattering ... it can only come from one ....

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

why do you say that? Sure we all know you can ask and receive by faith, but what verse do we use to show that giving, by faith, will earn a blessing...

I am not disagreeing with your post, I believe God blesses our giving. I just remember asking a teacher of teachers in a church we were attending. "You preach grace, grace, grace until it comes to tithe, why is it suddenly LAW?"

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by crakjak

I am not disagreeing with your post, I believe God blesses our giving. I just remember asking a teacher of teachers in a church we were attending. "You preach grace, grace, grace until it comes to tithe, why is it suddenly LAW?"

Still, based on what scripture are we to believe that God will bless us for that?

BTW what is everyones interpretation of the following verses

1Co 9:13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?
1Co 9:14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

[SDG]

Praxeas please post the rest of the chapter ... the whole chapter... it will help in understanding the text. CONTEXT.

[SDG]

Praxeas ... often 1 Corinthians 9:13 a ... is only focused on ... what does those who serve at the altar ... mean to you???

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Still, based on what scripture are we to believe that God will bless us for that?

BTW what is everyones interpretation of the following verses

1Co 9:13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?
1Co 9:14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

"It is more blessed to give than to recieve", is that scripture?

[SDG]

In examination of 1 Cor 9:13-14

In the new covenant church, there are financial needs — to support the poor, and to support the gospel by supporting those who preach it. Christians are obligated to give financial support for these needs. Let's see how Paul explained this obligation in his second letter to the Corinthians. Paul describes himself as a minister of the new covenant (2 Cor. 3:6), which has much greater glory than the old (verse 8). Because of what Christ did for him in the new covenant, Christ's love compelled Paul to preach the gospel, the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:11-21). Paul exhorted the Corinthians "not to receive God's grace in vain" (6:1). How were they in danger of doing this? Paul had gone out of his way to serve them, but they were withholding their affections from him (6:3-12). He asked them for a fair exchange, for them to open their hearts to him (6:13). Paul told the Corinthians that they had a duty to give something in response to what they had been given. This response comes in terms of morality (6:14-7:1), which the Corinthians had done (7:8-13), and in terms of affection, which the Corinthians had also done (7:2-7), and in financial generosity, which Paul addresses in chapter 8. This is the way in which the Corinthians had closed their hearts to Paul and withheld their affections.

Paul cited the example of the Macedonian churches, who had given generously, even to the point of self-sacrifice (8:1-5). The example is powerful; the implications are strong that the Corinthians needed to respond to Paul's sacrifices by making sacrifices themselves. But Paul did not make a command (8:8). Instead, he asked first for a turning of the heart. He wanted the Corinthians to give themselves to the Lord first, and then to support Paul. He wanted their gift to be done in sincere love, not from compulsion (8:5, 8). Paul reminded them that Christ had become poor for their sakes; the implication is that the Corinthians should make financial sacrifices in return. But then Paul reduced the pressure, reminding the Corinthians that they could not give more than they had (8:12). Nor did they have to impoverish themselves to enrich others; Paul was only aiming for equity (8:13-14). Paul again expressed confidence in their willingness to give, and added the peer pressure of the Macedonian example and the boasting he had done in Macedonia about the generosity of the Corinthians (8:24-9:5). Paul again noted that the offering must be done willingly, not from compulsion or given grudgingly (9:5, 7). He reminded them that God rewards generosity (9:6-11) and that a good example causes people to praise God and puts the gospel in a favorable setting (9:12-14).

This was a collection for the poor in Judea. But Paul said nothing about tithing. Rather, he appealed to the new covenant environment: Christ had made many sacrifices for them, so they ought to be willing to make a few sacrifices to help one another. In asking for this offering, Paul was also making a financial sacrifice. He had a right to receive financial support himself, but instead of that, he was asking that the offering be given to others. Paul had not asked for any financial support from Corinth (11:7-11; 12:13-16). Instead, he had been supported by Macedonians (11:9). Paul had a right to be supported by the Corinthians, but he did not use it (1 Cor. 9:3-15). This passage in Paul's first letter tells us more about our Christian duty to give financial support to the gospel. Workers should be able to receive benefits of their work (9:7). The old covenant even made provision for oxen to be given benefits of their work (9:9). Throughout his appeal, Paul does not cite any laws of tithing. He says that priests received benefits from their work in the temple (9:13), but he does not cite any percentage. {** Keep in mind the Aaronic priests received 1/10th , or 1%, of the tithe … receive from the Levites] Their example is cited in the same way as the example of soldiers, vineyard workers, herdsmen, oxen, plowers and threshers. It is simply a general principle.

As Jesus said, "The worker deserves his wages" (Luke 10:7). Paul cited the oxen and wages scriptures again in 1 Timothy 5:17-18. Elders, especially those who preach and teach, should be honored financially as well as with respect. Jesus also commanded, "those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:14). This implies that those who believe should provide a living for some who preach. There is a financial duty, and there is a promised reward for generosity (though that reward may not necessarily be physical or financial)

[SDG]

How many apostles or pastors during the 1st century were employed in the temple? None of course ... How many received food from the temple or presided over animal sacrifices ... none of course ...

We know that Jewish priests still operated as priests until 70 A.D., when the temple was destroyed ... and although the Jewish Christians still attended synagogue they did not officiate in the temple ...

Most importantly, none of the epistles take the time to teach Gentile babes in the Lord what is tithing or why they should ... it seems counterintuitive that not one epistle addresses it if ... one of the 8 laws of tithing still applied.

Paul is simply stating the obvious that the worker ... no matter who he is ... is worthy of his salary.

It's a giant leap to make the assumption that this is an instruction ... when it is obviously an observation.

Furthermore ... Peter tells us we are all royal priests ... if we are going to use the priestly argument then we all are entitled to the tithe.

It is clear that Paul is making a parallel here to highlight the importance of the man of God being compensated.

Nothing more, nothing less.

[SDG]

1 Corinthians 9:18 ... can someone post it.