Quote:
Originally Posted by seekerman
The point I as attempting to make is that there is no priesthood distinction between believers as it was in the OT system. For example, there is no difference between the priesthood of a pastor and the priesthood of the saint sitting on the pew. The OT tithing system supported the priesthood as well as the temple, neither of which exist today and cannot be tithed into today. The issue is where to pay the tithe in the view that the OT system is dead and gone.
|
Since the Apostle Paul was conveying the command to the church, I do not think it unreasonable to suggest that the tithe be paid into the church for the support of the ministry. It appears that, at least in Corinth, Paul alludes to Peter, James & Jude, and other Apostles receiving support from the church when they ministered there (vs.5, 12). At this time in church history, there probably was not a monarchical episcopate yet established at Corinth.
Quote:
Yes, I agree, the ministry should be supported by the giving/tithing of the saints. The question then becomes, what is the ministry? I'm not attempting to make this any more complicated than what it is, but is ministry the actions of building bigger and elaborate buildings in which the church is to meet? I don't think that's ministry at all. I wouldn't tithe into that.
Is the ministry the actions of individuals who interact with Christ by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked? In my opinion, if one wishes to interact intimately with Jesus and the Melchizedektic priesthood with his or her tithe, feed the hungry, clothe the naked. When you do this, you're doing it directly to Jesus per scripture.
I believe ministry includes, as you have pointed out, proclaiming the gospel. The problem is, what ministers are to be supported and in what level of support are they to receive? My background is oneness Pentecostalism. In that religious system I saw the pastor receive the tithe for proclaiming the gospel while the Sunday school teachers, the song leader, the musicians offering their ministry for free. Are we to tithe to the singers who sing the gospel or the teachers who teach the gospel or just tithe to the person who lives in the building based church system (which has no scriptural support at all).
So, it's not an easy matter at times to know WHERE to pay one's tithe. It's certainly not simply to a man who calls himself a minister or preacher who's involved in an unscriptural religious system.
|
These are all valid points, and I would agree that there have been, and continue to be, abuses as to how the tithe is distributed. NT senior pastors/bishops will be held just as accountable as OT pastors (
Jer 23; Ezek 34) for how they stewarded the flock of God.
How should the tithe be distributed?
"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly;
not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (
1 Peter 5:1-3)
As to church buildings? For me personally, I see a difference between letting
God's glory fill the house, and the house being built and decorated for its own glory. In medieval times, cathedrals & tabernacles were constructed to inspire awe and fear in the hearts of attendants. I prefer to see the Holy Ghost do that.
Threaded Mode
