A thought on tithing

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by DaveC519

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.

No doubt the church supported the ministry in their giving, I agree on that. The problem, and it's a critical one, is concerning just exactly what the church was that gave support to the ministry.

The concept of what the church is, is tremendously flawed in modern day Christianity in my opinion. While the protestants may have separated themselves from much of the Roman Catholic teachings, one major error was keeping the building-based religious system of Roman Catholicism. When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he was writing to a group of believers, called out ones, the ekklesia. He wasn't writing concerning the support a building-based religious system with the building being labeled the church. It's so ingrained within the mindset of Christians that they never stop and think about calling a building a church. Oneness Pentecostals take it a step lower many times by labeling a building as 'bro so-and-so's church'.

Does the bible teach there is such a building-based system in which to pay tithes. Not at all, in fact it's just the opposite. Paul touched on it in Galatians concerning those who were wishing to enter into something God has completely and totally destroyed. Christianity continues to attempt to set up the tithe supported priesthood and temple and call it ministry and the building a church or temple, or house of God. It simply isn't to be that way though.

So, tithing into a building-based 'church' system isn't really tithing into the church. The question remains, where is one to place their tithe?

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.

Me too.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by seekerman

No doubt the church supported the ministry in their giving, I agree on that. The problem, and it's a critical one, is concerning just exactly what the church was that gave support to the ministry.

The concept of what the church is, is tremendously flawed in modern day Christianity in my opinion. While the protestants may have separated themselves from much of the Roman Catholic teachings, one major error was keeping the building-based religious system of Roman Catholicism. When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he was writing to a group of believers, called out ones, the ekklesia. He wasn't writing concerning the support a building-based religious system with the building being labeled the church. It's so ingrained within the mindset of Christians that they never stop and think about calling a building a church. Oneness Pentecostals take it a step lower many times by labeling a building as 'bro so-and-so's church'.

Does the bible teach there is such a building-based system in which to pay tithes. Not at all, in fact it's just the opposite. Paul touched on it in Galatians concerning those who were wishing to enter into something God has completely and totally destroyed. Christianity continues to attempt to set up the tithe supported priesthood and temple and call it ministry and the building a church or temple, or house of God. It simply isn't to be that way though.

So, tithing into a building-based 'church' system isn't really tithing into the church. The question remains, where is one to place their tithe?




Me too.

Is not the HOUSE you are meeting in a building?????????????? Or any other structure? This is so foolish. Listen they recieved the Holy Ghost in the upper room of the Temple, the first notable miracle took place at the Temple where they were going to pray, the Apostles are noted preaching at the Temple. If they have a negative feeling about meeting in a religious place of worship give us chapter and verse?

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Is not the HOUSE you are meeting in a building?????????????? Or any other structure? This is so foolish. Listen they recieved the Holy Ghost in the upper room of the Temple, the first notable miracle took place at the Temple where they were going to pray, the Apostles are noted preaching at the Temple. If they have a negative feeling about meeting in a religious place of worship give us chapter and verse?

There wasn't a single so-called 'church' (i.e, a building) built in the New Testament. There wasn't a building-based 'church' system taught or seen in the New Testament. There wasn't a 'church' (building-based) economy in the New Testament.

The religious system of which you're a part isn't found in the New Testament.

Open your eyes. You're still embracing Rome, brother.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by seekerman

There wasn't a single so-called 'church' (i.e, a building) built in the New Testament. There wasn't a building-based 'church' system taught or seen in the New Testament. There wasn't a 'church' (building-based) economy in the New Testament.

The religious system of which you're a part isn't found in the New Testament.

Open your eyes. You're still embracing Rome, brother.

They were all out in the open? They never went to homes and met together?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Cindy

They were all out in the open? They never went to homes and met together?

I was thinking about I Cor 16:1 on the collection for the saints. There had to have been some type of order of assembly for all of this to work out. The NT saints grew daily. Where in the world were all of those people meeting? They had to be meeting somewhere.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I was thinking about I Cor 16:1 on the collection for the saints. There had to have been some type of order of assembly for all of this to work out. The NT saints grew daily. Where in the world were all of those people meeting? They had to be meeting somewhere.

Common sense won't work you must be a Roman also?

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by Cindy

They were all out in the open? They never went to homes and met together?

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

[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.

[Sarah]

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 studing Roman history and read your Bible. Just saying.

Great post!

Now if a city only has a few saints, it might be in their best interest to hold church in a home. Been there, done that. But the church we go to now have four or five hundred members. I don't believe God wants me to choose two or three to be in service with. Besides, we have been having dozens of new visitors in the last few months. Impossible if we were having church in a home!