A thought on tithing

[DaveC519]

Hello Nitehawk013,

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

YOu want to mention logical fallacies and other things in order to pass yourself off as intellectually superior, but then you post this sadly interpretted tripe?

Or... it could simply be my belief that inserting logical fallacies into a discussion can actually inhibit genuine dialogue. I prefer to focus on the discussion, not on denigrating each other. Let's give it a try.

Yeah..lets tithe according to Gen 4. I'll go to my neighbors house, make war with him, kill him and take his stuff and then give 10% of that stuff to a priest.

Or let's do it according to Jacob. I'll promise that if/when God gives me a huge financial blessing I will give 10% back. Then I will run for 21 years and never mention whether I actually ever did give it or not.

Levitical tithing, third year tithing, etc...they were ALL agrarian in nature. The ONLY time money is mentioned at all in relation to the tithe the entire OT is when the Israelites are told that if they had to travel far to give, then they should exchange it for money, carry the money to the temple city, then buy whatever THEY WANT and eat it, NOT give it at all.

All of this might be applicable if Paul had been arguing for a continuation of the Levitical tithing system itself. But he wasn't. He was arguing for NT ministerial support based on the underlying principle of how the Levitical priesthood was supported: a tithe.

I think you are smart enough to see the OT examples of tithing aren't at all compatable with the "tithing" Pastors demand today. Therefore you have made up this imaginary NT "tithe" according to your interpretation of Pauls VERY vague words. Paul not once uses the word tithe. You are creating this fictional NT tithe based on nothing more than the fact that Paul seems to allude to the OT tithe. And because you like the doctrine you turn a blind eye to the completely atrocious hermeneutics of doing such a thing.

My own personal feelings regarding a NT doctrine are irrelevant. Paul was quite clear in his assertion, and he spends 14 verses building his case, which hardly amounts to a vague reference.

Modern day tithing is theological extortion plain and simple. It is an abuse of the trust that saints put in us as leaders. Telling people they will be damned if they don't give, or will be cursed with a curse, even if you try the "I just preach the book. God will judge them" nonsense is extorting from them because they probably trust the "man of god". If you really belive it is a matter of salvation or that they will be cursed and lose everything, don't be a coward and tell them straight up instead of this "Jesus will judge them and sort them out" attempt at not sounding like a Pharisee condemning people over money.

While it may be true that there are pastors out there who employ these type of scare tactics, I am not one of them. I believe in letting the Holy Ghost lead hearts. I believe in presenting the Scripture in a manner which is "easily intreated" (Ja 3:17). People will make up their own minds.

To the tithe supporter, somehow money and the curse of nto tithing are more powerful than the cross and the blood of Christ. That is far more sad than the fact that some people don't give 10% to their church.

Then I must be an exception to your rule. I firmly believe Paul was referring to a tithe in 1 Cor 9, but I don't present it to others as a heaven or hell issue, nor do I hold this doctrine above the blood and cross of Christ.