Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquila
I see an important issue here.
Since tithing isn't a binding commandment in the NT church, paying tithes first is elevating it to the point of "law". This departs from "Grace".
Also, as believers we are told that if we do not provide for own own families, we're worse than infidels. You have to provide food, clothing, shelter, transportation, etc. in this day and age. If you do not provide these things for the sake of giving an unbiblical 10% to the church, you're failing to meet a NT responsibility. I remember being told that if I didn't tithe I'd be cursed. We'd tithe and not have enough money for groceries. So we'd borrow money for groceries from her mom. I used to praise God and give him credit for her assistance. Today I realize, I failed in my duty to provide for my family and burdened another to give to a bloated and wealthy pastorate. Needless to say, her mother never visited our church.
That leads to the final point I can think of. If we tithe and don't pay our bills what witness is that to our creditors? What witness is that to the world at large when we seek assistance because we gave to a religious institution?
If it's sincerely your desire to give to that point, and your family agrees to the sacrificial giving, burdening another to meet your needs is out of the question. In addition, if you're giving because your church requires you... it's extortion. Like the Pharisees of old, they are robbing the poor and the widow.
|
Aquila
This is something I don't think I've seen. And that is the history of where tithes 10% became the recognized offering to support the pastor/ministry in the local church.
Correct me if I am wrong, but from the way I see things in history the RCC used money to pay for forgiveness of sins when they went to confession. I cant remember the term. Anyway this was a way the old preist in idol temples would support themselves by having the people bring sacrifices to thier gods. In old testemant times the taberncle priest did not recieve 10% as I understand. But they did take certain parts of the sacrifice as thier own.
If I understand things church buildings were not part of the early church either until later after Constitine made christianity the religion of Rome. I may be oversimplifing things. But sometimes I think it is better to simplify to better see things. In the early times of our country preachers did not get paid a salary. The community met in homes till such a time as they gave together to build a building, which most times served as community center and school house. The preacher was not a paid fixture. He either went from community to community or he had his own farm to tend sometimes both. There was no such thing as a full time preacher unless one was RCC. And even then they many times held down a job to support themselves.
So what I am seeing at least from my point of view is that this 10% tithe is a fairly new thing developed to support churches. Which I might add I question as to whether this is what God intended.
We have gotten to the point of thinking that the building is the church. We are the church. The building is nothing. We count attendance, maybe we need to learn a lesson from OT times, God commanded them not to count the men of war. We have our programs, outreaches, social clubs. All for what to bring more into the number.
We have made the intrance into the kingdom of God a path of works, why? So we have a way to count the prostelyt and say he is saved. Then we can toot our horn and say look at what I have done for God. I have built this large church with all these people, with this great choir, and Sunday school ministry, and social clubs etc. God does not get the glory for this we do. It is our work not Gods work.
Sorry I just got carried away with myself here
Hybrid Mode
