Quote:
Originally Posted by Orthodoxy
Today I was in the foyer of a conservative Missionary Baptist Church. On the bulletin board in the foyer was an open letter from the pastor to the congregation.
In the letter, the pastor stated that he had been very lenient in the past regarding his members and tithing. He then said that he was very disappointed at the lack of tithing among his congregants. He apologized for his former leniency, and said that things were going to change. From now on, every member of his church was required to tithe. He would give them a grace period of 30 days, but after that, if a church member failed to tithe, they would be excommunicated.
Now look, I understand that the concept of sacrificial giving is Biblical. I believe that every true Christian will have the desire to give of his finances to the Kingdom. Truth be told, tithing should probably be the bare minimum of our giving. It's a disgrace that we in America give so little, considering our wealth.
But I cannot say that tithing is a requirement for church membership. Where is this in the Bible? Furthermore, I've never heard a pastor say that he would excommunicate any member who did not tithe. Has anyone else heard anything like this?
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This is a lightning rod for alot of preachers, and especially pastors that derive their income from tithe paying saints.
Bro Hutchinson has provided OT references about Levites receiving the tithes. I have studied this for years and have never come to a conclusion that tithes are a New Testament mandate (Atlanta Bishop will disagree).
In the NT I see exhortation to give freely in
Luke 6, but this word give can mean more than $$$. This scripture contextually has to do with how we are to properly act and treat one another, not how we are to contribute financially in church. This is not an injunction to tithe.
The fact that Paul received offerings (he likened it to taking spoil" saying he "robbed" other churches -
II Corinthians 2) is not an appeal for NT tithes although it proves that Paul in fact received offerings.
I also read in
1 Timothy 5 that those that (
verb) presbter, laboring in the word and doctrine, are
worthy of two-fold (double)
honor. Honor here implies monetary or subsistent honor and can be analagous to
esteeming, but the primary impetus is
financial.. A minister that truly labors in the word is deserving of two-fold honor. The implication is to settle the question of compensation for ministry. They are deserving of compensation. There is not a tithing appeal implicit in this letter.
Paul claimed that they that labored "in the gospel" would be fed by it. There is no other way to interpret
1 Tim 5 and
1 Cor 9 but that the ministry could (should) subsist from the gospel. However, I do not see a mandate for tithing here.
The crux of the matter of NT giving is that it is a heart and conscience issue. Paul made it clear when dealing with those that argued over the Sabbath being required or not.
Romans 14:5
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Romans..14:6
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
The issue of tithing, if it can at all be considered a New Testament doctrine, rests here. Whether one tithes or does not, they "do it unto the Lord". Therefore, if you decide to tithe, it is because you have made a choice in the liberty God has given you to tithe. The same holds true if you decided to not tithe, because you have made a choice in the liberty God has given you not to tithe. Warning here: If you decide to exercise your liberty not to tithe, it does not negate deserving “reward” for the labor in the word and doctrine being done by presbytery in the body of Christ.
Romans..14:7
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. I see where one esteems one day, or moon and another doesn't, but both do it "unto the Lord"
This is used by non-tithers to
stop giving financially. At this point, to them, giving is "legalism" when they fully do not understand that the ministry is worthy to be unmuzzled, given to, in fact receive double honor.
NOW WE NEED TO DEFINE WHAT MINISTRY IS. Which will require a brand new thread!
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