How are/should preachers be paid

[samuelofisrael]

Tithing is NOT a NT obligatory APOSTOLIC directive.

"HERESY."

Really? Well, when one can PROVE from Holy Writ "tithing" is obligatory concerning the NT gentile coverts born again, baptised by ONE Spirit into ONE BODY, I'll be more than happy to listen. But it is NOT an Apostolic directive and never mentioned by the Apostle.

Oh, I know, "one cannot outgive God and God will be no man's debtor."

Absolutely true but that is not obligatory tithing demanded by the church leadership. Obligatory tithing is a "tradition" and nothing more.

"Abraham gave tithes and that was before the Law."

True. He gave a tenth willingly as a free will offering, no obligation and only ONCE as recorded in Scripture. No tithing obligation was cited.

"But Jacob gave tithes."

True again .... willngly and as a decision uncoerced.

Don't misunderstand, if a person has vowed to honor the LORD with a tenth of all his goods, so be it. No criticism by me. Please do so. But again if a person does NOT wish to give a tenth but a fifth or a twentieth, he/she is no less a person saved by the GRACE of God, bought by the Blood of the Lamb.

Many UNBiblical and foolish traditions have been created by gentile men totally unconnected with the writing and the re receiving the Sacred Text that today, the "tithing game" [as an obligation] has been, in many cases, more or less a con job.

"Giving" is the real test of a NT, APOSTOLIC Born Again man or woman, boy or girl. If the "pastor" has to hammer money out of the congregation by scare stories, UNScriptural teachings, pressure, it's a con job tho perhaps, unintended to be so. He no doubt "believes" what he is telling you. The attempt to buy off God is very common and produces another example of "works salvation" by innuendo. It is error.

"Ye MUST tithe."

Who said so? The church? What church? The First Century APOSTOLIC Church?

Wrong. That APOSTOLIC gathering [ministry] taught free will giving from the heart, not a demand, not as an "obligation" but as the outflowing of the New Heart. A Spirit wrought willingness to share with the saints the largress of those more blessed in material means. Never a, "ye must" or lose out with God.

"But how will the church be supported?"

The church will be just fine. Put it to the test. Go to the pulpit Sunday morning telling the people the truth. Tithing is NOT obligatory. Just give as the LORD puts it on your heart and we'll move on. No more tithing, just giving as the LORD leads and if we go belly up, so be it.

So who is really "trusting" the LORD? One poster said the pastor told some poor soul to pay their "tithes" and trust God for healing. Maybe it's the pastor who truely needs to trust God and let the poor soul pay for her medicine.

But traditon is too strong to allow true trust in so many gatherings. Much as the MORMON welfare system, tithing is required, obligatory, celebrated, exalted and all without a shred of Biblical support for the gentile converts.

"Do you tithe SOI?"

NO. I give as the LORD leads and as needs arise that are brought to my attention. I have never lacked food, clothing, shelter or transportation. The LORD has always permitted me to be employed and earn my daily bread. The LORD has always permitted me to remain in health and post to various forums be they Pentecostal, "reform[ing"], Baptist or whatever Independents.

"God will come down on you if you don't tithe."

Don't believe it. God loves a "cheerful GIVER," nothing said about a "tither" if based on fear, ignorance or a gruding obligation.

If your attitude is a "I gotta give a tithe" under duress and with a gruding attitude, better to keep the coin in your pocket. The Bible said, "God loves a CHEERFUL giver," not money out of the hand of folks conned into opening their pockets under pressure.

Abraham and Jacob gave WILLINGLY, not an OBLIGATION but their personal desire as their vow.

Who has it correct? The obligatory tithing system or the cheerful giver?

"Are you telling us NOT to tithe?"

No, you do as the LORD leads you and I'll do as the LORD leads me.

ONLY THE SCRIPTURES CORRECTLY EXEGETED IS THE WORD OF GOD.