To tithe or not to tithe?

[TGBTG]

Originally Posted by DaveC519

The basis or underlying principle of the Levitical system was the tithe. Paul was not telling the church to give their ministers the Levitical tithe, because the Levitical tithe went to the Levitical priesthood. What he did say was "so also", meaning "even so" or "in like manner".

What I am saying is that tithe was different from the food which the Levites got from the temple. And Paul was appealing to the food from the temple not the tithes.

Also, the tithing principle you are advocating EXCLUDES anyone besides the Pastor.

However, Paul did not say only Pastors should be supported. He said the Lord ordained that THOSE WHO PREACH THE GOSPEL should live off the gospel.

So that would include missionaries too. Therefore, a person can give their "tithe" to missionaries. But I don't see you advocating for that.

[Rudy]

The Levites brought a tenth of the tithe to the Temple, not the people.

[Dordrecht]

Originally Posted by Rudy

The Levites brought a tenth of the tithe to the Temple, not the people.

Levites were not people?

[TGBTG]

Ok, just felt like I needed to say this on this thread...(lest I come across as if I don't believe in giving, it's the legalism that drives me nuts...lol)

I absolutely believe in giving to the work of the ministry: Money, time, energy, prayer, etc. And there are REWARDS for giving (not TBN type rewards though..lol)

Phil 4 (ERV)
10 I am so happy, and I thank the Lord that you have again shown your care for me. You continued to care about me, but there was no way for you to show it.
11 I am telling you this, but not because I need something. I have learned to be satisfied with what I have and with whatever happens.
12 I know how to live when I am poor and when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation—when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing.
13 Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.
14 But it was good that you helped me when I needed help.
15 You people in Philippi remember when I first told the Good News there. When I left Macedonia, you were the only church that gave me help.
16 Several times you sent me things I needed when I was in Thessalonica.
17 Really, it is not that I want to get gifts from you. But I want you to have the benefit that comes from giving

Give your tithe, Pay your tithe, Give your offerings, Or whatever you want to call it...but be a giver

God GAVE his Son
We ought to GIVE our all...

Just thought to share that...

[Jacob's Ladder]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

The increase was what he captured in war. That he kept none is irrelevent

Praxeas,


Was is customary to offer ten percent of the war spoils to local kings? I believe so, and here's my reasoning as to why this giving of ten percent was a custom.



Please pay special attention We read in Genesis 14:17,18,20,21-

17)... the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh

18) Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine.

20) ..... Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

21) The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”


Notice, the king of Sodom (King Bera) and king of Salem (Preist/King Melchizedek) came out to meet Abraham after the war (Gen 14:17-18). It was only after that Abraham offered a tenth of the spoils of the war. Abraham's ten percent offering was directed to both kings.

What does Genesis 14:21 read above? It reads the "king of Sodom" didn't want partial of the spoils! What did the king of Sodom say to Abraham, "give me the people" and "keep the goods." The king of Sodom wanted the people rather than the customary ten percent. This is proof that Abraham was fulfilling a custom. Furthermore, Abraham offered spoils to both, and it was only King Bera that complained, he said, give me the people and keep the goods.



Regards,
Jacob's Ladder

[Rudy]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

Levites were not people?

Aliens.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Jacob's Ladder

Praxeas,


Was is customary to offer ten percent of the war spoils to local kings? I believe so, and here's my reasoning as to why this giving of ten percent was a custom.



Please pay special attention We read in Genesis 14:17,18,20,21-

17)... the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh

18) Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine.

20) ..... Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

21) The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”


Notice, the king of Sodom (King Bera) and king of Salem (Preist/King Melchizedek) came out to meet Abraham after the war (Gen 14:17-18). It was only after that Abraham offered a tenth of the spoils of the war. Abraham's ten percent offering was directed to both kings.

What does Genesis 14:21 read above? It reads the "king of Sodom" didn't want partial of the spoils! What did the king of Sodom say to Abraham, "give me the people" and "keep the goods." The king of Sodom wanted the people rather than the customary ten percent. This is proof that Abraham was fulfilling a custom. Furthermore, Abraham offered spoils to both, and it was only King Bera that complained, he said, give me the people and keep the goods.



Regards,
Jacob's Ladder

So, the next time I raise a posse/private militia and wage war against some third world mide-east warlord, I have to pay 10% tax on the spoils? What line on my 1040 does that go under?

[Jacob's Ladder]

Originally Posted by Esaias

So, the next time I raise a posse/private militia and wage war against some third world mide-east warlord, I have to pay 10% tax on the spoils? What line on my 1040 does that go under?

You must pay ten percent to me, or else I"ll have a your head on a platter!

[Rudy]

Abraham was not in need of a Priest, he had access to God. One logical reason he gave a tenth he was following customs/culture of that time. It is historically accepted that a usage tax of 10% seemed to be used even among the pagans.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Jacob's Ladder

Praxeas,


Was is customary to offer ten percent of the war spoils to local kings? I believe so, and here's my reasoning as to why this giving of ten percent was a custom.



Please pay special attention We read in Genesis 14:17,18,20,21-

17)... the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh

18) Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine.

20) ..... Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

21) The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”


Notice, the king of Sodom (King Bera) and king of Salem (Preist/King Melchizedek) came out to meet Abraham after the war (Gen 14:17-18). It was only after that Abraham offered a tenth of the spoils of the war. Abraham's ten percent offering was directed to both kings.

What does Genesis 14:21 read above? It reads the "king of Sodom" didn't want partial of the spoils! What did the king of Sodom say to Abraham, "give me the people" and "keep the goods." The king of Sodom wanted the people rather than the customary ten percent. This is proof that Abraham was fulfilling a custom. Furthermore, Abraham offered spoils to both, and it was only King Bera that complained, he said, give me the people and keep the goods.



Regards,
Jacob's Ladder

You are talking scripture out of context and avoiding the pertinent information which I detailed in several posts that shows he was tithing to a priest.

Second it does NOT say the King didn't want a tenth. It says Abraham gave him a tenth THEN of the possessions that belonged to the King of Salem the king said Abraham could keep what he recovered except the persons and Abraham refused to take it.

You are confusing two different sets of circumstances because you are talking scripture out of context

It does NOT say Abraham gave a tenth to both kings

Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)
Gen 14:19 And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
Gen 14:20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

HIM not THEM. It was NOT directed to both kings but ONE King. Gen 14 tells us that. Hebrews 7 confirms.

Scripture out of context is pretext. READ THE CONTEXT ALWAYS

Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)
Gen 14:19 And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
Gen 14:20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Gen 14:21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself."
Gen 14:22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth,
Gen 14:23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.'

When you read the context way way back you find that the king Abraham defeated had taken the possessions of Lot and the king of Sodom and the king was speaking of those possessions that belonged to him

Gen 14:11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.

Abraham was returning the goods and the people and the King of Sodom was thankful enough to let Abraham keep the goods

Two different events. King of Salem/Tithe. King of Sodom, return of goods