Tithing…Is it a command?

[HRea]

Originally Posted by Sean

There is no "principle of tithing"(mandatory percentage giving) taught anywhere in the New Testament Church.

Actually, yes there is. Everyone may find the following New Testament scriptures compelling and convicting. Regardless of what man teaches (and many teach against tithing), we need to find out what the Bible says.

Under the unction of the Holy Ghost, Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 9:13-14 (ESV)
13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?
14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

In this, Paul does 3 things that many argue against today
1. Relates the New Testament minister back to the Levitical Priesthood. They are not the same obviously (Levites are by birth, Preachers are by God's calling)
2. Declares that this is the Lord's command and not Paul's teaching
3. Reiterates the principle manner in which they are provided for

Consistent with this command/principle is the often derided Malachi 3:10:

Malachi 3:10 (ESV)
10a Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

God has chosen His method of providing for both the Jewish Priesthood and the New Testament Ministry and this method is "after the same manner".

Originally Posted by Sean

Old independent ministers I know of called these ministers in big cars the "10 percenters".

I completely agree with the criticism of the fat-cat preacher who has abused God's provisions and heaped possessions to themselves. As the church grows, the number of preachers should likewise grow, for the work of the ministry, perfecting of the saints, and so on, may be met.

Unfortunately, abuse of God's provision has the same effect that it did when Eli and Samuel's sons misbehaved. Their actions caused the people to chafe at contributing to the minister's wayward behavior. Do their sins make the Word of no effect? God forbid, but it does cause the heart of the saints great difficulty and anguish fulfilling the commands.

Originally Posted by Sean

I realized the fear I had was from decades of "brainwashing" regarding this doctrine.

Let's go one level deeper in the doctrine of "ministerial provisions". Paul would increase the obligation of the hearer to the preacher:

Galatians 6:6 (ESV)
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

If 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 is intolerable and detestable, then how much more our obligations to fulfill Galatians 6:6?