Quote:
Originally Posted by good samaritan
If this is the same Bro. Kelly who has many you tube videos on tithing, I commend your studies and I also agree. I enjoy dialogue on the biblical accuracy of things, but the problem with many of these threads is they become mean, demeaning and sarcastic (biblical accuracy becomes a weapon).
I don't believe in mandatory tithing. I think that tithing is a good system adapted from the Old Testament. The church has grown and is more orthodox than the early church was in Jerusalem. People are responsible to the work of God in giving financial support. That is definite.
We are to be Spirit led givers. Did Jesus not command us to go beyond the laws commands? (see Mathew 5) The Spirit doesn't drive us to live minimally, but abundantly. A person should commit financially to God and tithing is a good way to do it. It should not be a legalism under the law, but a commitment to furthering the kingdom of God. The amount is not the issue it is the heart. |
Yes, I wrote my PHD dissertation on tithing. Jesus, Moses, Nehemiah and Malachi all taught that the tithe was only food. The argument that we should give above and beyond what the law required sounds good, but it has no precedent in the law. Why? The law never required non-food producers such as carpenters or tentmakers (or even fishermen) to tithe. Again, there is no precedent to build the argument upon.
Jesus gave sacrificially; Jesus is our New Covenant example. Most church members spend more on their IPOD and Internet than they give at church. That is a shame.
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