Were tithes ever required by Jesus or the Apostles?

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by Rico

I don't think there's really any scripture in favor of the preacher taking all the tithes.

Originally Posted by OP_Carl
There is more bible in support of the concept of the preacher taking all of the funds designated as tithe into his personal control than there is for the practice of making the preacher a salaried employee of the church.

There isn't a scripture. But the principle is scriptural. People will have difficulty discerning it if they are fresh from being bruised by excessive offering-taking, real or perceived.

There also is no scripture opposed to the consumption of tobacco.

What sends up red flags for me is when the pastor is so flush with cash from the tithes that he's out buying up property after property, and whatever the latest version of a $50,000 Suburban is, and the church they've been trying to build for 5 years sits half completed.

By their fruits ye shall know them. You have fleshed out a splendid example of a pastor whose kingdom-mindedness is fair game for questioning.