Tithe-vs-Paying Your Bills

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by onefaith2

And we would slowly fall to ruin

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

I realize pastors have abused authority but that does not replace the true nature of their calling.. to watch for our souls. If God moves on them to direct us to tithe, if we are under that leadership, we had better tithe.

The word "obey" in the verse you gave is,

3982 // peiyw // peitho // pi'-tho //

a primary verb; TDNT - 6:1,818; v

AV - persuade 22, trust 8, obey 7, have confidence 6, believe 3,
be confident 2, misc 7; 55

1) persuade
1a) to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe
1b) to make friends of, to win one's favour, gain one's good
will, or to seek to win one, strive to please one
1c) to tranquillise
1d) to persuade unto i.e. move or induce one to persuasion to
do something
2) be persuaded
2a) to be persuaded, to suffer one's self to be persuaded; to
be induced to believe: to have faith: in a thing
2a1) to believe
2a2) to be persuaded of a thing concerning a person
2b) to listen to, obey, yield to, comply with
3) to trust, have confidence, be confident

It means to be persuaded by through Biblical teaching. It doesn't mean you are to "obey" their edicts. If something isn't supported in Scripture, they can rant all day long. Obedience isn't required of you.