Do You Attend a Local Church and Tithe to It?

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

I agree.

It is God who judges whether we have put Him first and honored Him in our giving, not the anonymous panel of experts on an internet forum.

Blasphemer!!!!

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

Great comments, but you still didn't show me where Cain, like Abel, brought firstfruits.

That's because I can't. Fruits doesn't equal first fruits.

Thank you for correcting me.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Chan

But you're confusing the principle of firstfruits with the principle of tithing.

I'm trying to see if there is a link between the two.

We don't know why Abraham decided to give 10 percent. Why not 20 percent? Why not five percent? We don't know. Just because we are spiritual children of Abraham doesn't mean we should follow his literal example. If we said that we should follow his example then we would all have to marry our half-sisters and lie about being married to her.

His son, Jacob, followed his literal example in tithing.

Why can't we follow his spiritual example of tithing as well?

There is something faulty in your logic when you use this literal natural example of marrying a half sister but I don't know what it is. It just doesn't make sense.

The Law of Moses is not "wisdom," it's law. Wisdom is the application of law.

De 4:5-8 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

Surrounding nations will say the people the nation of Israel is wise and understanding because of their Law.

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I have tithed since I was 11 years old. Tithing is as natural as eating and sleeping. God gives to me I give to him. NO I do NOT take it out of one pocket and put it in the other. I tithe to the missions fund and have for years.

Elder, I was not even six years old when my mom taught me that the tithe is 1/10 of whatever increase I get. I remember that she and Dad had decided to give me and my younger sister both a whole dollar (for what, I don't remember). Then she turned those dollar bills into dimes, put an empty baby food jar on the bookshelf, had us count those ten dimes, told us that one of those belonged to Jesus, not us, and had us put the dime into the jar. We got to give our tithe from that jar some time later. I thank God for parents who taught me when I was very young, that the tithe is the Lord's, and that it is a blessing and a privilege to be able to give offerings.

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I haven't found where the NT mandates tithing either. What do you think about this verse from Proverbs?

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Abraham and Jacob tithed without a law to tell them to. Solomon speaks of giving the firstfruits to God. Do you understand this to be a general principle or was Solomon bringing the law into play in the book of wisdom? I can't find the Law of Moses in Proverbs. Can we, as the NT church, glean anything or apply anything from the OT to our walk with God in relation to our giving?

The new testament references the fact that Abraham, pre Mosaic covenant, paid tithes of all to Melchisedec, king of Salem.

Hebrews 7:1-9
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

Also, Jesus said this:

Matthew 23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Well, I reckon 100% of what I receive belongs to Jesus. I am just thankful he lets me keep 90%!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by SISTER Murphy

The new testament references the fact that Abraham, pre Mosaic covenant, paid tithes of all to Melchisedec, king of Salem.

Hebrews 7:1-9
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

Also, Jesus said this:

Matthew 23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

SM,
It actually says he gave a tenth of the spoils. It wasn't even his stuff, but the best of the booty when he got back from the slaughter of the kings. Spoils in the Greek is - top of the heap, best of the booty.


Hebrews 7:4 "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils."

Originally Posted by philjones

Well, I reckon 100% of what I receive belongs to Jesus. I am just thankful he lets me keep 90%!

Amen, bro. Phil,

If God would have required the 90%, he would have blessed my 10% that would be as much as anyone else's 100% kept for themselves not being under the blessings of the obedient. I would far rather have the 10% for myself that is blessed than the 90% that is not blessed.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by philjones

Well, I reckon 100% of what I receive belongs to Jesus. I am just thankful he lets me keep 90%!

Sounds like a good plan to me??? And it has been.

I don't have no problem with a pastor being paid, but what I do have a problem with is a pastor who takes all the money and uses it for his own gain and not for the ministry.