The TRUTH about tithing...
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Posted:May 8, 2008 10:20 am
Last Updated:Oct 4, 2012 4:17 pm 5266 Views
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Tithing began before the law was introduced. The Law simply regulated the tithe. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, 400 years before the time of Moses and the Law, and according to Romans 4:12 we are to walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. If tithing was good for him, it should be good for us, too.
We give tithes like Abraham gave them–not by the Law but by faith. And beside that, if the people of God paid ten percent before the Law, and ten percent under the Law, should we, who live by grace, be doing any less since we have a better covenant (Hebrews 7 : 2).
There is a passage in Hebrews, which deals with this issue directly. It is Hebrews 7 : 8 "In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living."
Melchizedek received Abraham's tithe. The Hebrew writer shows that Melchizedek is a prefigure of Christ. We can conclude that just as Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek we give a tithe to Christ who is declared to be living.
Some people think this is a new issue. It is as old as the second century when more and more Gentiles were being converted. The early Jewish believers had no problem with tithing since they had done it under the Law and gave it to the priests. They simply gave their tithe to the elders of the church and did by love. However, as the church became less Jewish this issue came up to the church fathers. They answered the question of tithing with Matthew 23 : 23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."
Notice Jesus said, "You should have practiced the latter (justice, mercy and faithfulness), without neglecting the former (tithing)." The fathers argued, and rightful so, that Jesus word ends the discussion. Since Jesus said not to neglect the former–being tithing–then no believer should neglect tithing. I wholeheartedly agree!
Paul also uses the pattern of tithing under the law in 1 Corinthians 9 : 13 - 14 and says,
"Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."
Paul argues that just as the priests got their food from the tithes of the people, so the preachers should live the same way. This passage clearly shows the mentality of the apostle and his understanding of carrying over the concept of tithing into the church.
The passage often used to contradict this is 2 Corinthians 9 : 7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
The argument goes something like this: "Each believer has a right to decide for himself what to give and should not be told what percentage he should contribute."
The problem with this argument is that the above passage is not dealing with giving to support the church, but rather giving to the poor. Under the Law, giving to the poor was a freewill offering. The Law commanded freewill offerings as well as tithes, "But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks." (Deut 12 : 5 - 6)
It is quite inconsistent for people to appeal to freewill offerings yet claim that tithing has been abolished. Both tithing and freewill offerings were incorporated in the Law as the above passage shows, but they preceded the Law, thus they both should continue to be practiced.
The burden of proof is placed on those who teach that tithing has been abolished. If so, where in the New Testament does it clearly say that tithing has been abolished?
One last thing, notice the resemblance of the language Paul uses in the first passage in Galatians and compare it with the Old Testament passage about tithing:
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. (Galatians 6 : 6)
And you and the Levites and the aliens among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. (Deut 26:11-12)
Galatians 6 is dealing with giving to the teacher of the gospel and he uses the same language about the Levites receiving the tithe of the people and he calls it "all good things." This is pretty good internal evidence that the early church tithed.
(file on my PC, not certain who should get credit for authoring this article)
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Homesick
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Posted:May 6, 2008 10:13 pm
Last Updated:Oct 4, 2012 4:18 pm 2610 Views
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I obtained all the continuing education credits I needed today, so I thought I would check into getting an earlier flight home. To change my flight time was going to cost $280 - that's more than I paid for the round trip ticket to get here!!!
As homesick as I am, I really struggled not to pay it - but common sense prevailed, so I'm stuck there until my flight leaves tomorrow at 7:35...YUCK!!!
I really feel like an old fuddy, duddy. Here I am in Las Vegas and want to go home. Furthermore, I'm to cheap to pay extra to go home early.
Geesh, I'm pathetic...
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No coffee this time!!!
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Posted:May 3, 2008 3:22 pm
Last Updated:May 5, 2008 9:47 pm 2565 Views
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I'm sitting in the airport waiting for my flight...I came early to be sure not to miss it this time! LOL I would love to grab some coffee from Starbucks...but, I don't want a repeat of last trip!
I think I will start taking the red eye flights more often...check in was a breeze, no line at security...really, there was NO LINE!!!
Viva Las Vegas!!! Oh yeah, I forgot, this is for education...YUCK!
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Anyone live around Vegas???
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Posted:May 2, 2008 12:54 pm
Last Updated:May 4, 2008 10:01 pm 2514 Views
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I arrive on the red-eye flight Saturday night and leave on the red-eye flight Wednesday night (lowest fares, not cheap, just frugal). Will be in classes each day, but would love to have a cup of coffee or dinner in the evening with any BCers in the area...
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This is for Beth only!!!
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Posted:May 1, 2008 9:08 pm
Last Updated:May 7, 2008 9:10 am 2440 Views
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This is the lilac bushes growing outside my sunroom windows...oh they smell so good!
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~~~Can we all be "of one mind"????~~~
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Posted:Apr 30, 2008 9:05 pm
Last Updated:May 1, 2008 5:57 pm 2397 Views
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Peter instructs us to be of one mind in 1 Peter 3 : 8. That's a monumental task! Just look at BC as an example...how often are all the believers here of one mind?
Peter followed that instruction with some hints on how to achieve that single-mindedness among believers...can you find them?
"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3 : 8 , 9
Okay, here are some hints on how to achieve unity, harmony and single-mindedness:
1. Have Compassion
2. Love One Another
3. Be Tenderhearted
4. Be Courteous
5. Be a Blessing
Can you see how following those instructions brings would build unity and harmony?
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Apartment shopping in Louisville...
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Posted:Apr 28, 2008 7:28 pm
Last Updated:Apr 30, 2008 6:37 pm 2157 Views
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Spent the day today in Louisville looking for an apartment for my oldest . He will be attending school there for two years beginning June 23. I have a headache!!! Three hour drive to the school to meet with the admissions counselor, then about four hours looking at apartments (they all look the same after awhile) and then three hours driving back home..after eating at Joe's Crab Shack (the highlight of the day).
Arrggghhh...I'm tired and did I say have a headache?
I'm going to bed.
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