Tithing.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Arnold on February 16, 2011 at 11:32am

NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE pays the Biblical tithe today.

Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18:  The First Tithe - a tenth of crops and animals and commanded to take the tithe to the Levites.

Deuteronomy 14:22-27:  The Second Tithe aka The Festival Tithe - a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals, and take for the yearly feast.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29:  The Third Tithe aka The Three-Year Tithe aka The Poor Tithe - a tenth of crops, kept at home, and invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to eat.

Now, tell me.  Which of the above three tithes commanded by God does anyone follow today?

The ONLY people in the Old Testament that were commanded to tithe were those who INHERITED THE PROMISED LAND WITH EVERYTHING ON IT. They got the land, house, animals, crops, etc. ALL FREE AND CLEAR. No mortgage payment or rent to pay. And THEY were commanded to tithe on the crops and animals and take it to the Levites who INHERITED the tithe INSTEAD OF the promised land with everything on it.  No one else tithed.  Wage earners did not tithe.  Jesus didn’t tithe.  Paul didn’t tithe.  Peter didn’t tithe.

 

I find it quite offensive that pastors have appointed themselves to be the receiver of what belongs to God.  After all, the pastor says the tithe belongs to God.  Then he self-appoints himself to receive the tithe!!!

God never gave any pastor or church permission to receive his tithe or his gifts.  God commanded His tithe be taken to the Levites, FOREVER, in Numbers 18.

Since the tithe belongs to God, if your pastor accepts it isn't he stealing it from God?

Lucky for those of you who think you tithe, you are merely giving a tenth of your income to your church.  You aren't paying the Biblical tithe or you would be disobeying God's command to take His tithe to the Levites.  But then, if in your heart you are paying the Biblical tithe, wouldn’t that be sinning by breaking God's commands?

 

The New Testament teaches generous, sacrificial giving, from the heart, according to our means. For some, $1 might be a sacrifice, while for others, even giving 50% of their income might not induce a sacrifice. In the Old Testament, ONLY the farmers tithed, and it was equal percentage (a tenth). The New Testament teaches the principle of equal sacrifice instead of equal percentage. Equal sacrifice is much harder to achieve, if not impossible, than giving ten percent.  You are free to give to anyone or any organization you choose.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Arnold on February 16, 2011 at 12:26pm

You don't tithe per the scriptures.  You tithe according to your pastor's teaching which is contrary to the Word of God.  Just open your Bible and read it.

 

Levite - A descendant of the tribe of Levi.

The Levitical order consisted of all the descendants of Levi’s three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; whilst Aaron, Amram’s son (Amram, son of Kohat), and his issue constituted the priestly order.

Only MALE Levites, aged 25 to 50 were allowed to work at the Temple.  At age 50 they were required to retire.  (Numbers 8:23-26)

There are no documented Levites today.  There is no Temple for the Levites to work at today.  A church building is not a temple of God.  OUR BODIES are now the Temple where the Spirit of God lives within.  WE are a royal priesthood; therefore, all born-again believers are priests.  The priests did NOT tithe in the Old Testament, and we do NOT tithe today.

Many say that in Biblical times they didn’t have money and that the economy was based on bartering of goods and services.  That is not so.  The Bible shows they not only had money, but that money was used as a common way of doing business.

According to the International Bible Encyclopedia, the days of mere bartering ended before the days of Abraham.

Here are just a few examples from The Word to show they did, in fact, use money in Biblical times.

The tithing law itself proves they had both money and a marketing system for buying and selling their crops and animals (Deuteronomy 14:24-26).

THE PURCHASE OF LAND WITH MONEY BY ABRAHAM - Genesis 23:15-16

THE PURCHASE OF LAND WITH MONEY BY JACOB - Genesis 33:19

JOSEPH WAS SOLD TO THE ISHMEELITES FOR MONEY - Genesis 37:28

A MONEY OFFERING TO BE USED FOR THE SERVICE OF THE TABERNACLE - Exodus 30:14-16,

USING SHEKEL OF SILVER TO VALUE A RAM - Leviticus 5:15

THE FOLLOWING VERSES REFER TO WAGES: Genesis 29:15, Genesis 30:28, Genesis 31:7-8, Genesis 31:41, Exodus 2:9, Leviticus 19:13, Malachi 3:5, etc.

THEY HAD A MONEY STANDARD

There are several places in Scripture indicating that scales were used to weigh metals and other items. The Law of Moses, for example, commands Jews not to use dishonest standards, but instead, to use honest scales and honest weights. (See also Deut. 25:13-15; Job 6:2-3; 31:6; Psa. 62:9; Prov. 11:1; 16:11; 20:10, 23; Isa. 40:12; 46:6; and Jer. 32:10).

Leviticus 19:35-36 – Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.

In order for money to be an exchangeable equivalent for other commodities in today’s society, there must be a standard in place. Likewise, the Old Testament also had a set standard both prior to the law and during the law. A reference to a pre-law standard is in Genesis 23:16.

Merchants in biblical times traveled from place to place conducting business. According to the written law, the standard weight for metals was set according to the sanctuary shekel (See also Ex 30:13, 24; 38:24-26; Lev. 5:15; Num. 7:13-86; 18:16).

Leviticus 27:25 – Every value is to be set according to the sanctuary shekel, …

In addition, 2 Samuel 14:26 shows that the weight standard for the shekel was set by the royal standard. No matter which era in history is studied, there existed a standard for the weight of precious metals.

Money was also used throughout the law. For example, God’s people gave money to support the tabernacle (Ex. 30:14-16; 38:24-31). There are many other examples that illustrate money’s place within the written law and indicate that money was indeed a part of everyday life. Exodus 35 provides such an example.

Exodus 35:5, 21-22 – From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze;

And there are many more examples to show that money was used for everyday transactions well before the Levitical tithe.

Tithing is a scam that will ruin the protestant church.  When you tithe, you are diminishing what Jesus did for us on the cross.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Arnold on February 16, 2011 at 12:42pm

NONE of the following tithed on their income:

Arts and Crafts: Ex. 31:3-5; 35:31-35; 2 Ki. 16:10

Baker: Gen. 40:1-2; Jer. 37:21; Hos. 7:4

Builder: 2 Ki. 12:11; 22:6; Ezra 3:10; Matt 21:42; Heb. 3:3; 1 Pet. 2:7

Carpenter: 2 Sam. 5:11; 2 Ki. 12:11; 2 Chr. 24:12; Ezra 3:7; Isa. 44:13; Matt. 13:55; Mk. 6:3

Cook: 1 Sam. 8:13; 9:23-24

Doorkeeper: 2 Ki. 22:4; 25:18; 1 Chr. 15:23-24; Jer. 35:4

Fisherman: Isa. 19:8; Jer. 16:16; Ezek. 47:10; Matt. 4:18; 13:48; Lk. 5:2

Foremen: Ruth 2:5-6; 1 Ki. 5:16; 2 Chr. 2:2, 18; Matt. 20:8

Fortune Teller: Deut. 13:1-3; Acts 16:16

Goldsmith: Neh. 3:8, 31-32; Isa. 40:19; 41:7; 46:6; Jer. 10:9, 14; 51:17

Hunter: Gen. 10:9; 25:27; Jer. 16:16

Innkeeper: Lk. 10:35

Mason - Stonemasons: 2 Sam 5:11; 2 Ki. 12:12; 1 Chr. 22:15; 2 Chr. 24:12

Merchant - Trader: Gen. 23:16; 37:28; 1 Ki. 10:15; Neh. 13:20; Ezek. 27:3, 22-23; Matt. 13:45

Musician: 1 Ki. 10:12; 1 Chr. 6:33; 9:33; 2 Chr. 5:12

Perfume Maker: Ex. 30:25, 33, 35; 37:29; 1 Sam. 8:13; Neh. 3:8

Prostitute: Gen. 38:15-24; Lev. 21:14; Josh. 6:17, 25; Judg. 11:1; 16:1; Jer. 3:1; Joel 3:3; Matt. 21:31-32; Lk. 15:30; 1 Cor. 6:15-16; Jas. 2:25

Scribe - Teacher of the law: 1 Chr. 2:55; 1 Chr. 24:6; 27:32; Neh. 8:1; 13:13; Jer. 36:26; Matt. 2:4; Mk. 2:6; Acts 4:5

Silversmith: Judg. 17:4; Prov. 25:4; Acts 19:24

Spinning - Weaving: Ex. 28:3; 35:25-26; 2 Ki. 23:7; Prov. 31:19; Acts 9:39

Stonecutters: 1 Ki. 5:15; 2 Ki. 12:12; 1 Chr. 22:15

Supervisor: 2 Chr. 31:13; 34:17

Tanner: Num. 31:20; Acts 9:43; 10:6, 32

Tax Collector: Dan. 11:20; Matt. 10:3; Lk. 5:27

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Permalink Reply by Gary Arnold on February 16, 2011 at 12:56pm

Robin,

 

You are giving and being blessed for it.  Being Spirit led, I give far more than a mere tenth of my income.  But you are confusing the Biblical tithe with giving.

 

It is very unfortunate that church leaders changed the definition of God's tithe in 1870 and now teach the tithe incorrectly.

 

IF God is in your church, God will put it in the hearts of the members to give generously.  IF God is not in your church, the pastor will have to teach tithing.  Pastors who teach tithing lack faith that God will take care of His Church.  It's a faith issue.  Tithing = little faith.  The pastor is relying on the world instead of God.

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Permalink Reply by ALCEDES JONES on March 6, 2011 at 8:21pm

TO ME THIS IS LIKE THE FIRST CHRISTIAN COUNCIL,THE PHARISEES BELIEVERS DID NOT WANT TO LET WHAT THEY HAD BEEN TAUGHT ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM OF MOSES TO GO AND TRY TO MAKE THE GENTILES BELIEVERS TO BE PUT UNDER THE YOKE OF CIRCUMCISE, BUT IT WAS WRITTEN WHAT WAS REQUIRE OF THE GENTILES TO DO IN ACT THE 15 CHAPTER, ALSO  PAUL GOT WITH PETER IN THE BOOK OF GALATIANS ABOUT TRYING TO RETURN TO MOSES CUSTOM OR THE LAW,NOW TO ALL WHO WANT TO PAY TITHES YOU ARE REALLY PUTTING YOURSELF IN RISK OF GOING BACK IN BONDAGE IF YOU FEEL THAT IS THE ONLY REASONS YOU ARE BEING BLESS BY GOD,PLEASE I ASK ALL TO READ AND WHEN READING ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU UNDERSTANDING OF HIS WORDS FOR IF TITHES WAS A MUST THEN WHY DIDN'T GOD THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT PUT IT IN THE LETTER THAT THEY SENT TO ANTIOCH,I FEEL LIKE BROTHER PAUL TALKING TO THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT GALATIANS WHO HAS BEWITCHED YOU,PLEASE READ THE BOOK OF GALATIANS,AND MAY WE ALL GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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Permalink Reply by ScribeD on March 8, 2011 at 3:58am

Personal gifts to certain pastors sounds like there is a conflict brewing in the church. Pray for the Lord's will to be done and the power of the Holy Spirit to heal and guide everyone. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 tells us that there should not be partiality or favoritism in who we follow as a general rule, but rather we ought to follow Christ.

Thought on considering Old Testament teachings, such as Tithing:

Read Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11. These verses teach that Old Testament writings are for our instruction and example to us. We are not, of course, in the same exact situations. But, we can act by faith in a way that follows the examples set for us.

Consider also how many times the Apostles appeal to us to follow their examples or the examples of earlier saints: I see 14 times listed in New Testament Scripture.

So, what examples did the Holy Spirit give to us about tithing, giving and supporting pastors in the word?

What examples did the Lord give us about favoritism or partiality?

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Permalink Reply by Rita Cullimore on March 8, 2011 at 5:13am

Michael

If a person is giving to the church, it should be given to the church, not the pastor. There is a thing called pastor appreciation, when the money goes directly to the pastor. It is a gift to him directly and not associated with the church whatsoever. The church should then pay out of its stores a salary to the pastor without regard to gifts given to the pastor.

Our church is a small church, with the offerings barely covering expenses, even the pastor's salary. When I know that the church is having difficulties paying the salary, I give gifts to the pastor to tide him over 'til the church has more resources.

Tithing is an Old Testament law. We are under grace. However, churches can't exist without tithes and offerings.

I don't tithe. I do give. I give as the Holy Spirit leads me to give.

Blessings,

Rita

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