was The tithe JUST Under Old Covenant Or Now In the New?

He is correct in saying that tithing is a biblical principle because it clearly is, just as keeping the sabbath is a biblical prinicple.

 

Well, if we are demanded to tithe, then that would be constitued as a "work", and not a "gift". The tithe was always something other than money under the OT(if I am thinking correctly). Now, God loves a cheerful giver. If someone wants to give 10%, great, even up to 50% great, but if they only give 1%, and that comes from the depths of their heart, God would be pleased, too.

 

That is a common teaching but it is also not biblical for the church. The NT lays out how we are to give and to teach that we need to look to the tithe as a guide or exceed it is sin and legalism as such a teaching goes against what the Lord has set down in His word. The same applies to any teaching that goes against what is written.
It is impossible to teach that the tithe has anything to do with the church and still follow what is laid down in the NT. Any mention of the tithe as a way to gage our giving destroys what the Lord has laid down.


Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

The tithe is out of law, and Nt giving is totally from the heart. No one should ever give a penny above what their heart can support in cheerfulness. The Greek word translated cheerful is one that means great joy. We get our English word hilarious from it. So we are to give at a level where we feel great joy with no necessity and not grudgingly. If it is hard to give the amount we give then we need to back off to an amount where we feel joy in our giving as our joyfull giving is what pleases the Lord not how much. Doing it the way the Lord set forthin the NT sets the person free from legalism in this area.

 

Somebody help me out, please: Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, etc., where is tithing mentioned in the 600-odd laws given?

 

Well, I'm going to quote what Paul said on how much the NT believer should give.

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

So, if you have decided in your heart to give 10% because you see that principle, then give it and give it cheerfully.

 

There is no principle to an amount. That would be legalism. The amount is not decided on by the tithe or anything related to the tithe. The early church at Corinth would most likely not even have known about the tithe. The amount is decided on by the heart with no principle pointing to the tithe. it is not deciding the amount and then trying to get your heart to be cheerful about it. it is being cheerful about an amount and giving that.

 

I think you misunderstood my post. I meant "principle" as seeing tithes(10%) being given. To teach that it was law, or required it would be wrong. As I said, give what you desire and give cheerfully about it.

 

Then I assume you also agree that 1% is acceptable if given cheerfully?

 

If you feel that is what you should give. When people get bogged down with percentages, they have missed the point. The discussion that irks me the most is whether we should "tithe" the gross or net. It shows a totally misunderstanding of the passage.

 

Just like "backsliding" it is not taught by Paul and so is not applicable to the Gentiles. It is "for the Jews".

 

I see no Scripture proof for these assertions.

 

All passages that cover tithing:
Genesis 14 - Abram's tithe of the spoils of war to Melchizedek
Genesis 28 - Jacob's ambiguous bargain with God
Leviticus 27 - The tithe defined as of crops and livestock (crops could be redeemed, but not livestock)
Numbers 18 - The tithe as replacing the inheritance of the Levites and priests
Deuteronomy 12 - The annual festival tithes in Jerusalem
Deuteronomy 14 - The annual festival tithes in Jerusalem and third-year poor tithes
Deuteronomy 26 - The firstfruits and third-year tithes as distinct ordinances and their vows
1 Chronicles 31 - A return to tithes under king Hezekiah and the construction of the Temple storehouse chambers
Nehemiah 10 - A return to tithes with the Persian remnant under Nehemiah
Nehemiah 12 - A return to tithes continued with the portions brought to the Temple for the ministering courses of Levites and priests
Nehemiah 13 - The priestly scandal with Eliashib and robbing the tithes from the Levites
Amos 4:4 - A sarcastic command from God to continue bringing tithes and worshiping at the wrong place
Malachi - The priests robbing God in tithes and offerings
Matthew 23:23 - Jesus condemning the Pharisees and scribes for being partial in the Law, but commending their meticulous tithes of garden spices
Luke 11:42 - Same as above
Luke 18:9-14 - A parable about a Pharisee who tithed and a publican who repented and was justified
Hebrews 7 - The priesthood of Melchizedek confirmed with Abram's one-time tithe, and replacing the inferior Levitical priesthood

 

I believe that there exists a command to use musical instruments, but it is found only in the OT. Therefore it is unscriptural to use instruments in our churches today.

 

Thanks; found the same list as I was waiting on my wife to get out of physical therapy. I would point out one question, though: why do you emphasize "one time" from Hebrews? Scripture relates one meeting between Abram and Melchizedek; it doesn't say that Abram only tithed once.

 

I agree except it is not about what we should give but what we want to give. While all are to give according to scripture the giving comes with a promise of blessing. Our giving is to be a reflection of the heart if done so cheerfully.

 

"And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives" - Mat 26:30, Mar 14:26
It doesn't mention that any of the disciples were musicians.
It is one thing to have some "tradition" and quite another to form a "doctrine".

 

It is impossible to hold to the tithe as faith for today as the tithe is law. Also faith comes by hearing an hearing by the word of God. The tithe is not taught in the NT word of God so the tithe is not about faith. Something else is however. For anyone to give in faith they have to give by the manner that is laid down in the NT totally apart from the tithe. Tithe giving can never be by faith for the church. Remember, believing something does not make it faith. It has to be first stated in the word of God for us then acted on to be faith and the tithe is never pointed to for the church so no one who follows the thihe or its principle is giving by faith.

 

I think the NT says to sell ALL that you have and give to the poor. This means you can't own anything. Pensions are not taught in the NT either. Guess we better give them up too.

This division of the Bible sounds more dispensational than biblical to me. But, I am just an ignorant fool saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, what can I know!

Cheers,

Jim