Tithing Denies the Priesthood of All Believers

[Alcott]

Or what about Abraham giving 10% of the plunder. These offerings predated the law.

Alright, next time I plunder a region and kiill all the people and take the spoils, I'll look up a local priest and give him a tenth. All this is under grace, you know. Thanks for bringing it up.

 

[MB]

Try and get along without it............

BBob,

Where is the faith in that statement? Seems you're worried that God will not provide for the ministry. If the ministry is of God, God will provide for it. If not then that ministry isn't God's will but, man's.

I don't worry about how I will get by in this world. I do get by though and very well I might ad. None of it is of myself. Everything I have is a blessing from God. The reason isn't that I deserve anything from God. All I do is trust that God will provide. Life still has it's up's and down's sometimes I'm better off than others but I still have everything I need and I'm always thankful for it. Trust in the Lord.
MB

 

[skypair]

You have some interesting angles on tithing, tl. Let me begin by saying I agree -- we're in the era of giving what God tells us to give.

The tithing ordinance was for Israel only and given by Moses from Mount Sinai (Leviticus 27:30-34).

Well, techincally Abraham gave a "tithe" -- and that is what it was called -- to Melchisedek out of the "spoils of war." But the priest angle still holds.

Today, preachers have taken the tithing burden off the Land and put it on God’s people. We are not under the Mosaic Covenant of Law, but under Grace (Rom.6:14; Gal.5:18).

One truth that often gets missed is that Judaism was the government, secular, so far as welfare is concerned. Islam appears to have "copied" that heritage. And Christians don't deny that we ought to pay our taxes as being part of our responsibility to our "nation."

And tithing as a "guideline" seems to be much as under the law regarding the way churches "impose" it. Even in the OT, there were other freewill offerings making the tithe a "baseline" amount. it always erks me when preachers say we are not under the law but ought to give at least as much as OT saints -- which rationale in actuality is applying the OT law to us!

Going back under Mosaic Law brings a curse (Gal.3:10). If you pick one Mosaic Law to be under, you must keep them ALL, including circumcision, not eating ham, ceasing work on Saturday, etc.

Absolutely!! And it negates the Spirit's speaking directly to our hearts as to how and how much to give where in support of the His work. I know many Christians to whom the Spirit has spoken about giving to soup kitchens in place of bigger buildings and bigger paid staff that our "self-indulgent" churches would like.

On the churches side of giving, then, they ought to be "competing" for that money by having fruitful, edifying, God-glorifying ministries that appeal to the Spirit that ultimately speaks to believers.

Only Israelite farmers had to bring in tithes. Hired hands, midwives, fishermen, and tradesmen did not owe any tithes. Tithes were food for the poor (Deut.14:28-29).

This is an interesting angle -- no doubt related to the "storehouse" in Mal 3 that fed the poor. That, too, would have been food -- not money that I can think of.

Every seventh year no crops would be gathered (Lev.25:1-7). Since tithes could not be collected off a non-existent harvest, people were given a year off from tithing every seventh year.

Good points! And it has always wrankled me that the church will "demand" tithes of people who are a subsistence-level incomes thereby taking food off their tables. Of course, in such situations, they usually turn around and give it back, but scripture says that the family comes first -- "He that will not take care of his own is worse than an infidel."

The Israelite priesthood did not pay tithes. Lower-ranking Levites tithed to the priests after taking getting their own tithes from the people (Num.18:25-28).

This is fairly compelling. Do you suppose that is what Zacheus was employed at who told Jesus he would give back the excess he had collected and more?

New Covenant believers are called Christ’s Royal Priesthood (I Pet.2:5,9). No apostle ever commands Christians to tithe. When Christians tithe, they deny their own priesthood in Christ Jesus.

I believe that all NT giving is freewill, love offering in nature and that the believer is to be just that involved with the "body of Christ" that he willingly, from the heart, meets the needs of those he is called to "give cheerfully" to.

Good opening post and though this issue has been bandied about before, I think you raise some important considerations.

skypair

 

[standingfirminChrist]

What about Cain and Able's offering of their first fruits? Or what about Abraham giving 10% of the plunder. These offerings predated the law. Who was it that taught Cain and Able to bring these gifts? Who taught Abraham to give 10% of the plunder? Where did this desire or command come from?

1. Cain and Abel were not said to tithe, but to have brought offerings to the LORD.

2. Abram did not give of his own property, but of the spoils of war.

 

[Larry]

I haven't paid a Tithe in probably 15 years. I do give 10%+ to my church. There is no NT support for tithing, and the pre-law giving of a tenth, by Abraham, in my eyes, is an example of what is good manners.


I loose a little respect for a preacher when I hear him preach storehouse tithing, it's not up to me to change him, I knew what they believed when I joined the church and it would be wrong of me to offend them with my liberty.

 

[Jkdbuck76]

Nothing worse than a church being funded by bakesales and bingo.

People ought to give. And God honors it if it is done with the right heart.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

Many pastors who demand tithing of the congregation or God's curse upon them will also teach the false doctrine that the firstfruits was the tithe.

Scripturally, the firstfruit was not the tithe. Nehemiah 12:44 shows there is a difference between the two.

Also,

KJV Leviticus 27:32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

Here, it is the tenth to pass under the rod that is the tithe of the herd... not the first.

Tithing was not firstfruits.

 

[sag38]

Wow! We are so sure of ourselves.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

Not that I am sure of myself, but rather that I am sure of God's Word.

 

[skypair]

I loose a little respect for a preacher when I hear him preach storehouse tithing, it's not up to me to change him, I knew what they believed when I joined the church and it would be wrong of me to offend them with my liberty.

Amen. I was going to a church with financial issues and I beleived in tithing at the time. It was pathetic -- we heard tithing sermons for an entire month! Instead of looking to the good work that was being done through ministries (like "Here's Life America" -- remember the bumper stickers saying "I Found It," new life in Christ?) It went huge in Columbus OH! God was working! We had an excellent bus ministry, etc. But the pastor almost seemed to trying to put us in "bondage" again!

I'm sorry if this is "too much information" for some but how much more glorious to draw the heart rather than the flesh!

skypair

 

[Brother Bob]

Where is the faith in that statement? Seems you're worried that God will not provide for the ministry. If the ministry is of God, God will provide for it. If not then that ministry isn't God's will but, man's.

I don't worry about how I will get by in this world. I do get by though and very well I might ad. None of it is of myself. Everything I have is a blessing from God. The reason isn't that I deserve anything from God. All I do is trust that God will provide. Life still has it's up's and down's sometimes I'm better off than others but I still have everything I need and I'm always thankful for it. Trust in the Lord.
MB

I do get by though and very well I might ad.

Does this mean that you are well off financially? If so, did you work to get it?

I had to work for what I have in this life. The Lord had provided me a way, but He expected me to do my part also, for He said a man that will not provide for his family is worse than an infidel and hath already denied the faith. So, I give my life to the Lord, I think that is what he wants. He could care less about your money, or mine.

BBob,

 

[AAA]

Tithing Denies the Priesthood of All Believers

The tithing ordinance was for Israel only and given by Moses from Mount Sinai (Leviticus 27:30-34). Tithes were taken only from the LAND (verse 30), and from anything nourished by the LAND OF ISRAEL (cattle, sheep, etc., verse 32). Today, preachers have taken the tithing burden off the Land and put it on God’s people. We are not under the Mosaic Covenant of Law, but under Grace (Rom.6:14; Gal.5:18). Going back under Mosaic Law brings a curse (Gal.3:10). If you pick one Mosaic Law to be under, you must keep them ALL, including circumcision, not eating ham, ceasing work on Saturday, etc.
Only Israelite farmers had to bring in tithes. Hired hands, midwives, fishermen, and tradesmen did not owe any tithes. Tithes were food for the poor (Deut.14:28-29). Not one scripture supports taking tithes on money or using tithes to construct church buildings.
Every seventh year no crops would be gathered (Lev.25:1-7). Since tithes could not be collected off a non-existent harvest, people were given a year off from tithing every seventh year. The Israelites didn’t even have to tithe at all in the wilderness. How many preachers give their congregation a whole year off from tithing?
Jacob attached conditions to his offer to tithe (Gen.28:20-22). IF God will be with me, etc., then AFTER Jacob got home safely again to his father’s house he would start tithing. If tithing was required, Jacob was in no position to bargain with ten percent of his stuff.
The Israelite priesthood did not pay tithes. Lower-ranking Levites tithed to the priests after taking getting their own tithes from the people (Num.18:25-28). New Covenant believers are called Christ’s Royal Priesthood (I Pet.2:5,9). No apostle ever commands Christians to tithe. When Christians tithe, they deny their own priesthood in Christ Jesus.
:tonofbricks:

Interesting..n/t

 

[richard n koustas]

I recently had a discussion with someone that believes that the tithe is applicable to the NT church. At one point he asked: if there was a farmer (back in the OT times) he was required to tithe....and a carpenter ...was not required to tithe? I said Absolutely!

Unless,of course, he is farming or raising animals...........