More on Tithe
Posted on August 21st, 2006 by Reformed Pope into the Uncategorized categoryHere is a website Catalyst found on tithing: http://www.bible-truths.com/tithing.html
I haven't read it all, but here are 7 interesting points I found:
SOME SHOCKING TRUTHS ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN TITHING DOCTRINE
- Abraham never tithed on his own personal property or livestock.
- Jacob wouldn't tithe until God blessed him first.
- Only Levite priests could collect tithes, and there are no Levite priests today.
- Only food products from the land were tithable.
- Money was never a titheable commodity.
- Christian converts were never asked to tithe anything to the Church.
- Tithing in the Church first appears centuries after completion of the Bible.
I know we've covered this a lot, but I feel it's important to cover, so here we go again.
A message to tithers*:
Your money is your money and you are welcome to do whatever you want with it. Giving away your money is a wonderful thing to do and if God doesn't bless you I'm sure KARMA will.
However, before you start blindly following a teaching that has crept its way into church over the past few hundred years, please do the following:
- READ THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF AND SEE WHAT IT ACTUALLY SAYS
Don't just read the "recommended scriptures" put out in your churches yearly prospectus, research all the scriptures on giving and read the verses before and after and try to find the true meaning.
- ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
Does your church give 10% of its income, right off the top?
Does your church follow the same principles that they teach?
What is your church doing with the money they receive?
- YOU MAY HAVE A PROBLEM IF…
Your church spends more time teaching on giving them money than anything else…
Your pastors give you a book on submitting to authority when you question their decisions…
In conclusion, don't be afraid to search the truth. If, after researching it for yourself, you find that your church's teaching lines up with what you found in the Bible then carry on, however if you think there is a problem…well, that's what we're here for.
*Here at City Business we are strong believers in GIVING just not in the GOD MANDATED 10% OF YOUR INCOME OR ELSE kind of way.
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August 21st, 2006 at 4:57 pm
It should be noted that for the first two thousand and five hundred years of human history (as recorded in the biblical narrative) the only two instances of tithing were involving free will offerings of Abraham and Jacob. Even in the first period of the Exodus, Moses only required free will contributions from the Israelites.
I feel that those who are in the pursuit of money are all too often the very ones who have created the need for an unscriptural and oppressive system dependent on finances and numbers. Christians should not support an unscriptural church government structure based on the ideas of men rather than the Word of God.
The first-century Church “turned the world upside-down” with the preaching of the Gospel, freely-received and freely-given, without the need to resort to the peddling of the Word of God by laying claims to a Levitical tithe, agricultural or otherwise. The Holy Spirit is the power and resource of all the servants of God.
By contrast “churches of God” today, who ignore the biblical method of funding the church established by Christ and the apostles, and who instead impose upon their members a supposedly OT Levitical law, seem impotent. To me, they appear to have more success in scattering and disillusioning the sheep of God rather than nurturing and edifying them.
Here are some facts I know about tithing:
-Free-will giving existed before tithing.
-Use God’s Word to define “tithe.” Do not use a secular dictionary! Open a complete Bible concordance and you will discover that the definition used by tithe-advocates is wrong. In God’s Word “tithe” does not stand alone. Although money existed, the original source of God’s “tithe” was never money. It was the “tithe of food.” This is very important. **True biblical tithes were always only food from the farms and herds of only Israelites who only lived inside God’s Holy Land, the national boundary of Israel.** The increase was gathered from what God produced and not man’s craft or ability.
-In exchange for receiving tithes, both Levites and priests forfeited all rights to permanent land inheritance inside Israel.
-Jesus, Peter, Paul and the poor did not tithe! The poor were not required to tithe at all! Neither did the tithe come from the results of man’s craft, hands and skill. Only farmers and herdsmen gathered what God produced as tithe increase. Jesus was a carpenter; Paul was a tentmaker and Peter was a fisherman. None of these occupations qualified as tithe-payers because they did not farm or herd animals for a living…
I’m poor, I’m not a farmer or a herdsman and that is why I personally don’t tithe. If God blesses me, than I will gladly give it to others.
August 21st, 2006 at 7:00 pm
I’m giving a tenth of my next litter of cats to CBC.
August 21st, 2006 at 8:30 pm
“I’m poor, I’m not a farmer or a herdsman and that is why I personally don’t tithe. If God blesses me, than I will gladly give it to others.”
Mk 12:42 might be a good one for you to read. The widow gave just about everything she had. Ten percent is basically a tip, seeing as God owns your ass. NOTE the people were giving money, not livestock. NOTE the people were giving money to the CHURCH TREASURY. If God blesses you, then gladly give it to others and the Church. What exactly does one do to get around this next verse? (you could always hire O.J.’s lawyers, but you’d still be guilty)
Malachi 3:8
8 Do Not Rob God
“Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
NKJV
OUCH…so basically, by the looks of things, B.T. Beauty is a God-Robber. Well if you read the rest of the verse, it’s redemptive, so go and sin no more, you God-Robber, you…lmao
August 21st, 2006 at 8:57 pm
Moron Tithe for 200, Alex
August 22nd, 2006 at 8:27 am
Sorry Jorges but you’re wrong. Look at verse 10.
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,”
You don’t keep money in a storehouse. The tithes in those verses refer to food offerings to keep food in God’s temple.
Why don’t you show us some New Testament verses requiring a tithe of money? In the meantime, think about this.
2 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV)
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction will not slumber.
August 22nd, 2006 at 9:21 am
2 Timothy 2:6 WEB The farmers who labor must be the first to get a share of the crops.
How often have we heard it preached that the tithe is to be paid first, off the top of the harvest (income)?
As for the tithe - Jesus demands we give up our lives to follow Him (Matthew 16:24-26), meanwhile Frank, Jonah, et al, demand 10%. What makes Frank and Jonah think you own them 10% when you’ve already given 100% to Jesus?
PS - Fezzik, I think Jorges is just kidding BT … what with the “LMAO” and all. Or he could be that stupid. Time will tell.
August 22nd, 2006 at 9:22 am
He’s that stupid… trust me.
August 22nd, 2006 at 9:25 am
OK, bro.
PS, where can I get some mojo?
August 22nd, 2006 at 10:52 am
I never said I didn’t give God anything, just not money because I don’t have it. He has my children, my work, my experience to share with others. I tithe much more than 10% to God…but I will not give it to greedy leaders. God is my father and my judge, not man. If you have a problem with me, go tell my daddy. I listen to Him.
August 22nd, 2006 at 10:58 am
Jack, you have mojo oozing out of your pores.
BT Beauty,
Word.
August 22nd, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Jack, I wasn’t too worried about kidding or not. I’m just hoping one of these pro-tithe posters takes me up on that challenge at some point.
As for your mojo, Dr. Evil stole it…
August 22nd, 2006 at 4:39 pm
That bastid!
(Fortunately, MOJO now comes in pill form)
August 22nd, 2006 at 4:55 pm
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Welcome to my underground blog. I have gathered here before me the worlds deadliest character assassins. And yet each of you has failed to kill the tithing myth. That makes me angry. And when Dr. Evil get angry, Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset. And when Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset…people DIE!!!
Why must I be surrounded by freakin idiots? Morton brothers, I spared your lives because I need you to help me rid the world of the church’s top moneymaker. We must kill the tithing myth.
August 22nd, 2006 at 10:24 pm
Fezzik,
The way you exegete scripture is the same way cults are formed. Jesus didn’t come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but rather to fulfill them. Why would Jesus talk more about money than any other topic, which includes the use of it in parables and by all other accounts.
Why would a New Testament passage be so important; are you a classic Dispensationalist? Why have you not addressed the Widow and her two mites? I am afraid that you cannot dance around that story. You may be able to convince your untrained minds that there lies some veil best left undisturbed between the Old and New Testaments, but it is certain that Jesus asks more than 10% of your monetary value.
You cannot serve God and money…and that’s exactly what it comes down to within this debate. The larger issue is greed, not scripture. You can find a song and dance around every verse…every last one, but you cannot deny the greedy clutch of your own hands on your own life. Anything that comes from a particular pulpit is polluted by the poison in your hearts. The waters of Mara are bitter, bitter waters. (insert evil, maniacal laugh now) moo-ha…moo-haha…Moo-HaHaHa…MOO-HaHaHaHaHa…MOOO HAHAHAhAhAhAh…(ahem)
August 23rd, 2006 at 1:59 am
Time just told.
August 23rd, 2006 at 6:09 am
Yeah, I can’t believe people think they’re going to change our minds by quoting that Scripture out of context AGAIN.
Jorges, do yourself (and us) a favor and do some real research on tithing.
Now, back on topic, who do I have to kill to get some sharks with frickin’ lasers?
August 23rd, 2006 at 7:26 am
*Here at City Business we are strong believers in GIVING just not in the GOD MANDATED 10% OF YOUR INCOME OR ELSE kind of way.
Sorry Jorges, we’re talking about tithing not giving. That’s why I can ignore your story, because it’s irrelevant to the discussion. Just because we don’t believe the New Covenant mandates a 10% tithe doesn’t mean we’re greedy.
Jesus didn’t come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but rather to fulfill them. Why would Jesus talk more about money than any other topic, which includes the use of it in parables and by all other accounts.
So if Jesus did so much talking about money, you should be able to give me a Scripture where He tells us specifically to tithe. Why would He talk about money so much and forget to address such an important concept unless it wasn’t relevant anymore?
Sorry FICM, no sharks with lasers for you because you’re not evil enough. You’re semi-evil. You’re quasi-evil. You’re the margarine of evil. You’re the Diet Coke of evil. Just one calorie, not evil enough.
August 23rd, 2006 at 8:27 am
Sounds like you are getting some solid teaching at City BIBLE Church. I’m glad they don’t bother you with scripture.
And you’re right, the larger issue is greed…
August 23rd, 2006 at 12:10 pm
okey. Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all that he had. The ante just went up. If you want to be so literalist about the 10%, let’s just take it all the way home. Whoever the hell it was that said they don’t tithe cuz they aren’t sheep-herders, well puff on that for awhile.
Please, all of you fine bright minds…sell all your posessions and follow Jesus. Your talk is as unconvincing as Reformed Pope’s fake gay accent (it’s a lot more fun to read his posts with a gay accent…somehow everything just starts to make a lot more sense). I’ll settle within my dutiful LCD of 10%. Like I said before…it’s basically a tip.
*hint
i live on the east coast
August 23rd, 2006 at 12:24 pm
Reread that entire parable, Jorges. Jesus was after the man’s heart which was consumed by a love of money. He never implied we all had to give up all personal belongings to follow Him - just the things that were more important than Him in our own eyes. (I’d rather smoke a nice Cohiba.)
Settle? Duty? That seems to imply that there’s something you can do to make God love you or make Him pleased with you. As if there is some work you can do to somehow make your relationship with Him more special. Or at least enough to keep on Santa’s good boy list. This perspective stems from the legalistic, performance-driven mindset of evangelicals who insist that Jesus saves, but now that you’re a Christian it’s work, work, work. Personally, God freed me from that way of thinking, and I know He always loves me and always accepts me where I’m at right now, and it has nothing to do with how much of my finances I give to the local church. When I do give, it’s from a grateful heart, and not from a fear of being “cursed” because I haven’t done my “duty”.
I live on the east coast as well, but that doesn’t make me smarter than anyone else. Your point?
August 30th, 2006 at 4:00 am
Tithing in the Christian community is one of the most misunderstood subjects, impacting the lives of countless Christians, including the vast majority of pastors. I highly recommend to all Christians and pastors everywhere the great Christian book “Tithing: Low-Realm, Obsolete & Defunct” (Copyright 2004) by Matthew E. Narramore. The author clearly exposes the many myths and disinformation that abounds from the pulpits of countless churches about tithing. It is beyond dispute that the apostle (meaning “envoy” or “one sent”, and not an office of authority over others”) Paul NEVER demanded tithes from anyone, as clearly evidenced in all of his writings, and yet Paul is a major personality in the New Testament. In fact the apostle Paul was a tentmaker, worked with his own hands, earned his own income, paid his own expenses, and never coveted anyone’s gold or silver (Acts 20: 29-34). Paul also NEVER took up collections for his personal ministry or for his personal expenses in preaching the Gospel to people in various communities. The only collection Paul ever received, was for the poor, and not for himself. Few preachers on earth today follow Pauls example, even though Paul encouraged people to follow his example, as he followed Christ.
This very educational and Biblical accurate book is available to read FREE on the Internet, or to purchase in book form at: www.tekoapublishing.com/books/intro.html. It is also available from www.seedsowers.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book outlets.
Followers of Jesus Christ are not living “under the law” of blessings and curses of the Old Testament, and are therefore neither blessed or cursed upon the basis of “tithing”. All followers of Jesus Christ are freewill and voluntary givers, which Jesus Christ said that when you give, do so in secret or private, not to be seen of men, and therefore giving is between the individual and God. Christ does not stipulate giving based upon percentages. In fact Christ said that people are hypocrites if they give to be seen of men (Matthew 6: 1-4).
I welcome any email discussion should there be an interest at email address: vrobison@hyperaction.net.