I'm back on a little tithing kick these days and wanted to post another Quick Tithing Question:

Let's read from the Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 14 and Verses 22-27. We'll go verse by verse and I'll add commentary as we go.

 22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.

This lines up with all pro-tithing teachers. Set aside 1/10^th of all your produce each year (although now they want you to pay each week or each month…)

23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.

Wait…I'm a little confused? Eat the tithe? I'm sure this is supposed to say "Give the tithe to the Levite Priests and let them ‘Eat the tithe' in the presence of the LORD". But it doesn't say that. It says "you eat". If we translate that into modern times it would be "You spend the tithe…in the presence of the LORD". Hmnnn….I hope God clears this up later on. Let's read verses 24-26

                24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice.

Whoa. Exchange the tithe for silver…and use the silver to buy whatever you like. This can't be right. Use the tithe to buy whatever you like? How is CBC supposed to turn a profit if everyone is allowed to "buy whatever they like"?

But wait, it gets better: Use the silver to buy whatever you like: Cattle, sheep, WINE OR OTHER FERMENTED DRINK, or anything you wish.  I'm supposed to take 10% of my income and buy whatever I like, specifically WINE OR OTHER FERMENTED DRINK? That's fantastic. I'll have to run the numbers, but a quick guess says based on that law I give way more than 10%.

I just have to eat/drink in the presence of the LORD. He is living in my heart…does that count?

We better read on.

27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.

Oh. I see. So here's how this breaks down. I'm supposed to throw a big party with great food and wine and invite the pastors who have no income of their own and that will count as "tithing". This is great. Can you imagine if someone showed up to CBC on Sunday and told Frank they were cooking his favorite meal?

Well, that did it. I'm changing my stance on tithing. I now support the Biblical Law of tithe. I would like to invite everyone to join me in my giving this week. Let's all head down to Kennedy School…the first round is on me.