Tithing…Is it a command?

[Rudy]

Originally Posted by Roxanne Murphy

I have been looking into this subject myself lately, and I have noticed that wherever the Apostle Paul talked to the Gentile believers about giving, he NEVER mentioned tithing, NEVER told them it was required. He simply taught that giving should be done cheerfully, as a person purposes in their heart to give.

The discussion of tithes in the New Testament I only find to be to those who are still observing the Old Testament law. Example: Jesus and the Pharisees (all still under the law, Calvary had not happened yet); and in Hebrews, written to Jewish believers, those who still followed their Jewish traditions (even to the point where some became the Judaizers who tried to require circumcision of the Gentile believers). Of the things that the Apostle James under inspiration of the Holy Ghost said for Gentile believers to observe, tithing was not mentioned.

A note of interest if you didn't know. Tithing under the law was for those involved in agriculture. The food items tithed could only be produced within the boundaries of Israel. The storehouse was a warehouse, not the temple. It is taught by many that the church building today is the storehouse.

Many pro-tithers of money claim that a curse will be upon you if you don't tithe your money. It is the finished work of Christ that has removed any curse.

When these truths are presented the pro-tithers of money run to Abraham.

[Roxanne Murphy]

Originally Posted by Rudy

A note of interest if you didn't know. Tithing under the law was for those involved in agriculture. The food items tithed could only be produced within the boundaries of Israel. The storehouse was a warehouse, not the temple. It is taught by many that the church building today is the storehouse.

Many pro-tithers of money claim that a curse will be upon you if you don't tithe your money. It is the finished work of Christ that has removed any curse.

When these truths are presented the pro-tithers of money run to Abraham.

Unfortunately for the folks who try to use Abraham as an example for tithing also have problems because so far as scripture says, Abraham only tithed once, of the spoils he took when he rescued his nephew. It was a special occurrence just like his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac.

If tithing is a scriptural mandate under the new covenant, why is it not discussed by the Apostle Paul in any of his letters to the various Gentile churches?

And for those who try to put tithing in the same context as the Ten Commandments, they are also in error. They seem to assume that tithing is a moral principle, universal in practice, but it is not. It was and still is a distinctly Jewish teaching that has been co-opted by zealous souls trying to ensure financial support for the clergy/leadership of their particular sect (beginning with the Roman church and continuing today)

Giving IS taught and discussed and noted in the Epistles, but NOT tithing.

[obriencp]

uh-oh... sounds like Roxanne might be black-listed now because she studied the word for herself and refuses to bow down to man-made laws as a blatant act of disobedience. J/K give cheerfully

[Esphes45]

Originally Posted by Rudy

A note of interest if you didn't know. Tithing under the law was for those involved in agriculture. The food items tithed could only be produced within the boundaries of Israel. The storehouse was a warehouse, not the temple. It is taught by many that the church building today is the storehouse.

Many pro-tithers of money claim that a curse will be upon you if you don't tithe your money. It is the finished work of Christ that has removed any curse.

When these truths are presented the pro-tithers of money run to Abraham.

This is what gets me also. IF YOU BELIEVE IN TITHES - It was never paid in money! Stop robbing your people.

[Roxanne Murphy]

Originally Posted by obriencp

uh-oh... sounds like Roxanne might be black-listed now because she studied the word for herself and refuses to bow down to man-made laws as a blatant act of disobedience. J/K give cheerfully

[FlamingZword]

Originally Posted by Esphes45

This is what gets me also. IF YOU BELIEVE IN TITHES - It was never paid in money! Stop robbing your people.

You need to stop robbing God.

you twist the scriptures to promote a non-giving attitude.
God gave the very best for you and you are so miserly that you simply refuse to give him even a 10% back of the blessings that he has given you.

Everything that you have is because God gave it to you, go ahead and rob God and excuse yourself by twisting the scriptures.

It is because of attitudes like yours that I have seen poor pastors barely able to feed their families, they struggle and even have to get a job, and then when they neglect their ministerial duties because they have to work, then it is the people like you who attack him for not always being present to attend to the church members.

I have seen to many poor preachers who have been kind to their members who do not pay tithes, but he catches heck from those members if he is not at their beck and call.

Paul say not to muzzle the ox that threated out the corn, but you have gone beyond muzzling that ox, but have actually have tied down his feet and have poked him and demanded that he get up and run.

how hypocritical of you, and your anti-tithe crowd fellows.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

You need to stop robbing God.

you twist the scriptures to promote a non-giving attitude.
God gave the very best for you and you are so miserly that you simply refuse to give him even a 10% back of the blessings that he has given you.

Everything that you have is because God gave it to you, go ahead and rob God and excuse yourself by twisting the scriptures.

It is because of attitudes like yours that I have seen poor pastors barely able to feed their families, they struggle and even have to get a job, and then when they neglect their ministerial duties because they have to work, then it is the people like you who attack him for not always being present to attend to the church members.

I have seen to many poor preachers who have been kind to their members who do not pay tithes, but he catches heck from those members if he is not at their beck and call.

Paul say not to muzzle the ox that threated out the corn, but you have gone beyond muzzling that ox, but have actually have tied down his feet and have poked him and demanded that he get up and run.

how hypocritical of you, and your anti-tithe crowd fellows.

Wow that was really kind.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

You need to stop robbing God.

you twist the scriptures to promote a non-giving attitude.

Says the brother who refused my offer to a reasoned, scriptural, moderated debate on the topic.


How easy to accuse someone of twisting the scriptures when you are not even willing to lay out your full argument and allow someone to offer a rebuttal and let the reader decide.

[FlamingZword]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

Says the brother who refused my offer to a reasoned, scriptural, moderated debate on the topic.

How easy to accuse someone of twisting the scriptures when you are not even willing to lay out your full argument and allow someone to offer a rebuttal and let the reader decide.

You are totally wrong, I already did gave a reasoned, scriptural, moderated defense of tithing, but the anti-tithe crowd refused to accept the Bible as the final arbiter of truth, I simply refuse to go in circles over the same ground, beating a horse to its atomic elements.

[Esphes45]

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

You need to stop robbing God.

you twist the scriptures to promote a non-giving attitude.
God gave the very best for you and you are so miserly that you simply refuse to give him even a 10% back of the blessings that he has given you.

Everything that you have is because God gave it to you, go ahead and rob God and excuse yourself by twisting the scriptures.

It is because of attitudes like yours that I have seen poor pastors barely able to feed their families, they struggle and even have to get a job, and then when they neglect their ministerial duties because they have to work, then it is the people like you who attack him for not always being present to attend to the church members.

I have seen to many poor preachers who have been kind to their members who do not pay tithes, but he catches heck from those members if he is not at their beck and call.

Paul say not to muzzle the ox that threated out the corn, but you have gone beyond muzzling that ox, but have actually have tied down his feet and have poked him and demanded that he get up and run.

how hypocritical of you, and your anti-tithe crowd fellows.

The BIBLE says you should WORK with YOUR hands, not take from from other hands! Stop robbing the poor people! The bible speaks of giving cheerfully being obligated is not cheerful. Especially when your own kids need to eat. If the Pastor has so much faith, why don't he pray for food?

All I am saying is IF TITHES were justified now (which it is hard to justify support unless you piece meal scriptures together) it would not necessarily have to be paid with MONEY.

I would love to read this justification you speak of. I am definitely interested. I promise you I will read it with a open heart & mind.