Were tithes ever required by Jesus or the Apostles?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Mt. 23 not left the OTHER(tithing) undone.
Heb. 7 HERE(in this dispensation) men recieve tithes that die.

Glad I could be of help. Anytime.

He never taught tithes, though. He simply said do the good and so on. But that is hardly any teaching. And like I said, tithes are not wrong. But giving them in law-keeping fashion is.

Pay tithes! Be blessed IF YOU PAY in faith, not law-keeping.

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by Rico

I don't think there's really any scripture in favor of the preacher taking all the tithes.

Originally Posted by OP_Carl
There is more bible in support of the concept of the preacher taking all of the funds designated as tithe into his personal control than there is for the practice of making the preacher a salaried employee of the church.

There isn't a scripture. But the principle is scriptural. People will have difficulty discerning it if they are fresh from being bruised by excessive offering-taking, real or perceived.

There also is no scripture opposed to the consumption of tobacco.

What sends up red flags for me is when the pastor is so flush with cash from the tithes that he's out buying up property after property, and whatever the latest version of a $50,000 Suburban is, and the church they've been trying to build for 5 years sits half completed.

By their fruits ye shall know them. You have fleshed out a splendid example of a pastor whose kingdom-mindedness is fair game for questioning.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Making something a guideline is where we blow it, I think. Giving in faith is not giving by guidelines. It's easier for flesh to use guidelines, but faith works differently. hence, you were blessed when you gave, but things changed in guidelines.

Brother, the Lord specifically told me to give 20%. I see nothing wrong with using 10% as a guideline because I believe it is a good strong biblical principle. I've tried giving several different ways, everything from just having a set amount to give every week, to giving a percentage, to just obeying whatever the Lord would lay on my heart during the service. It's all worked for me, but not like it did when I started giving 20% plus offerings. My income tripled in three years time. Again, I have often wondered if the deal would still be good with the Lord now.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by mfblume

He never taught tithes, though. He simply said do the good and so on. But that is hardly any teaching. And like I said, tithes are not wrong. But giving them in law-keeping fashion is.

Pay tithes! Be blessed IF YOU PAY in faith, not law-keeping.

They were Jews in custom of paying tithes He told them to keep on doing what they were doing that certainly is teaching He did not tell them to stop or do something else.

[marthaolivia]

I have heard throughout my many years that one can't outgive God. That has been proven to me time and again. I am retired and certainly not wealthy but am thankful that I am able to give and God has always provided.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

They were Jews in custom of paying tithes He told them to keep on doing what they were doing that certainly is teaching He did not tell them to stop or do something else.

He also was in the time before the Church began. He went to the temple. he experienced cleansing on the eighth day along with circumcision. That was before the cross.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Maybe. What I consider law is the cursing aspect we try to avoid by doing something.

That's what I was thinking you were thinking. When I said that our routine ends up becoming a law of sorts I meant that it becomes rooted in us that that is the plan we will follow in our giving to the Lord. In other words, it becomes our way, our plan, our method, etc.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by marthaolivia

I have heard throughout my many years that one can't outgive God. That has been proven to me time and again. I am retired and certainly not wealthy but am thankful that I am able to give and God has always provided.

Amen. And we must always believe this!

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Rico

That's what I was thinking you were thinking. When I said that our routine ends up becoming a law of sorts I meant that it becomes rooted in us that that is the plan we will follow in our giving to the Lord. In other words, it becomes our way, our plan, our method, etc.

Oh, I see. Thanks for clarification.

[freeatlast]

The questiion is not whether we as christians should give to syupport our local assembly.

The question is: is it a NT LAW or command to do so? To give a minimum of 10% ?