Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus2woman
Every tithing message I've ever heard (Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, OP, AoG) all go the same way with a little mixing it up... but here are the basic components.
From Acts 5 (the scary part) where Ananias and Sapphira we struck dead for withholding money from the sale of property. Obviously it is not happening today if there are as many people withholding all they have from God as it seems and staying alive just fine... but boy is the idea of sudden death powerful scary! |
I've heard this one dozens of times. But they hardly ever preach what Peter told Ananias when he confronted Ananias with his lie. The following statements are from my husband who has been Holy Ghost filled for 33 years.
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
(ACTS 5:4)
Ananias and Sapphria did not have a sudden death because they did not give all of their money to the Apostles. They both died because they conspired a
lie to the Holy Ghost and to the Apostles to make them think they are giving it all. Notice Peter told them, "Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? In other words, Peter was telling them that they could have kept every penny of what they sold if they so desired. All they had to do was to be honest about it. But instead, they told a big lie.
Now let's take a look at verses 11-13 after Ananias and Sapphria fell dead at the feet of the Apostles.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12 ¶And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
13 And of the rest
durst [dare] no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
Yet, in verse 14, believers were continued to be added unto the church and they
did not lay everything at their feet any longer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus2woman
From Malachi 3 (where we are taught how we are cursed for robbing God of the Tithe). Israel was told to bring all the tithes into the storehouse. This was seed, produce, meat and all other agricultural products produced on the land. Not money. Check it our for yourself. I happen to be a farmer but just exactly how happy do you think my pastor would be to see me bring him seed and crops from my harvest, or a side of beef? Well maybe even happy enough but her would still EXPECT my check in the plate on Sunday. |
To preach the tithe, one has to leave grace and truth of the Gospel of Christ and place themselves back under the law of Moses, which Christ was a redeemer from the curse of the law.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live
by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
(
Galatians 3:10-13)
It can be reasonably concluded that if people pay the tithe by fear of sudden death, cursed or loss of finances, then they are not living by faith but by under the law of Moses. If you do one law, you are to do all of the law.
This is why the New Testament does not teach "to pay" a percentage of the "tithe" as in the Old Testament, but to give by faith as we are prospered.
The Priesthood was changed from the Levites to Jesus Christ. (
Hebrews 7:12-18)
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
Malachi 3 was written to the Priests of Levi, not to other 11 tribes of Israel or to today's Gentiles. In
Nehemiah 10:38-39, it tells us that the Priests were supposed to tithe of what they received in tithes and put it into a "storehouse".
And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
(
Nehemiah 10:38)
Malachi was not talking to today's church. He was talking to the priests of Levites because they received tithes, but did not pay a tenth into the storehouse. It has nothing to do with the Bride of Christ (Church) These people were under the law. The church is redeemed from the law by Christ.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus2woman
From Genesis 14 (Where we learn that it's TEN percent of the gross) Melchizedek is given 10% of Abram's spoils from war. This is the only time in Abrams 175 years that he ever gave 10% and it was not from his regular income but from things taken in war. |
Yes this is spot on. The entire chapter of
Hebrews 7 addresses Melchizedek.
Consider what Paul said about the church in
I Corinthians 12:12-25
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
So...the church is made up of people and we are to have the same care one for another. Paul says in
II Corinthians 8:12-14 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 For
I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an
equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
How can the body of Christ have equality when a tithe preacher places himself as the receiver of the abundance over the rest, many of whom themselves are in need? Like Brother Jason said, some lived without electricity for months to pay the tithe. Others lost their home and lived in campers. These people had needs to be eased by their brothers and sisters in church, many who gave what they had to the tithe, Sunday school offerings, building funds missions etc. and have nothing extra to give.
Paul never intended for only one family to rake in the abundance. This is a mismanagement of the funds that the church body gives. It goes to paying for appearances instead of bonafide needs of people such as food, clothing and shelter.
Paul did say in
II Corinthians 9:6-7
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
He did not say who to give it to. If one man says it is to go to the Pastor, then he will have to show chapter and verse other than Old Testament.
How bountiful would everybody be if they were honest-hearted and gave out of their abundance so that all could prosper.
I would rather worship in homes where the money given goes to people's needs than into bank accounts, brick and mortar mortgages and paved parking lots.
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