Tithing…Is it a command?

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by UnTraditional

Tithe, as I said before, was before the Law of Moses. It is a principle that predates the Law, and does continue on as principle to this day. When we teach tithing as Law, we are not in right. But, as we teach tithing as a principle that predates the Law, continued in the Law, and continues on to this day, we are in fact teaching as the Bible teaches.

Tithing was before the Law. But, if we go on according to your reasoning, we must also stop worship and praise, as that was in the Law. prayer was in the Law. Oneness of God was in the Law. So, according to you, just because it was in the Law means it was bad. No, instead we see things that predates, precedes the Law as a principle that was ordained by God.

The Law was fulfilled in Christ. But, that which was ordained before the Law continues.

Circumscision and animal sacrifice were also before the Law. Does that make them mandatory now as well? Furthermore, where did GOD ever INSTITUTE tithing BEFORE the Law? Please notice my words carefully.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by UnTraditional

Did you read what I said, or did you just glance, pick and choose, then gush?
Listen, i would love to continue this diatribe, but I have to go to work and make money, because I love God enough to give Him the first, not the leftovers.

Unless God specifically told you to give a certain amount during a certain pay period, then you are not "giving God leftovers". This past week I took home 500 dollars for 2 weeks work. I had a 200 dollar electric bill, a 110 dollar car insurance payment, a 50 dollar IRS payment, That leaves me 140 dollars until Oct 15 for gasoline and groceries for a wife and 2 kids. I don't think God is interested in me doing anything with that money other than living very conservatively until next pay day. Granted there are times when we are called to give our last bit of meal and oil, but those are times ordained by God and not man.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by UnTraditional

Tithe, as I said before, was before the Law of Moses. It is a principle that predates the Law, and does continue on as principle to this day. When we teach tithing as Law, we are not in right. But, as we teach tithing as a principle that predates the Law, continued in the Law, and continues on to this day, we are in fact teaching as the Bible teaches.

Tithing was before the Law. But, if we go on according to your reasoning, we must also stop worship and praise, as that was in the Law. prayer was in the Law. Oneness of God was in the Law. So, according to you, just because it was in the Law means it was bad. No, instead we see things that predates, precedes the Law as a principle that was ordained by God.The Law was fulfilled in Christ. But, that which was ordained before the Law continues.

Ridiculous reasoning. The Law was a product of a covenant that has been replaced. Worship continues, but in Spirit and in truth, which Jesus refers to as "true worship", something that did not exist under the Law.

Tithing was before the Law, was incorprated into the Law, and ceased along with the rest of the system that ceased with the passing away of the first covenant. It is that simple.

[Rudy]

Originally Posted by UnTraditional

We do, when we give tithes. We are giving spiritually the firstfruits unto the Lord. In so doing, we give both spiritually and physically, as was also before the Law. When Jacob vowed to give tithes of all before the Lord in genesis, he made the vow both spiritual and physical. How? By putting God first, and then showing it. In water baptism, we undergo spiritual circumcision through real physical water baptism. The spiritual effect is attached to the physical act.

As in circumcision, so also is the tithe.

First fruits were not tithes--and they surely were not money. Why wasn't Jacob already tithing?

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Rudy

First fruits were not tithes--and they surely were not money. Why wasn't Jacob already tithing?

Amen. How can any honest person try to equate an agricultural statement like "first fruits" to money? Sure the term can be used in a figurative sense, but where does that occur in the New Testament in reference to offerings of money?

[Rudy]

Also Jacob told God what he must do then Jacob would tithe. It would be foolish for him to make that statement if he was following a forever principle. Also the candle stick maker under the law was not required to tithe.

So much for the forever principle of tithing. However Freewill giving is a forever principle.

[Rudy]

Russell Kelly on first fruits.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Rudy

Truth can be treason when going against tradition. Tithing money is just to big for them to stop.

People keep laying Bible verse vs. Bible verse... when there is an entire history on the tithe and how it became incorporated in the church. It's so silly. Stop sticking your heads in the sand and research history folks! Historical facts, church councils, religious edicts, etc. all document how the tithe was debated for hundreds of years and rejected over and over. Then we can see how it was actually incorporated into the Catholic faith and soon was imposed by law. Then we can see how the Protestants carried the tithe over and the tithe was thrown off like broken shackles during the Revolutionary period. The end result were individual churches and denominations holding on to the tithe as an almost sacrosanct article of faith.

History is history. The facts are facts. Tithing is hold over from the Catholic innovation of imposed religious extortion.

[Rudy]

Originally Posted by Aquila

People keep laying Bible verse vs. Bible verse... when there is an entire history on the tithe and how it became incorporated in the church. It's so silly. Stop sticking your heads in the sand and research history folks! Historical facts, church councils, religious edicts, etc. all document how the tithe was debated for hundreds of years and rejected over and over. Then we can see how it was actually incorporated into the Catholic faith and soon was imposed by law. Then we can see how the Protestants carried the tithe over and the tithe was thrown off like broken shackles during the Revolutionary period. The end result were individual churches and denominations holding on to the tithe as an almost sacrosanct article of faith.

History is history. The facts are facts. Tithing is hold over from the Catholic innovation of imposed religious extortion.

Keep it up Bro. and you will find yourself behind bars someday!

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

I have done the research first in my Bible and then in several historical writtings. I agree that if the early church taught tithing it was never mentioned in the scripture. They only taught to give and the examples they left for us were with much liberality. I don't know anyone who is giving on their level.

History said that the catholic church began tithing at multiple different dates (which I believe) depending on which sources you are pulling from. I have seen tithing taught in a way that I feel is not of God, but I don't believe that teaching a tithing commitment is wrong but instead is good. We are not bound by the law of Moses today in his commands of animals clean and unclean for us to eat, but I believe most would agree that if we kept the law for health purposes we would live healthier lives.

I think you have misunderstood me if you have thought that I was saying tithing was a NT command all through church history. I am not sure what all was specifically taught in the early church. I am sure there has been many messages Paul preached that was not in scripture, but I believe everything is there that is supposed to be. Tithing is good, but the best thing is to be led by the Holy Ghost in all of your financial decisions.

So you admit that "tithing" as we know it in modern churches today is a recent innovation not commanded in the NT.

Why not then embrace the truth of "Grace Giving" while encouraging annual vows (pledges) of specific amounts and or percentages (such as 10%)? Would that not be far more in line with what we agree that the NT teaches???