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Everything a christian does is meant to be in response to GRACE. Forgiveness from sin.. therefore freedom to pursue holiness.
No legalism. 'Freedom from the law of sin and death'
Obeying commandments.. not because we have to.. but in response to the grace given by Jesus in forgiving a saved person.
Now.. of those commandments.. tithing is part of it. God blesses the act of tithing to your local church. Why? Because you are putting God first with your finances- the first fruits of your labour going to support God's churches.
I didn't tithe for a long time.. didn't seem like I was 'cursed'.. more like God wasn't supporting the way I was handling my money.
But it really comes down to the fact that we are not under the law.. but free. Freed by grace to live holy.
If we aren't free.. we can't follow His commands. Simple as that.
The fruit of the Spirit is righteousness.. patience.. self control etc.. not bondage to keeping the law.
No legalism. 'Freedom from the law of sin and death'
Obeying commandments.. not because we have to.. but in response to the grace given by Jesus in forgiving a saved person.
Now.. of those commandments.. tithing is part of it. God blesses the act of tithing to your local church. Why? Because you are putting God first with your finances- the first fruits of your labour going to support God's churches.
I didn't tithe for a long time.. didn't seem like I was 'cursed'.. more like God wasn't supporting the way I was handling my money.
But it really comes down to the fact that we are not under the law.. but free. Freed by grace to live holy.
If we aren't free.. we can't follow His commands. Simple as that.
The fruit of the Spirit is righteousness.. patience.. self control etc.. not bondage to keeping the law.
T
I don't believe in tithing. It's an Old Covenant practice tied to the Law. Christians don't live under the Law, we live in Christ, who fulfilled the Law. Now Christ is our Sabbath and we are His living sacrifices. We're meant to give everything we are to God. But in that, it's between God and ourselves how much we give monetarily etc. Naturally, as we grow in our love for God and realise more His love for us, we'll learn to give more and more generously (of our time, money, skills etc.) but really I don't believe tithing has any place under the New Covenant. Tithing is more about obligation, not giving out of love (that's not always the case, but much of the time it seems to be true).
P
you might find the answer in the reading of Exodus and Leviticus,
as to exactly who was commanded to 'tithe', to whom, how it was to be used, etc.
under the New Covenant made in the blood of Christ,
we're told to give cheerfully, generously, sacrificially, joyfully, but never told an amount.
it isn't necessarily only about giving money, either, imho.
give when you can, as much as you can, is my takeaway from the NT writings.
my sister was just this morning reading to me something a retired pastor wrote about this.
he made the point the wealthy will still have money left over for "yachts and booze" after
giving 10%; the poor may not be able to buy medicine, housing, basic essentials, or even feed their children after it.
interesting thought about the whole thing....
as to exactly who was commanded to 'tithe', to whom, how it was to be used, etc.
under the New Covenant made in the blood of Christ,
we're told to give cheerfully, generously, sacrificially, joyfully, but never told an amount.
it isn't necessarily only about giving money, either, imho.
give when you can, as much as you can, is my takeaway from the NT writings.
my sister was just this morning reading to me something a retired pastor wrote about this.
he made the point the wealthy will still have money left over for "yachts and booze" after
giving 10%; the poor may not be able to buy medicine, housing, basic essentials, or even feed their children after it.
interesting thought about the whole thing....
T
Hebrews 7 isn't a command for Christians to tithe (otherwise, the example would be once for a lifetime) Abraham offered his gift to Melchizedek purely out of respect for his priesthood. If we accept and follow the Law, we have to follow the whole Law. It's all or nothing. Sin under the Law is the same. Whether you stole a paperclip or instigated genocide in your own country, any sin brings death. We are all destined for separation from Christ if we don't accept Christ's gift to us and turn to Him and only Him.
T
yep, Kenneth, Tintin has got this.
i like the second part of what you said...we're certainly not limited to 10%.
but Christ places no obligation on us to tithe as per old covenant regulations.
also, wasn't what Abram gave spoils of war?
i like the second part of what you said...we're certainly not limited to 10%.
but Christ places no obligation on us to tithe as per old covenant regulations.
also, wasn't what Abram gave spoils of war?
Ready your swords and shields , yo! Then tithe from those spoils. For Narnia and for Aslan!
Ok...plain and simple. If you hold back a part like annanias and saphira...you are practicing being the world (sin in the flesh). If you have been born again and given a measure of faith (a measure of God), and have access to the holiest of all...tithing is keeping 90%, and if you do so you are confused about what being a member of the high priesthood is all about. The high priesthood does not tithe to itself...they have all things common or are taking steps towards proving the scincerity of their love like Paul admonished us to do. Tithe is an everlasting covenant, but those with inheritance in the land (the world) tithe to the priesthood.
Numbers 18:19-21New King James Version (NKJV)
19*“All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord with you and your descendants with you.”
20*Then the Lord said to Aaron: “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.
Tithes for Support of the Levites
21*“Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
2 Corinthians 8:7-9King James Version (KJV)
7*Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
8*I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9*For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
We see in the following verse a Levite who is also showing the new way in Christ.
Acts 4:36-37King James Version (KJV)
36*And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37*Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Numbers 18:19-21New King James Version (NKJV)
19*“All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord with you and your descendants with you.”
20*Then the Lord said to Aaron: “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.
Tithes for Support of the Levites
21*“Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
2 Corinthians 8:7-9King James Version (KJV)
7*Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
8*I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9*For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
We see in the following verse a Levite who is also showing the new way in Christ.
Acts 4:36-37King James Version (KJV)
36*And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37*Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
K
yep, Kenneth, Tintin has got this.
i like the second part of what you said...we're certainly not limited to 10%.
but Christ places no obligation on us to tithe as per old covenant regulations.
also, wasn't what Abram gave spoils of war?
i like the second part of what you said...we're certainly not limited to 10%.
but Christ places no obligation on us to tithe as per old covenant regulations.
also, wasn't what Abram gave spoils of war?
Sorry but read it closer in Hebrews 7 as the Abrahamic covenant was before the law was given, so to make this part of the law of the Mosaic covenant is the wrong way to go. It speaks that giving is done now out of love to the Lord now, as He is our High Priest. Because our giving from our hearts in tithes is to go to those who are in need. Remember the Lord commanded the Apostles to collect tithes, and then to give to those who are in need in the next town they came to.
[h=3]2 Corinthians 8:1-24[/h]We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. ...
K
Yes I know, but the point of Hebrews 7 is that do to the earthly priesthood change, because we no longer have a high priest here on earth any more. Do to Lord Jesus is now our High Priest, there needs to be a change in the law. And we see how through the NT the Mosaic law has been changed as we do not follow all 613 laws any more.
Acts 15 determines what carries over to us, Romans 13:9 shows the 10 Commandments and the Lords teachings of love applying still, and 2 Corinthians 9:7 shows we are still to give but from the heart and not obligation. And also not held to the 10% rule.......
K
That is because everything that we do is to be done out of love for the Lord.
Melchisidek was the high priest and the symbol for us of what was to come, as the Lord is now the High Priest and when we do for others we do to Him. So giving tithes to help others, is helping Him.
Lord Jesus gives us another example of this in Matthew 25:31-46, when He separates the sheep from the goats. He tells them because you have done for others, you have done for Me (These get eternal life). Then He tells the goats because they did not do for others, they did not do for Him (These go to eternal punishment).
let's look at this and not just allude to it --
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
(2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
the teaching here isn't simply that 10% isn't a standard - no percentage is given at all. it's that giving of money and goods is not by compulsion, or with doubt. if it is not by compulsion, i wonder whether "tithing" is accurate - because a tithe is a requirement, and if it is not under compulsion, it is not as a requirement, but a free-will gift. not as a law, but out of a glad and grateful heart.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
(2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
the teaching here isn't simply that 10% isn't a standard - no percentage is given at all. it's that giving of money and goods is not by compulsion, or with doubt. if it is not by compulsion, i wonder whether "tithing" is accurate - because a tithe is a requirement, and if it is not under compulsion, it is not as a requirement, but a free-will gift. not as a law, but out of a glad and grateful heart.
