1. Did you join a small group in Hillsong Church? That's where deeper fellowship takes place in my large church. By the way, with what doctrines did you disagree?
2. Why do you need to listen to people's advice with which you disagree?
3. If you study tithing in the Bible, you will see that Jesus approved of it. Having a building in which people can worship is important in cooler climates. c When my late wife and I got married, we decided to tithe the net amount of our income. It was tight sometimes, but God has blessed that decision many times. We were married 56 years before she died.
Hey
Thanks for your reply.
I did indeed join a small group in Hillsong church. Nice people, don't get me wrong. But when I left I was blanked by most of them, almost in a similar way that you hear of ex-members of scientology being blanked by their former 'friends'.
Of course, it felt really weird and was upsetting, but it actually reinforced my intuition that it's all a little fake.
Tithing:
Could you possibly point out for me where tithing is applicable to Christians under the new covenant?
To answer your question, "Why do you disagree with tithing for modern-day Christians?":
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Tithing, as described under Mosaic law, comprises
three parts:
1. a tenth of herbs, animals, grain, etc (Leviticus 27:32)
2. tithing being an obligation (2 Chronicles 31:5)
3. it applies to the Israelites, who tithe to the Levitical priesthood (Numbers 18:26)
Offerings on the other hand are described as:
1. the Bible sets no defined amount, but asks for us to give according to our heart (2 Corinthians 9:7)
2. a gift freely given, i.e. choice not obligation (2 Corinthians 9:7)
3. it applies to everybody that follows God (Romans 12:1)
Therefore, in the context of the congregation giving money to Church,
tithing is the incorrect term to use since, even if they may decide to give a tenth of their income, there is no obligation to give and nor are they Israelites.
If a member of the congregation decides to give a tenth of their income, that’s their offering, which just so happens to equate to a tenth.
Furthermore, tithing is defined under Mosaic law, which does not apply to Christians;
“Christians are not under the law” – Romans 6:14
“Christians have been delivered from the law” – Romans 7:1-6
“Christians are dead to the law” – Galatians 2:19
“The law was a curse that Christ redeemed us from” – Galatians 3:1
In fact, the law under which tithing was described, should be actively avoided by Christians because:
1. The law adds nothing to faith
“The law frustrates grace” – Galatians 2:21
“The law has nothing to do with faith” – Galatians 3:11-12
“The law has no glory at all in comparison to the new covenant” – 2 Corinthians 3:10
“The law justifies nobody” – Galatians 2:16
2. The law is a curse, and cursed are those who practice some parts of the law (e.g. tithing) and fail to practice the rest of the law too
“The law curses all who practice it and fail to do it perfectly” – Galatians 3:10
“The law brings wrath upon those who follow it” – Romans 4:15
“The purpose of the law was to increase sin” – Romans 5:20
“To go back to the law after embracing faith is stupid” – Galatians 3:1
The Mosaic law, under which tithing is defined, therefore does not apply to Christians, frustrates the grace bestowed upon us through Christ and interferes with a Christian’s relationship with God, and is a curse.
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