tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203174451356862507.post2621830050865614700..comments2023-05-20T06:30:03.560-05:00Comments on Jon's Journey: Tithing in the OTJonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266729238990589293noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203174451356862507.post-182368551959050252010-11-18T01:50:46.061-06:002010-11-18T01:50:46.061-06:00The church uses all sorts of guilt, blackmail, and...The church uses all sorts of guilt, blackmail, and manipulation, to extract money from the silly sheep in their pews.<br /><br />I am not particularly against paying for service though, ie. if you go to a movie you don't expect to get it for free. However we need to stop pretending that this giving serves the purposes of Christ for anything more than a few percent of the total given.<br /><br />For many many years whilst I was in the church system, (I escaped captivity years ago) I would only give where I felt the spirit led me to give. I would give a little support for the heating and hire of the hall etc. but that was all.<br /><br />Regarding tithing though, I feel we must detach it from the OT law. This is because it is shown in Jacob and Abraham and was evident at least 430 years before Moses.<br /><br />Therefore we ought to consider what it is saying, and it is certainly NOT law.<br /><br />There is an important principle in the tenth, which we must not just dump. The principle is ancient, and is recognised in all societies. The accepted principle is that the tenth represents the whole.<br /><br />This can be seen when you put a deposit down on a purchase, for most of history this has been a tenth of the total amount. By paying a tenth, you are saying "I promise to pay the rest". The tenth is meant to be representative of the whole sum.<br />Therefore if we give a tenth of the increase of our money or possessions, we are telling God that he has the title of the whole sum.<br /><br />From my point of view, because I am carnal and forgetful, when I am giving I like to consider giving a tenth if only because it enables me to be disciplined and faithful with my increase. I do not do it because of law. Nor am I greatly concerned if i fail. It is just a personal measure.Frankhttp://francisdrakeprivateer.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203174451356862507.post-42223963233106701112010-11-17T12:36:30.843-06:002010-11-17T12:36:30.843-06:00Thanks Like a Mustard Seed,
Yes. I agree. We al...Thanks Like a Mustard Seed,<br /><br />Yes. I agree. We all like to pick and chose what parts of scripture we need to support our traditions...<br /><br />But just because a tradition is not found in scripture, it doesn't mean it is all wrong. Just don't claim you are following what the Bible teaches on a topic when you are not considering the full picture.<br /><br />Thanks!Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01266729238990589293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203174451356862507.post-50663442454168920432010-11-17T12:20:35.963-06:002010-11-17T12:20:35.963-06:00Not only was the majority of the O.T. tithes compr...Not only was the majority of the O.T. tithes comprised of food-goods, but also it seems completely forgotten today that the Levitical priesthood was <i>forbidden to own property</i>...<br /><br />If that priesthood is the basis for today's paid pastor model, then how is it that only certain portions of it are regarded as having carried on into the church age, while other aspects are completely rewritten or ommitted?<br /><br />If the Levitical priesthood is really the "blueprint" for the modern pastoral office, then pastors shouldn't buy homes, or cars, and should live in some kind of property or community that has been set up by the rest of the Body for such a purpose (just like the Levite priests had to live in...)<br /><br />Now, I'm not actually advocating <i>any of that</i>, (because Christ did away with the temple and the entire temple system), I'm just saying, that if you're gonna be consistent with your so-called "Biblical basis for tithing", then you'd better submit yourself to <i>everything</i> the O.T. has to say about it!Like a Mustard Seedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042371209325559952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203174451356862507.post-66357804886611991932010-11-17T07:36:44.649-06:002010-11-17T07:36:44.649-06:00Thanks Carla,
Yes in many ways it was a tax for t...Thanks Carla,<br /><br />Yes in many ways it was a tax for their society. The Priests and Levites were part of the ruling government structure. <br /><br />Some of my taxes in Canada go toward the ruling government, and some also go towards government assistance for the poor.<br /><br />I'm not suggesting paying taxes is all Christians should do. But I do see some similarities between the taxes we pay, and the tithing they did in the OT.<br /><br />Thanks Carla.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01266729238990589293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203174451356862507.post-63294374171202558922010-11-16T22:46:44.513-06:002010-11-16T22:46:44.513-06:00I have major issues with the teaching of "tit...I have major issues with the teaching of "tithing" for today. The tithe was a <i>tax</i>. The children of Israel were no more 'giving generously' than we are when we pay our income tax--we are simply doing what was required. I also find it quite interesting that if they gave money instead of food they had to give <i>more</i> than 10%...I believe it was about 13%...so if we want people to apply tithing to the church today than why is 10% being taught? Modern churches don't want my potatoes and carrots--they want money. I would argue that it is because 10% is pretty easy to figure out and because there is fear that 'give generously' is a little ambiguous and most people don't do well with ambiguity.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10674233413041873993noreply@blogger.com