Tithing

[Hebrews 11]

Why do you persist in testing the brethren? As long as you carry a money bag the answer will escape.
Lay up your treasure in heaven.

Thank You

 

[tango]

Why do you persist in testing the brethren? As long as you carry a money bag the answer will escape.
Lay up your treasure in heaven.

Because Paul told us to "test all things"? And as it happens I'm not "testing the brethren", I'm testing a particular teaching that is being presented because I don't see how it aligns with what the New Testament says. The point of discussion is to consider opposing viewpoints - I could just as easily ask why Hebrews 11 is "testing the brethren". But I don't regard him as testing me in any negative sense, more that we present our perspectives on things to determine what is truth. If "iron sharpens iron" it can only happen if one piece of iron tests the other, no?

If Scripture appears to contradict Scripture (as it does if it appears to tell us that we must give a literal 10% while also telling us to give whatever we purpose in our hearts) then we need to make it resolve one way or the other. That means we have to figure out whether one rule supersedes an old rule or find a way to make the two reconcile.

We don't offer sacrifices for sin any more because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for us. But if we took 2Tim 3:16 at face value we could easily argue that because "all Scripture is .... profitable for doctrine" that every verse of Leviticus that describes sacrifices is as relevant to us today as it was when it was first written. But we don't do wave offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings, we don't regard women as ritually unclean during their monthly cycle, we don't require a sacrifice seven days after a male child is born, so it's clear that 2Tim 3:16 doesn't mean that every single verse of the OT must be followed to the letter.

If you want to give a literal 10% have at it, as long as you can do it cheerfully. If you can give more cheerfully go for it. If you can't give more than 5% without feeling coerced then give 5% cheerfully and be done with it.

 

[FredVB]

I have nothing to say against giving. With being enabled we should be giving. The tithes, mentioned in the old testament, were never money, and not ever for a church, but were given when it was established certainly for shepherding people, with the early abundance, to show they would do things for Yahweh God, with giving in sacrifice for God, with rituals being performed in a certain way, from what was choice among flocks and grain, and using precious items such as oil. What was not burned up as sacrifice directly to God would be for Levites and for sharing with the levitical priests. The people of Israel practiced this while there was the ark in the sanctuary tent, and while there was a temple then in the later times. And it was not known to be practiced among the church when it started, though certainly giving such as any were able and sharing according to needs among them happened with the early believers.