TITHING? Was there ever such a craft as PRIESTCRAFT?
No, it is the craftiest
of all crafts. It is so
crafty that it OBTAINS by its craft the MEANS to make craftsmen, and
then it makes the deluded support them!" Alexander Campbell, American Restoration
Movement.
Click Here to see a series of three articles
expanding these notes.
God in Christ DID NOT promise
to build a church where worship was doing rituals. He promised to
build an ekklesia or synagogue which is a school of the Bible. He
promised to be with the two or three who came to Him to, in His
words, "Learn of me." He commanded the Apostles to preach and MAKE
DISCIPLES by baptism and ongoing teaching of "that which had been
taught" by Christ the Spirit in the Old Testament and as the Living
Word revealing His His written word which He said "is Spirit and
Life."
Therefore, the "church" does
not have a paid STAFF nor can it Scripturally impose any anxiety on
the STUDENTS not necessary for them to learn the Bible and worship
God the Spirit in the new PLACE of our human spirit.
It is useless to speak of
tithing when the church Christ built has not ROLE which demands
collecting money. The
early assemblies undertstood "proportional giving" to mean that those
who had PROSPERED during the weak would give to those who were
DESTITUTE. They collected funds for the project and what was left
over was held in trust by the presiding elder. He had NO AUTHORITY to
conjure up a witchcraft project out of his head.
Gospel means that
you are free from the burden laders. Just say NO because the Bible
and Christianity DOES NOT impose a tax on your income. If the church
"leaders" will give you a business all set up and going then they
would, as under the law, be able to charge you a 10% rent. But, those
who demand that you tithe so the rich can go free, they MUST provide
you with the means of production or THEY ARE THIEVES AND
ROBBERS.
See the Law of Giving to see that Joe lays by
Joe to have funds available to give alms in
te way Jesus commanded: don't let Jim know what Joe gives to the
destitute.
Paul gave the lie to those who
claim that they have a LAW on their side to force you to give or get
out: to be a HAPPY CAMPER or "out of the loop" of the body
activity.
God blesses those who give to
Him. However, He doesn't need a house, priests, Levitical musicians,
sacrifices, food, lights, flowers or programs. When God hands out His
hands we will see the true evangelist or those truly in need on the
other end. Nevertheless, domineering legalists demand that thou shalt
give to their programs or you are robbing God and therefore you will
not "be a happy camper in this church."
Gogol defended
hisThe Government
Inspector in
After the
Play,
Some of us who
are ready to have a good laugh at a man's crooked nose,
Have not the courage to
laugh at a man's crooked soul. Gogol
Dostoyevsky in The Grand
Inquisitor
spoke of similar scams in the Russian church:
"I tell Thee that
man is tormented by NO
GREATER ANXIETY than to
find some
one quickly to whom he can hand over that GIFT OF FREEDOM with which the ill-fated creature is
born. But only one who can appease
their
conscience can
take
over their
freedom."
The Jews, like all ancient
people, paid TAXES and the priests or religious function was
performed by the state for the people. While no one missed a chance
to levy some form of tax on people, they probably paid up to 25% of
the farm produce while we may pay up to 50% for the state who DOES
NOT pay for the religious institutions. Therefore, it is robbery to
impose another 10% on the backs of already burdened people because
NOTHING CHRISTIAN IS FOR SALE. Alfred Edersheim notes:
And it
is remarkable, that the Law seems to regard Israel as intended to be only an agricultural
people--
no contribution
being provided for from trade
or merchandise.
The "law" of tithing is always
taken out of context to take the gift of freedom Jesus Christ died to give. To call it a law is to
make a judgmental threat. The promise is that "God will give you more
money than you gave Him." The implied threat is that if you don't
"cough up" God will get you. I was filled with great anticipation and
withheld my tithe to see if that 800ft (or so) Jesus would take Oral
Roberts!
Tithing never had anything
to do with money or wages. The tithe was the food product of the
farmer who made sure no one went hungry. This was his "rent" for the
lands he used and the Levites could not use. Only 1% went to the
religious mediators.
The Mormon church, Benny Hinn,
John Hagee, Rod Parsley, Jimmy Swaggart, Jerry Falwell, Pat
Robertson, Kenneth Copeland, Oral Roberts, James Kennedy, Kenneth
Hagin, Trinity Broadcasting Network, Word of Faith, Richard Roberts,
and most are able build giant organizations by burdening the ignorant
by demanding legalistic tithing of wage income. However, the story of
Joseph shows that it was rent
and not a tax:
>
And Joseph
bought all the land of
Egypt for Pharaoh; for
the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed
over them: so the land
became Pharaohs. Gen
47:20
And as for the
people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of
Egypt even to the other end thereof. Gen 47:21
Only the land of the priests
bought he not; for the
priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did
eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. Gen 47:22
Then Joseph said unto the
people, Behold, I have bought
you this day and your land
for Pharaoh: lo, here
is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. Gen 47:23
And it shall come
to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part (20%) unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your
own, for seed of
the field, and for your food,
and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.
Gen 47:24
This was not a tithe but a rent
paid to the Pharaoh who now owned all of the land and would manage it
so that the people would not starve. No one brought cash because you
cannot eat cash.
When Israel's
Elders "fired" God and demanded a king "like the nations" God knew
that they wanted to "worship like the nations." Because they had been
conditionally sentenced at Mount Sinai, God warned them that the
kings would destroy them but they would not relent: "Set a king over
us."
Ecclesiasticus
48 notes:
1. Then the prophet Elijah arose like a fire,
and his word
burned like a
torch.
2. He brought a famine upon them, and
by his zeal he made them
few in number.
3. By the word of the Lord he shut up the
heavens, and also three
times brought down fire.
4. How glorious you were, O Elijah, in
your wondrous deeds! And who has the right to boast which you
have?
5. You who raised a corpse from death and from
Hades, by the word of
the Most High;
6. who brought kings down to destruction, and famous men from their beds;
7. who heard rebuke at Sinai and judgments of vengeance at Horeb;
8. who anointed kings to inflict
retribution,
and prophets to
succeed you.
But is that Biblical? Yes, it is:
O Israel,
thou hast destroyed
thyself; but in me is
thine help. Hosea 13:9
I will be thy
king: where is any
other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom
thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? Hosea 13:10
I gave thee a king in mine
anger, and took him away in my wrath. Hosea 13:11
This was common in many nations which Israel
was permitted to imitate:
>
48 It appears from
Cicero that, when the Romans annexed Sicily, they found the greater
part of the land
subject by ancient
custom to a tithe of
the corn and other produce, and that such tithe continued to be enacted by the
Roman
government,
which derived
thence its main revenue
from the island:
further, that the custom had
grown up of allowing a pecuniary composition for the tithe, and that this custom, intended
originally for the accommodation of the tithe payers, had been abused to their detriment by
over
valuation in years when
corn was cheap. One of the charges against Verres was that this had
been done under him as Proetor. When wheat was selling in Sicily for
two or at the most three sesterces per modius, the peasants had been made to compound for their tithes at the rate of three
denarii, i.e. twelve
secterces. (Cic. in Verr. Divin. 10; Act II. Lib. iii. 6, 18). The
Roman Church having succeeded the Roman Government in the lordship of
the "Patrimony of St. Peter" it appears that the Church officials had not been
guiltless of similar
unfair exactions. Hence the direction here in this Epistle that the
valuations of the tithe insuccessive years should follow the market
price. Resource
The fact:
Malachi is the
proof text used to extort
money from Christians who are now free. He demanded of the Levites
and priests:
Bring all the
tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now herewith, saith the
Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven (rain), and pour you out a blessing that there
shall not be room enough to receive it." - Malachi 3:10
The Scam:
"This now sets up
the agreement between you and the Supreme Being to begin tithing.
You tithe 10-30% of
all increase you receive. This would include your
net income
as well as any gifts
or windfalls of value that come to you. First fruits and tithes are given to the person or
place who introduces you to this spiritual principle and helps you to
awaken to the Supreme
Being within you."
The discipler lies to you about tithing. In exchange for their
lies:
If you are a millionaire
including business, house, car, college fund, jewelry, aunt Tilley's
will giving you a couch:
You give a
$100,000.00 finder's fee to the preacher or church.
Each year
thereafter you give him 10% of your income.
Scam What Am explained
fully:
"While you may have tithed and
more all of your life, once you come under the control of the
criminal mind lurking in many religions everything begins all over as
they ask:
"What is tithing? A
spiritual
law and principle
proclaimed by the Supreme Being to which there are two parts.
First
Fruits is the beginning
steps on the golden road to tithing. Take a look around you and
observe all the things you own on a material level. You might take
inventory of a house,
money in the bank, stocks, furniture, vehicles, jewelry
- the list can go on and on. Write down the value of all these items
as accurately as you can. You may be amazed at how many "possessions"
are on your list.
"After you have
totaled the amount of everything you own,
take ten to thirty
percent of the
accumulated value and bring it to the person/place who has revealed the law of tithing to you. After all, you don't
give your rent check to the Supermarket! You give to the one who has
opened your spiritual eyes and ears to this principle. You have been
inspireod!
"The second part to tithing is your spiritual and prosperity maintenance program. After First Fruits you bring ten to thirty percent of what you receive monetarily
to the same
individual or
organization educating you about God's Prosperity Plan. For example,
if you gross two thousand dollars per month, ten percent (two hundred
dollars) would be tithed.
However, The Truth Will Set
You Free
The Tithe was always
food produced on lands (·erec Israel)
which belonged to the tribes and only in Israel. The increase was brought forth by
God's natural laws from land you got instead of the Levites and
therefore the "renters" of the land paid rent in food for the hungry:
And Azariah the
chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the
people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had
enough to
eat, and have left
plenty: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store. 2Chr
31:10
IF YOU CANNOT EAT IT THEN IT
IS NOT TITABLE EVEN UNDER THE LAW BEFORE JESUS CHRIST PAID ALL OF THE
DEBTS.
A brief outline of tithing
makes this clear:
When Abram returned from the
rescue effort, Melchizedek the king of
Salem and the priest
of the most high God brought bread
and wine for the returning warrionrs and blessed
Abram.
Melchizedek, as a
type of Christ actually gave to Abram first. Abram could legally take a tithe of the returned
booty from the king of Sodom. However, Abram did not and would not
profit from this rescue and he therefore gave the tithe to
Melchizedek. Therefore, it was the king of Sodom who supplied the
tithe.
After Israel rejected God with musical idolatry at Mount Sinai,
the Law was written to control a lawless people. Before that only
Abraham is shown tithing other people's property to Melchizedek who was both
king and priest of Salem. When given to the Levites, the tithe was to
take care of both
civil (Caesar's share) and religious (God's share) duties. The
Tabernacle and its lands was the only central seat of government for
Israel.
Every enrolled male member of
Israel over twenty paid a poll tax and this was used for the upkeep of the Tabernacle.
This could be from one-half to one-third shekel. While there was no
legal authority for the Temple or animal sacrifices until Israel
rejected God and demanded a king, this tax was coninued for the
temple.
The land of Canaan was
divided and given to the tribes except Levi.
The Levites were to care for,
guard and transport the Tabernacle. They were to provide food for the
poor. And they were to provide food for the priests of Aaron. The
other tribes were to receive the lands as the means of production of
food. This means that each member of the tribe wishing to farm got
the share which might
have gone to their Levite brother.
By analogy, ten of us have successful farms. One of us becomes ill
and can no longer farm. He can still keep the books and take care of
business for us. He will take care of all of the legal problems and
even build a community center. In exchange, the nine healthy farmers
inherit the land of the sick farmer. For this we are all obligated to give
ten percent of our farm produce
to the sick farmer
who takes care of all
civil duties. The sick farmer then gives 10% of
his total produce to feed the solicitor who is his son. This means that I, as one of the nine,
actually contribute 1%
of my income to the solicitator-intercessor. The other 9% goes to the sick farmer
whose (1) land I am
using without buying
and (2) who keeps me
out of trouble with the
IRS.
The land was the wealth and
means of
production of the
tribe.
Those who "rented the land from
the Lord" returned a tenth in most of the surrounding nations. God
was different in that the tithe
was only the food
given to the hungry
by the land users, where the land really belonged to all of the
tribe.
"Ma'aser" is the
Hebrew word for the tithe. A tenth part of agricultural produce or livestock which was "holy to the Lord" (Lev. 27:30-32). The
Bible specifies various
percentages of the crop that the farmer must allocate in accordance
with given criteria as a religious offering to particular
individuals. The custom of tithing is of ancient origin, as Abraham
gave a voluntary
tithe to Melchizedek
(Gen. 14:18-20; cf.28:22).
As part of the
commandments "dependent on the Land [of Israel]," these tithing regulations are only applicable to produce grown there (Kid. 1.9). Such laws applied to the first six years
of the seven-year cycle during which crops were grown;
no tithes were
given in the seventh SABBATICAL year (shemittah) during which the
fields had to remain fallow. Pastor Craig M Lyons of Bet Emet
"Keil and Delitzsch in their
commentaries both on Genesis and Deuteronomy refer to the fact that
in the ancient world it was well established that a land owner could collect a 10% fee, i.e., a tithe,
from those who
used the
land for making their
livelihood.
Also, it was generally accepted
that if one king, for instance, assisted another king in battle and
made possible the winning of the battle, then he was entitled to the spoil--that is, he became owner of the spoil.
It is therefore not hard to
make the connection that God, in His revelation of Himself to both
Abraham and then the children of Israel, would utilize this principle
to remind them that He was really the owner of the land of
Canaan (in the case of
the Israelites given the land through the power and strength of God)
and owned the spoil as a result of Abraham's victory by the power of
God (Abraham only had 318 men with him when he pursued 5 kings from
the north and defeated all of them). (Paul Winslow, Tithing)
The Levite
Tithe
Those who used the
national means of
production paid a TAX
and often used day laborers to till and herd. They could plant an
olive tree and live from its produce as long as they lived. They
might not have any part in the yearly increase. For instance, Jesus'
story of the owner demanding account of his renters. This tithe involved nothing but food products from the land.
"And all the tithe
of the land,
whether of the seed of
the land, or of the fruit
of the tree, is the Lords: it is holy unto the Lord. Le 27:30
And concerning the
tithe of the herd,
or of the flock,
even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy
unto the Lord. Lev 27:32
"The priest was not the Lord. He got 1% for the religious life of the
nation. The Levites were custodians of the storehouse and it was open
to his tribe and to the poor.
"The Practice Of
Tithing: At least 2/3's
of the children of Israel (in my estimation) NEVER TITHED. Ridiculous you say? Well not really,
once you understand WHO was required to pay and on WHAT. "And all the
tithe of the land, whether of the SEED of the land or the FRUIT of
the tree (Lev. 27:30 Amplified Bible)....And all the tithe of the
HERD or of the FLOCK (Lev. 27:32 Amplified Bible).
What did the children of Israel
pay tithes on? - SEED,
FRUIT, HERD,
& FLOCK,
no more, no
less. How is it that
those who teach "tithing" on ALL
increase (Deut. 14:22), regardless of source, fail to understand that
God never prescribed such a thing?
Consider also that Abraham, the
first recorded "tithe" giver, did not give tithes of ALL his
possessions,
only of the
spoils of
war did he give a tithe
(Heb. 7:4).
Another interesting fact
ignored by proponents of tithing is that the tithe was only paid
"at the end of every
three years" (Deut.
14:28), and certainly not on the "first day of the week" (I Cor.
16:2) as some would claim." John Anderson
Paul used the parable that "we
plant and water but only God gives the increase." Therefore, people gave back to God on what His
land produced while they might be taking a
nap. The Tabernacle was not a "church" and the people could not come near it. As a witness to Israel's sin, the
little tent where God met moses was replaced with another tabernacle.
And, behold, I have
given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an
inheritance, for
their service which
they serve, even the service
of the tabernacle of the congregation. Nu 18:21
But the Levites
shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation,
and they shall bear their
iniquity: it shall be a
statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children
of Israel they have no
inheritance. Nu 18:23
This law was NEVER IN EFFECT
for Israelites outside of Canaan or for non-Jews. If the Law of the
Temple has ceased then the tithe has ceased.
The inheritance means the land
which came from God and was used by those who produced food. The
Levites received a tithe because they did not receive this
inheritance. Therefore, only those who used up the productive means of the entire tribe were obligated to
support those who did not receive the inheritance but served the
entire community.
One tenth of
one Tithe was the tithe of the
Levites:
The Levites were to
give a tenth
part of the tithe
as their offering for
the Lord. to represent
their increase from the lands (Nu 18:26)
And this your
heave
offering shall be
reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of
the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress. Nu18:27
A second tenth of one tithe (1%) was given to the
Priests:
Thus ye also shall
offer an heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes, which ye
receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the
Lords heave offering to
Aaron the priest. Nu
18:28
The tithe was not a
religious tax.
To tithe did not mean that the
farmer put his money into your pocket so that you could spend it for
whatever you wished while resenting his comments. Because the tenth
of the total increase came from God, He wanted you to acknowledge the
fact by eating before Him:
Thou
mayest not
eat within thy gates
the tithe
of thy corn,
or of thy wine,
or of thy oil, or
the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows
which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand: Deut 12:17
But thou must eat
them before the Lord thy
God in the place which
the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter,
and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy
gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that
thou puttest thine hands unto. Deut12:18
The Festival
Tithe
To impose the Law of Moses and
demand up to 30% is based upon misunderstanding the tithes. For
instance, the festival
tithe
"In the first,
second, fourth, and fifth years of the seven-year shemittah cycle,
the farmer had to
set aside one-tenth of his remaining crop as the "second tithe,"
ma'aser sheni.
This produce had either to be
brought to
Jerusalem and
eaten there,
or, if that was too difficult, it could be
sold and the money used to buy food which had to be eaten in
Jerusalem (Deut. 14:22-26).
Thus the "SECOND TITHE" is
often called the "FESTIVAL TITHE." The law of the second tithe
enabled Israelites who "went up" to Jerusalem for the three
PILGRIMAGE FESTIVALS (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles) to
maintain themselves
during their stay in the city. Detailed regulations concerning this tithe are to
be found in tractate MA'ASER SHENI of the Mishnah, Tosefta, and
Jerusalem Talmud. This "SECOND TITHE-FESTIVAL TITHE", the tithe of
animals (Lev. 27:32) was, according to the rabbis, also consumed in
Jerusalem and shared
again with the
LEVITES. "The Biblical Tithe" Pastor Craig M
Lyons of Bet Emet
Deuteronomy or The Second Law allows the second tithe to feed the
person making the offering and the poor as they traveled to worship
the Lord and was not another 10% given to the clergy who stands in
for "the Lord."
Thou shalt truly
tithe all the increase of thy seed,
that the field
bringeth forth year by year. Deut 14:22
And thou shalt
eat before the Lord thy
God, in the place which
he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of
thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of
thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.
Deut 14:23
They could turn the tithe
into money only to travel:
Money was not a suitable
offering for the house of the Lord which always meant for the poor.
Nor could the tither eat money:
And thou shalt
bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or
for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy
soul desireth: and thou
shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
Deut 14:26
This is a strange passage
because strong drink (fermented) is universally condemned in the
Bible. The point may be that the second tithe does not belong to the
clergy craft and no one can put any restrictions on how it is spent:
Barnes believed that strong
drink was simply wine
which had fermented.
Therefore, at this place removed from the farm storage places the
wine might be fermented:
And the drink
offering thereof shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb:
in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto
the Lord for a drink offering. Nu.28:7
Ye have not eaten bread,
neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I
am the Lord your God. De.29:6
WINE is a mocker, strong drink
is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Pr.20:1
Give strong drink unto him that
is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Pr.31:6
If the offering place was too
far to transport food and animals, the person could redeem the food
and turn them into money by paying an extra fee. When he got to the
place of offering he could not give the money but had to
buy animals (the priests always had some
sick ones to sell you) because the offering could come only from the
land. This particular tithe was to be consumed by the tither in the
presence of the Lord.
Therefore, this tithe was not
given to the Levites but was consumed by the person making the
offering. That is, 10% of the farmers increase was to be consumed
before the Lord as a show of gratitude. Therefore, this cannot count
as a second tithe.
The Wage Earner Had no
Increase
The hireling who worked for his wage had no increase from the tribal lands: he gave 16 hours of work for
16 hours of pay and was
not required to tithe.
That is, unlike the farmer, he didn't work 8 hours and receive wages
for 16 hours by using up national resources and labor of those who
did not or could not afford to farm or herd.
Tebuwah (h8393) teb-oo-aw'; from 935; income, i. e.
produce (lit. or fig.): - fruit, gain,
increase, revenue.
In all of the uses of the
specific word "tithe" 38 indicate that it was produce. None
show that money could be used as the tithe. The festival tithe
specifically says that money can be used to transport. To retain his
own animals he had to redeem them by paying 120% of the value for
them.
And if a man will
at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the
fifth part thereof. Lev 27:31
The man who had no lambs was
not required to redeem it or pay a cash tithe. This had the effect of preventing the
priests from ever establishing a tithe based upon
wages. For instance,
wives, children, warriors, bakers, barbers, carpenters, semstresses,
fishermen including the disciples of Jesus, tentmakers, and etc.,
paid no tithe. merchants owed only import/export duties.
The tithe of the land renters
did not go for preachers and buildings and grounds. For instance, the
Tabernacle was not funded with a TAX or TITHE but with free-will
offerings. The actual "religious" wing of the Levites, the Aaronic
priesthood received only 1% of the national increase of
food
only.
The Poor
Tithe
"In the
third and sixth
years of the shemittah cycle, the "POOR MAN'S TITHE" (ma'aser ani)
replaced the normal second tithe of Deut.
14:28-29, 26:12.
Since the FESTIVAL
TITHE was not collected
during the 3rd and 6th year, this 10% was moved
to help the poor.
This would mean one would have
to allot from funds collected over 4 years sufficient amounts to
celebrate the Festivals for "ALL" of the seven years.
This "POOR TITHE" which was
collected for 2 years out of 6 had to be distributed to the LEVITES
(considered "poor" since he had no inheritance in the land), to the
WIDOWS, ORPHANS, SICK, LAME, BLIND, GENTILE SOJOURNERS, ETC
Pastor Craig M Lyons of
Bet Emet
Until the Temple with its
unauthorized "collection plates" the land owner "laid by in store
by
himself" which was
often in a city storage place not at the "church house." The Levites
or other poor could eat during emergencies. The tither disposed of
his own tithe. The temple was in Jerusalem but the people lived up
and down the land.
Every third year the tribe
was to be stored "within thy gates."
And the
Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him: for he hath no
part nor inheritance with thee. Deut 14:27
At the end
of three
years thou shalt bring
forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it
up within thy
gates: Deut14:28
And the
Levite, (because he hath no part nor
inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow,
which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be
satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of
thine hand which thou doest. Deut 14:29
The tithe was like our
income tax and it went to the Levites to be military leaders, civil
leaders and they, in turn, gave a tithe of the tithe (1%) to the
religious function.
This was never used for air
conditioned dog houses, makeup, clothing, jewelry or expensive cars.
It was not used for a retirement plan, travel, or the kid's college
plan. Those who misuse it are the true robbers. The tithes did not
accumulate. For instance, the Jews did not pay three tithes of 30%.
Rather, the tithes were of different kinds depending upon the needs
of the poor.
Tithing In the Kingdom
If I am Baalam's ass and God
tells me to do something then I am doing God's will. And if I do His
will He honors me for it. This may describe David. And if I make an
animal sacrifice because God told me to then He honors me and loves
me for being obedient in that respect even if I am not a nice guy.
This may describe David. However, when Christ has paid the price we
can finally understand that many of the Old Testament types were
negative or reverse images of the Spiritual truth. This, we are
confident, describes David's music and the tithe to support the
Levitical musicians.
When Israel "fired" God and demanded a civil king so that they could
worship like the
nations, He warned that
the king would take a tithe
and more as punishment. He would take your land and call it his land. He would take your
cattle and them them his. He would even take your children and use them for servants, concubines and
musicians. Solomon said that these musicians were "for my own
pleasure."
In First Samuel God
warned:
And he will appoint
him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set
them to ear his
ground, and to reap his
harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his
chariots. (programs,
programs, programs) 1 Sam 8:12
Instruments of Chariots were
often musical instruments. As the king moved in his chariot he was
accompanied with runners to "blow" the common people out of the way
and to lead the king (as God's agent) in triumph:
And he will take
your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be
bakers. 1 Sam 8:13
And he will take your
fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his
servants. 1 Sam 8:14
And he will take the
tenth of your seed,
and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 1 Sam 8:15
After the wars, the
"military-industrial complex" was overcrowded with military musicians
who panicked the enemy into turning coward or motivated Israelites
into suicidal warfare. These levitical men were "given a crust of
bread" by making them co-priests for civil rituals which are now seen as
religious:
David, together
with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the
sons of
Asaph, Heman and
Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying,
accompanied by
harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this
service: 1Chr.25:1
Second Temple - a Tithe of
the Tithe for "church"
Now consider how
great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the
tenth of the spoils. He7:4
And verily they
that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the
priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of
their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: He 7:5
Of course, the priesthood took
only 1%. Of this scholars note that:
"Wescot's
explanation is that the priests, who received from the Levites a tithe of the tithe, thus symbolically received the whole
tithe In the time of the second temple the
priests did actually receive the tithes.
In the Talmud it is
said that this
alteration from the Mosaic Law was caused by the sin of the Levites, who were
not eager to return to Jerusalem, but had to be persuaded to do so by
Ezra (Ez 8:15).
In other words, the Levite
priests whom God blamed for Judah's captivity had to be
bribed to return and "minister" because
someone in Babylon offered them a better contract. However, the
Talmud agrees that the tithe involved only "everything that is eaten,
that is watched over, and that grows out of the earth."
After the Captivity, the
Levites who were more involved in government than religion then gave
a tithe of the tithe for the religious institution:
Also
we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God; Ne 10:32
This was a mutually-arrived at
tax to finance the temple. Because the Temple was not God's original
plan, the temple tax was not a law.
And that we should
bring the firstfruits of our dough,
and our offerings, and the fruit
of all manner of trees,
of wine and of oil,
unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God;
and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all
the cities of our tillage. Ne.10:37
And the
priest the son of Aaron shall be with the
Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up
the tithe
of the tithes
unto the house of our
God, to the
chambers, into the treasure house. Ne 10:38
For the children of Israel and
the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil,
unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary,
and the
priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers:
and we will not forsake the
house of our God. Ne 10:39
I am not sure that the clergy
craft would be willing to abide by this law of tithing:
For it was the king's command concerning them that a certain portion
should be for the singers, a quota day by day. Neh 11:23
Then brought all Judah the
tithe of the corn
and the new
wine and the
oil unto the treasuries. Neh 13:12
And I made
treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the
scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the
son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to
distribute unto their
brethren. Neh 13:13
So nine percent went to the
Levites for their work in civil functions as well as in the temple
"in which God did not live and His glory never returned." Only 1%
went to the religious institution.
Malachi And SEED Money
Giving
In chapter two of Malachi the
priests had refused to give the glory to God and to teach knowledge
as the messenger of the Law. Furthermore, they had refused to feed
the poor when the farmers slacked off:
AND now, O ye
priests, this commandment is for you. Mal 2:1
For the
priests lips should keep
knowledge, and they
should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord
of hosts. Mal 2:7
But ye are
departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have
corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. Mal 2:8
The land-owners who paid tithes were supposed to defend the poor but
because of the failure of the priests and Levites they rejected God
because He didn't give them the same good crops as the pagan gods.
The mercinary bargain they made in order to return to Jerusalem was
not being honored.
Therefore, the subject passage
has to do with the clergy who were not taking care of the poor with
the produce they had. The wage earner did not need to be purified but the clergy who took the tithe was in danger
of being the robber.
Therefore, God said:
And he shall sit as
a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that
they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Mal 3:3
Then
shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord,
as in the days of old, and as in former years. Mal 3:4
And I will come
near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the
sorcerers (whisper a magic spell), and against the adulterers, and against false
swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow,
and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right,
and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. Mal 3:5
The wage was not a increase
but:
Sakar (h7939) saw-kawr'; from 7936;
payment of
contract; concr.
salary, fare, maintenance; by impl. compensation, benefit: - hire, price, reward [-ed], wages, worth.
It should also be noted that
the wage-earner was classed with widows, fatherless and strangers.
That is, none had any of the national means of production by which to
make their own living.
Remember that tithing began
as a volunteer act with both Abraham and Jacob. Even much later, the
task was to supply the Levite and other poor rather than a legalistic
accounting of the produce given away. The tithe was flexible:
sometimes to the Levite who gave 1% to the religious servants and the
festival tithe which the giver ate himself and the poor tithe which
was stored up in the city or area of the tither to meet local
needs.
The produce belonged to the farmer until he gave it as an offering. For
instance:
But Peter said, Ananias, why
hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep
back part of the price of the land? Ac 5:3
Whiles it
remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in
thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?
thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Ac 5:4
The property belonged to
Ananias until he gave it to the apostles. He could not be a robber
for not giving. However, once the money was in the hands of the
elders it was they who became the robbers if they misappropriated it.
In this case, the money was given only for food and shelter. The
elders would have been robbers if they did not pass it on to the
needy.
In the same way, the problem
in Malachi was with the priests who, after the Return from captivity
got the whole tithe but did not give it to the poor.
Malachi continues:
Even from the days of your
fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will
return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall
we return? Mal 3:7
Will a man rob God?
Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In
tithes and offerings. Mal 3:8
Ye are cursed with
a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Mal 3:9
You cannot eat money and therefore the command was not to
bring in money. The command was not to feed the able bodied but the
poor.
The primary culprits were
the Levites who refused to tithe and the priests who refused to
teach.
Bring ye all the
tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in
mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I
will not open you the windows (rain)
of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room
(storage bins
for tithed food) enough to receive it. Mal 3:10
God did not say: "Give the
faith healer one thousand dollars and I will give you five thousand
dollars." Why wouldn't God just send you the four thousand dollars
and the preacher his thousand? The need was for the farmer to take
care of the poor. God would supply the natural elements.
Remember that only 1% of that
which came from the people went into the storage rooms of the temple
or city:
And the priest the
son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes:
and the Levites shall bring up the tithe
of the tithes
unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house. Ne 10:38
Therefore, Malachi 3:10 is not
setting up a "test your god by giving to the pastor scheme." Rather,
it is demanding that the Levites turn over the 1% to the
priests.
Remember that it was only
food
products which were
given to the Levites for their physical labor. They gave 10% of that
as their own offering and another 10% to the religious function.
The pattern authorized by
the revelation of the Lord
In seeking a pattern for
charitable help and in order to do it "in the name of the Lord," we
look for authority from the example of Jesus in the form of explicit
commands or patterns which He modelled. This pattern shows that He
gave as he saw the need, He gave personally and individually rather
than funnelling aid through an agency, and He supported those who
could not help themselves.
To feed the poor Jesus didn't
demand that his disciples make up the whole need from the money which
they had earned. Rather, feeding the poor was still "from the
increase" which only God can produce.
The only thing Jesus said
about tithing was:
Woe unto you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for ye pay tithe of mint and anise
and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law,
judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to
leave the other undone. Mt 23:23
The religious leaders paid a
tithe of their food product. This was their duty because they were
still under the law. However, if you want to keep the law in a
spiritual sense:
Jesus said unto
him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to
the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow
me. Mt 19:21
Christ has paid the "tax"
and children do not owe
The tithe was composed of
two
parts: that which
belonged to the "Caesar" function of government and military, and
that which belongs to God which is always given to His poor children
and not to the rich.
That which belongs to Caesar is
separate from the church. Jesus asked the disciples whose picture was
on a coin:
They say unto him,
Caesars. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the
things which are Caesars; and unto God the things that are Gods.
Mt.22:21
Under the New Covenant there is
no Caesar in church
government and
no Levite
or clergy in God's order. All members of Christ's body are
priests of God and no human fills this role for
us. The preacher is not a Levite and he is not the priest of the
church.
The Temple Tax has been Paid
by Grace
As recorded in Matt. 17:24-27
when the disciples and Jesus came to Capernaum, they were approached
by the tax collecter and asked "Doth not your master pay tribute?"
This was the temple
tax which everyone was
bound to pay but the Jews often skipped it in some way. This was an
annual tax of half-shekal by all Jewish males over twenty years (Ex.
30:11-16). This tax was to "give a ransom for himself" or to
"make
atonement for
yourselves." Its use was for the service of the Tabernacle. Peter
responded "yes" He does pay his taxes.
When Peter came into the house,
Jesus asked the question:
"What thinkest
thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or
tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?" (Matt.
17:25).
Peter observed correctly that
it was from strangers and then Jesus said:
"Then are the
children free" (v. 26).
The Messiah came to
give rather than to extract money from His disciples. Once a child of God
he is free,
ransomed, atoned for and need never be sent a bill for a yearly atonement. In the words of Paul,
So through God
you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir (Gal.
4:7).
Nor did Jesus extract the
tax from a wage. Rather, the coin was a gift of
nature.
"To be sure,
earthly kings do not make their own sons, the princes of the royal house, pay taxes for the
entire royal family is supported in regal estate by taxing the
people. Kings collect taxes only 'from outsiders,' ...other than their own immediate families"
(Lenski, on Matthew, p. 674).
"Thus, like the
sons of earthly kings, these spiritual sons of the 'great King' are,
therefore, 'free,' and no one can with divine right levy any Temple
tax upon them." (Ibid. p. 675).
By providing the
unearned
tax Himself from the
mouth of the fish Jesus shows that they owe no tribute to the soon to be destroyed Temple and its fat
"thieves." By the year A. D. 70 the Temple had been destroyed, the
Jews scattered, and the temple tax disappeared.
As Jesus said "the sons are
free" Paul demands that the church has no taxing authority for two
reasons: tithing would be part of the abrogated law and even more
importantly, the church gains much more when people give out of a
free will. Paul absolutely denied that believers are under legal
obligation to pay "temple tax" but put the focus upon the
heart.
If they owed a tithe under
the Law don't we owe more under grace?
No, no, a thousand times, no.
If they sacrificed their best lamb for their sins shouldn't a
Christian offer ten lambs? No. The price has been paid and there can be no legalistic burden placed upon those who are
free. Those who promote
tithing often take more than the 1% and are the true legalists and
the true robbers.
The "prince" has paid the
temple tax and made us priests and sons of the king. To "owe" our
wage to enable His "kingdom" to operate is to denounce grace and
return to a 10%+Law. We still owe the Levite or Caesar part and
generally we pay almost 50% with all taxes considered. To add 10% to
"God" as a law makes grace much more of a burden than the law.
Especially, when the "Lord" doesn't often get much of it.
Paul and Tithing
Paul did not command giving at
any level. Motivated by love, believers still owe the debt of love in
terms of
food only to those who
are poor.
Paul reminded the Corinthians
to do what they had volunteered to do up to a year ago. Except for
whatever need arose there were no collections taken in Corinth for
about a year. Paul said that he might winter with them and didn't
want any collections for that period so they would not feel
pressured.
I speak
not by
commandment, but by
occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of
your love. 2Cor 8:8
Giving cannot be free will
and also by a command. A sincerity gift cannot also be according to a
law.
The "command" in 1 Corinthians
16 is the command to "lay by yourself" a certain amount of money each week as the farmers
under the law laid by in their own community a certain supply of food
so that it was ready when needed. When Paul came to Corinth the total
was collected just once, put into a bag, four or five men "put their
hands on the bag" and made sure that it got to the elders and then
the poor in Judea.
Augustine speaking of those who tithed even twigs of
spices notes that one TITHES or lays by in store. Out of that "cup" or storage
place he is then able to give ALMS.
3. When He had spoken thus,
doubtless they thought
that they did give
alms. And how did they give them?
They tithed all
they had, they took away a tenth of all their produce, and gave it.
It is no easy matter to find a Christian who doth as much.
See what the Jews did. Not
wheat only, but wine, and oil; nor this only, but even the most
trifling things, cummin, rue, mint, and anise, 5 in obdience to God's precept,
- they tithed all;
- put
aside, that is, a
tenth part,
- and gave alms
of it.
Lenski,
Commentary
"Each member is to
deposit WITH
HIMSELF each Sunday the
amount of his gift for that week and preserve it as a store or
treasure. The participle completes the idea of the main verb: 'let
him lay by by treasuring up'
"...Each member is to keep the
growing amount 'BY HIM,' IN HIS OWN HOME and is NOT to deposit it
with the church at once. The probable reason for this advice is the
fact that at this early date the churches supervised by Paul were not
yet organized to the extent of having official treasurers..."
Albert Barnes
"Let him
lay up AT
HOME, treasuring up as
he has been prospered. The Greek phrase, 'by himself,' means, probably, the same as at home. Let him set
it apart; let him designate a certain portion; let him do this by
himself, when he is at home, when he can calmly look at the evidence
of his prosperity."
Foy E. Wallace a
conservative preacher
"Money is not sacramental and giving is not a sacrament to be 'instituted' alongside the Lord's
Supper as 'a part of the
worship.' It was not so
instituted in the New Testament and had no such place in any New
Testament church. It simply belongs to the duty of liberality, performed daily
as a temporary practice of the first church at Jerusalem, in Acts 2
and Acts 4:37--and it was later ordered by Paul in Galatian and
Corinthian churches for convenience and dispatch, as a ready means to an end...(it does not) mean that giving is an
institution of
worship beside the
Lord's Supper for which thanks should be offered." (Wallace, The
Gospel for Today, p. 554).
Contributions were taken up
only for the poor.
Evangelists were expected to
"plow" like an ox in land which had not yet been plowed and to thresh
only fields which had not been threshed. The ox could eat a part of
that which he earned. He did not camp out in one field and eat up the
increase.
Because of the "many"
professional lecturers trained in the Greek theater, Paul insisted
that to demand a wage would make him a "robber" Just like them.
Taking a wage from the church he was trying to minister to would
completely invalidate his work.
Paul earned his own bread and
said of the "many": "If they will not work neither shall they eat."
These were the speakers looking for a nest. (1The 2)
"The enemies of
Socrates and Plato
had in fact taunted them because they took no money for
teaching, and had
hinted that they did so because their teaching was worth nothing.
It is true that
every
Jewish Rabbi was supposed to teach for nothing and to have a trade whereby he earned his daily bread;
but these same Rabbis took very good care
to inculcate the teaching that there was no more meritorious deed than to support a
Rabbi.
If a man wished a comfortable
place in heaven he could not better assure himself of it than the
supplying all a Rabbi's needs." (Barclay, p. 79).
"The Jewish rabbis at their
worst could be shamelessly rapacious.
Theoretically they
held that a Rabbi must
take no money for teaching and must win his bread by the work of his
hands,
but they also taught that
it was work of
exceptional merit to support a rabbi and that he who did so made sure of a place in the heavenly
academy.
They behaved
arrogantly. They lorded
it over the Corinthians. In point of fact the rabbis demanded a
respect greater than
that given to parents,
and actually claimed that, if a man's father and teacher were both
captured by brigands, he must ransom his teacher first, and only then
his father." (William Barclay, p. 251).
Paul accepted free-will gifts
from his friends in places where he had preached and already
gone.
"Paul says that he
'robbed' other churches, he took from them what
he should really not
have taken, namely
'sustenance.' 'Wages' is too liable to be misunderstood as
meaning regular pay, which Paul never took from any
church. This was a
fixed principle with him."
"The noun has no article and
means some sustenance.' It denotes a gift that was sent to him
after he had left those
churches, which he
could, therefore, not refuse.
Yet even then he
felt that he was robbing those churches, letting them press something upon him which he would not let the
Corinthians press upon him." (Lenski, Commentary on 2 Cor. p.
1250).
"These men had funds and came to Paul's assistance. This is sometimes taken to mean that they brought
Paul a collection from Philippi or from Macedonia, but the words contain no hint of a
collection." (Lenski, 2
Cor. p. 1251).
"These so-called apostles are not in Paul's view genuine apostles
at all, but only spurious counterfeits of whom his church should beware. Paul is therefore
extremely scornful of those 'false' (2 Cor. 11:13) or, as he
ironically describes them, 'superior' apostles (12:11), who go beyond the boundaries of
their commission and give
themselves a
position
in local churches to
which they have no right. Such men, he says, 'commend themselves' (10:12, 18), 'compare themselves with one another' (v. 12) and
'boast beyond the limits in other men's
labours' (v. 15). In order that the churches 'may make much of them' (Gal. 4:17) they 'put on airs', 'take advantage' of others,
'prey' upon them and, in effect,
'make
slaves' of those
they are to
serve." (Banks, Robert,
Paul's Idea of Community, Eerdmans, p. 174).
While this may not establish a
"law" it prevents others from making their own law for their own
benefit and glory.
After the Dispersion of the
Jews
"While these
various laws were no longer observed by Jews living in Diaspora
(outside the land of
Israel) after the
destruction of the Second Temple, Rabbinic Law still requires the
tithing of produce
grown in Erets Israel.
Accordingly, some
observant Israelis separate a small amount from produce that they
have bought from other Jews, recite a prescribed benediction and then
destroy the
terumuh (heave
offering). According to a formula devised by R. Avraham Yeshayahu
Karelitz, however, the different tithes are merged.
Slightly more
than one percent of the produce
is set aside and its sanctity is then transferred to a specially reserved coin.
Since tithes are no longer
allocated to priests and Levites but
may be fed to
animals, those taken at
source ( e.g., by major food
distributors and cooperatives) are sent to different zoos in Israel. Processed Israeli foodstuffs exported abroad are usually tithed by the rabbinate,
that endorsed these products as religiously fit (kosher).
Raw fruit and
vegetables, however,
are not necessarily tithed before export." "The Biblical Tithe" Pastor Craig M
Lyons of Bet Emet Ministries
Christians who demand the tithe
"out legalize" the Jews who know that the Law is not inforced outside
the sacrificial system in Jerusalem. They outfox the fox and out
thieve the thieves and out rob the robbers of Malachi.
They, contrary to John Hagee's sentiments,
are the ones whos "pictures God posts as the ten most
wanted"criminals."
Later Meaning of Giving -
Always for the Poor
As late as Justin Martyr (150 A.D), voluntary collections (not
commanded) were taken for the immediate need of the poor and what was
left over was kept for the aid of the traveler or other poor who had
need.
"Those who are
prosperous and
willing, give each one
what he thinks fit and what is collected is deposited with the
president, who relieves orphans
and widows
and whoever through sickness or any other cause is in want, and prisoners and strangers sojourning among us. In short, he takes care of all
who are in
need." (Justin: First
Apology, I.67.6)
"The custom in these primitive
times seems to have been for everyone, on the Lord's Day, at the
CLOSE OF PUBLIC WORSHIP, to bring to the notice of the assembly, the
case of the poor, the aged, the widow, or the orphan of whose
necessities he had any knowledge; and FORTHWITH provision was made
for such from the public fund created by their weekly contributions."
(Ancient Christianity Exemplified, p. 73)
Tertullian says,
"Everyone makes a
small contribution on a certain day or when he chooses; provided only
he is willing and able, for no one is compelled, all is voluntary."
He further says that this general fund is used to feed the
poor.
Notice who gives: "the
prosperous, the willing, the able"; and the recipients: "the orphan,
widow, sick, prisoners, strangers in want, the aged"; and when it was
given: "upon the first day of the week or when he chooses."
To demand, as I have heard, a
widow who got $250.00 a month to tithe is not only unscriptural but
it is evil.
Tithing was only for the
well-to-do land users because that was fair. A person who makes
$100,000.00 a year can tithe. A person who makes $3,000.00 cannot
tithe. Therefore, "as thou has been prospered" is giving proportional
to prosperity and not, as my father often did, not give that which
he did not
have.
The Preacher is Excluded
from A Mandatory Wage
These early churches had a
rule: if the evangelist (called himself an apostle or prophet) came
to teach he was supported. However, if he stayed more than two weeks
he was a false prophet. If he wanted to "locate" and preach, they
found him a job.
"Located evangelist" is like a
"located travelling salesman." There is no such thing. When the
Restoration began, churches were planted by evangelists who moved on
when elders were selected. The evangelist was expected to be
supported when he was evangelizing like the ox ate when it
threshed.
This was the general
understanding and a fundamental of the Restoration
Movement as articulated
by Alexander Campbell:
"Give money to make poor pious youths learned clergy, or vain
pretenders to erudition; and they pray that they may preach to you;
yes, and pay them too. Was there ever such a craft as priestcraft?
No, it is the craftiest of all crafts. It is so crafty that it
obtains by its craft the means to make craftsmen, and then it makes
the deluded support them!" (Campbell, Alexander, Christian Baptist,
Dec. 1, 1823, Vol. 1, p. 91).
"Money is of vital consequence in the kingdom of the
clergy. Without it a
clergyman could not be made, nor a congregation supplied with a
'faithful pastor.' O Mammon, thou wonder-working god!" (Ibid., p.
124).
"'Will you,' said an honest
inquirer, 'allow the clergy no salary at all? Will you not allow the
poorer class of the clergy a decent little competence?'
I replied I have no
allowances to make. Let them have what the Lord has allowed them.
'How much is that?' said he, Just nothing at all, said I.
A church constituted upon New
Testament principles, having its own bishop or bishops, or, as
sometimes called, elders, will not, and ought not to suffer them to
be in want of any thing necessary, provided they labor in word and
doctrine, and provided also, they are ensamples to the flock in
industry, disinterestedness, humility, hospitality, and charity to
the poor. Such bishops will now be esteemed very highly in love for
their words sake; but especially those who, by their own hands,
minister not only to their own wants, but also to the wants of their
brethren." (Ibid, p. 140).
"That any man is to be paid at
all for preaching, i.e. making sermons and pronouncing them; or that
any man is to be hired for a stipulated sum to preach and pray, and
expound scripture, by the day, month, or year, I believe to be a
relic of popery." (Ibid., Vol. 3, p. 185).
Moses knew, in building the
Tabernacle, that if you ask for free will offerings you will always
get more than when demanded as a legal percentage.
Whatever a local congregation
collectively decides to do may be good and scriptural. However, to
demand that one tithe and reject the input of the "tithers" is
spiritual domination. The following summary says it all:
"To impose any
commandment of the Law is to be "obligated to obey the WHOLE Law, Galatians 5:3. There are
613 rules and regulations that one is
required to keep if they obey any point of Law. "No one will be
declared righteous in his sight by observing the Law," Romans 3:20.
The very faith that unites us with his Son, "is the gift of God - not
by works, so that no one can boast," Ephesians 2:8-9. When we obey
Christ's command to "love one another," we actually fulfill all of
the righteous requirements of the Law, for "love is the fulfilling of
the Law," Romans 13:8 John Anderson on the Web
"Some churches teach: The House
of God, the temple, is now the church and the clergy or Pastors and
their staff are acting as the modern day counterparts of priests delivering the
Word of God to the people. We should support them with tithes as the Levites
and Priests were supported by tithes.
"The Bible says: The Priests
and Levites were set apart from the tribes of Israel by God's command. It should always be remembered
that after the Pentecost the Holy Spirit of God came to the world to
reside within the
believers. The Temple
of the Lord or the House of God is now actually the physical body of
the believer. The one
and only Priest that
resides in our Holy of Holies (Heart) is the Spirit of God and He is
also the High Priest, Jesus Christ. He was sacrificed on our altar
for the gift of Salvation.
"For anyone to compare himself
to an ancient priest in the Temple is now the same as identifying
himself as God!
"Many four walled churches are
sadly forgetting who they are in Christ and are subjecting their
members to legalistic bondage of the Law. This is especially true
when churches allow tradition and mysticism to creep into the
Gospel.
"Let me ask you a
question. If a church collects money in the name of a tithe and doesn't follow all the guidelines of
tithing as set forth by
the Lord, (i.e., giving all the tithe to the poor on the 3rd and
6th year of the Shemittah Cycle, observing the 7th year sabbatical and therefore not require a tithe, and
allows the one who tithes to partake in the eating of the tithe in
the presence of the Lord at the place of the Lord's choosing)
then who is, according to the Law of Moses, really robbing God? The church! Refer back to Malachi 3: 6-12 about not
tithing correctly.
"Let me say now, that churches
who collect monies in the name of tithes and use scripture to enforce
it, are opening up a can of worms that may condemn them before the Lord. When observing the Law, ALL the law
must be observed, not just parts that are of benefit to some
people.
"But thank God, churches are
also no longer creatures of the law. Therefore churches should reject "tithing" and accept money only from
spirit led givers.
The word "tithe"
should not be incorporated in any church doctrine because it carries
with it some very heavy baggage, the Law.
"Churches Must 1) Worship the Lord 2) Seek financial support
through giving, not
tithing. 3) Reject all legalism. 4) Give more aid to the needy - focus outward
instead of inward. 5) Listen
to the congregation, the Lord may be trying to tell you something. 6)
Remember who we as Christians are in Christ. 7) Promote joyful giving
through exciting ministries and showing appreciation to the
givers. Ronald Shouldis
Sure, we may decide to
collectively do many things as "members one of another." This does
not give ministers power to rise to the top of the heap. It does not
allow anyone to "make a law" out of a collective decision.
Ken Sublett
Church
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