Right, turns out tithes were never money (and I don't think I ever realized that til today), although in Deut 14, they could be converted into money, but only temporarily - if the household lived too far away from the designated gathering spot to carry their agricultural tithe there; later, the money was to be used to buy cattle etc, so actual money wasn't given, as we do today.
This discussion prompted me to do a google on tithing and I came across a point I had never considered before, admittedly in an article that was clearly anti-tithing, especially to those of televangelist caliber.
Anyway, that point was, none of the NT letters discussed tithing, or used the word at all in reference to giving, and Jesus only mentioned tithing twice, both times in condemnation of the Pharisees. You'd think they would at least have used the word in context, if it was important pertaining to giving, which they discussed a bunch. And none of the early church fathers did either.
Forgot one other thing -
2 Thessalonians 3:8, "Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you."
Looks like maybe Paul worked in addition to his ministry, in order to avoid being a burden on the churches. Never noticed that one before either.
"Anyway, that point was, none of the NT letters discussed tithing, or used the word at all in reference to giving, and Jesus only mentioned tithing twice, both times in condemnation of the Pharisees. You'd think they would at least have used the word in context, if it was important pertaining to giving, which they discussed a bunch. And none of the early church fathers did either."
The Jews of the early church probably did still tithe in accordance with the Law. This might not have been mentioned in the epistles because it was a settled issue as far as Jewish life was concerned (Jewish Christians didn't need to hear about it), and wasn't a church issue (Gentiles didn't need to hear about it either, i.e., contributing to the Levites, going up to Jerusalem at certain times for festivals, etc.).
You already made the point that tithes were for worship and celebrations, and for support of the Levites, the poor, and others without means of support. They were partly a tax used for the public good.