Posted on 05/05/2005 5:43:53 AM PDT by OESY
for later
Lev 27:30-34 is the tithe to the levites. 10% for the upleep of God's priests and his temple.
Num 18:21 is this same tithe Here it is specifically apportioned to the levites but it is still referring to the same tithe.
Deut 18:22-23 is talking of the second tithe. This is to be eaten in the presence of the Lord as a rememberance of His goodness to us and His ownership of all. (so heading out to Golden Corral after church on Sunday is a proper use of this tithe as long as you are feasting before the Lord)
It continues on to the third tithe, which is really the second tithe except that we are commanded to invite the poor and the stranger in as well as the levite and ourselves.
So we find that if we follow the law (as opposed to grace) the tithe actually given to God is 10%. The tithe consumed by us in God's presence is 10% and the offering to the poor is 3.33% so at most the tithe lost to us is 13.33%.
Now the New Testement tells us that we are to be mindful at all times that God owns everything and that we are just stewards of it. It also tells us to take care of the stranger, the poor the widow and the fatherless. It does not, however, command us to tithe.
I personally believe that a tithe of 10% is a very healthy thing for everyonme to do. Not because it is commanded (as it no longer is) but because it keeps our priorities correct (God, then others, then ourselves).
Are you by any chance a follower of Herbert Armstrong?
According to Tony Snow Dennis Hastert and Bill Frist are among those attempting to prevent the release of the Barret Report. You can bet that this report will do more than gore Cisnero's oxe if that is the case. In case nobody noticed, Clinton is no longer the president.
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