Posted on 02/11/2013 12:14:15 PM PST by Laissez-faire capitalist
In certain passages of scripture it says that tithes are to be given to the Levites, and then the Levites were to give a tenth to the priests. In other scriptures is says to bring ye the tithe into the storehouse, that my house may be full.
Deuteronomy 26:12 says that every third year, that in addition to giving to the Levites, some of the tithe must go to widows, orphans, (the down-and-out), etc.
Now, if in modern times we give tithes to our local church that we attend and tithes are then used to pay for the pastors salary (them being the modern Levite equivalency), youth pastors salary, staff salary, utility bills, etc, why isn't a portion of this shared with widows, orphans, etc?
I mean, if cash is given to pastors through tithes, why doesn't cash go to widows every third year? With the scriptures saying to pay tithes unto Levites every year, and then every third year repeating this but adding in widows for example, that ties in widows with getting part of the tithe.
Some might say that widows, the down-and-out, etc, can receive cash assistance from the gov't. But if widows, orphans, the down-and-out, etc, can go to the gov't for help, why don't we send pastors there, too?
And if widows, orphans, the down-and-out, etc, can go to churches and get help at these church food banks, why don't those same churches send their pastors to the church food bank(s)?
If widows don't get a portion of the tithe every 3 years, then what do you do with the tithe for the pastor that 3rd year?
Oh, don't sound so bitter about it.
You can reach into your pocket and give money into the hands of people.
You ignored my question. Why would we be less willing to give a full tithe than we were prior to the Saviour walking the earth? Just because its not “commanded” anymore is your answer? I assume you recognize the smallness and cold-heartedness of your attitude and revel in it. I feel sorry for you.
Are you trying to differentiate tithing (giving 10%) between just giving to the church?
- - - - -
1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Acts 20:35
... remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Mark 12:41-44
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Actually that's kinda easy, answering the last first:
James 1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
1 Timothy 5:16-18 - If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
The italicized deals w/ widows, and the underlined with paying pastors (indeed, anyone you have laboring on your behalf).
Why aren’t the pastors supporting themselves? Then the members could better care for the widows and such.
Well here goes and no doubt i will catch hell.
The old covenant has been done away with.
God says to bring all of the tithes into the store house so that the people can be fed.
The people could not be fed the truth from a bunch of government paid hirelings.
Not just a tenth but all of it, the tithes were called in.
The government of Israel was destroyed, they no longer had a state run Church.
The early Christians who wanted to serve God sold what they had and gave it to the apostles and they all lived in common,
They collected alms from people who were not members of the church but were Christians, the actual church members could not pay alms because they did not have money of their own.
A paid preacher is a hireling, Jesus said you can not trust them because they will flee when the wolf comes.
It is common knowledge that they will quit one Church and go to another for better pay.
So are they really serving God or them selves?
You assume too much. I repeat myself: A tithe was REQUIRED under the law. There was no love involved. Laying by in store (voluntarily giving) is NOT tithing; it is a free-will gift of love, not duty.
And because you are so misinformed about tithing verses giving, I’ll ignore your misinformed comments about me.
Thank you. Finally someone gets it.
These passages (and more) from the NT are in stark contrast to the legalistic OT command to tithe.
I'd think twice before using that line as an excuse on judgment day. But that's just me...
I would like to see your support for understanding that any unmarried woman of any age and any child without support would be considered a widow or orphan.
Now trying finding justification for giving less than the standard God first set for us.
Hebrews chapter 7 goes into this.
...also Acts 20:34, 2Cor 11:8-9...etc
Why are you drawing such fine distinctions? First of all “tithe” merely means “one tenth”. If you’d rather I use the words “one tenth” instead of “tithe”, that’s fine. Second, who cares whether you call it a “free will gift of love” or a duty? Either way, its a good thing to do it, no? Finally, you still haven’t answered my question: why would one be less inclinded to give one tenth now than in Old Testament times, considering that the Saviour has now come?
Sorry, you obviously need a sarc tag. Topic IS tithing, yet you made it Old vs New Testament with your post.
You seemed, by your initial post, to be willing to disregard the OT as no longer applying. So, If tithing does not apply (acccording to you) because it is only Specifically called for in the Old Testament, then maybe you also feel all that other OT stuff needn’t apply too.
While it WAS a commandment, one was also told to GIVE with a cheerful heart.
Seriously, you have Nothing but that God has allowed it to you. Giving, GIVING of your firstfruits, tithing, is as much New as old Testament.
What are you mumbling about? You gave Matthew 5:17 as a proof text regarding tithing.
I showed you where it does not mention tithing or giving.
LOL, you are a piece of work. Even if we were to assume that you actually “showed him” what you claim to have “shown him” ... what do you want,a gold star? What’s your point, snarky friend?
Ask your question to someone it applies to. For you tithers to assume I give less than 10 percent is pettiness on your part.
In my church, what comes in is turned right around for missions and community outreach. It doesn’t stay in the church coffers.
I’d say that’s true of most churches (and should be true of all.
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