The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum proper recipient of our tithes/offerings

Well I'd not tell you to doubt your senses however lets take a look at your url's statement:

So now lets take a look at the verses:

Now I'm sorry but where in this verse is Christ affirming that under the New Covenant that tithing is still for the church?

John C,


The fact is that there were at least three tithes demanded in the OT. Linked is a very good study of the tithe. I have already noted exceptions and criticisms of the source of the study.

http://www.cultwatch.com/tithing.html

For me, the point of the legal quagmire of guilt and judgment generated by an insistance of the OT tithe is beautifully presented to us in a play by Shakespere, The Merchant of Venice.

From the fine print of a legal contract, Shylock, has demanded payment of his debtor. The contract has stipulated payment of "a pound of flesh" when Antonio (the debtor) could not pay.

The very wise judge, Portia, renders the judgment thus:

-------------------------------------

PORTIA

Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more
But just a pound of flesh: if thou cut'st more
Or less than a just pound, be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,
Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.

---------------------------------

This is exactly what happens to "legalists" when the letter of the law is observed, rather than the hearing of the Spirit through the word of our merciful God.

Denny

Romans 3:22-24

Being in the process of a re-study of this subject, I have come to the conclusion that unless we are prepared to be totally bound to ALL OT laws and precepts (clearly in violation of the teaching in Galatians), the we cannot enforce tithing on believers in the NT epoch. It is fine for a Christian to use it as a guideline, as Pilgrim supported. Unfortunately, may pastors attempt to browbeat and put "guilt trips" on their congregations to "enforce" the "law" of tithing. It seems to me that this is a lack of faith in the Lord to provide for the needs of the church.

Often such churches keep having more and more "programs" and "activities" to entice folks to attend. Somewhere in all that activism, the simplicity and sufficiency of declaring "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" gets lost. I believe a spiritual atmosphere is hindered by it.

Having been in mission work for many years, I saw all kinds of practices in churches throughout the world. What impressed me greatly was in some churches I visited the offering plate was not passed in each service, but a little box was there in the back for those who desired to give. These churches always seemed to fare quite well with this "Plymouth Brethren" idea. Most pastors would be scared to death to adopt this method! It is a matter of trusting God for all. Now, in this I am not saying that a collection should NEVER be taken. Of course there are occasions such as benevolence, special needs for the church facilities, a guest preacher or missionary, or emergency situations that would warrant "a passing of the hat". But, to my mind, though I believe in giving because "the Lord loveth a cheerful giver", it must be generous and from the heart, not grudgingly or forced.

When some churches "take the offering" rather than "receive" it, they really mean TAKE!

Just my thoughts for consideration in all humility,

Graceman <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bash.gif" alt="" />

graceman,



It appears to me that you agree with Calvin who said in his Institutes:


IMO, it's a sad state of affairs when chuch people believe that money <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bow.gif" alt="" /> of itself will somehow make Christians.

Denny

Romans 3:22-24

That Calvin quote hit it right on Denny. It should be the Spirit of God convicting and moving men toward salvation. Church membership should be a benefit of that not "they have a great blah-blah-blah program."

There are a lot of folks who look at the tithe as a measure of personal piety. Well, SBC folks anyway. I noticed that most of the sermons I ever heard on the subject were from the OT and we discussed this here a year or two ago. I mean, recently its all been covered up with good stewardship and other labels. At the root of it, though, I think it does more harm than good for a church to have too much money--which is what happens when everyone gets "convicted" about their "tithing".

I guess that goes for a denomination too.