Why do christian still tithe?

[DearJudy,OurLord]

I found this great web site that breaks down the law of tithing

-->http://www.chicago-cog.org/tithes.htm

So if tithing is of the old why are churches still preaching it ..i know we need to support eachother to build gods churches but why do they preach like it is a must...Jesus preaches that giving to the needy is something that we should do........and that it has to be from our hearts .....Does anyone have insight?...I have advanced to romans but it seems this topic is haunting me I need some elders to help .....Thank you

your sister in christ

Edited February 16, 2005 by DearJudy,OurLord

[Leonard]

Just as salvation by faith predates the Law--and Paul says it is therefore still valid--even so tithing predates the Law.

[Guest hubertdorm]

I haven't seen tithing predate the Law. I have seen sacrifice however. That is something different. Help me out here Leonard.

[Leonard]

I haven't seen tithing predate the Law. I have seen sacrifice however. That is something different. Help me out here Leonard.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek is cited in the New Testament......

[Kabowd]

"Old Covenant" is just an excuse. If they (in the OT) could give under the Law, then those of us who are under grace should give even more. It's all in the attitude. Giving is an act of worship. Under the Old Covenant they were required to worship a certain way....so does that mean we no longer worship because we are under grace? Absolutely not. Those of us who have been redeemed under grace have even more reasons to give.

[DearJudy,OurLord]

Hebrews 7

1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 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: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Following are the only times "Tithe" occurs in the new testament:

Matthew 23:23 - 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.

Luke 11:42 - But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 18:12 - I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Hebrews 7:5 - 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:

Hebrews 7:6 - But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

Hebrews 7:8 - And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Hebrews 7:9 - And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

The first three times it was the Pharisees, who attempted to justify themselves through ceremonial law, that the word "tithe" was used in reference to. Now they were still under the Old Covenant, so naturally tithing was REQUIRED of them, but even then they were justified by faith, not law. The other four times are in Hebrews 7, all of which are referring to the Old Covenant.

The argument that Tithe is still an ordinance or required practice in the New Covenant because it "predates the law" is fallacious, because if that were the case, so does circumcision(Gen. 17:10), animal sacrifice(Gen. 3 and 4), drink offerings(Gen 28:18, 35:14), etc, but Paul addressed that in the epistle to the Galatians, which shows that they definitely aren't still in practice. In fact, all of those ordinances were part of the first covenant, originally given to Adam and Eve moments after the fall. The Lord killed an animal, probably a lamb, to make Adam and Eve's first full set of clothes! We see Abel offering up sacrifices in Gen. 4. All of this was part of the Old Covenant. Hebrews 7:18 above shows that the earthly priesthood was disanulled. Now it is true that every believer is a priest(1 Pet. 2:5, 2:9; Rev. 1:6, 5:10, 20:6). So then if tithing is still in effect, we would essentially be one big legalistic "share the wealth" program, since every believer is a priest, having priestly claim to the tithe. What do you know, that is what all the verses I described in the first post above amounts to concernnig widows and orphans, and without the need for an legalistic ordinance such as "tithing".

What we are left with is a "freely given" offering without coercion, to the work of the Lord either directly to the person in need, or to the church that it may then be distributed. Yes, full time evangelists have a right to live off the Gospel! I am not saying otherwise, but what I am saying is the instructions I have seen given to people who were struggling financially amounted to, "suck it up and keep paying tithe and God will bless you." That is wrong. The Lord said that the widow that cast in two mites, which almost certainly was far less then tithe, else there's no way she was even able to afford food; she had cast in more then all the pharisees and scribes and other rich people. In her heart she would have liked to afford ot have given as much as they could, but they gave only what they were required to give, when they could have given two or three times that much and really not even missed it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

WOW!!!!!! thanks ...this is what i needed ..bible refrence concerning tithe .....i knew something was wrong when fellow brother & sister would say to tithe is a tenth but then my uncle whos read the whole bible told me its of the old so i was so confused but now i have my brothers and sisters to correct but how.... when they will probably fight me in this .....but i guess i can print thinggs out for them in case the subject comes up .......hummm dunno .... the lord will show me the way!!......what do u think?

[Guest The Chief]

II Corinthians 8 and 9 discuss Christian giving. Paul discusses Macedonia's gift to the ministry in 8:1 - 5:

"Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God."

The Macedonians gave out of their poverty; "How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality."

The Macedonian church also gave generously: 2co 8:3 "For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;"

Further in these chapters;

We are entreated to give proportionately: "2co 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 2co 8:13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 2co 8:14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:"

We are entreated to give bountifully: "2co 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

We are entreated to give both willingly and cheerfully: 2co 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

I will not be one to tell another brother or sister in the Lord that they should not tithe if they believe the Scriptures say to do so...my question would be; if we are following the tenets outlined above, would not the majority of us give far and above the 10% given by tithing?

[apothanein kerdos]

"Old Covenant" is just an excuse. If they (in the OT) could give under the Law, then those of us who are under grace should give even more. It's all in the attitude. Giving is an act of worship. Under the Old Covenant they were required to worship a certain way....so does that mean we no longer worship because we are under grace? Absolutely not. Those of us who have been redeemed under grace have even more reasons to give.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Anyone see this?

[Guest Jacee]

The Chief

that's the best post I've ever read on giving. Thanks!

[DearJudy,OurLord]

Give out of the abundance of your heart. If you cannot afford tithe, or are struggling, give what you can. If you are wealthy, and tithe is less than you can afford, then give much. But the point is you are not under the yoke of bondage. You are under grace and Holy Spirit leading and conviction. Don't go and use my post as an excuse to give nothing at all for example. Not that I think you will, but I'm just clarifying my position here.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

and to clarify mine ....i want to give but i needed to know if the tithe was something still in effect in the NT ....and if i were to use your post its for my fellow brothers and sisters to see verses of the bible to get the message .....cool? u don't need to answer that ...I know u r cool