Personally I think that now we are under grace and not under law it is ridiculous and legalistic to insist that we give 10% of our income to the Lord.
It should be far more than that, because we have a far better covenant.
Well, amen to that.
People do get wierd when it comes to money, including those that that seem to have determined that their obedience to an Old Testament Law of 10% somehow endears them to the Father.
I got news for you. Nothing but the cross of Christ, His fulfillment of the law in your place and ones faith in that finished work endears one to God.
Tithing is certainly New Testament, but it is not 10%. That is too narrow an interpretation, and when you put it in such legalistic terms you then have to define 10% of what? The increase? The spoil? The gross or the net? Loans? Gifts? What about welfare? Food stamps? How many rules can we make to cover all the eventualities? Do we eat our tithe before the temple as the law instructs us? Or do we estimate our value and convert it to the local currency and give it to the pastor? Do we bring it to the house of God once a year, as the law instructs, or give it week by week?
C'mon people. Some/many have taken the WOF message and turned it into a new set of rules to be followed, as if our obedience to such will then garner the favour of God. Dont you know that nothing garners the favour of God but what Christ did for us, and our subsequent faith in that finished work? Gods favour is a promise, not an earned income.
Let me put it this way. Tithing is for today, like circumcision is for today, and like the sabbath is for today. Paul says that circumcision is of the heart for the believer, not in the flesh; and he also says that we who believe enter into the sabbath rest, because it is now a rest of faith, not the observance of a rest day. Similarly, tithing is for today, but it is not a dollar amount or a percentage, it is a matter of the heart, and obeying the Spirit of God.
Peace...
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Yet in both instances, we have a slightly metaphorical New Testament Model, that is not in agreement with the literal meaning either currently or in biblical history.
This doesn't by itself prove that the tithe is in the same category, however, it does show that it is reasonable to believe that it is, and undermines the credibility and certitude of saying simply "The tithe means 10%".
I dont say any of this to argue with you, I have great respect for you, and you are simply stating the predominant wisdom of current WOF theology, which I also respect; however, I don't hold WOF tradition to be sacred, and rightfully question some things. This is one of them.
However, to be fair, I don't really have any axe to grind about it, as long as ones conscience is clear, they are in good standing with the Father. My only beef is that this issue can cause condemnation among some, if it is taught as a matter of obligation, rather than liberty. I have even heard som teach about making up misssed tithes, to keep the devourer at bay, as if God responds to our obedience, rather than the fulfilled obedience of our Lord Jesus. If that is how they wish to play it, they are welcome to their own righteousness, but I will wear the righteousness of my Lord instead.
It is interesting to note, that there is no talk of the tithe outside of the gospels, excluding the one mention in Hebrews. It appears that the early church maintained their tithe to the jewish temple, and gave freewill offerings to the church. I wonder what some preachers would say to that today? There is after all no instruction in the Bible to give the tithe to the local church. This is simply an inference, not neccesarily a bad one, but an inference nonetheless.
Peace...
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
2 Corinthians: 9:6: Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 9:7: Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. 9:8: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. 9:9: As it is written, "He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever." 9:10: Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; 9:11: you being enriched in everything to all liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God. 9:12: For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through many givings of thanks to God; 9:13: seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all; 9:14: while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. 9:15: Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
sorry this came out so large, copy and pasted from an online bible reference. Anyway, we(my family) have started to tithe. On top of tithing we give offerings and special offerings and missionary offerings and etc. whatever the Lord puts on our hearts to give. I'm not saying any of this to bring glory to myself or anything. What i'm saying is, before i started tithing, God healed me, saved me, gave me a second chance, blessed me with answered prayer, and has been so good to me and my family. I felt in my heart that I should tithe. So i do. Not everyone agrees about preachers making money off the gospel, but thats how they make their living, and thats what brings the gospel forth to the church. It's biblical. Paul and the apostles in the first church went out with nothing and worked for their keep while they spread the word but later he says this in 1 Corinthians 9:7-12:
7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not 1use the milk of the flock?
8 I am not speaking these things according to 1human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things?
9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He?
10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops.
11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
anyway, i personally feel that we should tithe. it supports the ministry and whether or not the church or person recieving the blessing has the right motives, i believe the person giving will still be blessed regardless because of their faith and obedience to God.
my .02. oh and i had a question...what is the difference between WOFand full gospel? I'm asking because I believe what is written, no more no less, well except what the Holy Spirit leads me to believe as far as instruction and such.
We don't tithe, but that's not my decision, it's my husband's. I wish I could, but he says we need to pay off our debts first.
Find SOME way to give then. Giving will pay those debts off MUCH faster, even tho it goes against the world way of thought. If you seek by faith, you will find.
oh and i had a question...what is the difference between WOFand full gospel? I'm asking because I believe what is written, no more no less, well except what the Holy Spirit leads me to believe as far as instruction and such.
Linear Mode
