Is it Godly to demand rights as a tither?

[Shempster]

Tithing was originally done way before Moses. It was a blessing to the Lord, not an obligation.
In modern times, it is an obligation for those who love money.
Those who love God freely give any amount to anyone who needs it, which reflects the original purpose.

BTW...it wasn't money that was tithed, but a 10th of ones crops.

 

[RaymondG]

BTW...it wasn't money that was tithed, but a 10th of ones crops.

That's good to know.....I'll be sitting a bag of cucumbers and tomatoes by the tithes box this Sunday. If you see me at your church next Sunday, know that your crops idea didn't fly.

 

[SkyWriting]

Well, that's Kenneth Copeland. Most Christians probably would say that his view of a lot of issues is atypical or questionable.

I vote questionable. That seems fair.

 

[SkyWriting]

This is why I hate the use of the word tithe. a tithe is a tax put on by the church. if anything you tithe to the church seek or make your demands to the church. God in the NT does not require a tithe.God demands all of it. you in the NT are not allowed to keep anything for yourself. You bring all to god with an open hand and allow him to take what he wants or put into your hand what he is asking you to care for.

God requests that we acknowledge that everything comes from Him and giving the firstfruits, the first 10%, the first crops....those are a way for us to acknowledge and remember that the entire amount of our benefits are from Him.

 

[Der Alte]

Tithing was originally done way before Moses. It was a blessing to the Lord, not an obligation.
In modern times, it is an obligation for those who love money.
Those who love God freely give any amount to anyone who needs it, which reflects the original purpose.
BTW...it wasn't money that was tithed, but a 10th of ones crops.

Deuteronomy 14:22-25
(22) Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
(23) And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
(24) And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
(25) Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:

 

[Shempster]

Deuteronomy 14:22-25
(22) Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
(23) And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
(24) And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
(25) Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:

my bad

 

[RaymondG]

Deuteronomy 14:22-25
(22) Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
(23) And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
(24) And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
(25) Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:

But if you read further, doesn't it state that, once you reach the destination, you are to turn the money back into produce and also use some of the money to bye wine and anything rise your heart desires for yourself?

When you cut the scripture off here, it would seem to imply justification for giving money as tithes....When, in fact, the priest never took money for tithes.

 

[RDKirk]

Deuteronomy 14:24-27
(22) Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
(23) And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
(24) And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
(25) Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:

What are you trying to indicate?

24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee:

25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose:

26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, -- Deuteronomy 14:24-26

Did you intentionally leave off the rest of that sentence where God says to buy food with that money, and thus still tithe food and not money?

 

[Der Alte]

What are you trying to indicate?
24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee:
25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose:
26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, -- Deuteronomy 14:24-26
Did you intentionally leave off the rest of that sentence where God says to buy food with that money, and thus still tithe food and not money?

What happens to the tithe if it isn't turned in to money? It is still a tithe whether turned into money or not.

 

[RDKirk]

What happens to the tithe if it isn't turned in to money? It is still a tithe whether turned into money or not.

There is no "what if" to consider. God was explicit in His instructions about the tithe.

Do it the way He instructed, exactly the way He instructed, or don't do it at all. Do not offer "strange incense" and think He will still be pleased.

 

[RaymondG]

What happens to the tithe if it isn't turned in to money? It is still a tithe whether turned into money or not.

When turned into money, it was no longer tithes. It had to be changed back into goods once the destination was reached. This exchange was allowed only in the event that you had to far too travel or too much to carry.

 

[RDKirk]

When turned into money, it was no longer tithes. It had to be changed back into goods once the destination was reached. This exchange was allowed only in the event that you had to far too travel or too much to carry.

Yes, and the fact that God directs the money to be converted to food proves without doubt that God's intention is for the tithe to be food.

God's real point of the tithe is not the transfer of wealth. The tithe is not even a sacrifice (and that needs to be made clear: The tithe is not a sacrifice). The point of the tithe is the meal itself, the coming together of the nation in giant pot luck fellowship meal.

Why is the tithe not a sacrifice? Because a sacrifice is burned to God. The tithe was not burned, it was consumed by the people.

 

[brocke]

The way I see it, tithing is something we should want to do and not something we should do to get something in return. Looking at this article here:

http://blog.kcm.org/3-tithers-rights-every-christian-know/

that article is suggesting to me that we can demand rights as tither. I am not sure if should "demand" anything from God?

We are to serve God not the other way around. Tithe is a charitable offering in my view as a result once I have given it away it is not up to me what happens. However I do like something I heard Anthony Campolo once say, "God here is my 10% do with it as you will. If I starve now its on you."

 

[drich0150]

Maybe you'd be happier with the word blessing rather than gift. The parable of the talents is perfect. The master blessed each one of them by giving them the opportunity to improve/enlarge that blessing. He only gave them what they were capable of increasing, what they could handle.
The talents are about service to God's kingdom. Whether that be in artist talents, parenting, money, even intelligence, etc. and especially to those who are entrusted to preach the Gospel.
The one hid his light under a basket.

was that "blessing" a gift as you put in in your last post? did it belong to the servants? if not then why do you suppose what God had given you a gift and that it belongs to you where as the servants 'gift/blessing' belong to the master and was given them to increase? why are you different that what the parable shows?

 

[Hank77]

was that "blessing" a gift as you put in in your last post? did it belong to the servants? if not then why do you suppose what God had given you a gift and that it belongs to you where as the servants 'gift/blessing' belong to the master and was given them to increase? why are you different that what the parable shows?

I think we are having a problem with semantics.
This is what I said...
"Whatever I may have God has given it to me. The question is, what am I going to do with the gifts God has given me?"
Gifts/blessings.
I'm not saying that what God gives, doesn't belong to him. I'm saying that when He gives me something I am responsible to use whatever it is for His glory.
The reason I said that I see it somewhat differently was because God gives it and allows me the liberty to make the decision what to do with it, just like He did with the slaves in the parable of the talents. That doesn't mean that there won't be consequences for using what He gives inappropriately.

2Co 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
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.
2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

In reference to the OP question about tithing, there isn't any liberty in tithing. It was not a choice on what to give, how much to give, or where to give it. Like the rest of OT law, there are if/then statements. If you do this, I /God will do this.
If you talk to SOME tithers, people who give a tenth because of the OT, remind God of His words and don't see that as demanding something from God.

 

[drich0150]

God requests that we acknowledge that everything comes from Him and giving the firstfruits, the first 10%, the first crops....those are a way for us to acknowledge and remember that the entire amount of our benefits are from Him.

you do know you are not an Old Testament Jew Right?

 

[RDKirk]

God requests that we acknowledge that everything comes from Him and giving the firstfruits, the first 10%, the first crops....those are a way for us to acknowledge and remember that the entire amount of our benefits are from Him.

Tithe and firstfruits were not the same thing. The tithe was a totally different thing from the firstfruits.

In fact, by the way God worded His command, the tithe was explicitly not to be the "first 10%."

Nor was it supposed to be the "best." In fact, God penalized people who tithed the "best."

 

[Hank77]

Nor was it supposed to be the "best." In fact, God penalized people who tithed the "best."

Whichever tenth one that passed under the rod with all it's spots and blemishes. Just like us.

 

[RDKirk]

Whichever tenth one that passed under the rod with all it's spots and blemishes. Just like us.

Yes. God's decree about that was for a purpose.

The tithed animals that went to the land-less Levites would be used by the Levites for their own sin sacrifices. This way, the Levites would get animals of random quality just as the the shepherds originally got animals of random quality, so the Levites would have to make their own selection of the best they had for their sacrifices.

 

[Nic2018]

Tithing is important in any ones life or family life.
I do believe that we should give out of a good heart (not based on emotion or guilt) but lead by the holy spirit.
Tithing also gives us a habit of trusting god with our money and our gifts to.

But with that said it is our rights as believers and followers of jesus christ to know who we are giving to and what is being used with our money. (Not mirco manage but to see what its benefiting the kingdom of god. Yes i know sometimes or most of the times we wont see results only god can but we as christians should test the waters of the person or ministry etc.) This does not go out to the grandma who gives to the nightly telethon preacher, god will judge them when the time comes.