I respectfully disagree with your statement here. I have heard many people that have found freedom in giving a tithe. This freedom has brought happiness and a desire to give even more.
Are you saying you think they found freedom in observing the Law? Is that what THEY said, or are you assuming that on your own?
Furthermore, there is biblical support for this: that all things belong to God and tithing is to remind us of that fact and that He entrusts us to use what we have wisely.
Can you show me from the scriptures where tithing is said to be a tool of demonstration for showing it all belongs to God, and to use what we have wisely? From what I've read, the tithe was for the meeting of needs for five main groups; Levites, priests, orphans, widows and strangers in the land.
Where did any of the apostles intimate the continuance of the tithe to demonstrate the things you listed? I'd really like to see it if you wouldn't mind showing it to us all.
When we consecrate part of our wealth to our Lord, you can believe that there is a blessing that follows.
How does that have anything to do with the tithe? No wage earner in OT times were required to tithe to the Levites, only those who possessed producing fields, orchards, vineyards, flocks and/or herds.
What I can't figure out is the bridge you appear to be trying to build between a concept and what later became a part of the Law. Building upon one aspect of the Law makes one guilty of it all.
I fully understand the emotional appeals you're making...appeals that some assume to be spiritual, but in the end it robs people of their freedom in Christ Jesus.
The principle can been seen throughout the Bible, even from Cain and Abel. Abel brought the first-fruits and God was pleased. Cain did not. His heart did not have the right attitude. As Jesus says (Luke 11:42, Matthew 23:23), the more important matters are faithfulness, justice and love but both are good.
Where the tithe was concerned, Jesus was addressing a people who were still under the Law, so I still don't see the connection.
If you don't support tithing, that's your choice but please understand that not everyone who gives their first-fruits (being a tenth) is 'enslaved', under demands or in fear. These give joyfully to the Lord and make no requirement of others.
I understand that point. The main point I was making is that tithe teachings are based upon a false premise, and that premise being that tithing is pleasing to the Lord. Handing the primary, largest portion of one's giving to institutionalized religion, in most cases, is a robbery of God when the majority of what's given is absorbed by the institution before meeting the needs of fellow believers.
No amount of experience in what one may assume is "blessing" from God, while ignoring the needs of others, and instead supporting something from which the members directly benefit, will never be shown to have originated from the NT scriptures in relation to God's priorities in giving.
Warm fuzzies are not a barometer for God's acceptance of one's actions. He allows professing believers to practice disobedience, and to reap their earthly rewards for such. To assume the Lord winks at such speaks more clearly of spiritual blindness than it does to being a giant among believers.
BTW
