Tithing

[TertiusC]

I'm looking for clarity on Tithing as a Messianic believer right now. Some help would be... helpful!

As a Christian I believed the following.

1. Tithing was not Christian (only a Torah commandment).
2. Tithing was only from crops and animals (things that could be eaten) not financial. I don't know if they tithed animals that were treif.
3. The Tithes totaled rougly 23.3%.

With that in mind.

How do you practice the laws of tithing? Do you add money or do you just follow the laws on tithing as commanded?

Do you have a local group that you give to for the tithe for the feasts? Or just keep the crops yourself for the time of feasting?

Did you start tithing when you became messianic from non-tithing Christianity?

 

[visionary]

Here is a thread in which you could probably get a lot of your questions answered..

http://www.christianforums.com/t7103628/

If after reading through this, you still have questions, then they can be more specific.

 

[ProScribe]

Just donate some $ to the offertory tithe in your church.

 

[TertiusC]

Just donate some $ to the offertory tithe in your church.

I have to be clear here. I'm not talking about offerings or giving, but specifically about tithing and it's application for a Torah observant believer. Obviously if you're not Torah observant, tithing doesn't apply to you. And tithing is solely commanded to be an offering of livestock or produce.

I'll look around Visionary.

 

[ContraMundum]

Someone asked me if I tithed according to the OT- I told them I didn't have the bank account to the tribe of Levi nor did I know where their grain stores were. (Interesting that tithing a tenth was found among the pagans before the Jews. If it were a NT doctrine no doubt some people here would discard it as an impure "pagan" influence and blame Constantine for it)

Personally I think one should earn all they can, save all they can and give all they can (and the guy to first say that died with 6 English pounds to his name but left behind hundreds of charities, orphanages, sowed the seeds of abolition and so forth- an exceedingly inspiring life that puts giving in perspective)

 

[mizzdy]

The first tithe was by Abram who gave to God first of the good he and those with him gave to Melchezidek then the King of Sodom wanted the rest for which Abraham said that he would take nothing that was not his except what the men have eaten and a portion that went to Aner, Eschol and Mamre.

The tithes were only to the Levites to take care of tabernacle/temple, to feed the widows and orphans etc. No where that I can find does it tell us to give ten percent of our money to the church because if that was true we also would need to give whatever is our increase also, we would end up having no money to keep food on our tables etc. As others may have said we are to give freely with our hearts, we should support the work churches, outreach programs etc. because they should be in the 'business' of spreading Gods word and helping others in a godly fashion and mind. If we cannot give finanically then give of ourselves through prayer or volunteering if you can. I am not sure how many of you here know a teacher named Jim Staley but he did a talk in Torah 2 the Nations about tithing its a great talk, I cannot post the link I don't have enough posts to do that, but you can google if your interested.

 

[Lulav]

I live in a nutshell by Johns words which Yeshua did not correct nor contradict:

And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.

And Yeshua when asked said:

Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Oh, and paraphrasing here.

'freely you have received, freely give'

I do this in everything.

 

[TertiusC]

The first tithe was by Abram who gave to God first of the good he and those with him gave to Melchezidek then the King of Sodom wanted the rest for which Abraham said that he would take nothing that was not his except what the men have eaten and a portion that went to Aner, Eschol and Mamre.

Well, this was a tenth, not really the three commanded tithes, and it wasn't commanded at all. But I don't think we really need to get into that except if someone wants to make an argument out of it.

I do agree with the rest of your sentiment. Giving etc. is a different topic, this is purely theological.

 

[TertiusC]

I live in a nutshell by Johns words which Yeshua did not correct nor contradict:

And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.

And Yeshua when asked said:

Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Oh, and paraphrasing here.

'freely you have received, freely give'

I do this in everything.

Agreed. I'm not sure if you are insinuating something about "and unto God the things that are God's" to do with tithing?

 

[Lulav]

Insinuating? what do you mean?

 

[TertiusC]

I'm just making sure.

I made a post specifically on tithing and you didn't point to tithing in your post. I just didn't want to misunderstand

 

[chetermezacha]

There was a time when tithes were given in a church then immediately afterwards the funds would be handed to the poor who waited outside, this was one of the rare good things that the Catholics did but of course there was a cut taken out for, i dont know, administration...(this was the way it was originally as all the funds of a congregation was brought together to aid the poor among the disciples, and Stephen was the one who administered these funds).

The protestant reformation caused an issue because this practice began to diminish, the result of which was a tithing that went to support the clergy and nothing else. This ideology has been transfered to the modern church as well as most messianic congregations that use funds to support ministers or rabbis, not the poor and not the levite.
This is not to say that ministers and rabbis shouldnt be supported but that is something else, the tithe was something else also and, as has been pointed out, it was not financial...for me I encourage the re-establishment of the levite order in the Temple, to clear up any confusion

 

[Lulav]

I'm just making sure.

I made a post specifically on tithing and you didn't point to tithing in your post. I just didn't want to misunderstand

Yes, I was saying this regarding tithing:

and unto God the things that are God's

By using the word 'insinuating' it did not sound like that's all you are making sure of. Insinuating means to suggest or hint at something in a negative way. I see no how I did that. That is why I asked.

Of course giving to G-d what belongs to him is speaking of tithing in a way and much more. That is why I gave you my take on it in a nutshell.

I have looked through some of my many files and found the one on Messianic tithing. I got these from online but it must have been so long ago they are no longer available. What I can do if you are truly interested is to scan them and send them to you in an email. If you are interested in this just send me a PM here.

There are two papers, one written by someone at a Sukkot conference (I don't have a name) and the other was written as a lesson for Messianic believers. Both give numerous scripture references and good lessons on what it really should be.