To tithe or not to tithe...

[onionring]

Do you keep the Sabbath on Saturday? If so, how?

The commandant is to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy, not keep the Sabbath on Saturday. If you believe that Sabbath is Saturday, rather than a of a day of worship...then go to church (or temple) on Saturday. If you don't believe in the Sabbath at all, then why argue the point? Simple.

Do you wear clothing that contains more than one type of thread? What authority do you rely upon to know what Laws you are still bound by, and which you are not?

What authority? Simple common sense and a small knowledge of the Bible. Since most people have both (to some degree), I find it hard to understand why you are asking me this. Here's the way I see it. If they are God's laws, defined by God, then follow them always. If the are Jewish laws, defined for the governing of the Jews, then they may not apply other than being common sense judgments. Use common sense and knowledge of the Bible and run with it. Lacking those things will make it difficult.

Well, we better find Paul's phone number so that we can tell him that he completely got it wrong when he declared that each man should give whatsoever he purposes in his heart.

Sounds like we (Paul & I) agree on this point. Both are saying pay tithe. Are you saying tithe is a fixed 10% of your income? Perhaps this is the root of your confusion.
The fact that you think you can call Paul (the apostle dude is dead, man) and think he completely wrong, kind of degrades the weight of your arguement.

To whom do you say that we should give our tithe? A "church" institution?" Is giving to an institutional "church" synonymous with giving to the Lord? If so, why? There are very few "churches" that do with the tithe exactly what the Law demands. What then?

So you are stating that you believe the Church is an institution. Actually "the Church" is a body of believers with a focus on God. If you have not experienced this, then I can understand your confusion. Yet in your confusion you bring up a good point.

To say that a church is an institution is to say it is empty and without purpose. So no...do not give tithe to an institutional church. Tithing is an act of worship, so it doesn't really make sense for non-Christians to be concerned about it. However if you are a Christian, then it is not only your responsibility to tithe; It is you responsibility to seek out a "Church" (real not "institution") in which to give and worship at. So, yes...give your tithe to your "Church", as you are sponsoring God's work & people and not an institution.

 

[swordman]

The commandant is to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy, not keep the Sabbath on Saturday.

I was simply trying to make sense of your post #14 in this thread. You stated that we should pay a tithe, and that the 10 commandments are also in the Old Testament. I was asking you what authority states that we should pay tithes. Words mean things, and your words did not line up with what it written, so I was simply trying to get clarification.

As to your statement about the sabbath, well, Ex. 31:14 clearly speaks of keeping the sabbath. There is no verse to my knowledge that says anything abour "honoring" the sabbath.

Here's the way I see it. If they are God's laws, defined by God, then follow them always. If the are Jewish laws, defined for the governing of the Jews, then they may not apply other than being common sense judgments. Use common sense and knowledge of the Bible and run with it. Lacking those things will make it difficult.

Who do you think the law of tithing was directed at?

Sounds like we (Paul & I) agree on this point. Both are saying pay tithe. Are you saying tithe is a fixed 10% of your income? Perhaps this is the root of your confusion.

The root of my confusion? What do you think that word "tithe" means? Also, can you show me a statement where Paul of Tarsus said anything about our tithing?

The fact that you think you can call Paul (the apostle dude is dead, man) and think he completely wrong, kind of degrades the weight of your arguement.

Well, dude, I said nothing about Paul being wrong. I stated what he said when he declared that each man should give whatsoever he purposes in his heart. How is that calling him wrong? I was quoting him as an authority.

So you are stating that you believe the Church is an institution.

No, I did not. You really need to read my statements for what they say rather than making a case out of nothing. I was saying the institutional "churches" are not the Church. Not one of those man-made institutions is representative of the Church universal., or even the local Church.

Actually "the Church" is a body of believers with a focus on God. If you have not experienced this, then I can understand your confusion. Yet in your confusion you bring up a good point.

You sure like that word "confusion," but in your pointing out that I am confused, you at the same time are confused about what I said, so who REALLY is confused?

To say that a church is an institution is to say it is empty and without purpose.

Institutional "churches" are nothing but a collection man-made organizations, the purpose of which varies from organization to organization. They all have the freedom to focus upon whatever they choose. The Church universal is, I agree, all believers who hold Christ to be their Lord, therefore not defined by anything man errects with "hay, wood and stubble." Having buildings and the religious ceremonies and exercises within those buildings are what they have the freedom to exercise, but to assume that those buildings and those activities are THE Church is to stretch the limits of credability. The Church is much more than any man-made system of institutions could possibly represent.

So no...do not give tithe to an institutional church.

No I do not. Giving a tithe to those "church" organizations that teach that we are bound by the Law of tithes, and yet not DOING with the tithe what that same Law demands, well, THAT, dude, is called hypocrisy.

Tithing is an act of worship, so it doesn't really make sense for non-Christians to be concerned about it.

This must be your opinion, because the word of God nowhere declares paying tithes to be an act of worship. That is nothing but emotional language.

However if you are a Christian, then it is not only your responsibility to tithe; It is you responsibility to seek out a "Church" (real not "institution") in which to give and worship at.

Well, dude, I see you making all kinds of talk, but no references from the Bible. Where did Paul say that it is our responsibility to tithe? Also, if I am gathered together with one other person in the name of Jesus, THAT is a Biblical gathering of believers. I have Jesus' own words to back that in Mat 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

So, yes...give your tithe to your "Church", as you are sponsoring God's work & people and not an institution.

If I give to a poor family, I am being more faithful in my giving than those who give to a "church" institution. You can search the Old Testament and see for yourself that the tithe was STRICTLY for the purpose of meeting needs, not for errecting buildings, chandeliers, carpeting, pews, sound equipment, etc., etc. What can you show me? Anything? Perhaps showing me where Paul said anything about us paying tithes would be a good start.....if you ever find it. I doubt that you will because I have studied the word of God for many years, and have been teaching it at the university level for years, so I have the greatest of confidence that you will not be able to show me what is not there.

Dr. Don Dean