Results 1 - 7 of 7
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | PROVE ME: God's challenge to tithers | Bible general Archive 2 | Morant61 | 102528 | ||
Greetings EdB! Just to be nitpicking my friend, Matthew 23:23 was addressed to Jews. Jews were obligated under the Law to tithe. So, it was accurate for Jesus to say that they 'ought' to have tithed. But, what about Christians? There is no command anywhere for Christians to tithe. Now, that doesn't mean that I don't believe in tithing. I believe in 'giving', and tithing is an excellent way to discipline oneself to give. Further, most denominations have a 'tithing' requirement for membership. So, as a member, I have made a comittment to tithe. So, while I would not go so far as to say that tithing is required or commanded for Christians, I definitely believe in, practice, and preach the principle. :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | PROVE ME: God's challenge to tithers | Bible general Archive 2 | EdB | 102562 | ||
Tim Not to nitpick myself we can say about 90 percent of the Bible is addressed to the Jews and in most laws that we hold near and dear were never directed directly at Christians. Thou shall not covet thy neighbors wife. You can say Jesus covered this in by saying do unto others as you would have them do unto you but then what about wife swapping? We know that is wrong but why? Because it was a moral code that God gave to His people it stood then and it stands today. I think we need to take the Bible as universally talking to God's people whether they be Children of Israel or gentiles adopted and grafted in. Then there are those that say we are no longer under the law. Your right we don’t have to strive to keep the law in attempt to secure our salvation but we should strive to keep it to be pleasing to God our Father. It not longer becomes a question of whether we have to or not it now becomes something we just do. Besides tithing was and still is a way to show honor long before the law came into being. EdB |
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3 | PROVE ME: God's challenge to tithers | Bible general Archive 2 | khuck | 102612 | ||
Not to be nitpicking (giggle) I found a bit more clarity on the subject. (An excerpt from John Myers on tithing.) Deuteronomy 14:22-29, especially verses 24-26, These verses explain the Old Testament principles of tithing, which lay the foundation for church offerings in the New Testament, which is, of course, our time as modern-day Christians. As Christians today we are living under New Testament grace, not under the Old Testament law. For instance, Old Testament law commands disobedient sons be taken outside the gates of the city and stoned to death by the people. That's probably a bit harsher than most Christians want to deal with their disobedient children, not to mention it would be highly illegal. But the principle behind that Old Testament law remains for these New Testament times: children should still be made to obey their parents. Allowing disobedience with no consequences is a sure way to raise up a child who will be big trouble to society as a whole, as well as being a heartache all the days of the lives of the parents. Tithing in the Old Testament was very simple. Give to the Lord one tenth of every thing you possess, from your crops, from your flocks, literally everything. Jesus notes in the New Testament that the religious Pharisees even tithed of tiny plants like mint and herbs. So the real principle behind tithing is putting God first in all things, not only in our possessions, but our conduct, especially in regard to how we treat others. If we say we love God and then cheat and rob our brothers, we're the same as the Pharisees -- hypocrites. While we may not observe the letter of the law of the Old Testament, the principles laid down there still apply in these New Testament times, like tithing and worship. The New Testament rules for tithing are also clear, as directed by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:7, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." Nowhere in the New Testament are believers told to tithe. What you give to the Lord and His work is entirely between you and Him, and what He directs you to do in your heart. In my experience, I have always felt comfortable giving more than a tenth of my income. Basically Ed I think it's the principle of the thing. -khuck |
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4 | PROVE ME: God's challenge to tithers | Bible general Archive 2 | EdB | 102634 | ||
khuck I hear you but once again I go back to what Jesus said you tithe as you ought to. I also agree with Paul we should tithe and do it freely knowing our salvation is secure, but honoring God with what is precious to us. EdB |
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5 | PROVE ME: God's challenge to tithers | Bible general Archive 2 | khuck | 102649 | ||
Ed, Jesus was speaking directly to the Pharisees (TEACHERS OF THE LAW) and admonishing them for their hypocrisy, because they were not honest in their dealings, and they imposed these Laws unjustly on the people (Jews). He was speaking concerning the Law and the fact that the Pharisees obsereved only the parts of the Laws that benefitted themselves. You noted Matthew 23 with in it's context Jesus is definately speaking to points of Law and not Grace or the Church. 13 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of RELIGIOUS LAW and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you won't let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and you won't go in yourselves. 14 Some manuscripts add How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You shamelessly cheat widows out of their property, and then, to cover up the kind of people you really are, you make long prayers in public. Because of this, your punishment will be the greater. 15 Yes, how terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are. 23 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, tithe the mint, the dill, and the cumin. but you ignore the important things of the law – justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. ("But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone," Luke 11:42. They pinched off leaves from a mint plant to tithe, but then cheated and robbed their fellow men, Jesus says of these hypocrites. So the real principle behind tithing is putting God first in all things, not only in our possessions, but our conduct, especially in regard to how we treat others. If we say we love God and then cheat and rob our brothers, we're the same as the Pharisees -- hypocrites.) 24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won't accidentally swallow a gnat; then you swallow a camel! 25 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy – full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 Blind Pharisees! First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean, too. 27 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs – beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. 28 You try to look like upright people outwardly, but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed and decorate the graves of the godly people your ancestors destroyed. 30 Then you say, 'We never would have joined them in killing the prophets.' 31 "In saying that, you are accusing yourselves of being the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead. Finish what they started. 33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell? It really pays to put scripture in it's entire CONTEXT. Therefore Ed, I changed my mind, it is not the principle ... IT'S THE LAW. (Thank God that grace abounds) -khuck |
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6 | PROVE ME: God's challenge to tithers | Bible general Archive 2 | EdB | 102723 | ||
Khuck You said,"So the real principle behind tithing is putting God first in all things, not only in our possessions, but our conduct, especially in regard to how we treat others. If we say we love God and then cheat and rob our brothers, we're the same as the Pharisees -- hypocrites.)" And the reverse of that is true if we say we love God but are too fearful to trust him with our money they once again we are hypocrites. :-) EdB |
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7 | PROVE ME: God's challenge to tithers | Bible general Archive 2 | khuck | 102757 | ||
EdB, (Good try) The reverse of what I wrote would be, "If we cheat and rob our brothers, how can we say we love God." You have taken all that I said out of context and removed the very point of the subject: Are Christians commanded to tithe or is tithing a Rabbinical Law? I used the scripture that you quoted in it's context to show that Jesus was in fact speaking to the teachers of the Law and the pharisees, regarding their unjust, stingy and dishonest conduct concerning that same law. The principle I stated was putting God first in all things. Therefore before, I write that check, I acknowledge it as a gift from Him to me and I seek His for guidance as to giving it. I never mentioned whether I was afraid to trust God with my funds or not. LOL. That's between Him and me as to how I have used what He has blessed me with and it is not a matter of Law. Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:7, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." -khuck |
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