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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | tithing | Acts 13:39 | FTimA | 65231 | ||
Tithing is an Old Testament practice carried over to the present. Paul, speaking to the Corinthians, says in 2 Cor 9:6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Again he says in 1 Cor 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. We are not bound today by the "one tenth" rule, but as Paul says, "God loves a cheerful giver" and sowing sparingly, reaps sparingly, sowing boutifully, reaps bountifully. This collection was to help the needy saints in Jerusalem. What happened after this need was satisfied? Did the brethren stop collecting, laying by, saving? This is a much debated issue and I will not get into it too deeply. I will only say that tithing today is not what tithing was when it began. Tithing is first mentioned in Gen 14:20. Abram gives Melchizedek (a priest of God Most High, vs 1) a tithe of all. I am sure those who read this are aware that tithe only means "one-tenth". Some principles of tithing can be learned in Deut. 14:22-29. It says here that the tithe was to be paid every third year (vs 28) and it was to only be a tithe "of that year". The things tithed were to support the Levitical preisthood, strangers, orphans, and widows (if I miss anything, please let me know). The lesson to be learned here is that Israel was to take one tenth of everything they possessed and contribute it to the Lord (for the above purposes). We today are not bound by tithing but we can read that Jesus and his disciples had a treasury, we know that in today's world it takes money to do just about everything and individual congregations are not excluded, maintaining a building, a minister, aid to the needy, etc. all take money. Whether we call it tithing or whatever is immaterial. |
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2 | tithing | Acts 13:39 | prayon | 65320 | ||
Greetings FTimA, Does not all we own belong to God? And if we are not bound by tithing does that mean that God wants us to give when we want to give? Does God not still say that we can have 90 percent but 10 percent belongs to Him? prayon | ||||||
3 | tithing | Acts 13:39 | FTimA | 65328 | ||
Yes all good things come from God and all that we have, all that we are, belongs to Him. We are bound to give. Whether a person chooses to call that tithing or not is a matter of choice, but in tithing a specific, set amount is required. The Christian today gives "as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly but cheerfully" (2 Cor 9:7). This may or may not be one-tenth and it doesn't matter if it is or not because we are only commanded to "give as we prosper" (1 Cor 16:2). Under the old law, God decided how much was to be given. Under the new law, God allows man to exercise his free will in deciding what he should give. Think about it. What was the purpose of tithing? To support the preisthood, orphans, strangers, and widows. Today, christians are the royal priesthood and need not be supported as the priesthood did in the past. Orphans and widows are supported in various ways, but tithing is not necessary to do so. As far as giving when we want to give, no, the bible doesn't teach us we have that much freedom. We are given an example that the collection or saving was to occur on the first day of the week. | ||||||