Bible Question: I don't see any big deal or issue as to whether tithing is O.T. or N.T., under law or grace; I think it is a matter of attitude and the love for God, His church and the Spreading of the Gospel. The question I see that is rather more interesting to discuss about and which I think may help open the understanding of many on tithing issues is God's challenge - PROVE ME: the challenge to tithers |
Bible Answer: Did you mean "to non-tithers"? “God’s Challenge to Non-Tithers”? I take it that the tithers already have God pouring out the blessings and it is the non-tithers who need to see what God would do if they tithed. If that system was in operation today we could prove what we wanted to prove by simply doing a statistical analysis comparing tithers to non-tithers. It should be easy to see who had received the blessings. But now, if, as you suggest, the issue is not tithing but proving God that is the issue, how do you suggest we do that? We could look for some other conditional promise and give God some time, and if he doesn't come through with the expected blessings, then what? It might just remind us that tithing is a command which, like the offering of lambs, belongs under the old covenant. The new covenant asks us to give sacrificially, and when we do that, we are not looking for anything in return. We do not want to prove God now. God has already proven everything. On the cross. He has gone before and given us all the blessings. On the cross. Now, it is our turn to give. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. Everything belongs to God, and we are the stewards, and we use and give according to the need, according to Luke 6:36, 1 Cor 9 and 2 Cor 9, 1 John 3:17, etc. I wonder if there is any place in the new covenant where we are told or invited or encouraged to prove God. We walk by faith now, I think, not by sight. |