Tithing

[doc]

It is indeed "merit" to consider tithing essential for salvation.  That premise is from a frightened heart that does not trust God for our provisions - personal, home, congregation or nation.

Tithing is an OT teaching and has no NT support.  In fact, in the New Covenant tithing restricts generous giving by the impression that 10% is good enough for God.  How can you be "led by the Spirit" if there is a Old Covenant carryover that restricts it?  The Pharisees were ridiculed for tithing of herbs and spices.  We are under grace, not law

True stewardship is giving of your service, time, prayers and money as The Lord directs and has no formulas.

doc

[linssue55]

I was reading on another forum that oneness teach that tithing is required for salvation.
I believe that a person should support their church, but I have not been taught tithing is required to be saved. What are your thoughts?

bluelake

The Doctrine of Tithing....

1. Dealing with the pre-Mosaic occurrences. Twice before the Mosaic law tithing is mentioned in the Bible as a system of taxation, related also to spiritual life. The first is where Abraham gave a tenth of the best part of the spoils to Melchizedek — Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:2,6. The second was where Jacob, after his vision at Bethel, consecrated ten per cent of his property to God if he returned home safely. Why did he do that? Because Jacob was far from home, and home was the place where he paid his taxes. So he said, “All right God, I’m going to bribe you to get me home. I’ll pay my taxes now, instead of when I get home.”

            2. Definition. A tithe was ten per cent of Jewish income tax where both the unbeliever and the believer paid. Abraham as a believer became a citizen of Melchizedek’s kingdom and that’s why he paid ten per cent.

            3. The categories of tithing in Israel. a) To the Levites went ten per cent for the maintenance and sustenance of the Levitical priesthood — Numbers 18:20-21, 24; Hebrews 7:5,9. This may seem to authorise a national church. It does not. You must remember that in the previous dispensation it was the Levitical priesthood who handled all of the national holidays. They offered all the sacrifices at every one of the special feasts as well as the feast of the trumpets, on the first day of each month. b) A tenth was to be used for the sacred feasts and sacrifices - Deuteronomy 12:17-19; 14:22-27. Every third year there was a third ten per cent taxation. This was for a charity tax for the poor of the land (This was not welfare, it was charity) - Deuteronomy 14:28,29.

            4. Gospel references — Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42, are illustrative of references to tithing in the Gospels. Whenever you find a reference to tithing in the Gospels it illustrates the distortion of the law through legalism. The references there all have to do with the condemnation of legalism. The Talmud extension of the Mosaic law distorted the entire concept of tithing. The Pharisees at the time of our Lord extended it to the minutest details of life not required by the Mosaic law.

            5. Tithing is also mentioned in connection with an income tax evasion — Leviticus 27:30-34. This passage forbids the substituting of one animal for another in the payment of tax. The penalty was one fifth more of your income.

            6. The perpetuation of the income tax principle is also mentioned in Matthew 22:17-21; Mark 12:13-17 - the concept that income tax is a bona fide function.

            7. Tithing is not a part of New Testament giving, it has nothing to do with the Church Age. In 1 Corinthians 16:1,2 tithing has never been spiritual giving at all in the Church Age. The amount that you give to the local church is strictly between you and the Lord, it does not have to be ten per cent, more or less. Giving is the expression of worship of the royal priesthood and therefore is not related with tithing, and never can be. Why? Because while the priesthood can receive ten per cent it can never give ten per cent to anyone. The royal priesthood is the highest of all priesthoods and as such it never deals in ten per cent. 2 Corinthians chapters 8 & 9 has a detailed dissertation on giving for the royal priesthood. Tithing is never mentioned as related to giving in this dispensation (church age) . If ANY so called spiritual organization (churches-ministries)  today asks for tithes, they are evil, they are corrupt, and we are commanded (this is an ORDER from God) to stay away from them.

 

            Tithing

            Tithing is not spiritual giving in the Old Testament. Spiritual giving is limited to believers only and tithing was a ten per cent income tax under the Mosaic Law, Codex number three, which deals with the laws of divine establishment.

            Actually there were three ten per cent taxes under the ten percent rule of income tax in the Mosaic Law. First there was the tithe or ten percent income tax for all Jewish citizens, believers and unbelievers, for the maintenance of the Levites — Numbers 18:21,24. The second ten per cent income tax from all Jewish citizens was to defray the cost of the feasts and sacrifices — Deuteronomy 14:22-24. And the third ten per cent or tithe, income tax from all Jewish citizens, believers and unbelievers, was to be paid every third year for the relief of the poor in the land — Deuteronomy 14:28,29 [charity and not socialism].

            Remember that the tithe is defined in the scripture as a ten per cent income tax for the citizens of Israel only, both believers and unbelievers. Because it included unbelievers and because it was a tax it is not regarded as spiritual giving, it is regarded as an obligation called income tax. Spiritual giving is presented in the Mosaic Law under one word — “offerings.” Offerings were for believers only, and there is NO percentage stated on Offerings, "God loves a cheerful giver."

Motivation for contributing should generate from an appreciation for the word of God as communicated by your right pastor teacher.
The properly motivated Christian will give without expecting anything in return.
If you are led to offer to a ministry, please ensure you are a Christian as a ministry should never knowingly accept gifts from unbelievers nor make individual solicitation of funds or pledges among believers.
The Christian should only give from his abundance as God has prospered him (1 Cor. 16:2 cf. 2 Cor. 9:7)
Tithing is NOT protocol for the Christian, offerings are, therefore only the one making a grace offering can determine the amount to offer as he is led by the Lord and has determined in his own soul (2 Cor. 9:7-9), not by percentages.
Please do not give to any ministry if you are unable to provide for your family (1 Tim. 5: One can only give through the filling of the Holy Spirit, if you are not filled with the spirit, do not give, for it is dead works.  Do not attempt to bribe God through offerings, He know's the motivations of our hearts, and why we give.
Bible Verses Covering Principles of Grace Giving:

Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:7)
But if anyone does not provide for his own (DO NOT give if you do not have the money), and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Tim. 5:
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God (by learning bible doctrine), that is, the fruit of lips (prayer) that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Heb. 13:15-16)