I realize this is an old, worn out discussion, but it's still a hot topic in many circles, and I think I can shed a somewhat unique viewpoint upon it:
I've asked many pro-required-tithing supporters to show me where the OT ever had anything to do with the wages of wage earners.
Some stated that currency wasn't all that popular in OT times, to which I had to point out that even Abraham used currency to pay for the burial cave for Sarah, and that currency is known to have been used heavily within most ancient economies, some dating back to the time BEFORE Abraham.
Others said that farm products were the top commodity, but that today we use currency. That too fails to address not only known, historic facts, but also the question itself because it's nothing more than a straw man tactic that completely avoids the question. There were many people living in cities whose living had everything to do with the currency exchanged for the services and/or products they supplied to be purchased.
Many people were fishermen in ancient Israel, but they were not required to hand over one scrap of fish to the Levites, clothiers were not required to hand over every tenth yard of material to the Levites, carpenters (hint, hint) were not required to hand over every tenth chair, table, cabinet, etc., to the Levites, and on and on and on the list goes.
The logical conclusion to this is that the required-tithe teaching is just another false teaching among many still taught within institutionalized religion.
Additionally, imagine the guilt that rests upon the heads of many professing believers who handed over the primary (largest) portion of their monthly giving to their church organization, the majority from which they reaped direct benefit for themselves by way of the facility and its luxuries (which isn't giving at all).
Dare give to meet the genuine needs of fellow believers and the needy in your community first and foremost, and you will have given in accordance with biblical priorities in giving.
Many, however, will continue heaping back upon themselves direct benefit from their so-called "giving" by handing it over to their church organization, and they will not change no matter how undeniable the truths presented to them. They are the ones whom the Lord called "stiff-necked."
When one gives according to biblical priorities, there is no earthly benefit realized apart from what comes from the Hand of the Lord. Otherwise, we store up treasure in Heaven.
Supporting a communal building and its luxurious expenditures from which the membership reaps direct benefit doesn't store up treasure on Heaven.
Those who might disagree can certainly present their case, which I will check out and verify against the measuring stick of God's written word.
Jr
I've asked many pro-required-tithing supporters to show me where the OT ever had anything to do with the wages of wage earners.
Some stated that currency wasn't all that popular in OT times, to which I had to point out that even Abraham used currency to pay for the burial cave for Sarah, and that currency is known to have been used heavily within most ancient economies, some dating back to the time BEFORE Abraham.
Others said that farm products were the top commodity, but that today we use currency. That too fails to address not only known, historic facts, but also the question itself because it's nothing more than a straw man tactic that completely avoids the question. There were many people living in cities whose living had everything to do with the currency exchanged for the services and/or products they supplied to be purchased.
Many people were fishermen in ancient Israel, but they were not required to hand over one scrap of fish to the Levites, clothiers were not required to hand over every tenth yard of material to the Levites, carpenters (hint, hint) were not required to hand over every tenth chair, table, cabinet, etc., to the Levites, and on and on and on the list goes.
The logical conclusion to this is that the required-tithe teaching is just another false teaching among many still taught within institutionalized religion.
Additionally, imagine the guilt that rests upon the heads of many professing believers who handed over the primary (largest) portion of their monthly giving to their church organization, the majority from which they reaped direct benefit for themselves by way of the facility and its luxuries (which isn't giving at all).
Dare give to meet the genuine needs of fellow believers and the needy in your community first and foremost, and you will have given in accordance with biblical priorities in giving.
Many, however, will continue heaping back upon themselves direct benefit from their so-called "giving" by handing it over to their church organization, and they will not change no matter how undeniable the truths presented to them. They are the ones whom the Lord called "stiff-necked."
When one gives according to biblical priorities, there is no earthly benefit realized apart from what comes from the Hand of the Lord. Otherwise, we store up treasure in Heaven.
Supporting a communal building and its luxurious expenditures from which the membership reaps direct benefit doesn't store up treasure on Heaven.
Those who might disagree can certainly present their case, which I will check out and verify against the measuring stick of God's written word.
Jr
