"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone." (Matthew 23:23)
I just read an article about tithing, and how it is a product of the 'church', and not the will of God (check out http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/tithing-is-not-a-christian-doctrine/#comment-41239 ). To sum, it tells us that tithing is not an obligation of the poor, and that even according to the old covenant, tithing was only obligatory in terms of food that God gave, to the Israelites. Examples such as Abraham giving tithes to Melchizedek was a pagan practice and thus not put forth by God.
The article argues also, that these words of Jesus refer to the old covenant, and none such words exist to verify tithing as Christians living in the resurrection of our Lord. However, in my opinion (and this was echoed in the comments), I don't believe that one should take silence in the bible for free reign to do as one pleases. It is interesting though that 2 other tithes that are mentioned in the bible are not practiced any longer, those being the tithe which the levites were to give to the priests (Numbers 18:25-28), and the tithe that was kept for the poor (Deuteronomy 12:1-19). 1 Samuel 8:15-18 tells us that the king to be (Saul) will take a tenth of the Israelites grain, as well as the best of their maidservants, donkeys, and sheep.
I don't believe this is any reason to stop tithing whatsoever, but I really believe Christians need to not give out of a sense of guilt or obligation. This only leads to profligate spending that may just go to sanctimonious demagogues with no love or fear of God. What we have is a gift from God, and no one may twist the words of Jesus according to Paul; "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (this can only be found in Acts 20:35, and though it is not written firsthand from Jesus, even John himself said not everything Jesus did was written down). May we all keep praying that God is working in our hearts to make us cheerful givers, and not just giving what we 'think is appropriate.'
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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone." (Matthew 23:23) [Note: This is not to the Church.]
Sir
I am the author of the article you vaguely mention. Rather than allude to the article, why don't you attempt to refute it point by point? There are 19 points.
There is no such "silence" about tithing in the New Covenant after Calvary. The OT Temple and priesthood which received tithes have been replaced by the priesthood of every believer.
When you mention the "two other tithes" you left out the fact that the first OT Levitical tithe did NOT go to the priests but went to their servants. A second festival tithe is not mentioned by you either. What church teaches 23 1/3% tithing? And what church forces its "tithe-recipient" pastors to forfeit ownership of property?
How can you possibly say "I don't believe this is any reason to stop tithing whatsoever" when there is no biblical support for it "whatsoever" to the Church? You are implying that the tithe is 10% of income (which is erroneous) and you are implying that all OT Israelites were required to begin their level of giving at 10% (which is also wrong).
You said "I really believe Christians need to not give out of a sense of guilt or obligation." This is not tithing which was cold hard law (whether a food producer inside Israel wanted to give or not). Your statement is a description of FREEWILL giving ---not tithing (2 Cor 9:7).
You said "No one may twist the words of Jesus according to Paul; "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35)."
You are "twisting the words of Jesus." Read the context! Paul is speaking TO church leaders and he is telling THEM to get a job and give to the NEEDY in their assemblies. The church has reversed this command and asks the poor to give their medicine money to the church..
Thanks for at least reading my article. See my whole web site at www.tithing-russkelly.com.
Russell Earl Kelly, PHD
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