Pastor Mike Mutchler: Cup of Coffee; tithing

To Chuck

Russ: Do you ever look at context or is everybody today a WOF preacher?

Chuck: Leviticus 27:30 tells us that the tithe is the Lord's.

Russ: Explain verses 29-29. There are scores of things in Leviticus which are called holy and most holy to the LORD and most Christians say that they are not applicable, but retain tithing. They also ignore the part where Numbers 18 says that tithe-recipients cannot own property too.

Chuck: In the New Testament the principle of tithing is continued in I Corinthians 16:2 "Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath propspered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." This shows proportionate giving which in view of Biblical precedents throughout Scriptures to mean the tithe.

Russ: Most tithe-teachers say that 1 Cor 16 and 2 Cor 8 and 9 only discuss freewill offerings which are in addition to the tithes until it comes to 1 Cor 16:2. Make up your mind please,

Chuck: The premise of the New Covenant's "freedom" from paying your tithes is wrongly founded.

Russ: There is no foundation for paying tithes in the New Covenant after Calvary for the Church at all. Biblical tithes were always only food from inside Israel and most Christians live outside of Israel. The Old Covenant law-form only applied to national Israel. It was never commanded to the Gentiles or to the Church.

Chuck: There are numerous reflections of Old Testament Law in effect throughout the New Testament. How does one deal with Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me?" Is that, too, done away with?

Russ: Was all of English law made null and void when the Declaration of Independence was signed --including the good parts? Yes. Would you like to be judged in the US for breaking German law? God is now working and blessing in accordance with his New Covenant which repeats the eternal moral parts of the law to the Church after Calvary.

Chuck: The decision concerning whether or not to tithe is one of a decision of obedience to God's Word or disobedience.

Russ: Then tithing should be clearly spelled out to the Church by the Holy Spirit in terms of grace after Calvary. A born again Christian who is a new creation has new desires and a Spirit which says "You will not have any other gods before me."

Chuck: "If you love me you will keep my commandments." The tithe as kept as a means of obedience is also a token of our love for the Savior. A decision to be disobedient is to place material wealth above God. And anything placed higher than God is an idol or false god. That goes back to the Law as stated previously "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

I. E. Cup of Coffer with Pastor Mutchler
http://pastorscupofcoffee.blogspot.com/2009/09/tithing.html

Russ: Which commandments? The Law had over 600 of them and John does not use commandments to only refer to the Ten Commandments which do not include tithing. How many of the 600 do you still observe? What principle do you apply when deciding what to bring over from the Old Covenant?

Chuck: Rather than worship mammon and corruptible things of the world that will fall by the wayside, I choose to follow the admonition in Matthew 6:33 to "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness."

Russ: Let all things be done decently and in order. Ask God to give you discernment to see the difference between the Old and New Covenants. Rightly divide the Word.