Reply to The Intersection on Tithing

Reply to The Intersecion
http://geneoden.blogspot.com/2010/04/communication-cards-part-deux.html

The true biblical “HOLY” tithe was always only food from inside Israel which God had miraculously increased from inside His holy land. Tithes could not come from what man’s hand increased or from outside Israel. There is no text to refute this.

Just because something is in the Bible does not make it for the Church; rightly divide the Word. OT tithing blessings were linked to obedience to all 600+ commands of the Old Covenant Law which were only commanded to Israel. Money was common even in Genesis but the tithe never included money from Leviticus to Luke. The OT Law commanded killing disobedient children in Ex 21:15, 17.

“As a church we are totally not afraid to talk about tithing. ,,, I am personally not afraid of tithing or talking about it.”” If this is true then please enter into an extensive in-depth in-context dialog with me about tithing. I believe that NT post-Calvary giving principles for the church are far superior.

“I believe it would be great if everyone tithed.”” The fact is that, after over 100 years of tithe-teaching, it has not worked and has not been accepted by the vast majority of the Church. A different and better New Covenant model is needed which focuses on sacrificial giving (which is far more than ten per cent for many).

“If we're going to practice the kind of tithing taught in the Old Testament, it's actually about 22.3%.” True. And Numbers 18 requires Levitical tithe recipients to kill others attempting to enter the sanctuary and worship God directly. It also require them to NOT own or inherit property. In fact, none of the tithing statute of Numbers 18 is obeyed by any church today.

“It's shaky ground to build a doctrine on that simply because Abram did it, or Jacob promised it.”” Nothing Abram (before he was circumcised) did concerning tithing is an example followed by any church today. (1) only un-holy pagan spoils of war, (2) nothing he previously owned, (3) he kept nothing, (4) he gave 90% to the king of Sodom.

“If this whole thing on giving is going to land where it needs to land for all of us, it cannot be a duty.” Second Corinthians 8:12-15’s ‘equality’ principle means that many should give more than 10% until it becomes sacrificial.

“It cannot be our response to a rule. It can't just seem voluntary. It has to truly be voluntary and all about our relationship with God.” Very good.

“Make it PROGRESSIVE - Decide: As time goes by, and as my income goes up.” Very good.

“The rules say bring your full tithe into the storehouse (Malachi 3:10), but grace says store up treasure in heaven (Luke 12:33-34).” The rules for tithing were only given to Old Covenant Israel per Ex 19:5-6; Lev 27:34 and Mal 4:4.

“Jesus doesn't want, or require our tithe.” Correct. Although He owned everything in the OT also, He only acccepte tithes of food from inside His special HOLY land of Israel.