Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). It is part of our worship, part of experiencing joy and also part of anticipating eternal rewards. Giving is not only a matter of law but also a matter of grace. Could the answer be that the best medicine for the continual stream of bad economic news is giving?
Thanks for the comments on tithing as it relates to the New Testament church. Let me share just a few of mine.
The case for equating the OT storehouse (Malachi 3:10) to the NT Church could certainly be made, rather forcefully, however I think there is a deeper relationship between the OT tithe and NT giving. The Old Testament was written under law and in the New Testament we moved to grace. Remember Galatians 3:24 says "The law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith".
When we move from the OT Law to NT Grace, the standard is always raised. For example under grace we are told that hating is the same as murder (1 John 3:15) and lustful thoughts are the same as adultery (Matthew 5:28). These certainly raise the standard of what is sin in God's sight.
Upon a little deeper research we see that the Old Testament Israelites were actually instructed to give multiple tithes (see Numbers 18; Deuteronomy 12 and 14). In the New Testament we are never directly commanded to tithe, but we are continually encouraged to give (Matthew 6; 2 Corinthians 8, 9; 1 Timothy 5, 6 etc.).
Based on the above I believe that the starting point for giving by the believer today is the tithe (10%). And just as the law was our tutor to lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24) I believe that tithing is our tutor to lead us to giving.
OK, here is another question that I would really enjoy hearing some comments on. What should a husband or wife do if their spouse does not agree with tithing? I look forward to hearing from you.
Monday, November 17, 2008
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2 comments:
Sir
You have taken Acts 20:35 completely out of context. Paul was instructing church elders to get a job a work in order to support the needy in their churches. You have reversed his remarks. In 20:20-34 Paul boasted that he preached for free and even paid the expenses of his companions. Where is that preached today?
Yes, tithing was a matter of Law ---only for Israelites. God never instructed the Church to tithe but gave better grace-giving principles with better motivations.
You said "The case for equating the OT storehouse (Malachi 3:10) to the NT Church could certainly be made, rather forcefully."
I would like to see how you do this. (1) The OT temple and priesthood has been replaced by the body of individual believers. (2) The NT assembly had no buildings called "churches" for over 200 years after Calvary. (3) According to Nehemiah 13 the OT Temple "storehouse" was actually only two "storerooms" which could not possibly hold the tithes for the entire nation. (4) According to Nehemiah 10:37 the people brought their first Levitical tithes to the Levitical cities and not to the Temple. (5) According to Nehemiah 13:5-10 and Malachi 1:13-14 the priests had stole the tithes and were cursed.
You twist scripture when you only quote Galatians 3:24 and ignore the next verse and 3:19. "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." "Therefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come …"
You said "When we move from the OT Law to NT Grace, the standard is always raised."
Yes, but your application to tithing is based on two false assumptions: (1) You assume that everybody in the OT was required to begin giving at 10%. Only farmers and herdsmen living and working inside Israel were required to do so. Israelites working outside Israel and Gentiles could not tithe. (2) You assume that everybody tithes. Although money was common and essential for worship, money was never used as tithes. Craftsmen such as carpenters, fishermen and tentmakers had nothing tithe-able.
The OT required Israelites to kill disobedient children, idolaters, adulterers and Sabbath-breakers. How do you magnify those laws?
You said "In the New Testament we are never directly commanded to tithe, but we are continually encouraged to give (Matthew 6; 2 Corinthians 8, 9; 1 Timothy 5, 6 etc.)." Yes, leave it there.
NT giving is freewill, sacrificial, generous, joyful, not by commandment or percentage and motivated by love for God and lost souls. That is sufficient.
For much more see: www.tithing-russkelly.com
Russell Earl Kelly, PHD
Russell, I disagree with much of your comment. Acts 20:35 was stated in the context of "It is more blessed to give than to receive"...nothing more. We have to look no further than John 3:16 to see that this is the heart and character of God.
The fact that the function of the OT storehouse has a very similar function of the NT church (which I outlined in the post) forcefully makes the argument for equating the OT storehouse with the NT church.
The rest of your comment dealt with what you thought I was ignoring and assuming. I would encourage you to read the post as it was written. Your understanding of my assumptions and what I was ignoring are incorrect.
George
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