i have read through this thread and hope this might help. It is a teaching that i do on the subject of tithe.
john
On Giving Back to God
A Treatise on Tithe
2003, revised 2005, 2006
The tithe and/or giving back to God is, biblically, a multi-faceted concept. And one which carries serious ramifications. As such, it should not be lightly contemplated.
Giving to God The very first biblical reference of giving to God is not only pre-Mosaic Law but also pre-Noahtic flood. And it is found in the fourth chapter of the book of Genesis, regarding Abel’s giving and Cain’s giving.
The influence of Abel's righteousness, in giving as he did to God, is so powerful and pertinent that it spans the ages of time all the way to the New Testament, which records that Abel, “…being dead yet speaketh.” The non-Jewish, not-under-the-law, Abel gave to God. The New Testament asserts that Abel did so by faith.
Abel’s faith was not expressed simply by giving (Cain also gave). No! Rather, his faith is expressed by his giving of the “first” and of the “fat.” The New Testament records that Abel's sacrifice was more “excellent” than Cain's. God chose to bring the example of Abel's sacrifice into the context of the New Testament Church for the purpose of establishing the giving by sacrifice by faith.
God told Cain, “…if thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.”
The context of this admonition is Cain's giving to God. It isn’t that Cain failed give; but instead, it is the motive behind
why he gave, and the
form in which he did give. The consequence of Cain's motive and form of giving resulted in the murder of his brother. The New Testament records (for our benefit) that the reason Cain slew his brother was that Cain’s own works (i.e., his form of giving to God) was “evil, and his brother's righteous.”
If the believer gives to the LORD following the example of Abel, then sin does not lie at his door. But if he gives after the manner of Cain....
Giving a Tithe The first biblical reference to the giving of tithe is also pre-Mosaic Law. It is found in the Book of Genesis, chapter 14. Here, we see the person of Abraham giving tithes to Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God.
The New Testament records that the promises made by God to Abraham and his Seed (which is Christ) cannot be annulled by the Law that came four hundred plus years after. If the Bible is true, then the promise made to Abraham, that in his Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, cannot be made of none effect.
Now: If it is true that the blessing of Abraham came upon the Gentiles (i.e. nations) through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:14); and if it also true that Jesus Christ, as David prophesied, is a priest after the order of Melchizedek; and if Abraham, four hundred years before the Law of Moses, paid tithe to Melchizedek, how then does the Law of Moses
annul the paying of tithe by Gentile Christians to a priest after the order of Melchizedek, i.e. paying tithe to Christ himself?
Further: If Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek, and if we have received the “blessing” of Abraham, should we not then also tithe for the sake of that “blessing” that we received through Abraham after the order of Melchizedek? And if Levi and all of Israel paid tithe to Melchizedek through Abraham, though they were not yet born (Hebrews 7:9, 10), then is it not meet that the Gentiles, too, should pay tithe to our God Jesus Christ who is a priest after the order of Melchizedek?
We also note this: Jacob's heart was such that he did not proclaim to be willing to pay tithe if God made him comfortable or rich; rather, Jacob vowed that if God would give him “bread to eat, and raiment to put on…,” then the Lord would be his God, and he would surely give a tenth to Him. This took place probably 250 years or so before Mount Sinai and is, quite possibly, referenced by Paul in 1 Timothy 6:8.
The Tithe Required of Israel As to the tithe required of Israel, which was a matter of Mosaic Law, it is foremost to be understood as a holy thing, and belonging to the LORD (Leviticus 27:30).
The purpose for which the LORD required the tithe was at least twofold, and perhaps fourfold.
First, it was primarily for the function of supporting the tribe of Levi whom God had set aside for the purpose of ministering to his people. Something that needs to be understood here is that the Levites were NOT supported by the Israelites. It was not the substance of the
Israelites that supported the Levites; but, instead, it was the substance owed by the Israelites
which belonged to God.
Here is the background for that fact:
Levi, being one of the 12 tribes of Israel, had the legal right through the promise given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to posses the
land of Canaan. But because Israel sinned and Levi alone feared the Lord (Exodus 32:26- ), God set aside the tribe of Levi rather than the first born among Israel to be his own (Numbers 3:12, 13).
And because Levi had not respect unto his father, his mother, his brethren, and his children, but kept the Word of the Lord and the covenant, God therefore ordained him to teach Jacob His judgments, Israel His law, to burn incense and to offer sacrifice upon the alter (Deuteronomy 33:9-11).
The inheritance of Levi (his portion of land) was hence distributed among the other 11 tribes. Levi was taken as the property of God; and his inheritance was to be extracted from the tithe which belongs to God (Numbers 18:24- ). God pays His ministers, and when Israel ceased to pay tithe (2Chronicles 31; Nehemiah13:5), they were, in truth, stealing from God himself (Malachi 3:9) and not from the Levites.
The
second main function for the tithe under the Mosaic Law is for the support of strangers, the fatherless, and widows (Deuteronomy 14:22-; 26:12-14). A
third function is to encourage the Levite in the Law of the Lord (2 Chronicles 31:4); and a
fourth is for joy of the giver (Deuteronomy 12:5-7; 26:11, 14).
New Testament
It is said that the New Testament does not give any clear teaching concerning the issue of tithe. And from the perspective of giving a “tenth,” this is pretty much correct. However, the reason that the New Testament does not address giving from the perspective of the “tenth” is probably based upon the fact that, if you are a believer, you have been bought with a price. Ye are not your own, you are dead, buried with Christ, and risen in newness of life to no longer serve sin, men, mammon, self, or riches.
And if you have been bought with the blood, body, and life of the Son of God, just exactly what is it that belongs to you, anyway? If you are the purchased possession of Christ, as Levi belonged to God, then your whole being is for the purpose of serving your Lord and your God. That would include your money, substance, and sustenance.
Yes, i know that what Ananias kept back was his “own” and under his “power” (Acts 5). But so, too, were the houses and lands under the “power” of
all those who sold them and laid the prices thereof at the feet of the Apostles (Acts 4:32-37). Even Joses, a Levite, who under the Mosaic Law would have received tithes, sold his land and gave it to be distributed for the needs of the saints.
Ananias, seeing the brethren’s righteous sacrifices after the faith of Abel and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 8:9), chose, instead, to offer after the evil of Cain. He was offered no defense from the Spirit of God or the Apostles, and i will offer him none here. The Christianity that i desire in my life is the Christianity of Christ, and not that of men who seek loopholes in the works of the wicked (Ananias) in order to justify their own lives.
That said, it should be clear that in the New Testament as well as the Old, all gifts, including tithe, are foremost to be understood as holy and belonging to the Lord himself.
Common and Modern Errors
In order to follow the biblical principle that old things need to be put off before new things can be put on ( Romans 6:1-; 3:10-14; Ephesians 4:21-5:1; Colossians 3:1-14), it seems prudent to address some common and modern errors which violate biblical principles, before we set about addressing biblical giving and receiving.
1. Hirelings of the Sheep In the New Testament as in the Old, the ministers (in this context the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor/elder, and teacher) are the servants of Christ. They are therefore paid by the substance that belongs to Christ. They are not the hirelings of men. They are not on a mission to please men, and they are not paid by men.
However, it never ceases to amaze me how that the modern church hires and fires “pastors.” Let's get this straight; we are talking about sheep that need to be fed, doing the hiring and firing of the shepherds. Yea! It is like your children who don't like their spinach or broccoli having the authority to fire you as a parent, and hire the owners of the Twinkie corporation. From a biblical perspective, the ministers of Christ are given by Christ, to the body of Christ, for the perfecting of the saints (Ephesians 4:7-12). The ministers of Christ are not the salaried employees of the congregation.
In the same way, it also never ceases to amaze me how that the “sheep” in the modern church give their offerings to God, and then require financial statements, treasurers, and accountants to keep track of where every single solitary cent of that money goes. EXCUSE me! If they gave their offerings to God, then that money is no longer their concern. Unless, like Ananias, they have allowed satan to fill their hearts “to lie to the Holy Ghost and keep back part” or all of their offering.
Yeah, yeah, i know! The pastor might abscond with the funds. But, then again, whose funds were they? Christ's, that’s right! And if this Judas that they have been listening to every Sunday morning does in fact take the funds and run, who is he in truth betraying? You got it, the owner of the funds. But there are those who feel jilted because they trusted that Judas. They submitted to his teaching every Sunday, learning from the good and casting aside the bad of all he said.
Interesting, isn't it: they trusted this man with God's Word and the spiritual food that he fed to their children, wives, and themselves every Sunday; yet, by their own admission, they require financial reports and accountants to keep their minister accountable because they cannot trust him with God's money (Luke 16:10-12). Something is askew when the sheep have no problem with what they are being fed, but are overly concerned with how the shepherd uses the milk of the flock and the wool.
This entire situation is not strange to scripture. In fact, the Bible foretells of this very thing taking place in our day. It is one of the ways in which the flock “will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers (2 Timothy 4:3).” They, drawing nigh to God with their mouths while their hearts are far from Him, and having their ears turned from the truth, need to make sure they get their money's worth from the teachers and motivational speakers, whom they've hired.
For those of you who, in truth, seek the Lord, run for your lives from this situation. If you have to sort the good from the bad of what you hear on Sunday morning, then the man teaching is, according to scripture, either not qualified, not able, or not apt to teach (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9).
One more thing to consider in this context is that if the “pastor” is living higher on the hog than the equality among the congregation, then he is, by biblical definition, not qualified to be in the position that he holds (1 Timothy 3:3; and 6:3- 11; Titus 1:7).
Lastly, don't be partakers with them in sin. God condemns these things; how will he be pleased by your support of them?
2. The Tentmakers Gospel This error has arisen from the mention of Paul, in Corinth, being a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). There are pastors and missionaries within “Christendom” who have seen this as being an admirable trait of Paul’s; and they have erroneously put it on themselves under the guise of it being a biblical mandate for ministers. There are also those among parishioners who, seeing this as commendable and “right,” have wrongly forced or attempted to force it onto pastors and missionaries, under the guise of “if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
Some pastors, therefore, have refused to accept any offerings to God made by persons who recognize the needs of those pastors. Contrast this with the parishioners who refuse to make offerings to God because they think that their pastor should be making more tents. Both applications of the error result in the hindrance of the Gospel, and to the detriment of the Body of Christ.
The truth is that the mention of Paul being a tentmaker is most likely not a commendation to Paul's good qualities; but, rather, it was Luke's way of bringing to his readers’ attention, for the purpose of admonition, the fact that Paul was forced to make tents in Corinth, rather than being free to serve God. This may sound strange in light of modern teaching on the subject. However, the evidence (which is too great to present in its entirety here) seems to speak quite loudly for itself.
To begin with, in 2 Corinthians 11:7-9, Paul communicates that he had preached the Gospel to the Corinthians “freely” and that it was necessary to “rob” other churches in order to do so. He continues by explaining that he was not chargeable to the Corinthians (probably by means of tent construction), and that whatsoever he lacked was supplied to him by the giving that came from those other places. This that occurred is
contrary to the principle Jesus established when He first sent His disciples out in Matthew 10:5-10; and, also, is contrary to the example of the seventy in Luke 10:4-8.
Being a tentmaker was not a wrongdoing committed by Paul. Instead, it was an offense committed against God by the Corinthians which resulted in the need for Paul to make tents; basically because the Corinthians seemingly could not or would not receive the concept that the “workman is worthy of his meat,” or that “preaching and teaching” was, in fact, the workman at work.
Paul, however, reveals that he well understood the concept, and practiced it prior to coming to Corinth. He pretty much defines the concept as he addresses the church at Thessalonica when in 2 Thessalonians 3:8 he says, “neither did we eat any man's bread for naught; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you.” He further defines labour in 1 Thessalonians 2:9, like this: “...for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.”
So then, laboring in the Word is, by biblical definition, a labor worthy of meat. And a minister who is forced to make tents is ministering to people who can't or won't accept the biblical mandate: “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn (1 Corinthians 9:9).”
Unfortunately, there is a very high price that comes with “tentmaking.” And even more unfortunate is the fact that it is the sheep/congregation that pays the largest toll. Ministers who are forced to make tents have little time to spend studying to show themselves approved, or for the purpose of understanding scripture. Their lack of study makes them prone to error, and it is the congregation who receives that error spiritually.
Paul, who received his understanding of the mystery by revelation (Ephesians 3:3) asks, “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things (1 Corinthians 9:11)?” He also states, “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Galatians 6:6-8).”
Remember that the context here is “communicating to him that teaches the spiritual things of the Word.”
3. The House of God The Bible is clear; the Most High does not dwell in temples built by the hands of men (Acts 7:48 and 17:24; 1 Kings 8:27). But, rather, as the Bible says, concerning both Jew and Gentile believers, “ye... are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” The Bible unequivocally claims that God, His Spirit and His Son dwelleth in us (Romans 8:9 and 11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 3:17; 2 Timothy 1:14; etc.).
Is it not intriguing how that the Bible says, “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.” Yet the majority of those who claim to BE the habitation of God spend all or most of what they claim to be offerings to Him on the purchase or up keep of real estate!
Is it not appalling that there are billions of dollars a year spent on: the building of churches, the purchase of churches, the renovation of churches, the decoration of churches, the maintenance of churches, and on the paying of electric and heating bills of churches; while the people whom God proclaims to be His habitation sit in the pew on Sunday mornings, struggling to feed their children, to keep their families warm, to keep the lights on, and buy enough gas to get back and forth to work and church? When is it that the
people of God are going to stop wasting His money on kindling, and begin to invest in the eternal
habitation of God?
4. The Tax Deductible Gift “Rendering to God the things that are God’s” does not include the tax-deductible gift. Yet, has it ever been explained that when we put our tax-deductible gift in the offering plate on Sunday morning, we are, in reality, mingling the things of Caesar with the things of God? And that, in so doing, we are violating the principle Jesus established when He said, render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.
Here is the background to the above disclosure, for your consideration:
The U.S. Government has offered the gift of foregoing taxes owed them on certain amounts of monies which are given to organizations that qualify under 501c3 statute. There are two things about this which we should understand and reflect on. The first is that the taxes are “owed.” So, the “taxes-owed portion” of your tax-deductible gift is, in all reality, “the things which are Caesar's.” Therefore, when you offer that gift to God, you are offering to God things that belong to Caesar.
Now if Caesar wants to offer a gift to God, he is more than welcome to do so, but it is not to be accepted if there are any strings attached. This brings me to the second thing, which is: Only organizations which qualify “UNDER STATUTE” can accept these tax-deductible gifts. This means that, by statute, the U.S. Government only allows their money to be given to organizations over which they exercise, or have the right to exercise, authority and jurisdiction. On a very practical and straightforward level, then, this constitutes our giving to Caesar the things that are God's (authority and jurisdiction over the church). According to God's Word, Christ is the head over all things to the Church (Ephesians 1:20-23) and, therefore, has sole authority and jurisdiction over His body.
In summary on this point, it is a violation of scripture to mingle Caesar's money with God’s; and, also, to compromise Christ's body by confusing the fact and truth of headship and jurisdiction. It is, therefore, a violation of God's word to give God's money to a 501c3 organization that claims to be a church.
Nothing here should be construed to mean that it is not okay to give money which is not an offering to God to a 501c3 organization that does not claim to be the church. To sum up, if you owe Caesar, then give him what you owe; but render to God the things that are God's.
Put on Biblical Giving
In the New Testament, as in the Old, the purpose for giving is at least twofold. First is to ensure that the ox that treads the corn is not muzzled
(1 Corinthians 9:9). Second is to treat the “least of these my brethren” as if they were Christ himself (Matthew 25:31-46).
As Concerns the Ox As concerns muzzling the ox, Paul asks the Corinthians, “Who goeth warfare any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? .... If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? .... Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?” “Even so,” he says, “hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9).”
He also tells Timothy that the husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruit (2 Timothy 2:6); and, “let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.” And, “…the labourer is worthy of his reward (1 Timothy 5:17, and 18).” To the Galatians he says, “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.”
How this is done is relatively simple:
Most of the confusion concerning giving exists because of the errors discussed earlier. So if you first remove the errors, and do not add to God’s word, then you are left with clear guidelines to follow which are laid out in scripture.
Remember that there are many false teachers, many novices in the position of elder, many elders who are not qualified, and satan's ministers who masquerade as ministers of righteousness.
You need also to be aware of those who are spots in your feasts of charity, who feed themselves without fear; they are clouds without water, carried about of winds (Jude 12). These are the men who have received their understanding from all types of extra biblical sources such as commentaries.
And although these above types of men teach or preach, sometimes for hours on end, their teaching has no true substance; the fruit of their teaching withers and dies.
All these men need to be set aside and steered clear from.
But…when you find an elder or elders who are qualified biblically according to 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9; men who love the Word more than pleasure, who have sacrificed the things of this life so as to gain Christ and biblical understanding, who are ABLE to teach SOUND DOCTRINE and do so, even if it is just in passing conversation, lay hold of those men and learn, communicating with them in all good things, and seeing to it that they live in all equality as Christ gave example (2 Corinthians 8:9-14).
This is true of missionaries, as well; it is not biblical to send people to missions or support them financially if they do not understand nor are able to teach sound doctrine. Moreover, missionaries are to be supported by those to whom they minister. They should not be supported when they are in the field unless they minister in a place like Corinth, where their needs are not being met.
On a practical note: [EDITED OUT-
it is legal to give somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000 each year as a gift. If given as a gift, it will not change the tax status of the recipient (check IRS information for amount). Once again i didn't do my homework, The information edited here was given by what i considered a good source, however it may have been given inadvertently out of its context. And therefore may in fact be erroneous. Please disregard until i have researched the matter further.] To change the tax status of God’s people or ministers through offerings given unto God, would, in effect, be to make the offerings to God become taxable by Caesar. Once again, mingling the two.
As Concerns the Brethren and Others Scripture explains that the purpose for having money is so that we might be able to give to those who have need (Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Matthew 25:31-46; James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:16-18).
First and foremost, the believer is responsible to care for the needs of his own family (1 Timothy 5:7- ), including children, parents, widows, orphans, the injured, and the struggling. This does not include rebels who, in truth (and not by some worldly rich man’s definition), refuse to work.
Next provided for are the brethren in one’s own community (Acts 4:32-37; 6:1; James 2:15, 16; 1 John 3:16-18); not only those who are running around naked and starved but, also, all who are struggling to make ends meet. Those who struggle to keep the heat on, or food on the table (who eat only one or two meals a day and not three because they can't afford it), who struggle to keep their car running, or the lights on, or are over burdened with medical bills, mortgage bills or rent (this does not include penthouse apartments or mansions, etc.). As Paul says, “I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality.”
Third, we are to supply the needs for the Jew, of whom we Gentiles are debtors (Romans 15:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 16:3).
And,
lastly, we are to give to the needs of the world (Luke 10:25-37).
Remember that he who sows to the Spirit reaps of the Spirit; and he who sows sparingly, reaps the same.
[Formatting edits permitted by author. basething’s content remains unchanged.]
