Christianity has become nothing more than pious gush. This gush is characterized by such statements as, "I believe that the desire to tithe comes from a heart that is committed to Jesus Christ." This definition of tithing is emotional and fuzzy. It is subjective to the core. It is based upon feelings rather than logic and reason. It is a statement made by an antinomian (against law).
Tithing is judicially based. It is based upon an objective standard. "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." (Malachi 3:8). To not tithe is to steal from God. The eighth commandment says, "Thou shalt not steal." Those who do not tithe are stealing from God. Can a thief be a Christian?
I can hear the argument that this was Old Testament law for Israel, to which I would respond that God is immutable. His law has not changed. Besides all that, the Church has replaced the nation of Israel as God’s chosen people (Galatians 6:16 and Matthew 21:43).
Do not respond to this letter with emotion. Back up what you say with scripture and in context. Saying that tithing is a matter of the heart is not scripturally based. It makes tithing optional and becomes a tradition of man rather than what it is based in law.
2 comments:
Yes, tithing is judicially based ----for Old Covenant national Israel who was bound to obey all 600+ parts of the Mosaic Law (Gal 3:10-13).
God is immutable. Wow! That settles the argument! What exactly does that mean to you? (1) God changed the covenant from a nation to a church. (2) God changed the sacrifice from an animal to His Son. (3) God changed the Temple from a building to a believer. (4) God changed the priesthood who received tithes from one family to every believer who does not tithe to himself. Also you might have noticed in Num 18:25-29 that priests in the OT did not pay tithes.
According to your own practices (1) God changed the DEFINITION of tithes from only FOOD inside Israel to MONEY. (2) God changed the RECEIVER of tithes from the Levites servants to the priests to preachers (Num 18:212-24). (3) God changed the LOCATION of tithes from the Levitical cities to the church banks (Neh 10:37b). (4) God changed the USE of tithes from supporting Levites and priests to supporting preachers and missionaries. Actually there are at least 25 things about the tithe which are NOT followed by churches today.
The Mosaic Law was given only to national Israel under the terms of the Old Covenant. Exodus 19:5-6; 20:1-2; Lev 27:34; Deut 5:1-2; Mal 4:4. And don’t call me antinomian unless you want to include Martin Luther per August 25, 1525. I agree with the law as found in Romans 8:1-3.
Russell Earl Kelly, PHD, author of Should the Church Teach Tithing?
Mr. Kelly proved my point about him and his kind being antinomian including Martin Luther. He agrees with the being under the law of the spirit. Wouldn't the law of the spirit teach us to obey God's law of the Old Testament?
Mr. Kelly is a subjectivist. He does not understand principle, he merely goes by observation. For him a change in tithing is something that he can observe such as from food to money. The principle of tithing is that 10% of what I earn belongs to the Lord.
We have a communication gap. I see and write based upon principle and Mr. Kelly basis his upon preception not upon concepts.
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