tithing part 2

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Sis. Cherie:

In my previous message on tithing I quoted a Professor of New Testament
Theology, from a textbook that he had written.  He is, of course,
Southern Baptist.  There is not currently anyone with the academic
creditials to write for Apostolics.  David Bernard is a prolific writer,
and has much worthwhile to say, but his degree is in law.  What the
Apostolic Movement needs is several Godly people that are willing to pay
the price to earn the proper academic creditials to write textbooks.  It
takes much work and money to earn a PHD or a ThD.  This is one of my
personal soapboxes, the Apostolic Movement needs Scholars.

In the tenth chapter of Acts we find the first Gentiles converted to
Christianity, before this the Church was entirely Jewish.  It took God
to change the mindset of the Apostles to allow us in the Church in the
first place, now in the 15th chapter, the Apostles and Elders decided
what the Gentiles would be required to do to become Christians.  Would
we have to become Jews first?  Would we have to be circumcised?  Would
we have to obey the Law?  What was decided for us to obey was (1)
abstain from things contaminated by idols, (2) abstain from fornication,
(3) abstain from things strangled, and (4) abstain from blood.  Whoops,
I think that I missed (5) pay tithes!  (Note: my tounge never left my
mouth, it stayed in my cheek.)  It is very interesting that tithes was
not included in this list.

In Romans 13:8-10 we read that love fulfills the law.  How does love
fulfill the law?  If you love someone you will not kill them, if you
love your wife you will not commit adultery and etc.  Many people see a
radical dichotomy between the God of the Old Testament and the God of
the New Testament.  How do we reconcile the fact that it is one God not
two?  It is not a God of love, and a God of law, nor is it two different
aspects of the same God.  The law was not given for God's benefit, but
for our benefit.  The law was our schoolmaster to teach us love.  How do
you love your neighbor, do not get mad and kill him, do not try to steal
his wife, be careful not to injure him (eye for an eye), treat the
stranger in Isreal as if he were Jewish.  The law's purpose was to
instruct us (sinful, fallen mankind) out to treat each other, and God,
in Love.

When Jesus explained the 10 commandments, on the sermon on the mount He
was not changing them, or adding new requirements, He was explaining the
principle of Love that was in the law.  But now, at least once the Holy
Ghost fell, we could understand, and obey that principle of love
contained in the law.  If you hate someone you have broken that
principle, and the actual act of murder could follow if you do not
correct your attitude.

OK, how does the principle of love apply to tithes?  As Paul makes clear
in his writings, you can try to live by the law, or you can live by
grace (love).  You can pay tithes because you owe it to God, and if you
fail to do so you rob God.  Or, you can give because you love.  Giving
does not prove that you love anymore that long hair and long dresses
prove that you are holy, but, like the long hair and dresses, it is an
outward indication of an inward condition.  If you love, you will be
like the poor widow that gave her last cent and wept, not because it was
her last cent and now she was broke.  She wept because she was in the
presance of an awsome God, she wept because she felt the love of God and
love for God, and she had nothing else to offer.

Please remember that when Paul discussed giving in Corinthians he was
discussing giving, not tithes.  It was a freewill offering to the saints
in Jerusalem, a gift of love.  For the Christian, 10% is a good starting
point, but it should not end there.  You can also give of yourself, such
as your gifts and time.  Many people that regularly pays tithes will not
give a dime over their 10%, and will not volunteer to do anyting in the
Church.  It is as if they think that all they have to do is pay tithes. 
God wants us first, not our money.  If every Christian were doing their
part for the Kingdom of God . . . 

You cannot buy your way into Heaven, nor can you purchase God's
blessings.  The way some people explain paying tithes, it's as if they
think that the Kingdom of God can be purchased on the payment plan.  God
wants us, He wants our love.  He wants us to love each other.  As we
learn to walk in the principle of love, giving of ourselves, including
our time and money, then God will bless us.  He will bless us not
because He has to, or because we have purchased it, but because He loves
us.

Now that we have covered the most important parts I have one piece of
advise for you.  Do not believe a word that I said.  Search the truth
out for yourself.  Read the Scripture references, read them in context. 
When you get the time then you should read the entire books.  Never take
a scripture by itself, read all around the verse to keep it in it's
proper context.  People can mislead you without intending to, and with
the best of intentions.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.  However, I may
not answer them quickly since I have two mid-terms next week, and I am
behind in the rest of my studying.  I hope that I have not confused
anyone, or upset anyone.

Bro. Joe