tithes

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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cal [mailto:Calvin@zianet.com]
> Sent: Thursday, September 24, 1998 11:50 AM
> To: higher-fire@prairienet.org
> Subject: Re: tithes
> 
> I am sure that you were "shooting from the hip" here, so I'll qoute the
> scripture to clarify the issue.  The entire church is what the 
> scriptures teach.

<snipped Acts 2:40-42> 

> The reason they lived in commune was due to Peter's preaching the soon
> coming destruction of Jerusalem (Acts 2:14-20), which destruction occured
> according to Jesus' prophecy in Matt. 24 Mark 13 and Luke 21 around 70 AD
> when the Roman General Titus came to end the Jewish wars. (History 101 -
> Josephus).  The cannonization of the NT had not transpired and 
> they only had
> the OT scriptures to follow.  Armed with the OT scriptures and the
> understanding that the law is not made void through faith, but 
> established,
> I can only conclude that the NT church did not do away with the 
> principle of
> tithe but understood the pattern of the OT and the teaching of Jesus that
> said not to leave either justice mercy and faith nor tithe undone.

That reasoning follows ok for the Church of the book of Acts 1-9 which was a primary Hebrew church. The inclusion of the Gentiles in Acts 10 meant that there was a disagreement of huge proportions on who should do what. The mention was that even that the non-Jews should now be circumcised. The principles of the OT tithe still remained and should have been a daily ritual. The new believers now did not follow such teaching. Indeed in the Corinthian church, there were those who offered sacrifice to idols, now they did not give at all to the church. A basic church with no direction, that Paul did set to give them. Does this mean we are to not Tithe? Well I am reminded that Jesus did not do away with the OT, just fulfilled it. The tithe was only one offering. The others were from what I have seen bringing the total near 40 -50 %. Now if we tithe 10%, and "give" to the taxman 15-28 %, we are near the mark, but still getting a bargain compared to the 50% I have seen. I guess those Wa!
shingtons need to be introduced to the Lincolns, Jeffersons, and Yes even Ben Franklin needs to go to church more often!! if every member in every church would just give One extra dollar each service, we would never need any programs for giving, and fund drives would be nearly not needed. I have done the math here in our small assembly and it was only $2 a week per person. Amazing that when the few who seem to be struggling are also the ones staying in the pew when the offering is marched. It is not like a slot machine, but God gives to givers. I saw this recently as I had pledged $100 extra. I then got a blessing on the job and when my wife remembered the $100 it was nearly the same as the increase. I have now paid my vow, and have an increase starting this week. This increase will be each week and is a definate answer to a few prayers.

Glory to His Name!

--
Brian Berger
Manchester, NH
<Brian_berger@juno.com> <BKBerger@eli.elilabs.com.com>

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