tithes

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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jerry Welch [mailto:tlwitness@juno.com]
> Sent: Friday, September 25, 1998 12:27 AM
> To: higher-fire@prairienet.org
> Subject: Re: tithes
> 
> Either the OT Tithing system survived into this dispensation or it did
> not.

Well the admonition of Paul in 1 Corinthians tells of provision for the House of God. Other than that, except for Jesus words, no, there is not mention of the word Tithe in the NT. 

Brian-
> >I guess those Washingtons need to be introduced to the Lincolns,
> Jeffersons, and Yes 
> >even Ben Franklin needs to go to church more often!! 

Jerry- 
> I agree wholeheartedly.  We cannot expect much from our Church if we
> don't help support it in prayers, physically when physical work is
> needed, time and with our finances. 

<snip>

I want everyone following this post to get that thought. You do not do away with offerings, but do not see a set mandate of a percentage. I am at a loss as to what to suggest to replace the tithe. One story is told of a resturant that did not put prices on the menu. You would just pay what you felt the meal was worth. The resturant could not survive. They then put suggested prices on the menu and thrived. 10% is a fair bench mark for giving in most cases. 

Brian- 
> >Amazing that when the few who seem to be struggling are also the 
> >ones staying in the pew when the offering is marched. 

Jerry-
> I strongly disagree here.  My mother is financially struggling and she
> has never missed paying tithes that I can remember.
> 
> It is, IMHO, wrong to judge someone's worth, either spiritually or
> physically, by their ability to pay money to a Church.

We are in agreement. The amount does not make the person. What I was illustrating, was the few who give are blessed. God does make provision. 


> Besides, they aren't even going to Heaven anyway, right?  No great loss
> there...
> 
> Today we are preaching that the widow who only gave two mites had better
> straighten up right now or she will go to Hell...

That is not what is being said. There has to be a way to pay for the light bill and the oil man at the church house. Unless we pass the plate, there is not any money to help the check book balance. 

Brian-
> >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. 

Jerry-
> I rejoice with you, but I believe that God could have also given that to
> you if your alternator went out and instead of giving the extra $100 had
> to pay to buy an alternator so that you could go to work and be a good
> steward with your family and your job.

Welllll, actually, we did in fact lose the alternator. Much more than $100 to repair it. I do not strike that to divine providence, just that the car is older and needs more frequent repairs. The increase is over time more than a blessing (and eventually will pay off the alternator also). I do not believe in telling a family to use food money to give tithes. I am in favor of encouraging them to rely on God to supply above and beyond their expectations. 

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

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