tithes

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>On Fri, 25 Sep 1998 22:10:37 -0400 "Caryle Clear" <cpcj@sprynet.com>
>writes:
>
>>Clearly, I Cor. 9:13-14 are NOT alluding to the OT practice of Levites
>>eating (partaking - "metecho") of the foods, etc. tithed by the
>>people.
>>Those verses say that if a person wishes to minister about holy things
>>(together w/ verses 11 & 12) they must lay aside their carnality and
>>*live
>>of the things of the temple*.
>
Sis. Lynne wrote:
>I have to disagree with this.  This whole chapter is talking about Paul's
>right to take money of the people and his decision to forgo that right.
>For two examples:
>
> Vs.11 says " If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great
>thing that we shall reap your carnal things?"
>
>Vs 7 " Who goeth a 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 thereof?"
>
>Paul wasn't taking a wage of the people and was establishing that
>although he didn't take wage, he had every right to.  Paul decided to
>forgo that right that he had.

And there was a very good reason for that.  His audience had NO concept of
what it meant to be required by Hebrew Law to tithe (as did most of the
Gentile cultures of the time).

Instead, Paul preaches a *higher* principle...not only will he not take a
charge (wage) from these people, he won't preach it either -- v. 15 "But I
have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, taht it
should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any
man should make my glorying void."  Why?  See v. 18 "What is my reward then?
Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ
*without charge* that I abuse not my power in the gospel."  And, verse 21
"To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to
God, but under the law to Christ,) that I maight gain them that are without
law."  And "All this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker
thereof with you."  And "But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself
should be a castaway." (v. 27)

And, it appears Paul's fears came true.  When preachers began demanding a
wage by re-instituting mandatory tithes, (something Paul is preaching
against here - at least for himself), it led to abuses of power by those
receiving the wage (anyone recall indulgences?  Medieval church taxes? etc.
etc.).

I'm not saying we should not *give* period.  I'm saying requiring mandatory
tithing (like the Mormon church) is not Biblical according to NT standards.
We should "Every man, according to as he purposeth in his heart, so let him
give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." (2
Cor. 9:7 -- Incidentally, the same group Paul is writing to in I Cor. 9)
How on earth can we give "cheerfully" if it is just another BILL???


Anneliese