Post by Watchman on Dec 15, 2006 17:51:21 GMT -5
The following is a post from the discussion forum Too Long In The Sun at toolong.biz/forum/index.php
Watchman
Truth Sharer
I took an oportunity to review the link L. Ray Smith site you spoke of www.bible-truths.com/ and the first article I saw was:
Tithing is Unscriptural Under the New Testament Part's I and II
It is a sin to enforce tithing on New Testament Christians!
Have you read this? If so, do you agree with what L. Ray Smith (John 5:43) is saying? I find his article a flagrant misrepresentation and wresting of scripture, not in the Spirit of Yahweh's revealed WORD.
L.Ray begins by writing:
Quote:
Since first posting this tithing paper on bible-truths.com, we have had hundreds of thousands of visitors seeking information on this topic. Many have written me personally thanking me for freeing them from this illegal and abusive practice of the Church.
He will have to answer to the King for that statement!
Does Smith's following interpretation of tithing from Leviticus 27:30-33, strike your heart as Truth?
Quote:
"And all the TITHE of the LAND, whether of the SEED of the land, or of the FRUIT, of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord."
We learn a great deal about tithing in this section of Scripture:
1. The tithe comes from the "land," not the air or the sea. Fishermen were not required to tithe fish.
Hmmmm. What I smell is not fish!
L. Ray claims Yahshua (Jesus) did away with tithing. Why did Jesus Christ not specifically deal with the tithing law? (Matthew 5:17-20; 23:23; Luke 11:42; 16:17) Yahshua magnified YHWH's law while on earth. In His sermon on the mount, He paraphrased six Old Testament laws or principles, giving their intended meanings. Tithing, however, was not generally questioned at the time; it was not a theological issue like circumcision and the eating of meats sacrificed in an idol's temple. The New Testament expounds Old Testament principles and laws, and Jesus specifically says He did not come to invalidate them. No New Testament passage rescinds the tithing law. Quite the opposite, Yahshua upholds the principle in His denunciation of the self-righteous Pharisees in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42:
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
What about the offerings Paul had the churches set aside to be delivered to the saints in Jerusalem? Do these not count as tithes?
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 1 Corinthians 16:1
By the following verses the Church finds the authority to apply the tithing law today. (Hebrews 7:1-12; Mark 13:34; 1 Corinthians 9:18; 2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).
Though the New Testament seems vague in its authorization to the church to receive tithes, the principle is certainly there. We find the greatest evidence in Hebrews 7, where the Apostle Paul uses tithing as an illustration to show that the Melchizedek priesthood supplanted the Levitical priesthood upon the resurrection and ascension of our High Priest, Yahshua the Messiah- Jesus Christ. All Levitical authorities and responsibilities—which would include receiving tithes—have transferred to Him, who is also the Head of the Church. Jesus gives authority in the church to His ministers to conduct His work on earth in His stead. This is the function of the first tithe (there are three!). The apostle Paul shows in his letters to Corinth and Thessalonica that he had the authority to receive tithes, though he chose not to in some circumstances.
The tithing principle in Yahweh's Word transcends merely giving of a tenth of one's increase. The entire question revolves around whether a person is of a willing and obedient spirit and truly desires to obey God or behaves like a pharisaical moaner and must, like a stubborn goat, be forced or dragged into doing what is required. Yahweh commands us to tithe, but to do it perfunctorily and out of necessity is far short of the type of giving God desires.
The decision to tithe revolves around our willingness and eagerness to do all our heavenly Father commands. If we always approach the study of His Word with the attitude of "What is the minimum I need to do to satisfy God?" or "I don't want to do any more than I have to do," we will likely not tithe. Yahweh uses the handling of money as an obvious test to see where our loyalties and priorities lie.
Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living.
If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.
Tithing is a test and act of faith, a good work that pleases God.
Watchman
Truth Sharer
I took an oportunity to review the link L. Ray Smith site you spoke of www.bible-truths.com/ and the first article I saw was:
Tithing is Unscriptural Under the New Testament Part's I and II
It is a sin to enforce tithing on New Testament Christians!
Have you read this? If so, do you agree with what L. Ray Smith (John 5:43) is saying? I find his article a flagrant misrepresentation and wresting of scripture, not in the Spirit of Yahweh's revealed WORD.
L.Ray begins by writing:
Quote:
Since first posting this tithing paper on bible-truths.com, we have had hundreds of thousands of visitors seeking information on this topic. Many have written me personally thanking me for freeing them from this illegal and abusive practice of the Church.
He will have to answer to the King for that statement!
Does Smith's following interpretation of tithing from Leviticus 27:30-33, strike your heart as Truth?
Quote:
"And all the TITHE of the LAND, whether of the SEED of the land, or of the FRUIT, of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord."
We learn a great deal about tithing in this section of Scripture:
1. The tithe comes from the "land," not the air or the sea. Fishermen were not required to tithe fish.
Hmmmm. What I smell is not fish!
L. Ray claims Yahshua (Jesus) did away with tithing. Why did Jesus Christ not specifically deal with the tithing law? (Matthew 5:17-20; 23:23; Luke 11:42; 16:17) Yahshua magnified YHWH's law while on earth. In His sermon on the mount, He paraphrased six Old Testament laws or principles, giving their intended meanings. Tithing, however, was not generally questioned at the time; it was not a theological issue like circumcision and the eating of meats sacrificed in an idol's temple. The New Testament expounds Old Testament principles and laws, and Jesus specifically says He did not come to invalidate them. No New Testament passage rescinds the tithing law. Quite the opposite, Yahshua upholds the principle in His denunciation of the self-righteous Pharisees in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42:
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
What about the offerings Paul had the churches set aside to be delivered to the saints in Jerusalem? Do these not count as tithes?
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 1 Corinthians 16:1
By the following verses the Church finds the authority to apply the tithing law today. (Hebrews 7:1-12; Mark 13:34; 1 Corinthians 9:18; 2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).
Though the New Testament seems vague in its authorization to the church to receive tithes, the principle is certainly there. We find the greatest evidence in Hebrews 7, where the Apostle Paul uses tithing as an illustration to show that the Melchizedek priesthood supplanted the Levitical priesthood upon the resurrection and ascension of our High Priest, Yahshua the Messiah- Jesus Christ. All Levitical authorities and responsibilities—which would include receiving tithes—have transferred to Him, who is also the Head of the Church. Jesus gives authority in the church to His ministers to conduct His work on earth in His stead. This is the function of the first tithe (there are three!). The apostle Paul shows in his letters to Corinth and Thessalonica that he had the authority to receive tithes, though he chose not to in some circumstances.
The tithing principle in Yahweh's Word transcends merely giving of a tenth of one's increase. The entire question revolves around whether a person is of a willing and obedient spirit and truly desires to obey God or behaves like a pharisaical moaner and must, like a stubborn goat, be forced or dragged into doing what is required. Yahweh commands us to tithe, but to do it perfunctorily and out of necessity is far short of the type of giving God desires.
The decision to tithe revolves around our willingness and eagerness to do all our heavenly Father commands. If we always approach the study of His Word with the attitude of "What is the minimum I need to do to satisfy God?" or "I don't want to do any more than I have to do," we will likely not tithe. Yahweh uses the handling of money as an obvious test to see where our loyalties and priorities lie.
Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living.
If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.
Tithing is a test and act of faith, a good work that pleases God.