I am well pleased with Phillip Mayberrys response to me on tithing. Read this gentle and wise correction, will you? There may be some debate on the finer points, but in all, I find myself in agreement: Hey brother- I sympathize with your points, and your passion. I wholeheartedly agree that God deserves ALL of our finances, time, talent; etc. I would like to point out a few things, not for the sake of debate, but simply for consideration. 1) Most of the Reformers, puritans, and todays scholars would say that Melchizedek is not a Christophany. They will often allow him to be a type of Christ, as was Joseph; etc., but the idea that he was a Christophany is troubling, not the least reason being what need does a pre-incarnate Christ need with literal possessions? Did he go back into Salem and rule there? They argue that Melchizedek was a literal king... although I can see the other side of the point based on the language of Hebrews (without beginning of days; etc.). (Turretin is good to read on this subject btw). 2) The issue of the tithe as a perpetual (that is, a non-Mosaic) ordinance rests precisely on the question of whether it was in practice before the Mosaic law (that is, is the tithe a moral requirement, or a legal one). Proponents of a New Testament Tithe frequently appeal to Gen. 14, as you have done. The problem with this is 1. Abraham only did this once- that is, he did not return to Salem and continue to pay tithes with each sheep/goat that was born. A once payment would not be acceptable to most tithe advocates! 2. None of the other patriarchs ever paid a tithe (except perhaps Jacob), thus this seems to be a voluntary gift, rather than a required one; 3. there is no didactic material to the contrary. 3) 2 Corinthians 9 seems to explicitly refute the idea of a Gentile Tithe, saying rather that God loves a cheerful giver and let each man give as he has purposed in his heart. Is it sinful to not give to support the ministry? Yes indeed. Is it sinful to not give MORE than 10% if a Christian is able to do so? Yes! Because we are to use all our resources to the glory of God. The NT rule seems to be that God, the Holy Spirit, will compel Christians to give abundantly- to preach the tithe often yokes the poor with more than they can give (when the church should be giving to them, it often yokes them with guilt; etc.) and simultaneously lets the wealthy off with I paid my tithe, mint, dill, and cummim; etc. 4) Finally, the OT tithe was not simply 10%! There were actually three tithes require of the OT saint- the Levitical (Numbers 18), the festal (Deut. 14), and the tithe for the poor (Deut. 14:28). The last one was only required ever three years, but the yearly tithe was about 23 1/3%! So, again, the literal tithe has never been all there is to giving to God! Hope you dont mind this lengthy reply, my brother!
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:05:07 +0000
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