Tithes and Offerings:
What is a tithe?
One in ten; a tenth.
Leviticus 27:30 Every tithe of the land, both of the seed of the land, and of the fruit of trees, is the Lord’s, holy to the Lord. :31 And if a man should at all redeem his tithe, he shall add the fifth part to it, and it shall be his. :32 And every tithe of oxen, and of sheep, and whatsoever may come in numbering under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to the Lord. :33 Thou shalt not change a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; and if thou shouldest at all change it, its equivalent also shall be holy, it shall not be redeemed.
Note: Tithes in the Bible were directed only to Israel. A tithe was to be given by property owners, from the production of the soil and/or livestock.
This was agriculture products that were vegetables or trees, and the tenth animal from the herds and/or flocks.
A tithe was not from one’s income as many Christians practice today.
What is taught by many Christian churches about tithing?
Tithing is viewed as a part of worship to God, because a ministry is declared as being Godly.
Therefore, it is taught that 10% of one’s income should be donated to a ministry.
Note: The interpretation of tithes (and offerings) by most of the Christian ministries is mainly money.
Money is not a tithe.
Deuteronomy 14:23 And thou shalt eat it in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to have his name called there; ye shall bring the tithe of thy corn and of thy wine, and of thine oil, the first-born of thy herd and of thy flock, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. :24 And if the journey be too far for thee, and thou art not able to bring them, because the place is far from thee which the Lord thy God shall choose to have his name called there, because the Lord thy God will bless thee; :25 then thou shalt sell them for money, and thou shalt take the money in thy hands, and thou shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose. :26 And thou shalt give the money for whatsoever thy soul shall desire, for oxen or for sheep, or for wine, or thou shalt lay it out on strong drink, or on whatsoever thy soul may desire, and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice and thy house,
Note: The money was from sold agriculture or livestock, and used as a substitute, because some were to far away to transport their goods.
This money was not given or donated to the Priests, or to the temple as a tithe, but was to be used as the Scripture verses state.
It is not Biblical to change the meaning of tithes, to money.
Churches that un-Biblically claim that one needs to give 10% of their income to that ministry are in error.
2 Peter 2:3 and in covetousness, with moulded words, of you they shall make merchandise, whose judgment of old is not idle, and their destruction doth not slumber.
How can a congregation pay bills without tithes?
By the contributions and donations from the congregation.
Contributions from the congregation [assembly] is not a tithe.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart; not grudgingly, or by constraint: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Note: God loves a cheerful giver, not one that tithes.
Almost all of the churches are run as a business.
More money is obtained by the tradition of tithing than from contributions.
The Temple Treasury
Mark 12:41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the multitude were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.
Note: The money that was being put into the treasury was not a tithe. The temple is in no way related to any Christian building or structure.
What is an offering?
First portion; first fruits.
Note: Offerings in the Bible were directed only to Israel.
Offerings directed to money
Exodus 30:13 And this is what they shall give, as many as pass the survey, half a didrachm which is according to the didrachm of the sanctuary: twenty oboli go to the didrachm, but the half of the didrachm is the offering to the Lord. :14 Every one that passes the survey from twenty years old and upwards shall give the offering to the Lord. :15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than the half didrachm in giving the offering to the Lord, to make atonement for your souls. :16 And thou shalt take the money of the offering from the children of Israel, and shalt give it for the service of the tabernacle of testimony; and it shall be to the children of Israel a memorial before the Lord, to make atonement for your souls.
Note: The offering was equally shared by the rich and poor. [This offering is also known as a temple tax.] It was not a tithe or ‘traditional’ offering.
The theological teaching for an offering to be transferred to any Christian ministry is not Biblical.
Summary
1. A tithe was a command for Israel.
2. An offering was a command for Israel.
3. A contribution is not a tithe or an offering. It is a voluntary gift that is not extorted by a feeling of guilt.
4. There is not one reference in the Bible for anyone other than Israel to give a tithe or offering.
5. Christians do not ‘owe’ any church [or ministry] 10% of their income.
Christian tithes and offerings are a tradition.
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