Date Published: 08/11/10
RE: What Pastors Won’t Tell You About Tithes by Maikh Etto
This article is a reaction to that written by Kola Oshobi.
To Kola Oshobi i have this to say:
1. You are wrong by saying only the levites were mandated to pay tithe.
the Numbers 18:25-28 which you quoted states that "hen you receive from the Israelites the tithe that the Lord gives you as your possession, you must present a tenth of it as a special contribution to the Lord." this shows that the isrealites first paid tithes to the levites and out of their income (the tithe given them by the isrealites), they were also required to pay tithe. this can be interpreted that priests of the gospel are required to pay tithe just as the worshippers pay tithe to them.
2. You are wrong by saying Malachi 3:8-10 refers to Levites.
Malachi 3:8-10 was not refering to levites as you claim, but to all israelites (and in our case all believers). it says, ""I, the LORD, never change. That is why you descendants of Jacob haven't been destroyed yet. Since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my laws and have not followed them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of Armies. "But you ask, 'How can we return?' Can a person cheat God? Yet, you are cheating me! "But you ask, 'How are we cheating you?' When you don't bring a tenth of your income and other contributions. Mal 3:9 So a curse is on you because the whole nation is cheating me! Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way, says the LORD of Armies. See if I won't open the windows of heaven for you and flood you with blessings." (Mal 3:6-8, God's Word Translation).
According to Num 18:26, we understand that tithing was instituted as a means of supporting the priesthood and so as to facilitate the work of God. So if a priest precides over a very large congregation and in consequence, the church collects a huge amount of tithe, that is not a crime. It is not a crime for the church to have somuch money. In Malachi 3:10 God says, " Bring the full amount of your tithes to the Temple, so that there will be plenty of food there." (Good News Bible).This shows that it is not God's will for those who work in His vineyard to live in penury. We find another tithe-supporting principle in Galatians 6:6 which says, "hose who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them." (New Living Translation).
The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support]."
Jesus, not just Moses, recommended tithing when He said, "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things." (Matthew 23:23, New Living Translation).
I understand that people, especially money-loving people, have a problem with tithing because they find it very hard to part with their hard earned money. However, as staunch christians that we claim to be, we should learn to abide by the teachings and principles of the Bible, not to question its practicability just because you do not feel comfortable with the idea of parting with your hard earned money because of some religious doctrine.
May the Lord help to abide by sound scriptural doctrine and not be taken astray by human logic.
http://www.maikh.blogspot.com
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