If we are going to preach it, then we must live it

[Standing Firm In Christ]

If one is going to claim that one tithes according to the Word of God?s commands and principles, then one must follow all aspects of the tithe.

1: Only pastors can act as priests and bring reconciliation between God and man.
This removes 1 Peter 2:9, 10; Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 and follows the Biblical pattern given in Numbers 18:1, 5 and 3:12.

2: Our tithe must go to only one family in the congregation who are the only people that can perform all of the duties associated with service and the construction and maintenance of the building (Numbers 18:1-4).

3: Only the dad of this chosen family and his sons can take the needs of this family to the throne room of Grace. This family is to be the only family allowed inside the building? no one else. They are also the only ones allowed ask God for forgiveness in behalf of all other members of the assembly.

Numbers 18:1 And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

4: The first whole tithe must go solely to the brothers of this family. For some strange reason, not one tither today follows this rule set forth by God.
Numbers 18:21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, [even] the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Numbers 18:22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
Numbers 18:23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: [it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.

5: The local body of believers must allow the chosen family (both brothers and workers) to live on their land for free for ever but the land will remain the property of the believers and not the chosen family.
Numbers 35:2 Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give [also] unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.
Numbers 35:3 And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.

6: The whole tithe which belongs to the chosen family must be brought, not to the sanctuary, but to the towns where the chosen family members must live most of the time at their farms with their crops, flocks and herds. (Num. 35; Josh 20, 21).
Nehemiah 10:37 And [that] we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
Nehemiah 10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

7: The chosen family that receives the whole tithe must not serve as pastors and must not enter into the Sanctuary. The chosen family can only work the following jobs: fabric-weavers (Num 3:25, 26), builders of household furniture (Num 3:31), potters who make cooking utensils from clay (Num 3:36), soldiers (1 Chron 12:26), architects (1 Chron 23:4), foremen and judges (23:4), jailors and doormen (23:5), choir members and musicians (23:5), bakers (23:29) and politicians (26:29-32)
Numbers 18:2 And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee [shall minister] before the tabernacle of witness.

8: Only the pastor can enter the Sanctuary. All others, including the chosen family who receive the whole tithe, must be killed if they try to worship God.
Numbers 18:3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.
Numbers 18:4 And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.
Numbers 18:5 And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.
Numbers 18:6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you [they are] given [as] a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Numbers 18:7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office [unto you] as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Numbers 18:22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.

8: The pastor must eat his portion of the offerings inside the Sanctuary (Num 18:8-18). They must eat the first-born of clean animals and the firstfruit offering inside the Sanctuary (Neh. 10:35-37). The pastor may not take the offering home and share it with his family. Tithes are not the same as first-fruit.
Nehemiah 10:35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:
Nehemiah 10:36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as [it is] written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:
Nehemiah 10:37 And [that] we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

9: The Pastor keeps all items presented as promises and also any redemption money (18:14, 15, 16).

10: The chosen family cannot own or inherit property.
Numbers 18:23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: [it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.

11: When the tithe is given to the Chosen family, they must give only one tenth of the tithe which they receive to the pastor. The pastor?s tenth cannot be used for any other purpose. (Another requirement that is overlooked by those who advocate tithing today.
Numbers 18:26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, [even] a tenth [part] of the tithe.
Numbers 18:27 And [this] your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though [it were] the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
Numbers 18:28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.
Nehemiah 10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

12: Because the pastor is given a tithe of the tithe, he cannot own any land; nor can he inherit any.
Numbers 18:20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I [am] thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

13: The Pastor does not have to tithe. He is to offer back to God the very best from which he receives from the tithe (18:29).
Numbers 18:29 Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, [even] the hallowed part thereof out of it.
Numbers 18:30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.

continued...

[Standing Firm In Christ]

...continued

14: The Pastor may eat the tithe wherever he chooses (18:31, 32), but he must eat the firstfruits and any other offerings in the Sanctuary.
Numbers 18:31 And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it [is] your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Numbers 18:32 And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.

15: Both the pastor and the chosen family will only work in the building one week out of twenty four. They must spend the remainder of their lives either raising and feeding (tithed) animals or learning trades needed for the maintenance of the Sanctuary.
1 Chron. chapters 24-26; 28:13, 21; 2 Chron. 8:14; 23:8; 31:2, 15-19; 35:4, 5, 10; Ezra 6:18; Neh. 11:19, 30; 12:24; 13:9, 10; Luke 1:5

16: All costs for the Sanctuary and maintenance are to be paid by head taxes and freewill-offerings and not by tithes. Tithes can only be used to support the chosen and the pastor.
Ex 30:13-15; 35:2, 3, 21, 22; Num 3:47-50; 1 Chronicles 28

17: Tithes are always food and nothing else.
Lev. 27:30, 32; Numb. 18:27, 28; Deut. 12:17; 14:22, 23; 26:12; 2 Chron. 31:5, 6; Neh. 10:37; 13:5; Mal. 3:10; Matt. 23:23; Luke 11: 42

18: Those who are poor of the Church are not required to pay tithes. The richer believers must have programs to take care of the poor.
Lev. 14:21; 25:6, 25-28, 35, 36; 27:8; Deu. 12:1-19; 14:23, 28, 29; 15:7, 8, 11; 24:12, 14, 15, 19, 20; 26:11-13; Mal. 3:5; Matt. 12:1, 2; Mark 2:23, 24; Luke 2:22-24; 6:1, 2; 2 Cor. 8:12-14; 1 Tim. 5:8; Jas. 1:27

19: Spoils of war gained by Church members drafted by the Armed Forces may be distributed by any of the following methods: (1) 10% to the local priest-king and 90% to a designated king of Sodom (Genesis 14:16-24); (2) .1% to the priests and 1% to the chosen family according to the 1 of 10 ratio of the Law ordinance of Numbers 31:21, 27-30) or (3) spoils of war may also be donated toward the maintenance of the Church building (1 Chronicles 26:26-27).

20: Tithes must not be used for missionaries or evangelists who are not local Church members.
Ex. 23:32; 34:12, 15; Deut. 7:2

21: A second tithe must be brought to the city where the Church is located. This second tithe must be eaten by worshippers in the streets during feasts. If the distance to the city is too far, the tithe may be turned into non-alcoholic wine to quench one?s thirst during the Church?s feast period. It is not a paycheck.
Deuteronomy 12:1-19; 14:22-26

22: Every third year a third tithe for the poor must be kept available in the homes of the local body of believers to feed the poor which includes the chosen family and the pastor. This third-year tithe is not a paycheck either.
Deuteronomy 14:28, 29; 26: 12, 13

23: Every seventh year and every fiftieth year no tithes of food from the fields shall be brought to the chosen family.
Ex 23:11; Lev 25:4, 11

24: The Pastor bringing reconciliation between God and man in the Church must bear full responsibility for the failures of the Church. The curse spoken of in Malachi is directed squarely upon him should he in any way abuse the tithe. (See Malachi 1:6 to 3:5.)
Malachi 1:6 A son honoureth [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I [be] a father, where [is] mine honour? and if I [be] a master, where [is] my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
Malachi 1:14 But cursed [be] the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen.
Malachi 2:1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment [is] for you.
Malachi 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.
Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

25: Precision scales must be used in measuring out the tithe of the crops.
Matthew 23:23; Luke 21:42

26: Some tithe-payers who are modern Pharisees may be cursed, even if they tithe.
Mathew 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12

[Calvary]

So, may I ask you without offending, how much on a percentage scale do you give? I truly wish to know. You can PM if you like.

God bless,

Calvary

[Standing Firm In Christ]

I give 100% of what I purpose in my heart to give. Cheerfully.

Paul instructed the saints in the Corinthian Church to give in this manner as well.

As to a specific dollar amount, that depends on what our incoming bills are like each month. My wife and I are both on social security income and that is very limited.

[John81]

We don't give based upon a percentage, but upon the Lord's leading. There is a "set amount" the Lord has guided us to give to our church, missionaries, and a couple other things. However, we keep this in prayer and there are times the Lord leads us to give more which we cheerfully do. There are also times the Lord will place a specific burden upon my heart to give elsewhere as well.

The last time this issue came up here I did a rough figure of what our giving would have been had we gave 10% each month compared to what our actual giving was during each month over the past year. As it turned out, each month we gave well above 10%. Some months the giving was way above 10%. This isn't something we planned, this is how the Lord lead us.

It's amazing this issue keeps coming up when Scripture is so clear the tithe was for Old Testament Jews and not Christians.

[Jerry]

[quote="John81"]It's amazing this issue keeps coming up when Scripture is so clear the tithe was for Old Testament Jews and not Christians.[/quote]


Obviously, there are many on these boards that believe tithing still does apply to NT believers.

[deputydog530]

Hmmm

So, you dont believe in the principles of the O.T?

Or, which principles do use believe?

Kinda confused in light of past posts from you SFIC. Im not going to dredge up past debates, clearly we disagree. I have looked at what your saying and prayed and studied (and am still studying). If im in error, I want to correct it before God, but at this time cant find where the Lord removed the "PRINCIPLE' of tithing.

I wont be posting further here, just did not understand your post (some of which I believe you have out of context).

[Standing Firm In Christ]

[quote="deputydog530"]Hmmm

So, you dont believe in the principles of the O.T?

Or, which principles do use believe?

Kinda confused in light of past posts from you SFIC. Im not going to dredge up past debates, clearly we disagree. I have looked at what your saying and prayed and studied (and am still studying). If im in error, I want to correct it before God, but at this time cant find where the Lord removed the "PRINCIPLE' of tithing.

I wont be posting further here, just did not understand your post (some of which I believe you have out of context).[/quote]
If you feel God has not removed the principle of tithing, great for you. By all means, take your tithe of your crops,flocks or herds to the nearest Levite that is living on someone else's property and give them to him. The one tithing Biblically according to the tithe principles was not to take the tithe to the Tabernacle, but to a Levite.

If you can tell me of a Levite that lives in my area, who will not rob God by failing to take a tenth of what is given him to the storehouse (not the Church), I will be glad to give him a tenth of what I receive of the Lord as well.

[Calvary]

[quote="Standing Firm In Christ"]I give 100% of what I purpose in my heart to give. Cheerfully.

Paul instructed the saints in the Corinthian Church to give in this manner as well.

As to a specific dollar amount, that depends on what our incoming bills are like each month. My wife and I are both on social security income and that is very limited.[/quote]


It would seem that since you're such a stickler for being literal (which in and of itself seems to be more to the letter and not the spirit makin g you seem, how shall I say "pharisaical") ...

[b]2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. [/b]

The context of 2 Corinthians chapters 7-9 are not at all about what a christian should be doing as a regular giving pattern. They are in fact dealing with a one time offering for the poor saints. That is the literal hisatorical approach which you seem to agree with. So that said, if you desire to help a project one time, then by all means do so according as you purpose (desire) and do it with a glad heart. But do not profer this passage as a pattern of giving for the NT Christian. It is not. Many Missions Conferences are abusing this passage as you just did, please be balanced. Literal is literal right??



God bless,

Calvary

[Revelation3:20]

I did plan to try to show with scripture why New testament Christians should tithe. But then I looked at Standing Firm In Christ's post history. A large portion of his posting on multiple threads seems to be dedicated to nothing but an attempt to shout down tithing. I don't think it would be very smart to answer him. Never argue with someone who has an axe to grind.

[Standing Firm In Christ]

[quote="Revelation3:20"]I did plan to try to show with scripture why New testament Christians should tithe. But then I looked at Standing Firm In Christ's post history. A large portion of his posting on multiple threads seems to be dedicated to nothing but an attempt to shout down tithing. I don't think it would be very smart to answer him. Never argue with someone who has an axe to grind.[/quote]

No axe to grind here, Revelation.

Scripture tells us that the tithe was never money. Why try to add to Scripture?

[John81]

[quote="Jerry"][quote="John81"]It's amazing this issue keeps coming up when Scripture is so clear the tithe was for Old Testament Jews and not Christians.[/quote]


Obviously, there are many on these boards that believe tithing still does apply to NT believers.[/quote]

That doesn't change the fact Scripture is clear the tithe was for OT Jews and not NT believers. There is no Scriptural support for the idea that Christians are to tithe.

[Standing Firm In Christ]

Although there is no Scriptural support for Gentile believers to tithe, we must have to tithe because a majority of people with no Biblical support to tithe say we are supposed to?

Hmmmm.

[Calvary]

[b]1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. [/b]

I posted extensively a while back on a loooooong running thread ovwer tithing my beliefs. Although many use the ruse of tithing never was money, they fail to mention that in principle, crops were the goods earned. Today money is the medium. Although they mention the context of Malachi and the priest, they fail to mention the over all context that if the congregation does not do right by the priesthood, God will curse them. In other words, support the work of God is the principle found over all in the OT as well as the New. How it's done does not matter much, just get it done.


1 Corinthians 16.

The Bible clearly teaches that a Christian should pay his bills.

The Bible clearly teaches that a man should provide for his family.

The Bible clearly teaches that a man should also make room for entertainment. (I leave you to do the home work on that)

The Bible clearly teaches that with food and rainment, a man should be content therewith.

What's left over is how God has prospered you.

Now dear brethren that cavil about tithing (either for or against), do you after paying your bills, buying the food, getting jr. a new pair of shoes and taking a vacation give what's left over to the work of God?

If you do not, you are a hypocrite. If you have a savings account you are a hypocrite for posting that one must live by what one preaches.

Enough said beloved.

God bless,
Calvary

[Standing Firm In Christ]

[quote="Calvary"][b]1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. [/b]

I posted extensively a while back on a loooooong running thread ovwer tithing my beliefs. Although many use the ruse of tithing never was money, they fail to mention that in principle, crops were the goods earned. Today money is the medium. [/quote]

Abraham was rich in gold and silver before the tithe was even mentioned in the Word of God and money is mentioned 44 times prior to the tithe in the Law. So to say in principle crops were the goods used is a ruse. People bought and sold with money throughout the Old Testament.

[quote]Although they mention the context of Malachi and the priest, they fail to mention the over all context that if the congregation does not do right by the priesthood, God will curse them.[/quote]

Wrong! Malachi was addressing the corrupt Levites and priests. Read Malachi 2 and 3 in context. The congregation was not doing the robbing.

[quote]In other words, support the work of God is the principle found over all in the OT as well as the New. How it's done does not matter much, just get it done. [/quote]

Supporting the work of God is throughout the entire Bible. Tithes, firstfruits and offerings in the Old Testament, Offerings in the New Testament.


[quote]The Bible clearly teaches that a Christian should pay his bills. [/quote]
I agree. Owe no man anything but love.

[quote]The Bible clearly teaches that a man should provide for his family.[/quote]
I agree. If any provide not for his own he is worse than an infidel.

[quote]The Bible clearly teaches that a man should also make room for entertainment. (I leave you to do the home work on that)[/quote]
Depends on what kind of entertainment

[quote]The Bible clearly teaches that with food and rainment, a man should be content therewith. [/quote]
Agreed

[quote]What's left over is how God has prospered you. [/quote]
I disagree. God has prospered you with all you have, not just "what's left over."

[quote]Now dear brethren that cavil about tithing (either for or against), do you after paying your bills, buying the food, getting jr. a new pair of shoes and taking a vacation give what's left over to the work of God? [/quote]
Do you really believe we should allow vacations before giving to God??!!

[quote]If you do not, you are a hypocrite. If you have a savings account you are a hypocrite for posting that one must live by what one preaches. [/quote]

Having a saving account is being a hypocrite? Isn't one laying up in store by him as Paul instructed a savings account?


[quote]Enough said beloved. [/quote]
I agree