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Malachi was speaking to OT Jews living under the Mosaic Law. I'm a Christian righteous by the blood of Christ. I can no more please God by my tithes as I can by avoiding shellfish.
Malachi was speaking to OT Jews living under the Mosaic Law. I'm a Christian righteous by the blood of Christ. I can no more please God by my tithes as I can by avoiding shellfish.
It's kind of like getting speeding ticket for going 75 in a 55 zone. You could claim you were just following the law because in 2006 the speed limit in west Texas on I-10 was 75. But it won't work because it's not the law for you or for today.
To me.... and since the Bible mentions riches and money over 300 times it's an important topic, very important. However we must look first at how to become a cheerful giver... since this is what pleases God.
If we examine the "way" rather than the "act" we will discover God would like us to first be good stewards of our blessings. Following a law or mans version of what pleases God usually manifests via rules, percentages, polls and accountability to doctrine or other people. We have lots of accountants and God isn't one of them.
Let's face it...it's all His anyway. So it seems to me, whatever He gives us, He wishes for us to use wisely. This way others may see how God's blessings are making the lives of believers content.
Tithing is not giving 10% to the church. Remember back in the day, there were no taxes... so to provide for the common good required giving. Armies had to be fed, Temples had to be built, rulers had to rule and that all required money. No different then, as it is today with legalism, if you were asked to give, and you are told 10% pleases God, then 20% would please God twice as much... right? That dog won't hunt. Today we have "taxes" for just about everything BUT the church.
Good steward = Content = cheerful = giving = servant-ship = happy, happy God
Tithing is an OT law with promise of wealth. Wealth is a hinderance in the NT. Why do you want wealth? Wealth is pride and pleasure.
I want wealth for security. However, giving tithes is a way to loosen the attachment I have to money. Giving tithes and being sustained financially as a result, has given me more faith in God; that he will take care of me.
The goal is to rely less and less on money for my security, and more on security from God by giving money away freely. So in that regard, it is an exercise in faith, which is crucial in the NT and this time of grace. The OT always points to the NT.
To me.... and since the Bible mentions riches and money over 300 times it's an important topic, very important. However we must look first at how to become a cheerful giver... since this is what pleases God.
If we examine the "way" rather than the "act" we will discover God would like us to first be good stewards of our blessings. Following a law or mans version of what pleases God usually manifests via rules, percentages, polls and accountability to doctrine or other people. We have lots of accountants and God isn't one of them.
Let's face it...it's all His anyway. So it seems to me, whatever He gives us, He wishes for us to use wisely. This way others may see how God's blessings are making the lives of believers content.
Tithing is not giving 10% to the church. Remember back in the day, there were no taxes... so to provide for the common good required giving. Armies had to be fed, Temples had to be built, rulers had to rule and that all required money. No different then, as it is today with legalism, if you were asked to give, and you are told 10% pleases God, then 20% would please God twice as much... right? That dog won't hunt. Today we have "taxes" for just about everything BUT the church.
Good steward = Content = cheerful = giving = servant-ship = happy, happy God
I have to work on the cheerful giving part when it comes to giving away money.
I love buying things and making things for people, or donating things, that's from the heart.
But tithing financially is out of obedience right now. I'm hoping and praying for God to change my heart so I can give money more freely because I think it's important to support financially the congregation that is feeding you, and it also has benefits to the individual as I stated above.
My father in law retired as an engineer for a large electrical utility. A co-worker belonged to church X. He HAD to tithe for some reason to move up, get ahead, or get more blessing from his church.
That's inexcusable. That isn't what tithing is about.
It's kind of like getting speeding ticket for going 75 in a 55 zone. You could claim you were just following the law because in 2006 the speed limit in west Texas on I-10 was 75. But it won't work because it's not the law for you or for today.
Good correlation. It matters not what the Law was or the standard a few years ago--the question is what does God expect of us now? We are not Jews living under the Mosaic Law.
This is probably the biggest misconception I see with people--those who think they're going to either please or anger God according to how they lived according to the 10 Commandments. The truth is, none of us can please God -- we are made righteous by one thing--the blood of Christ. If you're not in him, you're dead in your sins.
That's inexcusable. That isn't what tithing is about.
Honest question: Doesn't the Mormon church require tithing, at least for leadership? There was a big deal made out of Mit Romney's tax returns compared to Obama's during the election. I know Romney gave a huge amount of his income to the church. I know he wasn't paid clergy, but he did serve in leadership within his local body, if I recall. Was it a ward? Or his stake? I forget.
Honest question: Doesn't the Mormon church require tithing, at least for leadership? There was a big deal made out of Mit Romney's tax returns compared to Obama's during the election. I know Romney gave a huge amount of his income to the church. I know he wasn't paid clergy, but he did serve in leadership within his local body, if I recall. Was it a ward? Or his stake? I forget.
They used to (and I am sure still do) have a tithing settlement meeting with each member once a year. Also to get your Temple Recommend and renew it you must be a full tithe payer.
Good correlation. It matters not what the Law was or the standard a few years ago--the question is what does God expect of us now? We are not Jews living under the Mosaic Law.
This is probably the biggest misconception I see with people--those who think they're going to either please or anger God according to how they lived according to the 10 Commandments. The truth is, none of us can please God -- we are made righteous by one thing--the blood of Christ. If you're not in him, you're dead in your sins.
You notice it was not the law for all of us once but only for one place and time. Just like the Law God gave to the nation Israel.
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