Dear Brother Gregor, once again your wisdom and grasp of scripture reminds me that I am but a baby Christian. What a great response to the question about tithing. However...didn't Jesus make reference to tithing? I seem to recall at least one, somewhere in the NT.
While I don't feel bound by Leviticus and the rest of the OT laws, I do look to them for some guidance as to what the Lord would like us to do. This year I'm doing the One-Year Bible thing, and I've noticed how many of those laws undoubtedly had good practical reasons for them. It may have had to do with hygeine, good community relations, or whatever, but there was invariably more to it than just God showing that mankind would not obey his commands. So, what was the reason for the tithe? Could it be that God felt this was an appropriate amount to contribute for sacred purposes? And if so, why would it be any different today? Anyone at any income can live on 90% of earnings, today as then. And, if a community is tithing 10%, the priests/churches should have sufficient resources to do God's work.
As to where to pay it, there was a priesthood then, there is a clergy now, so I always pay to the church. Since I attend a church I believe is doing the Lord's work, I tithe there. If I want to support Promise Keepers or whatever, I can reach down deeper than the tithe.
As to the poor, Christ listed alms as one of the pillars of righteousness.
At this point I feel compelled to confess that I do not always faithfully tithe, but I aspire.
In Christ, Ken. |
