Israelites used to give up to twenty two percent of the proceeds to Levites. It is the Levites who took ten percent to the storehouse. This is a pointer that sacrifice has been confused with tithing. In fact, in the New Testament, Jesus and his disciples did not mention tithing.
The first sacrifice made in the bible is that of Cain and Abel who were following the example of their father. Other sacrifices are conducted by Isaac and Jacob, among other fathers of faith. Does there exist any prove to suggest that Abraham did not tithe? With this in mind, is it right to say that sacrifice has been confused with tithing?
Present day trend where Christians are required to offer seeds lacks basis in the scripture. If there was a basis for such an argument, it is expected that Job would have been asked to offer something for protection against afflictions. It is not until Abraham that a tenth of proceeds is mentioned in terms of tithing.
Genesis fourteen records that Abram offered a sacrifice from what he got from conquering his enemies in war. The sacrifice included what Lot and the people around him had. A similar sacrifice is made after Lot was rescued from his enemies. These cases indicate sacrifice from war plunder but not personal possession.
There is an element of free will when Abram was dealing with offerings. In verse twenty one of Genesis, he is asked to take what they had brought from the war. His response it that he will not unless it is said that he got rich out of war plunder. He gives ninety percent to those who went to war with him and the other portion to the priests.
The church today has made tithing part of daily service unlike what the bible suggests. Abraham was a very wealthy man yet he only gave up what was gotten from war. From the traditions of the Israelites, tithing was a form of worship and was to be based on individual preference. There is no mention that people were required to give their best as is advocated in the church today.
The lingering question is, should the New Testament have eliminated the element of tithing? Present day church insists that Christians must give up their best. What has never been clear is whether the preachers and ministers give the best of their possession. While they own the best cars, pieces of land and buildings, are they donated to the church?
Moses is considered to have introduced the ten percent rule. He wanted to provide Levites with something to eat when he said that the first proceed of every harvest must be offered to God. This rule did not spare the priests. That it does not apply to present day priesthood raises questions.
Malachi chapter three made it mandatory to tithe. Failure to obey this law meant that they would go for years without rain. It was therefore an appeasement. The New Testament, however, turns the tables and advocates for giving instead of tithing. In fact, the giving is supposed to come second after helping the poor according to Matthew 23.
The first sacrifice made in the bible is that of Cain and Abel who were following the example of their father. Other sacrifices are conducted by Isaac and Jacob, among other fathers of faith. Does there exist any prove to suggest that Abraham did not tithe? With this in mind, is it right to say that sacrifice has been confused with tithing?
Present day trend where Christians are required to offer seeds lacks basis in the scripture. If there was a basis for such an argument, it is expected that Job would have been asked to offer something for protection against afflictions. It is not until Abraham that a tenth of proceeds is mentioned in terms of tithing.
Genesis fourteen records that Abram offered a sacrifice from what he got from conquering his enemies in war. The sacrifice included what Lot and the people around him had. A similar sacrifice is made after Lot was rescued from his enemies. These cases indicate sacrifice from war plunder but not personal possession.
There is an element of free will when Abram was dealing with offerings. In verse twenty one of Genesis, he is asked to take what they had brought from the war. His response it that he will not unless it is said that he got rich out of war plunder. He gives ninety percent to those who went to war with him and the other portion to the priests.
The church today has made tithing part of daily service unlike what the bible suggests. Abraham was a very wealthy man yet he only gave up what was gotten from war. From the traditions of the Israelites, tithing was a form of worship and was to be based on individual preference. There is no mention that people were required to give their best as is advocated in the church today.
The lingering question is, should the New Testament have eliminated the element of tithing? Present day church insists that Christians must give up their best. What has never been clear is whether the preachers and ministers give the best of their possession. While they own the best cars, pieces of land and buildings, are they donated to the church?
Moses is considered to have introduced the ten percent rule. He wanted to provide Levites with something to eat when he said that the first proceed of every harvest must be offered to God. This rule did not spare the priests. That it does not apply to present day priesthood raises questions.
Malachi chapter three made it mandatory to tithe. Failure to obey this law meant that they would go for years without rain. It was therefore an appeasement. The New Testament, however, turns the tables and advocates for giving instead of tithing. In fact, the giving is supposed to come second after helping the poor according to Matthew 23.
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