Points are shared, today, on tithing as a spiritual practice among Christian believers. Rightly understood, to tithe is to maintain ones consciousness of GOD. Many think of tithes as necessary to maintaining the priesthood and formal activities of the church. However, as our divine High Priest, Jesus Christ receives the tithe as an actual appearance of ones Spirit before the divine presence. When tithing is regarded as only another earthly financial routine like donating, giving, and investing, paying tithes becomes a secular process from the world that is focused upon material needs, political process for distributing resources, and social aspects of interaction. Regrettably, such tithing is often experienced as merely more indebtedness and “bill-paying”. Yet, there are things that believers must do, and that may not be left to those who disbelieve. While ones offerings, sacrifices and tithes legitimately are to be applied to addressing the practical needs for a congregation, the tithes nevertheless must be understood as a peculiar sacred mechanism for acknowledgement and contact with the Resurrected Christ (see Hebrews 7: 8, KJV). The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID 2.718281828459045235360287471352662497757247093699 (Level 7 with 117,278 points, a member since February 26, 2006) posted the following:
It's my understanding if you cheat on your tithing you go to hell. Can someone back me up on that?
Me I've been condemned to hell four times on here already. By church people. So I have nothing to lose. I can cheat on my tithing all I want, or simply refuse to pay it. Like what are they going to do.
My question is this, what about you holy fervent people that are hoping to get into heaven? Don't tell me none of you cheat on your tithing. Earnest replies appreciated.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. (Hebrews 7: 1-8, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: A Price for Religious Liberty? (06/30/2015); Some Points on Tithing (03/19/2015); Ananias, Liar, Thief or Blasphemer? (01/12/2015); On Being Good Stewards (12/17/2013); Traditional Marriage? (12/18/2013); Sacrificial Relationships? (10/23/2013); Relationship by Unselfish Giving? (10/24/2013)
“2.718281828459045235360287471352662497757247093699 ”, in their understanding of what it means to live by faith, many Christians today deny any obligation to the laws of tithing. They fail to grasp that tithing pertains to continuing their spiritual relationship with divinity expressed as accountability, commitment, duty, and promise so that tithing is not merely a matter of ceremony, economics, finances, legal requirements, opinions, personal preferences, ritual, and tradition. Tithing pertains to trust. Consider the following points:
(1.) Every believer is challenged to continue the life of Christ by operating as part of a collective (we say, assembly, body, congregation, church) that embraces believers past, present and future. In addition to voluntary donations and gifts from the members (we say, offerings) to pay for necessary materials and services, there also must be “sacrifice” (i.e., enduring loss; letting go of what one wants to retain; relinquishing; surrender; yielding) that makes visible the continuing awe, gratitude, humility, respect, reverence, and suffering on behalf of, and within the body.
(2.) Most correctly understood and practiced as a spiritual act (like confession, forgiveness, petition and praise during prayer), tithing is accomplished properly only through consistency, dependability, discipline, maturity, regularity, and stability.
(3.) Believers are permitted to “borrow” and use for personal needs the monies that should be given the church as tithe. It is understood, emergencies and unanticipated problems may occur. Even so, as surely as refinancing does not eliminate ones mortgage and indebtedness, because a new process of repayment comes into view, borrowing tithes requires penalty and repayment. Ten percent (10%) becomes fifteen percent (15%). Just as foreclosure and revocation of ones ownership of their home is not cancelled immediately by missed mortgage payments, and one must make focused efforts to meet the financial demand, one is not damned immediately by mishandling tithes, or by displaying attitudes and behavior within the church that is immature, unrepentant, unreliable and untrustworthy.
There is much more that could be said, and that must be correctly understood and spiritually taken into account. (For example, (4.) For Christian believers, tithing appears as an expression from and movement by the Holy Spirit to edify and nourish the body, to feed his lambs. Like breathing and speaking truth, tithing is something believers do to stay alive (i.e., to make a ceaseless, uninterrupted expression of faith; to continue with “peace of mind”). Tithing is not done from motives of ambition and reward. Mature believers all acknowledge that, without their own full participation, the church will not exist; and an important aspect of the work by Jesus Christ will not be able bear its intended fruit.) I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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