Hi there, Just thought I’d say hello and encourage your work for God. Quite a surprise actually, I thought I was the only one who read my Bible the way you ppl do!! I’m a reformed evangelical in Sydney, Australia. Sydney Anglicans are reviled in Anglican circles because we don’t ordain women or accept sin or tolerate it in clergy etc. Not far from your Theology but much tamer in practice of religion.
I did your Church quiz and I think we did pretty well. You have a Tithe question that is unbiblical and incorrect actually.
Tithing is an OT Law, there are no tithes in the NT because the church is not under Law Rom 7 etc. The Law is finished, fulfilled by Christ etc. It could be a salvation issue not unlike Circumcision in Galations. You don’t wanna be telling ppl they have to obey a 10% tithe Law, in the NT the church is told to be generous, double honor to their leaders, which could mean more than 10%, generously from the heart. If you tell your flock to Tithe you have to keep ALL the Laws…right?? We are under Grace not Law and led by the Spirit who
brings freedom from sin.
Just a very small criticism when I consider how great your ministry
is to reach the Lost. God Bless and Love in Christ,
Henry
Dear Henry –
Sorry, but you failed to read with care and to get the spirit of the matter as well. Consider this fact. Before the Law of Moses in all its parts, there was Tithe, and after the Law of Moses, there is tithe! YAY! Pick me -I’ll help you navigate the simple few passages to get understanding on this most important and settled matter.
Begin with this passage found in the Book of the Beginnings, Genesis 14:
Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine:
and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Of course this was before the Law.
Now add this:
Hebrews 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
AND:
Hebrews 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
And this:
Hebrews 7:11 ¶ If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: )
Further you know that the Law of Moses in all of its parts are lessons and types for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. These are strong words about that matter spoken by Malachi”
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Here it is Henry, before Moses’ Law, Abraham paid tithe to Melchisedec. He was a free standing preacher, just like we have today, AFTER Moses’ Law.
We, like Abraham, pay tithe!
Also, the tithe is referred to in other ways as well, check out the words:
Philippians 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
1 Cor 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather?
Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
15 ¶ But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
Words about these matters are more, but at the end of the day, the tithe belongs to God. How does one minister to anyone in need if you steal the tithe from the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ? There are many words about how those people did in the early church. We look to those examples and we love them and we don’t look for ways to get out from under our duty and we don’t look for ways to talk it to death.
Don’t be a sorry workman in the Word of God!
Thanks for writing.