-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
Tithing - heresy or biblical?
- Thread starter JerDriver
- Start date
Sand Dancer
Currently catless
It's an OT thing but I don't know if it was supposed to carry on into the NT. Jesus didn't refute so I guess it still stands.
Spice
StewardshipPeaceIntergityCommunityEquality
In Genesis 14 Abraham attempts to give Melchizedek, the King of Salem and the Most High Priest, a tenth of all his gains from his defeat of the kings of the Valley of Shaveh. But Melchizedek would not accept all Abraham offered. He requested only "the persons." I feel this was an indicator of what later would be Jesus's reference to being "fishers of men."
And in Leviticus 23, it is told to leave the edges and gleanings of your harvest for the poor and stranger. This is how my father paid "tithes" rather than to the church, though he gave the church his time, skill, and sweat as called upon, so this was tithing as taught to me. And this is tithing as I still believe in -- giving.
I think this definition of tithing is highlighted in Mt 22 when Jesus mentions tithing as below:
23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
Tithing to the church is mentioned much more often in Paul's Epistles if more reading on the practice is desired.
And in Leviticus 23, it is told to leave the edges and gleanings of your harvest for the poor and stranger. This is how my father paid "tithes" rather than to the church, though he gave the church his time, skill, and sweat as called upon, so this was tithing as taught to me. And this is tithing as I still believe in -- giving.
I think this definition of tithing is highlighted in Mt 22 when Jesus mentions tithing as below:
23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
Tithing to the church is mentioned much more often in Paul's Epistles if more reading on the practice is desired.
I grew up in a lower-middle-class neighborhood and remember the sound of coins in the first and second collections when I was a boy.That was not 10% of much. @Spice mentioned her father volunteered to help the parish in different ways. I was an altar boy, mission collector, and painter and was tasked with transporting printed materials from the printer to the Rectory or school. I was known as the 'Have cassock will travel' boy because as an altar boy, I 'served' Mass at a very distant Convent on occasion. I should mention I complained about it every chance I got (just joking).
I considered the priesthood but decided against it. I was interested in other pursuits. After I married, a 10% stipend became more familiar to me. Now, my present parish is one that always donates more than surrounding parishes.
I'm an old man now. I'm no longer active at Church. I don't want to be anyone's sheep, anymore. However, I am very grateful to the Pastor of that Church who came to the hospital to give my wife her final Sacraments. I'm not sure of the time that Priest got the call. It might have been 4 am. He refused a gratuity.
I considered the priesthood but decided against it. I was interested in other pursuits. After I married, a 10% stipend became more familiar to me. Now, my present parish is one that always donates more than surrounding parishes.
I'm an old man now. I'm no longer active at Church. I don't want to be anyone's sheep, anymore. However, I am very grateful to the Pastor of that Church who came to the hospital to give my wife her final Sacraments. I'm not sure of the time that Priest got the call. It might have been 4 am. He refused a gratuity.