| Tithe, Offerings and Blood Sacrifice |
Create Date: 25-Aug-2019 |
| Is it required or a good idea? |
Last updated: 27-Aug-2019 |
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Strictly speaking, many Christians would give the following definitions:
The three categories, sometimes could be combined into one action, gift and event in the Old Testament period starting with Adam and Eve up and until the end of the Levitical Priesthood. Melchizedek is an example of a Priest of God (Jehovah) where he was prior to the Levitical Priesthood. Moses spoke about his father in law, Jethro, who was the Priest of Median. A head of a household is considered the priest of the family and was responsible for the three categories.
When was the first Blood Sacrifice in the Scriptures? The answer is Genesis 3:21 when God gave Adam and Eve garments of animal skins which was far more relevant than we first imagined. It taught us that by the shedding of blood there would be remedy for sin. God could have made Adam and Eve's fig leaves into a strong fabric similar to what we all wear today but God chose animal skin because it required the death of animal to point the way to God's plan for a perfect Sacrifice Savior in Jesus Christ.
| Genesis 3:21 | The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. |
| Hebrews 10:4 | For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. |
Is giving a Tithe, Offering and a Blood Sacrifice the same thing? The answer is no but they are remarkably similar and teach us very important truths. Consider Can and Able were giving to the Lord the "fruits" and "fat portions". Abel's offering of a type of Blood Sacrifice was acceptable to God but Cain's offering of the fruits of the soil was not. Did Abel's "fat portions" constitute a Blood Sacrifice? The answer is "yes". Also, how did Abel know what was required and pleasing to God unless God had already instructed Adam, Eve and their lineage to what was required.
| Genesis 4:2-5 | 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. |
Abram taught us about Blood Sacrifices also and also instituted the 10% gift to honor God in Genesis 14:18-20. Later, Abram took animals as an offering and Blood Sacrifice for a covenant with God in Genesis 15, which was about a promise God was making to Abram and Abram's descendants. This incident shows us an offering and Blood Sacrifice can be used in the same manner. Note that the cutting in two parts of animals, in the times of Abraham, was the method of a creating a partnership, an oath and covenant, where the two people would walk in between the cut pieces together. This act is similar to our times of signing of a contract. God walked the path between the two halves alone, while Abram was asleep, which meant the covenant was unconditional on anything that Abram would do and God would uphold His side 100% alone. It was in Genesis 17:5 that Abram becomes Abraham.
| Genesis 14:18-20 | 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. |
| Genesis 15:6-10 | 9 So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” 10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. |
In the first centuries after Jesus Christ Resurrection, the Tithe was considered to be currency, land, materials, clothes, food or anything to help Christians and build the Church but it was not required.
In many parts of the world after a few centuries of Jesus Christ's Resurrection, in the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church, the Tithe took on additional meaning which included currency, servitude, land and possessions. Unquestionably, there was confusion and also Satanic influences as Acts 20:29 states will happen.
| Acts 20:29 | I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; |
There are many Christians who state that a Tithe is no longer necessary because we live in the Dispensation of Grace which means we are not under any law to Tithe. We need to remember that Grace and Mercy have always been operable since the time of Adam and Eve. The scripture that is often sited is Romans 6:14 where it is taken out of context. Notice that the Apostle Paul is saying we have Grace but are still not to sin and he was not talking about the Tithe.
| Romans 6:13-15 | 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! |
During the early times of the Church in Acts, there were many offerings given to help Christians who were being persecuted by the Jews because of their new Faith. (Not an excuse to think negative of anyone Jewish then and now. In fact, the scriptures point out that those who honor Israel will be blessed, even though they still need to recognize their Savior!)
Is a Tithe giving currency, materials and time? The answer is all three in this author's opinion based on the whole of scriptures. Abraham and the descendants of Abraham chose 10% because that is what Abraham did and notice that it is confirmed din Hebrews 7:2. Also, in Hebrews 7:6, we learn it was required for the Priestly line of the Levites.
Points for the New Testament Christian:
| Hebrews 7:2 | and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. |
| Hebrews 7:6 | Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. |
| Hebrews 7:11-13 | 11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. |
| Hebrews 7:15-25 | 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. |
| Malachi 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. |
The short answer is no. Remember that the Church has existed since the time of the Jesus Christ when He announced it in Matthew 16:18. The Church did not always consist of a building, a full time pastor with staff and utility costs. In the beginnings of the Church and for many centuries, the Christians gave:
all of which to build and support the Church and it mission of presenting the Gospel to everyone along with helping one another when we are in need.
Regarding money, unquestionably currency is required for the support of a Church that has a building, pastor, staff and utility bills.
The next part of the question on a Tithe or Offering is does it consists of anything that is not money? The Scriptures are replete with instructions for us all to support one another and especially those who are in need. The main point for us all to remember is if there is a cost to us in the forms of money, time, labor and giving possessions then God wants us to participate in it
| 1 John 3:17 | But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? |
If we are giving our money, do we have to make sure the Tithe is to a Church to handle the expenses of a Church and also to administrate the dispersion of monetary help to those in need? It is the writer's opinion that some Pastors will tell you it does but that is not true. There are many good charitable Christian organizations that help orphans, widowers and anyone of need, which should be part of our financial, labor and material support, that can be in the form of our Tithe or Offering, where this is between you and God on whether or not it is part of a Tithe. Some Pastors will often state that anything done outside of your home church should be considered as an Offering but it is this writer's opinion that this is not true either. This author is not telling the reader to not support the Church that you are attending, just that it is not the sole recipient of a Tithe.
The answer is "no". There is no scripture that states we must give a Tithe to the Church or to a Charity but there are admonitions, recommendations and rewards to be obtained by giving a Tithe.
| 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 | 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. |
| 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 | 6 But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth [a]bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. |
| James 1:5 | But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. |
| John 13:34-35 | 34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. |
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