Tithing

Stewardship occurs 39 times in the bible, 7 of these are in the New Testament.

Tithing has an ancient origin: Persia, Egypt, Babylonia, Greece, Rome. and China.
Wherever we find a trace of man worshipping a supreme being we find a tithe or more given to the gods.
Both a religious practice and a political taxation.
Abraham and Melchizedek.
Jacob pledge the tithe to God and 20 yrs. later remembered.
Old Testament tithe is hard to define!

I: Deuteronomy lists 3 different tithe.

1. The annual tithe on the increase of crops. A feast at Jerusalem. This tithe wasn’t given, but eaten and shared with the Levites.
2. The 3rd yr. tithe, which was in the towns and used the Levites, the so journer, the fatherless, and the widow.
3. The tithe of the 1st fruits taken to the Altar before God. This included the 1st born of all the animals.
The early Church went far beyond the tithe.

Tithe was abused in the Dark Ages. Baptists have been exceedingly careful of making tithe a means of merit. We have been afraid of legalism in the financial support of the Church, (fishing within the bounds of another parish).
Baptists for many years favored an unpaid clergy because of their fear of oppression by State and State Churches.

II: Southern Baptists:

1. Our position usually falls into the following statements: “Abraham commenced it, Jacob continued it, Moses commanded it, Jesus practiced it, Paul explained it, and the Church needs it.”
2. What greater work than given to the Church in the great commission!
3. Would Jesus leave the Church such a tremendous task and fail to give a financial plan to undergird it?
4. A man for less than his total life. Our church has one thing in common with the early Church, we are surrounded by human need!

“Find out how a man spends his money and you will find the real man.” (The man who wrote the biography of the Duke of Wellington).
When we settle our relationship with the dollar, we settle one of life’s greatest issues.

 

Stewardship occurs 39 times in the bible, seven of these are in the New Testament.

Tithing has an ancient origin: Persia, Egypt, Babylonia, Greece, Rome, and China.
Wherever we find a trace of men worshiping a supreme being, we find a tithe or more given to the Gods.

Both a religious practice and a political taxation.
Abraham and Melchizedek.
Jacob pledged the tithe to God and 20 yrs. later remembered.

Old Testament tithe is hard to define!

I: Deuteronomy Lists Three Different Tithes:
1. The animal tithe on the increase of the crops.
a. A feast at Jerusalem.
b. This tithe was not given but eaten and shared with the Levites.
2. The third year tithe, which was in the towns and used for the Levites, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.
3. The tithes of the first fruits taken to the altar before God. This included the first born of all animals.

II: The Early Church Went Far Beyond the Tithe.
1. Tithe was abused in the dark ages.
2. Baptists have been exceedingly careful of making tithe a means of merit.
3. We have been afraid of legalism in the financial support of the church (fishing within the bounds of another parish).
4. Baptists, for many years, favored an unpaid clergy because of their fear of oppression by State and State churches.

III: Southern Baptists:
Our position usually falls into the following statements: “Abraham commenced it, Jacob continued it, Moses commanded it, Jesus practiced it, Paul explained it, and the church needs it.”

What greater work than that given to the church in the great Commission.

Would Jesus leave the church such a tremendous task and fail to give a financial plan to under-grid it?

Jesus never asked a man for less than his total life. Our church has one thing in common with the early church: We are surrounded by human need.

“Find out how a man spends his money and you will find the real man.” The man who wrote the biography of the Duke of Wellington.

When we settle our relationship with the dollar, we settle one of life’s greatest issues.