Reimagining Giving Part 2: New Testament (The Church part 24)

Part 2 of 2 on Giving- Tithes, Offerings, and First Fruits.

History tells us that: • Tithing (10%) did not become an accepted “New Covenant Doctrine” in the church for over 700 years after the cross. • Before this in 585 the church at the Council of Macon in France, they tried to enforce tithing on its members and were unsuccessful. • It was not until the year 777 that Charlemagne allowed the church to enforce the collection of tithes. OT Recap • Before the law giving was voluntary not a commandment. This seems to be God’s ideals. o We cannot take these Pre-Law examples too far though. We don’t see that the giving was in regularity or even immediate. It was usually in response of thanks to God for something big He accomplished. • The Commands for tithing were for the children of Israel and to only be done “in the Land” • The Levitical tithe was to the Levites (the priests). Originally the whole nation were to be priests but they rejected this and God commissioned the Levites. Today we are a kingdom of priests in Christ, so we can’t exactly use this for supporting a class of religious professionals. We’ll see in the NT their possessions were at the disposal of the community when in need. • The festival tithe was money saved up for you to use 3x a year to celebrate God with the community- essentially money to take 3 vacations with Jesus. • The Storehouse tithe was about caring for the least of these. It was 10% every 3rd and 6th year in the 7-year cycle. This was for the care of the needy. • The King’s Tithe was a tax for rejecting God. The main ideals of tithing in the OT: • Caring for the Levites (caring for those ministering in the family of God) • Caring for the poor, widow, alien, and fatherless • Fellowship and celebration with God NT Recap • The mentions of “tithing” are in the context of the children of Israel (the pharisees) • Attitude in giving is central in the NT- being a cheerful giver and not out of compulsion • Generosity is key- there is no set amount in the New Covenant • We give because God gave to us • First Fruits- all belongs to him The main ideals of giving in the OT: • Take care of fellow believers (and support the work of the Lord) • Care for the least of these • Celebrate God (see communion and the love feast in 1 Cor 11) o These are just like the OT- not commanded but still expected.