A Christian Viewpoint

Do not give what is holy to the dogs…
Do not cast your pearls before swine…

The bread and wine of the communion is a physical representation of the death of Jesus. Those who partake of this communion need to understand that the wine and the bread are holy (separated unto God). Some people at Corinth did not discern that the wine and the bread were holy. They counted the wine and the bread as a common thing. They drank and ate it as common food. Some to excess. This was what eating and drinking in an unworthy manner is. It is not whether you have sin, unconfessed or un repented. It is, do you not see the blood and body of Jesus?

…the dogs return to their vomit
…the swine trample underfoot
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Exegesis? Bible college? Can be important and possibly destructive. Can be trivial and possibly constructive. Or reverse the statements. Bible college is to get a good solid grounding in why the denomination you belong to believes their doctrinal understanding to be the correct interpretation of scripture. That does not mean however that exegesis brings about truth. If that were the truth everyone graduating from any bible college or seminary would believe the same things. That is definitely not the case. I find it an exercise in justification of one’s beliefs. Depending on source material and how much “authority” it carries changes the conclusions that one reaches. I am not saying that exegesis is a bad thing but…

caution: exegesis in progress

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All scripture is good for educational purposes, correction, etc…

The OT use of laws were needed because the people did not have the Spirit residing within them as we who are born again do. Laws were necessary for their survival. There was law also pointing out the coming one, sacrifice, and justification of life in the model form. While reading scriptures it is possible for the Spirit to make some portion active to bring about the purpose above; teaching, correction, instruction in righteousness, etc.

This does not mean that we are to follow the law, but we must allow the Spirit to use the scriptures to teach us how to walk in the path to fulfill some obligation he wants us to accomplish. If the Spirit then wants me to make weekly offerings (of money) to the local church as a tithing principle, I would be remise in my walk of faith if I disbelieved and entered into rebellion by withholding this “tithe”. Your legal view of the tithe is the stumbling block you trip over when answering my previous post.

I agree, that the NT does not teach tithing. I agree that I am not under the law. I disagree somewhat about the OT tithe that Abraham made, that it could not include any of the money that was found. I believe if money was found, as well as anything else, he gave a tithe of all. It may have been a onetime affair.

Now as for the church making it a must to donate (specifically, members for the upkeep of ministry) they are free to do so. Having them call it a tithe is beside the point, unless you look at it as a legal definition (which they may not). It is an agreement entered between individuals. They are free to do so. But you cannot compel someone to give as part of the NT teaching. I agree with you, that there are many churches who compel this giving (a tithe) through erroneous teaching. Some do compel by attempting to place them under law. That is their error.

So, most of what you wrote in response to my post is not applicable. I talk of someone who is led by the Spirit of God to take on a task or to make an offering through the reading of the OT and NT scriptures. A rhema word. I was not referring to excusing the misapplication of the law as a part of NT doctrine… But the allowing of the Spirit to use the scriptures to bring about God’s living purpose.

Do you get my drift?
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Yet did not Abraham give Melchizedek tithes of all? (gen 14:20) Jesus being also of the Melchizedek order.

This before the Mosaic law or the priesthood of Aaron. Not that I am saying that you are right or wrong in your understanding. Yet I think that this would or should modify your stance.

here is the relevant passage…

Hebrews 7
1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

As for myself I tithe, as a child in the faith of Abraham, but not under law but from a free heart. I make other offerings as need appears. Teaching tithing as a must (part of law) is not found in the NT. It is a matter of the heart that gives cheerfully.

Trying to squeeze tithing out of the church can undermine the faith of the weak. It can cause division in the body. Since it is not an essential doctrine, teach with wisdom and love what the Lord through his grace taught you. Whether it is a plank or a speck… it is wood and it will be burnt.

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The rapture is simply a “snatching away” of those who are righteous in the eyes of the Father. When does it occur is a different matter. Who partakes in it is another. Some believe it falls in a pre/mid/post- tribulation time slot. Others have different thoughts on the subject. When the word rapture occurs many view it as an un biblical doctrine. The English word rapture encapsulates all the characteristics of Paul’s snatching away statement. This snatching away, this rapture, has always been a part of the church when Paul’s letter had been read and accepted. Now views of what it means vary through history. And the debate goes on… the debate goes on…
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