SHOULD WE PAY TITHES TODAY?
Q: Should we pay tithes still today?? What about people who say that the Levitical priesthood has ended?
A: Yes you should, Jesus said this plain as day in Matthew 23:23.
Matthew 23:23
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
But just make sure its being given to the right things based on the bible not being wasted on ineccessant marketing and endless building funds by people who manipulate you for more and more on top. Give as you are led. Tithing is a guideline. A lot of hurt and wounded people throw the baby out with the bathwater. Still be a giver, just make sure you are not contributing to spiritual abuse and error.
Proverbs 3 shows that it is wisdom to give your firstfruits to the Lord. Firstfruits is just a different way of saying tithe, offering. Tithe is a guideline for the amount, Firstfruit is a guideline for the order, offering is a guideline for the heart attitude.
We are all priests and kings in the new covenant, which is why the money in the kingdom is used not just for the preachers and teachers, but also for the needs of the believers as well. The first recorded tithes was not food, it was financial goods, and it was paid to the priest of the Most High God, Melchizedek. Our priesthood is actually higher than Levites, which the Lord said will never cease anyway.
So, to summarize: Jesus said that tithing should not be undone. It’s not as important as love, justice, faith. But it should be done. (Matthew 23:23). Tithe means 10% and to me its a general guideline for the amount which you should aim to give. It’s wisdom because it helps the poor person not give 50% because he thinks he doesn’t have enough, and it helps the rich person not give 1% because he’s so rich. It’s simply the wisdom of God. You can give sparingly (less) or bountifully (more), as long as you give the amount that you purpose in your heart. The New testament was written with all the wisdom of the Old testament in mind. Acts 15:21 (Moses was taught in every city). It’s not a salvation issue at all, it’s just a wise guideline.
REMARRIAGE WHILE FIRST SPOUSE IS ALIVE?
Q: Does the scripture allow for a divorced person to remarry while their first covenant spouse is alive? Also, do the scriptures found in Matthew 5:32,Matthew 19:3-9 and 1 Corinthians 7:15 give “grounds for divorce”?
A: No the scriptures don’t allow a person to do that in righteousness. It’s called adultery in Romans. When Jesus said “except for fornication” he was speaking specifically to Jews and was referring to those under the law of Moses where if a woman was found not to be a virgin on her wedding night, a man could annul the marriage on the morning after the wedding night. That law doesn’t apply to Gentiles who are not under the ceremonial law that was added for transgressions. That’s why in Mark and Luke there is no such “caveat” for divorce. Also, fornication is not the same as adultery. Fornication is sex before marriage. Adultery is sex outside of a marriage. That also shoots down that false doctrine that Matthew 19 supposedly allows divorce and remarriage. As far as 1 Corinthians 7, it is clear in verse 11 that if you are separated from your spouse “let her remain unmarried”. This false teaching on divorce and remarriage is new and it is false. The better thing to do after a divorce is to commit yourself to the LORD in fasting and prayer and seeking the LORD in ministry and service.
WHAT’S GOING ON?
Q: I know the word says we will be attacked, but I alone with others haven’t been saved long enough to not let that flesh flare up. As a body we may not all agree on the same methods, but we respected each other’s differences. I never argued with my COGICS, Lutherans, AME, BAPTIST, etc. Social media has fanned the flames on these differences and I have never seen so many doctrinal battles amongst each other let alone the Hottep/ Woke folks. With all this fighting, the whole purpose of bringing folks to Christ is getting lost. Not sure if this is a question, but I would love to hear your take on the state of things today.
A: My take on it is that God is shaking things up. He’s shaking everything that can be shaken both naturally and spiritually. We have to make sure everything we do is founded on the Rock of His Words, and motivated and energized by Love and compassion. If we do those things, then no weapon formed against us shall prosper. Those who do wrong will fade away. Those who do right will be found doing right in the end and get their reward from the ONE KING! Promotion doesn’t come from the East, West, or South, but from the LORD. Keep building on a firm foundation and always be willing to grow. The meek will inherit the earth!
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