tithes in Gen

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Post Summary:
Bruce Hanson writes that tithing is voluntary.  I write that our whole
walk is voluntary and must be approached in faith as Abraham, who paid
tithes, approaches God in faith. ( This summary is written for those who
don't have time for this post.)

>On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 08:28:00 -0400 "Hanson, Bruce"
><bruce.hanson@lmco.com> writes:
>
><snip>
> The commentaries I have researched would also indicate 
>>it was
>>> an offering with the value being 10%. Only the value matches the 
>law 
>>of
>>> tithes as outlined later in the OT. 
><snip>

(Lynne)
You are overlooking the fact that Gen. 14:20 in the Interlinear says
tithe.  This is a literal translation of the Hebrew manuscripts.  It is
the exact same Hebrew word that is almost invariably used for tithes in
the Old Testament.  Look in an Interlinear Bible or in Strong's
Exhaustive Concordance. 

The Interlinear Bible uses a few readings from the Latin Vulgate which
are specified as Acts 9:5-6 and 1 John 5:7.  The Hebrew text is from the
Masoretic text.

(Bruce)
> The real key here, if we do not want 
>>to
>>> accept the word difference, is that this was VOLUNTARY. It was NOT
>>> REQUIRED.

(Lynne)
The real key here is that " Who also hath made us able ministers of the
New Testament: not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter
killeth but the Spirit giveth life." 2 Cor. 3:7  I VOLUNTARILY repented.
I was VOLUNTARILY baptized.  I VOLUNTARILY received the Holy Ghost.  I
VOLUNTARILY go to church.  I VOLUNTARILY pay my tithes. 

It seems to me that the problem here is the spirit of the matter. I still
believe that the NT spells out tithing plainly enough, but for the sake
of discussion, I will add some more thoughts:
 
John the Baptist said to the Pharisees " Begin not to say within
yourselves we have Abraham to our father." (Luke 3:8)  

Why?  Because they did not do the works of Abraham. The Pharisees 
were big on claiming Abraham to be their father.  Abraham was not the
father of the Pharisees even though they were under the law and his
genetic descendants because Abraham was meant to be a spiritual father in
this sense and not a carnal one.

" Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in
his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" Romans 3:20.

The Pharisees were not justified by the law because they were just a list
of do's and don'ts.  However, the law taught right from wrong.

" Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid. Yea, we
establish the law." Romans 3:31.

The spirit of the law should be established in our hearts without 
someone standing over us with a stick.  

What is the law that is established? " This is the covenant that I 
will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws
into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." Hebrews 10:16

What is the new covenant?  That the Lord will write his laws in our
hearts.  The law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.

" For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; 
but not before God.  For what saith the scripture?  Abraham believed God
and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him that worketh
is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt." Romans 4:2-4

Abraham was not justified by works but by faith: yet ABRAHAM PAID
TITHES!! The law was written that we might know what sin is! The law of
the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin
and death!( Romans 8:2)  Why? Because we can now do the things that God
desires because of a love in our hearts and not because of a carnal
commandment!

" But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; knowing
this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless
and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners...." 1 Tim. 1:9

What?!  The law is good? That is what Paul said.  We fulfill the law
because of love and not because of a carnal commandment.  Who is the
carnal commandments written for?  The lawless and disobedient.

" Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered
Isaac upon the altar?" James 3:21

What?! Did not the scripture just say he was not justified by works 
but by faith?!  

There is a concept that must be understood here.  If works are done
because faith is the motivator, God is well pleased.  If works are 
done to try to earn salvation, God is not pleased.  Our motivator must be
love. We are saved by the blood.

" Even so faith, if it have not works is dead being alone.  Yea, a man
say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy
works and I will shew thee my faith by my works" James 2:17,18

" That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:4

" They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father.  Jesus saith
unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of
Abraham." John 8:39

Why were the Pharisees not doing the works of Abraham?  Because they did
not do the law in faith.

"  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs 
according to the promise." Gal. 3:29

Abraham paid tithes and we are Abraham's seed.  Jesus said if we were
Abraham's children that we would do the works of Abraham.  We have a new
covenant.  Abraham's covenant was circumcision.  We have a new covenant
of God's law's being put into our heart.  If we are Abraham's children we
will continue in his ways and in his covenant which is now a new
covenant.

Paying tithes:  AWWW!  Do we HAVE to?  As for me,  You won't see me 
not paying tithes. "Shew me thy faith without thy works and I'll shew
thee my faith by my works."

Lynne Yohnk

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