Those who believe in tithing to support the ministry refer to I Cor 9. While
Paul supported himself by tentmaking, he appears to be saying that those who preach the gospel should be supportedby those they preach to. I'm not sure I believe in a paid minsitry. Can you shed any light on this?
Thanks
Ruth
Dear Ruth:
I can say this untill I am blue in the face: "Tithing has absolutely NOTHING to do with money, or paying bills, or supporting a ministry, etc." Tithing was farmers and herdsmen of Israel under the OLD covenant giving a tenth of their herds and farm produce to the tribe of Levi only, at the Taberncle/Temple only. Nothing else is "tithing." NOTHING ELSE IS TITHING. Tithing has NOTHING to do with money. I don't know what else I can say.
If people want to give money to a church, that is their business, but that is NOT TITHING. Tithing has NOTHING to do with money. When I pay my utility bill, that is NOT TITHING. When a church pays its utility bill, THAT IS NOT TITHING. Teaching Christians that there is a LAW requiring them to give ten percent of their salaries to some man or some church is a "damnable heresy" (II Pet. 2:1-2).
God be with you,
Ray
Living from the gospel has nothing to do with tithing.