The word “Collection” is mentioned three times in the Word of God. It was mentioned twice in the OT referencing the “the work of the service of the house of the LORD”, which was the temple in the wilderness. The other time, the lone NT reference, is in 1 Corinthians 16:1 where Paul had previously asked the churches to take up a specific collection upon his arrival so there would be no offerings when he was there.
He then took this “collection” to the poor saints in Jerusalem. This collection is not specifically money, but it was a specific offering. Nowhere in the text does it indicate this is a weekly practice or Pauline tradition to be followed.
The words “treasury” or “treasurer” is only found in the OT or the four gospels. The word “Storehouse” is only found in Malachi and Luke. The church is not the storehouse, and the church does not have a treasury. These were temple structures or rooms within the temple court.
“Offerings” are mentioned in abundance in the OT, but only five times in the NT, with three of these times referring to burnt offerings. Offerings in the OT are always exclusively agricultural. Of the 265 times “offering” or “offerings” are mentioned, only two incidences, Luke 21 and Acts 24, can be referenced to something monetary.
Every mention of the word “money” in the NT is in a neutral (necessary uses) or a negative light, and is never used in the context of a tithe or offerings. The six references to “lucre” are of negative connotation and are associated with evils. “Alms”, which are money, food, possessions or anything given for a charitable reason, are not mentioned in the OT, but are mentioned thirteen times in the NT. This falls under the category of cheerful giving, not tithes. These are just facts in a King James Bible
Paul never instituted, carried over, or insinuated that the tithe should be followed. It was part of the law. The temple affairs were no more and it was considered a dead Jewish practice. Paul spoke of preaching the gospel of Christ “without charge” and “cheerful giving.”
No matter the facts, men seem hellbent in their desire to continue on. I just can’t think like them anymore. I see the world differently from them. Is it truly just a matter of politics and procedure or perspectives? The plod on with the expected, fundamental hog slop. Trained proficiently at throwing out certain passages to defend a position and a tradition built on sand.
Will a man rob God?
Malachi 3:8
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
The Storehouse
Malachi 3:10
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].
The Widow’s Mite
Luke 21:1-4
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Abraham’s Tithe
Genesis 14:18-20
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Jacob’s Tithe
Genesis 28:20-22
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
22 And this stone, which I have set [for] a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
The Tithe Belongs Unto the Lord
Leviticus 27:30
And all the tithe of the land, [whether] of the seed of the land, [or] of the fruit of the tree, [is] the LORD'S: [it is] holy unto the LORD.
The Firstfruits
Proverbs 3:9-10
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
The House of God Forsaken
Nehemiah 13:10-12
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given [them]: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
12Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
The Very Words of Christ
Matthew 22:21
They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Matthew 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.
Worthy of His Meat
Matthew 10:10
Nor scrip for [your] journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Sowing and Reaping
1 Corinthians 9:11
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
Collections
1 Corinthians 16:1
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
One way or the another, everyone of these passages and verses above have been used for years to defend positions that are favorable to tithes, offerings, faith promise, fund raising, gimmicks, bogus offerings, salaries, bonuses, and other such things. Just reading these texts and verses, as they stand, where they stand, I cannot for the life of me see tithing. But hey, who cares, look at how the Lord blesses.
You would have to paraphrase and plagiarize the Lord otherwise. Tithes, along with the law, were abolished at the death of Christ. Take these “proof texts”, if you can call them that, and prove them. Go to the text, and find the relevance to us!
I know what “they” (pretty much every leader in every denomination) say, and I know how these passages are taught. But saying any of these examples issue forth doctrinal directives to the body of Christ is a lie! You would have to hold to pragmatism, parallelism, idealism and heresy to make these things work for the body of Christ today.
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