LIBERTY NOT LAW A STUDY OF TITHING IN

LIBERTY NOT LAW: A STUDY OF TITHING IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT Condensed and Abridged From Tithing in Holy Scriptures with Practical Comments Father Basil Ross Aden (See: Stewardship Resource II)

TITHING: WHAT THOUGHTS COME TO MIND? Cartoon permission fromhttp: //www. buildingchurchleaders. com/multimedia/cartoons/14925. html

“I PUT ALL I HAD IN THE PLATE…” (A RICH MAN) “I DARE you to do it again!” (his priest)

SAINT BASIL ON WEALTH & STEWARDSHIP “Some men are given [health and riches] for stewardship’s sake. ”

WHAT DOES “TITHING” MEAN? The meaning of a term is its… � Use in its language � Context of use The most ancient example of the tithe goes all the way back to Abraham and Melchizedek.

THE LEGISLATION OF TITHING � Now all the tithe of the land, whether seed of the land or fruit of the tree is the Lord’s: it is holy to the Lord…” Leviticus 37: 34).

THE THREE TYPES OF TITHES st � 1 Tithe: (to the Levites, through them to the priests) � 2 nd Tithe (at the Temple) rd � 3 Tithe (for the poor)

A SAMPLE HISTORICAL CONTEXT In the days of Hezekiah’s reform (c. 701 BC), the Passover was celebrated with such exuberance that the Feast was extended another week.

THE RESULT OF JUBILANT WORSHIP � � Hezekiah commanded that the people contribute a portion [of their crops and herds] for the priests. The response was amazing: “they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything” (2 Chronicles 31: 5) The High Priest

OVERFLOWING OFFERINGS � � The offerings were so great they piled up on the ground in heaps (2 Chronicles 31: 7). Hezekiah commanded that storehouses be built in the temple for the offerings and tithes and put the Levites in charge of them (2 Chronicles 31: 11 -12).

DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, DIFFERENT MEANINGS

A RESOLUTION The Stewardship Commission will present a resolution at this Sobor that includes commitment to tithing as our goal for proportionate giving.

ANOTHER CONTEXT: ST. IRENAEUS “We are still bound to offer to God the first-fruits of His Creation. . . The practice of giving (now includes) the qualities of motivation and the spirit of the action. ” St. Irenaeus of Lyons

TYPES OF TITHES Administration of the Tithes Three types of tithes in the Old Testament: 1. Tithes to provide supplies for the feasts of worship 2. Tithes to support the Levites (and priests) as ministers of the House of God 3. Tithes for the relief of the poor

TYPES ACCORDING TO FUNCTION Three functions (uses) of tithe based on the three types: 1. Worship and Thanksgiving 2. Support of ministry 3. Relief of the poor Tobit Giving Alms

FUNCTIONS IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS Use Worship & Thanksgivin g Support of Ministry Relief of the Poor Old Testament Deutero. Canonical Writings New Testament Church Fathers x x x

WHAT KIND OF SOWING? “He that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9: 6)

HANDKERCHIEF OFFERING

See “Tithing in Holy Scriptures with Practical Comments” (Resource II) for more ideas and insights into tithing.