1 / 50

Tithing

Tithing. In the Writings of Ellen G. White By Claire L. Eva —A summary of the book by Angel Rodriguez Biblical Research Institute Silver Spring, Maryland. Theological Grounding. What primary influence shaped Ellen White’s understanding of tithing? Biblically materials dealing with

mtannenbaum
Download Presentation

Tithing

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Tithing In the Writings of Ellen G. White By Claire L. Eva —A summary of the book by Angel Rodriguez Biblical Research Institute Silver Spring, Maryland

  2. Theological Grounding • What primary influence shaped Ellen White’s understanding of tithing? • Biblically materials dealing with • The importance of tithe • The use of tithe

  3. Basic Theological Concepts As Creator, God owns the Universe

  4. God’s love and goodness as demonstrated in— • The redemptive • work of Christ

  5. Every gift granted to us— • Is only possible through that Divine self-giving Therefore—

  6. The Giver is presentin every gift we receive from Him

  7. The Origin of Tithing • Pre-Hebrew • Abraham and Jacob tithed • Genesis 14:20 and Genesis 28:22

  8. The Origin of Tithing • Pre-Moses • Genesis reveals tithing before Moses and the formation of a theocracy

  9. Where did the idea and practice of tithing originate?

  10. It was “ordained by God” • The distinctive arrangement of returning a tithe to God “was made by Jesus Christ Himself” • Testimonies 6:384

  11. Permanent Nature of Tithing • Recognized by Jesus • Jesus “recognized the payment of tithe as a duty”(DA 617) • Matthew 23:23 • Jesus condemns the abuse of sacred obligation

  12. The Tithing System— • Is an expression of God’s loving will for the human race • Was originated to “be a blessing to man”

  13. How is the tithing • system a blessing to mankind?

  14. Tithing Recognizes God’s Lordship • Tithing indicates that the true center of our lives can only be found in God

  15. 2. Tithing is a Witness to God’s Power to Preserve Life • Tithing is “an acknowledgement of our dependence upon God”(CS 105)

  16. 3. Tithing Demonstrates the Restoration of Human Dignity before God • God reinstates us as stewards of His goodness and blessings

  17. 4. Tithing is an Instrument of Character Development • To “be His helping hands to bless others” • To liberate us from the enslavement of selfishness

  18. The Nature of Tithe • “It is holy to the Lord” • “For like the Sabbath, a tenth of the increase is sacred” • “God’s portion is not at all the property of man”

  19. In order to keep it holy, tithe must be returned to God

  20. The Nature of Tithe “No appeal is made to gratitude or to generosity” “This is a matter of simple honesty. The tithe is the Lord’s and He bids us return to Him that which is His own.” -- (Education 138, 139)

  21. The Nature of Tithe • “A sacred fund” MR 13:198 • “A sacred purpose”

  22. Nature of Tithe • Tithe is holy—not simply because it belongs to God— • But because of the holy purpose God assigns to it

  23. Nature of Tithe Function of Tithe Therefore, with tithe— Nature and function are inseparable

  24. Motivation for Tithing • A response to God's Lordship and saving acts • No traces of legalism or gaining acceptance

  25. The Spiritual Life and Tithing Tithing— • Must be preceded by true conversion • Is the result of a sanctified life • Requires spiritual sensitivity

  26. Motivation for Tithing • 1. Soteriological motivation: Love toward God for what He accomplished in Christ for us

  27. Motivation for Tithing • 2. Theological motivation of the universal Lordship of God: He owns everything He has appointed us as His stewards

  28. Motivation for Tithing • 3. Moral motivation: God appeals to our moral consciousness and sense of ethical responsibility

  29. Motivation for Tithing • 4. Missiological motivation “As our blessings and privileges are increased … should not our gratitude find expression in more abundant gifts to extend to others the message of salvation?”PP 528-529

  30. Motivation for Tithing • 5. The motivation of the blessing • “Shall we receive blessings from the hand of God, and yet make no returns to Him—not even in giving Him our tithe, the portion which He has reserved unto Himself?”MYP 306

  31. Withholding Tithe Is there a condition under which it would be right to retain or misuse the tithe?

  32. Reasons for Withholding Tithe • The Spirit of Prophecy rejects: • Debt • Poverty • Lack of confidence in administrators

  33. Logistics of Tithing • The tithing system, as well as the procedure developed during the time of E. G. White to collect the tithe, was rather simple and practical

  34. Teaching the Tithing System • Step 1- Train the Laity • Biblical foundation for tithing • Practical aspects of tithing

  35. Ministers to teach that: • Tithing is binding, as much today as in Israel of old • One must give a faithful and honest tithe • Tithe is to be given to the Lord, acknowledging dependence on God

  36. Collecting the Tithe • Set aside the Lord’s portion first as— • A “ritual act” demonstrating that God is first in our lives • To protect from misuse or misappropriation

  37. Collecting the Tithe • As an act of worship, take the tithe to church • “Faithful stewards to place the Lord’s money in His treasury”T 9:59

  38. Titheable Sources • Tithe is to be paid from all income and increase, allowing the individual freedom to determine the details

  39. Uses of Tithe • Most difficult question Who decides how tithe is used??

  40. Uses of Tithe • “God has given special direction as to the use of the tithe.” It is to be placed in God’s treasury “and held sacred for His service as He has appointed.”CS 101

  41. Specific Usage of Tithe • The tithe should be used to support: • 1. Ministers of the Gospel • 2. Bible Teachers • 3. Pastors’ Wives in Gospel Ministry • 4. Medical Missionaries

  42. Specific Usage of Tithe • The tithe should be used to support: • 5. Retired Ministers and their Families • 6. Publishing Department Directors • 7. Needy Mission Fields

  43. Exceptional Use of Tithe • Exceptional cases mentioned: • 1. Sanitarium Medical Missionary Work • 2. Building Houses of Worship • 3. Paying a “Tithe Collector”

  44. Incorrect Use of Tithe • 1. Personal Misuse • 2. Pastoral Misuse • 3. Canvassers and Colporteurs • 4. Churches’ Misuse

  45. Incorrect Use of Tithe • 5. School Expenses • 6. Assisting the Poor and Sick • 7. Pastors in Politics

  46. E. G. White’s Personal Tithe • Her tithe was sent to the conference treasury • Two exceptions were: • Salaries for Southern gospel ministers • Salaries for Ministers’ Wives working full-time

  47. The Second Tithe • Deuteronomy • Taken to sanctuary every 2 years • Thank offering • Eaten in religious feast by— • Levites • The stranger • The fatherless • The widow

  48. The Second Tithe • During the third year “this second tithe was used at home, in entertaining the Levite and the poor” and was “a fund for the uses of charity and hospitality”PP 530

  49. The Second Tithe • The “second tithe” of Deuteronomy was “a tithe in addition to, and entirely distinct from, that given every year for the service of God.” RH, March 11, 1884

  50. The Second Tithe • “Giving a second tithe today is not discouraged by Ellen G. White, but neither is it strongly promoted by her” p.37

More Related