Posted by:
elderolddog
(
)
Date: September 29, 2017 01:16AM
As a missionary, part of the training included how to present a lesson on tithing. There was some bullcrap from Micah, if I recall correctly. I'm thinking about it now, because there was mention in another thread that getting back three times what was paid in tithes could induce that writer to become active. That would not work for me, because the amount the church would have to pay would be about $150, if that much.
I start working in high school, as a busboy, which because I'm a lamanite, I was born knowing how to do. We made more in tips than we did in our paychecks, but I always forgot to tithe. "Catch you in two weeks, bish..." Never did.
I made $90/per week at Mr. Steak when I was at the Y. This is probably when I paid a bit of tithing, what with being the EQP, but it wasn't a full tithe. And we didn't tithe anything on the money our parents sent us. (I took a ferocious pay cut when I graduated.)
I wasn't very active in New Jersey and don't recall tithing. Then when I went to grad school, definitely no tithing. And then I finally retired from any pretense of trying to be mormon.
Anyway, tithing is a big deal in mormonism. You can't get to heaven without it, and I believe there's an appreciation on the part of the large 15 that tithing is a bitch and it can't be preached until the prospect has swallowed the hook, and the line and the sinker. Then you hit him/her up with it: "All that we've promised can be yours with this one tiny additional thing, called tithing!"
And we explain what it is, with heavy, heavy emphasis on the "...and the windows of heaven will open..." and you'll be as rich and trendy as us missionaries!!
But check this out... I found it... yes! Online!!
"Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the Law in which the Israelites were to give 10 percent of the crops they grew and the livestock they raised to the tabernacle/temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5). In fact, the Old Testament Law required multiple tithes—one for the Levites, one for the use of the temple and the feasts, and one for the poor of the land—which would have pushed the total to around 23.3 percent. Some understand the Old Testament tithe as a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites in the sacrificial system.
"After the death of Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law, the New Testament nowhere commands, or even recommends, that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system. The New Testament nowhere designates a percentage of income a person should set aside, but only says gifts should be “in keeping with income” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Some in the Christian church have taken the 10 percent figure from the Old Testament tithe and applied it as a “recommended minimum” for Christians in their giving.
"The New Testament talks about the importance and benefits of giving. We are to give as we are able. Sometimes that means giving more than 10 percent; sometimes that may mean giving less. It all depends on the ability of the Christian and the needs of the body of Christ. Every Christian should diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom in the matter of participating in tithing and/or how much to give (James 1:5). Above all, all tithes and offerings should be given with pure motives and an attitude of worship to God and service to the body of Christ. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7)."
Now I, like a lot of missionaries, read all the standard works before or during the mission, and I don't remember catching the significance of this. It would be a pretty powerful message to relay to the bishop some tithing settlement!
The mormon church does not seek tithes so that it can do good works for 'the body of christ.' And why should the leadership be granted the power to 'call the shots' on the memberships charity, giving or service? In the mind of a good christian, isn't that ghawd's job?
I think the membership needs to wise up and learn to think for themselves in terms of what to give, just like Paul told the Corinthians. They should be thinking that if it's really ghawd's very own church, he'll take care of it without having to exact a pound of flesh from people who only weigh a pound and a half.
Did you know that in its infancy, the church prescribed that bishops and stake presidents got cuts of the tithing, just like in an MLM? This went on until late in the 19th century. The church has seemingly always been a money grubber.
I say this in my own name, blessed be I, even me, amen.