In the Old Testament The Tribe of LEVI was chosen by GOD to serve as the Jewish Priests . They were to attend to all things pertinent to the ALTAR, The Temple, Constantly "xeroxing" the Ten commandments and the Laws by writing and writing and more writing. They did not have copy machines except for the scribes back then..
ALL of the rest of the tribes of ISrael were to bring their required offerings to the Temple and the Levites that ministered were to use the offerings to be fed themselves.
The tithes were all tossed into the treasury. Back then, it was a tithe of ALL you had. Your harvested crops and monies you earned. God required that all the tithes be brought into the "Store House" which was in the Temple.
Likewise, after the Risen and ascended Christ, and the Gospel message being taken to Gentiles originally by PAUL, Barnabus, Silas, and Philip, Churches sprang up in other cities and countries and were overseen as to their doctrines by the Apostles or those they ordained to do so. They wanted to be sure that the Message of Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH and not of ourselves, it is THE GIFT (CHRIST'S substitutionary DEATH for atonement of all our sins) if we confess our sins to HIM and seek HIS forgiveness, our accounts will be washed in the cleansing blood of the Crucified Lamb of God.
The Tithe is an outward sign of OBEDIENCE of an inward FAITH and OBEDIENCE of God's people.
From that, those who minister in the Service of God will be provided for as well as the places of worship..
The LABORER is WORTHY of his hire according to Jesus Christ..
I am not going to be the one to tell HIM HE is wrong since he Created me and gave to me a eternal SPIRIT and soul (personality).
The SPIRIT is what goes to Heaven if you are one of HIS and your name is written in the LAMB'S Book of Life. THAT happens upon one's trusting Christ as Lord and Savior.
So, no, the Churches don't want your money. They want you to come to Christ in Repentance unto Salvation so you too may leave this planet and go straight into the presence of Almighty God.
There you will spend eternity rejoicing and singing HIS praises and you can see the RISEN CHRIST who Loves US, and gave himself for us so we could be with HIM all eternity..
I am afraid you have a misconception about what Church is really about.. I hope maybe what I have written may give you a little better understanding...
Always remember that GOD OWNS all the CATTLE on a THOUSAND HILLS and everything in between. He spoke it ALL into existence bu the power of HIS Words. The Same Word that He spoke Adam into existence, breathed into him a piece of HIS eternal Spirit which makes us an eternal being like HIM, spoke the entire Universe into existence.
His PALM spans the Universe. We have a BIG GOD who pays attention to the slightest details and KNOWS when a tiny sparrow dies and falls to the ground. HOW MUCH MORE does he know all about US, HIS CREATION that is after HIS Similitude and has an eternal Spirit like HIM. We are the ONLY created BEINGS like that...
As the songwriter said: "I STAND AMAZED".
It is a JOY for me to give back to God such a small portion of what HE has blessed me with. I discovered a long time ago you cannot outgive GOD....
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