Tithing Vs. Taxes
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Tithing had a purpose and a function in society which has little to do with
what people imagine tithing is today. There are several layers of
misunderstanding about this term. The word 'tithing' came from a word meaning
'ten', but contrary to popular belief it had nothing to do with "ten percent."

Tithing in early Israel was an essential part of a national structure that held
the nation together. It was originally a voluntary contribution granted by the
eldest Father of a family unit. It was given to support men who provided an
important function in a social structure that, if properly maintained, could
guarantee their survival as a people in the face of disaster and calamity.

When we see tithing in early Israel, it was merely the repetition of this same
precept seen in the time of Abraham and before. This fundamental idea of
support and honor within the family was expanded to a national level. The
responsibility of the eldest son as priest within the family remained the same,
but the responsibility on a national level was granted to the first born of the
nation in order to assist that nation in remaining a strong body without the
sacrifice of any freedom or liberty.

There were two types of national priest. Those who received freewill offerings
of the people, according to what was right in his own eyes, were the ministers 
of
God's kingdom.

Judges 17:6 In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did
[that which was] right in his own eyes.

The other type of priest was one who could compel the offerings of the people
because the right to choose had been vested in that office. These were the
priests and gods of the governments of Nimrod, Pharaoh and Caesar. This was the
path or way followed by the Pharisees and Sadducees of Judea at the time of
Christ.

In both cases people were contributing to the support of the daily ministration
of their government.
For thousands of years the Family had been the foundation of all social
insurance. It was bound by both love and mutual caring, as well as a lifetime
of sacrifice and concern. But, what if the family broke down under familial
tragedy, societal upheaval, wars, or earthly catastrophe?

There was guaranteed social insurance and entitlements offered by some systems
of government, but not without the price of their freedom and the sacrifice of
some of the freewill choice granted by God.
Those schemes of government were in places like the city states of Cain and
Nimrod, Pharaoh and Caesar where the state took on the role of 'father'.1 And,
within the jurisdiction of those civil states there was a form of social
security2 but, as always, such protection drew subjection. They were also a
breeding ground for jealousy, envy, avarice and sloth. These systems of
venality might be established by application and membership, but they were
maintained by force. Although, the leaders were called benefactors, they
exercised authority one over the other. In order to guarantee full benefits,
they resorted to forcing the contributions of the people who became citizens
subject to the administration of governments to which they had applied to for
benefits and now were dependent upon.3

To desire these benefits one was, in fact, coveting their neighbors goods. When
people gathered together in those city-states they soon found the demands of
the men in authority increasing, and the central treasuries depleted by
corruption and self-serving abuse. Men who sought to exercise power were drawn
to those offices of power like a moth to a flame.

When natural and human resources ran low in that nation, or the subject
population rebelled against the increase in taxes, corruption, or decline in
conditions, excuses were made to plunder neighboring peoples or nations in
order to maintain their standard of living. They were accustomed to coveting
and using force, and the beast in their cultivated fallen natures easily
justified aggression against more distant or different neighbors upon, what was
often, the flimsiest of excuses.

There were numerous methods employed to maintain these civil structures. The
wealth was centralized, and sometimes gold and silver was taken out of the
hands of the people. Education was controlled, and eventually everything was
regulated from speech to prices.
This national and mutual oppression of a subject but covetous population made
it necessary for neighboring free families and groups of families to also
gather together for common defense from what often came as an aggressive
threat. We see an example of this with Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, who was
gathered with other rulers like himself in the days of Melchizedek. They
conquered one city state after another and anyone else they came upon in the
process.

They conquered Sodom with impunity and took who and what they wanted. But there
was another element on the earth in those days. There was Abraham and his
altars of stone.4 Those stones were not dead rocks, but living men of peace and
charity. Those altars were composed of men who sought to serve the people, not
exercise power and authority over them. These people had formed not a civil
state of subject members, but a freewill network of charity, hope and faith.

That network saw to the needs of any who fell on hard times. Sometimes disaster
struck a particular family or a local area and people needed to get help from a
larger group, or from farther away.
Chedorlaomer was a disaster on the move, and Abraham's altars5 were the cure.
Overnight he mustered an all volunteer army that destroyed this ravenous beast
and freed the people it had taken.
One of the greatest logistical problems of an army is its supply lines.
Napoleon said that an army moves on its stomach, and it was no different for
Abraham.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the
priest of the most high God. Genesis 14:18

Sodom and other city States operated like Ur and Haran which was much different
than Melchizedek or Abraham. One operated in righteousness and freedom under
God with the power and responsibility in the hands of the individual people,
and the other operated by subjection and forced contributions. Once you became
a member entitled to the protection of the State, your liberty declined.

Tithing in Israel was for the Levites, but not mandated by law. It was only
given according to the service of the Levites, not as a guaranteed individual
salary. It was a tenth of a families' produce, because each Levite served ten
families. It was full time work because he was a major part of the government -
serving the needs of the people in congregation such as higher education,
health, welfare of widows, orphans, the poor, emergency funds, social insurance
etc.

These same congregations of ten families supplied the voluntary militia in time
of military conflict. In whatever platoon you served in time of war, it was
along side the same brothers, cousins and neighbors with whom you grew up. The
fighting dedication of the soldiers was enhanced by these personal bonds.
The whole tithe was for the Levite and his family who served together as a
single unit as it was their only wage for the services supplied. This made it
in the best interest of the Levite to see that families prospered, which meant
long lasting marriages, no adultery, good education for obedient upright sons
and daughters. A healthy functional family meant a healthy functioning nation.

Things like forgiveness and thanksgiving6 were essential to keep these
congregations together and thriving. Patience, charity, mutual love and caring
were not just a good idea or some moral code, but they were essential to the
survival of the individual, the family, the congregation and the nation.
A TITHING, in English law. Formerly a district containing ten men with their
families. In each tithing there was a tithing man whose duty it was to keep the
peace, as a constable now is bound to do. St. Armand, in his Historical Essay
on the Legislative Power of England, p. 70, expresses, an opinion that the
tithing was composed not of ten common families, but of ten families of lords
of a manor. 7
The tithing in Israel was not "ten percent" from each individual, but a share
given by the ten families. Ten family groups gathered together to form a
congregation which tithed to their ministers. Many family groups consisted of
several families with one elder or eldest father at the head of a family group.
Only the eldest Father was Sui Juris. He was Lord of the family and to him was
given all honor due to the Father of the Family. These fathers gathered in a
group of ten families and chose the princes and ministers of the ten families.
The honor given to the chosen minister of such a congregation was given by each
of the ten elders of those families.

The most important thing to remember is that the tithe was at the discretion of
the people. They chose who would be their minister from a pool of men who
qualified to be what became known as a Levite. What their service was worth was
decided by the people they served. They only tithed 'according to his service'8
as the Bible tells us. Ten Levites also tithed to the ministers they picked and
this eventually supplied those who took care of the tabernacle which moved from
tribe to tribe. This system of voluntarism managed to keep the kingdom of God
one people in charity under the perfect law of liberty. It was never meant to
be the superstitious centralization of power we see at the time of Christ's
birth.
These Levites were not performing some bizarre or mindless ritual of killing
and burning up animals so that God would be pleased with the smell of the
smoke. Such fabrications resulting from a misinterpretation of the language,
and deceptive sophistry has led to felonious fables and absurd speculations by
religionists over the centuries.

The Levites were the "first born" of the nation of God with a practical
purpose, duties and functions. They were not the priests of the individual
families, but the priests or first born of a nation. They formed a free people
without the privation, incorporation or abridgment of God given rights and
responsibilities. Congregations were linked throughout the nation of God by
love and charity. They did not take funds from the family unless that family
chose to give those funds as free will offerings. There was no minister of God
forcing contributions from the people by exercising authority. Freedom under
God is devoid of such practices and policies, and Christ forbade it.

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them;
and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall
not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he
that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth
at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you
as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; Luke
22:25

Later Israel began to compel the contributions as they did in the cities that
Cain and Nimrod built and like Sodom and Pharaoh's Egypt. This was a clear
violation of the Law of God because it was a matter of coveting your neighbors
goods, and such systems led to usurious title to property and away from
commodity money into other systems of usury. This soon became the unrighteous
Mammon. Jesus freed us from the statutes of the Pharisees, but he did not free
us from the Ten Commandments or the precepts of God. He clearly instructed us
to follow the Ten Commandments and shunned the idea that you can call him Lord
and not do what he told you to do.

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord,
and do not the things which I say? Lu 6:469

There are some people who think they see no need for ministers of Christ's
gospel under the perfect law of liberty or see no value in supporting
ministers. But then most ministers do not understand the duties and mission of
ministers who earned the tithe by actual and practical service to the
congregation and the nation. People who think we have no need for ministers
probably have chosen the administrators of the gentiles as their
administrators. The services once rendered by these ministers of sacrifice and
service have been replaced by the authoritarian benefactors of modern civil
bureaucracy.

But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Ye know that the princes of the
Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise
authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be
great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among
you, let him be your servant: Matthew 20:25...

I have actually had ministers of modern Churches tell me that this only
pertains to Church government. They actually believe that on the other six days
a week it is absolutely okay for Christian to be like the governments of the
gentiles. They are content to depend on those administrators who obtain the
tithes and contributions of the people by force rather than the free will
offering of the people spoken of by Moses, Jesus and the apostles. They seem to
enjoy the government of the gentiles who exercise authority, wallowing in its
ill gotten benefits, like the pig in the mire.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned
to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the
mire. 2 Peter 2:22

They even take part in such authority by choosing covetously to increase their
benefits at the expense of their neighbor. Even though God, Moses or Jesus
never said to do anything like that and often said quite the opposite.

But Jesus called them [to him], and saith unto them, Ye know that they which
are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their
great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but
whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you
will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. Mark 10:42

Those people have chosen to come together in a common purse of rights and
wealth, which of course as we know runs towards death.10 They are tempted to
seek the benefits of another man's sweat and blood and find themselves snared
in their own trap. We covetously think our neighbor should be a source for our
desired benefit, and become human resources for the will of these tempting
rulers.
Such systems of exercising authority where 51 percent of the voice of people11
can take away the goods of their neighbors household, and convert them to
satisfy their own desires are a rejection of the spirit, and ways of God in
Heaven. They also rob the people of their free will choice of charity and love,
to say nothing of coveting their goods. This is why Jesus forbade such behavior
for those who followed him no matter how good the benefits are from such
systems. That is simply not the Christian way, but the way of the anti Christ.
The end does not justify the means and those who feel justified in this
Nicolaitian12 way which is hated by God are void of the salvation of Christ.

Of course most people professing to be Christians or followers of Christ are
operating under a strong delusion and have believed the lie that the kingdom of
heaven is not at hand. They have been taught a watered down gospel, devoid of
the kingdom and the message of Christ.

The kingdom of Heaven is within you but if that is a true statement then by the
very nature of God's kingdom within and your belief in Jesus as Lord, you will
do as Jesus said. If you really love Jesus you will find it very difficult to
covet your neighbors goods or desire the benefits offered by men who exercise
authority in the taking from your neighbor to supply those offered benefits.
The question was asked, "Should we tithe to the modern Church?"

Well I would not call it a tithe. It is really just a cover charge for
entertainment. People go to Church to feel good and to be reassured by the men
and women working in those church buildings that they are saved, and that God
loves them even though they do not do the will of the Father.
Those ministers are not preaching the kingdom is at hand, they are not taking
care of the widows and orphans, nor any of those things that use to be a part
of the first century Church or the Church in the wilderness.
I heard a minister say we don't have to do that any more because the government
does that for us. The fact that the Roman13 government did the exact same thing
people are doing today for anyone who would apply to the Roman government seems
to have escaped his education entirely. Christians would not apply or
participate, and that is why they were persecuted.

Those Pharisees in what John called the Synagogue of Satan did the same thing,
offering entitlements under a system of Corban condemned by Jesus. It seems to
have made little impression on anyone that at baptism they were cast out of
such systems. Christians would not apply or 'pray' to such institutions because
those systems did not rely on charity or love. They made the Law of God to no
effect. Those systems were the opposite of what Christ was teaching. Eventually
those institutions persecuted the Christians who would not participate, apply
or make offerings on their civic altars.

It astounds me that people can pretend they are Christians and do just the
opposite of what Christ said and what the first century Church was doing.

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy
3:5

This same pattern of tens and ministers was seen repeated in the early Church
as represented with 120 families present by name, with twelve apostles
appointed in service.

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the
number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Acts 1:15

One-hundred and twenty families and twelve ministers. The pattern is repeated
in lands all over the world for the next 1000 years.

"To that field the head of each family led his sons and kinsfolk; every ten
families (or tything) were united under their own chosen captain. Every ten of
these tythings had, again, some loftier chief, dear to the populace in peace;
and so on the holy circle spread from household, hamlet, town,--till, all
combined, as one county under one Earl, the warriors fought under the eyes of
their own kinsfolk, friends, neighbours, chosen chiefs! What wonder that they
were brave?" 14

In the first millennium after the Apostles preached the kingdom of heaven, the
Anglo-Saxon form of government had something called a Tithingman who oversaw
ten families composed of freemen, a Hundredman [or gerefa - in Saxon language,
it became reeve] who oversaw ten Tithingmen, and an Eoldorman who was overseer
to a thousand families known as a Shire. A tithing in English Law was formerly
a district containing ten men with their families. The key to their success was
the intimate consensus of each group.

Most of the ministration of justice was through these men by the mutual consent
and aid of the people. The prime responsibility for bringing offenders to
justice still remained with the victim and their family but through these men
and the customary law an organized structure to assist the Hue and Cry of the
people was established. In the case of more national calamities or needs this
network could immediately muster a well regulated army of thousands. They were
the minutemen of the national militia that functioned all across Europe for the
first millennium.15
As Jesus came preaching the kingdom of heaven there were a few things he was
going to do:
ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man
unto his family. Leviticus 25:10
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given
to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Matthew 21:43

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom. Luke 12:32
Under the perfect law of liberty each father was the head of a household and by
the nature of that fact he was an elder of his family group. When the apostles
appointed elders they were not granting the office of elder, they were
appointing elders to the office of minister. Those ministers were chosen by the
people. This system continued even after Constantine16 ordered everyone in
Milan to become Christian. There the people picked one bishop for the whole
city. That Bishop began to exercise authority and appoint those who ruled the
Church and in conjunction with the Kings of the gentiles began to issue "edicts
and commands". These of course were not true Christians but manufactured or
instant christians with more fear of Constantine than love of Jesus. The system
that grew out of this departure from the "Way of the Lord" was contrary to the
wishes and words of Jesus Christ.

Before 600AD the Anglo Saxons had formed a government with these Tithingmen who
oversaw the needs of ten families. With the Eoldorman and Hundredsmen a
thousand families known as a Shire could work as a large body. One key to these
successful societies was that no person was responsible for communicating
directly with more than 10 people to notify the whole nation and each man was
free to choose the Tithingman of his choice and each Tithingman in small
intimate groups of ten chose their Hundred man etc..

These were not men of power and authority but men of service and support. They
were a key part of the viability of a system based on liberty. Their function
was to serve the people and in order to do that they knew they must keep the
people in a family type group bound by genuine concern and love. The charity
managed by the Church through this same network of tens cemented these bonds.
The practice of charity was a daily ritual. These tithing ministers tended to
the needs of the individual families.

This was a system of bottom up authority as opposed to top down dictation.
These ministers although they formed a national government they did not make
laws for the people except within their own families. The authority of the
Hundreds man and the Eolderman was titular, not sovereign.

Not only did the people choose their tithingmen who would serve them as a sort
of a ministering public servant, but they also chose what to pay them. Just as
they were to be fair in payment for his service, so also was the minister to be
fair in the division of his services. He and his whole family were to serve ten
families. The minister had no right to compel a salary by force of arms or law.
How could he? The right hand of government remained in the hands of the people.
The people retained their rights under the perfect law of liberty which
included the right to choose who and how much they would tithe. There was no
enforcement of the tithe as there is with modern taxes in governments that
exercise authority.

For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore
they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. Jeremiah 10:21

The Old Testament mentions the Nedabah or nadab almost 50 times, which is a
freewill offering or voluntary offering. The precepts of God are unchanging. It
just amazes me that 'Modern Christian' churches have the audacity to demand a
tithe while they have delivered the people back into the bondage of Egypt.17

The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity:
surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.
Jeremiah 22:22

The 'Modern Christians' apply to gentile type governments to get those benefits
and become subject to more taxes than were paid in the bondage of Egypt.
Once they apply they  will have to pay Caesar, but if the Churches were really 
Churches they would  not have to or want to apply. You would only be 
applying/praying to God who works through the heart of the people in faith, 
hope and charity.

Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith
the LORD. Jeremiah 23:1

But the people are all back in a worse condition than Egypt. They are all a
surety for a debt.18

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart [for it]: and he that hateth
suretiship is sure. Proverbs 11:15

Just like the Bible says they have returned to the mire. Men with great
swelling words have tempted the people and made merchandise of them through
their covetous desire for such ill gotten benefits.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:
whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth
not.... For when they speak great swelling [words] of vanity, they allure
through the lusts of the flesh, [through much] wantonness, those that were
clean escaped from them who live in error. 2 Peter 2:3... 18

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father
knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of
God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for
it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:30...

To read or share this article in its entirety with links and active footnotes
go to: Tithing Vs. Taxes
http://www.hisholychurch.net/words/tithing.html


Peace on your house
Gregory@hisholychurch.net
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