Outdated customs -- Tithing

In a previous post, I teased been there done that about a comment he made -- that we interpret scripture based on what we're accustomed to -- by pointing out how his view on homosexuality is what he is accustomed to, and so he agrees with the Old Testament on this point, but treating women like cattle is not what he's accustomed to, so he disagrees with the New Testament on this point.

I came across an article which made a similar argument, authored by a pastor of twenty-six years. The relevant excerpt:

Never mind that this setting is during a time of Temple serving, animal killing, priest maintaining Hebrew history. Strange how the WAY the Deity tells the people to return to Him for their disobedience is to give Him 10% or more depending on what one does with the tithe for the widow and the festivals (kind of a Hebrew Xmas Club fund), He then PROMISES that this is such a deal. You give me your money and I will pour out even more blessings to you than you can possibly imagine. The problem is, this is not in practical fact the case, nor is it my real experience in having sincerely taught this verse as a reason why Christians should still practice Old Covenant Tithing. I certainly have never experienced a blessing that I simply did not have the room to contain. Oh I know, "you have air, water and a place to live don't you?" Come on, you know what I mean. The implication is that if you give, you will get back more than you can imagine. Apologists have labeled this return on your investment in religion, the priesthood, ministry and Church as everything from "you're kids are healthy aren't they?", to being a part of the great true and only wise Church. I have buried many children of good and sincere faithful tithe payers.

It's a convoluted justification that ministers go through to skirt the issues of what we still "have to" do as Christians vs. what is now all "done away with." Simply put, anything that is icky like animal sacrifices, or inconvenient like not mixing your fabrics or letting your farm lie unplanted every seventh year, is not incumbent on the Christian. It is the things that no one wants to do that done away with. But tithing...uh uh...this is eternally a part of God's law and YOU simply MUST give it...IF you are REALLY converted.

Another interesting excerpt:

One of my personal favorites is Paul taking the story of Abraham, who he needs to make the father of not only the Hebrews but of all Gentiles, so he can hook the gentiles all up to the Hebrew promises and goodies, and turning it on its head.

Note Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."

Whoa moma!! It is the same as Jesus saying "feed my sheep" and meaning there was only ONE to feed because He did not say "feed my sheeps." If I reasoned like that in any theology class that was worth anything, I'd flunk! Oh well, this is Paul and he gets to decide just what the Hebrew scripture really means so he can get the Gentiles in as family of Abraham and of course then ask them to send in their ten percent just like the OT guys did, since now you are part of the group that should not leave these things undone. Paul was good as making a scripture mean what it never meant, but that is a general Christian minister skill for far too many today as well. As long as it serves them well, why not...? I mean did not one minister in the past, who was against the old "top knott" hairdo of women say that the Bible says..."top knott come down?" Of course, in context, the verse said, "Let him in the top of the house top, not come down..." Oh well, "Judas went out and hanged himself...go though out and do like wise..."

Seems even the faithful are finding fault with Paul's corruption of Jesus's teachings and Hebrew scriptures. Feely guilty about tithing? Mr. Diehl has an opinion on the correct way to handle it, directly from Jesus?... The whole article is here.