Tithes & Offerings
The tithe is the tenth of all the increase that YHVH gives to
you. Offerings are gifts beyond the tithe directed at a particular
ministry in the church.
Please print and cut out
this slip. If you're sending in
both your tithes and offerings, make sure you specify the amount
intended for each. If you're sending in an offering, be sure to
specify the ministry in which you want your offering to support (ie.
Sword of Truth, the website, the church library, the Legion of
Saints, the Alpha Division, etc.). You may write one check for both
your tithes and offerings. Make all checks/money orders payable to:
Church of the Sons of YHVH.
Send your tithes and offerings to:
Church of the Sons of YHVH
P.O. Box 165
Calhoun, LA 71225
USA
More Information:
We believe in tithing as a way of honoring YHVH with our
substance and as a means of serving Him in the preaching of the
Gospel, the care of the Church, attending the festivals and helping
the needy (Proverbs 3:9-10; Genesis 14:17-20; 1 Corinthians 9:7-14;
Numbers 18:21; Deuteronomy 14:22-29).
To "tithe" (meaning in both Hebrew and Greek "to give or take the
tenth of") means to give a tenth of "all the increase" (Deuteronomy
14:22) derived from one's produce, property, or income, for the
support of a religious purpose. The motivation to tithe is a
worshipful recognition of YHVH as the Creator and Possessor of the
earth and everything in it, including ourselves.
From a historical perspective:
Abraham, after his defeat of the four kings, tithed on the spoils of
the war to Melchizedek, priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:18-22).
Abraham obviously understood giving a tenth as the appropriate way
to honor YHVH with one's physical possessions.
Jacob also followed the example of his grandfather Abraham. When
YHVH reconfirmed to him the promises He had made to Abraham, Jacob
promised YHVH, "Of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth
[tithe] to You" (Genesis 28:20-22).
The practice of tithing was later incorporated into the covenant
with Israel as a written law. The tribe of Levi, which was not given
an inheritance of land from which Levites could derive increase
(Numbers 18:23), was to receive the tithe of the agricultural
produce in return for their ecclesiastical service to the nation.
The Levites, based on what they had received in tithes from the
people, in turn tithed to the priestly family of Aaron (Numbers
18:26-28).
As time passed, the tithe was carelessly neglected in postexilic
Judah, for which YHVH corrected the nation in the strongest of terms
(Malachi 3:8-10). Failure to tithe, YHVH said, was tantamount to
robbing Him, and the people were consequently cursed. Yet He also
promised that renewed obedience in tithing would result in blessings
from Him so abundant that "there would not be room enough to receive
it."
Some centuries later, Yahshua (Jesus) Himself clearly upheld the
practice of tithing. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected
the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These
you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone" (Matthew
23:23).
Yahshua plainly confirmed His will that tithing should indeed be
practiced, along with sincere adherence to other "weightier
(spiritual) matters" they were obviously neglecting.
As tithes and offerings in Israel were given to the tribe of Levi
for their livelihood and service to YHVH, the Church in the New
Testament provided financial support for the ministry to carry on
their work. Instances of, and principles relating to, this practice
are found in Luke 10:1, 7-8; 1 Corinthians 9:7-14; 2 Corinthians
11:7-9; Philippians 4:14-18 and Hebrews 7.
From Deuteronomy 14, we can identify two other purposes for tithing
- attending YHVH's festivals (Leviticus 23; Deuteronomy 14:22-27)
and caring for the poor and needy (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). Since we
believe in observing YHVH's festivals and we believe in taking care
of the poor and needy, we acknowledge the continuity of this
practice.
Today, the Church of the Sons of YHVH continues the teaching that
tithing is a universal law and that one's willing obedience to this
law reflects the unselfish, giving nature of our Creator and
Provider.
Concerning administration of this law, it is the duty of the Church
to teach people to tithe, but it is the responsibility of the
individual to obey. Tithing is a personal matter of faith between
the individual and his Creator. We teach that anyone devoted to
following YHVH should obey Him in this fundamental way, but it is
not appointed to the Church to enforce and regulate tithe-paying.
Because of the economic complexities in today's societies, the
Church regularly receives many technical questions about tithing,
and we seek to render wise administrative guidelines according to
YHVH's will and direction.
Through tithing that springs from willing and cheerful giving (2
Corinthians 9:6-8), we both honor YHVH and support the physical
means for doing His work: preaching the Gospel to His people. He has
provided the perfect financial system, which takes care of the needs
of His work, the personal need to attend His festivals, and the need
to care for the poor.
All contents on this
site, unless otherwise noted, are
copyrighted © 2002- by:
Church of the Sons of YHVH / Legion of Saints
