JR> Tithing was the source of support for the Levites, the priests, which were
JR> essentially the only government the Hebrews had for a long time.  In other
JR> words, it was the tax system.  It suggests a reasonable sum total percentag
JR> that the government should be taking from us, 10% of our INCREASE in before
JR> net worth each year. There is no real use for it today, but of course we sh
JR> provide for the Church in order to have a place to worship and to help spre
JR> the gospels.  I never give to
JR> "ministers" or "pastors" or
"preachers" who ask for it, of course.

You emphasize the word "increase" as if you believe, as some have
fallen error
to, that the original tithe verses were only talking about what you paid based
on if you made more this year than last year, when what it's really talking to
is the total increase of your fields (which start off ploughed & empty, but are
full & harvested at season's end!)

As I said in the last post -- the one tithe was for supporting the house of
worship, and another two covered charity (which the government covers to a
certain extent, at least here in Canada!). . .

So the basic amount was 30% of one's gross income for the year(not factoring in
any deductions for business/etc. expenses, or deductables for dependents!)

Offerings were freewill gifts that the people brought out of gratitude to God.

There was also an annual head tax of a helf-shekel per citizen, which one might
say, today, went into the Building Fund!

Your friend,
<+]::-{)}  (Cyberpope(the Bishop of ROM!))


.... nfx v3.1 What if there were no hypothetical questions?                   
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