DISCIPLE

W. E. Vine TITHES   It may be asked, Was there not a Divine command for the Israelites? Was it not enjoined upon them to give tithes? And if so, is it not appropriate for the Christian to give tithes? In the first place, the Israelites paid much more than a tithe. In addition to the three tithes specifically mentioned, namely, that given to the Levite (Lev. 27:30, with Num. 18:21-24; Deut. 14:22-27), there was the further tithe at the end of every three years, which was also for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow (verses 28, 29). Some hold, indeed, that the tithes mentioned in the three passages referred to, were disconnected, and this is supported by the Talmud. To these tithes, however, there must be added other offerings; those of the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the firstfruits. Mal. 3:8, for instance, speaks of "tithes and offerings" (lit. heave offerings). It has been computed that an Israelite's total offerings would amount to about one-sixth of h...

    The following excerpt of an excellent article by the Bobgans will help clarify the matter. Psychological Worldview or Biblical Worldview by Martin and Deidre Bobgan | Jul 1, 2018 | Contending for the Faith , Psychology's Influence on Church and Culture Worldview has been defined as “a person’s way of thinking about and understanding life, which depends on their beliefs and attitudes.” 1 A person’s worldview encompasses the most fundamental questions and beliefs about the universe, about the origins of life, about society, about religion, about the family, and about oneself. The worldview often includes basic reasons why life is the way it is, perhaps in contrast to how one wishes it to be. A person’s worldview expresses itself through one’s thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions. Psychological Worldview A psychological worldview encompasses how people think about themselves and others in terms of who they ar...

  The opening verses of the Epistle of James contain a description of God as "the giving God." That is the literal rendering of the phrase "God who giveth... " in the statement, "God, who giveth to all liberally" (verse 5). "The giving God" it is almost a title. How abundantly it is illustrated in the Scriptures! "He gave His only begotten Son" ; "How shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?"  His giving is the outflow of His love, "God so loved that He gave." He gives "liberally" (Jas. 1:5), "freely" (Rom. 8:32), "richly" (1 Tim. 6:17). Likeness to the Fathe r   One of the prominent lessons in the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount, is that by shaping our conduct in obedience to the Lord's precepts our character will be conformed to that of our Heavenly Father. We shall be truly "Sons of our Father which is in heaven" (see, e.g., Matt. 5:45). Not merely ...