Nineveh:TheCity of the Uncircumcised
0 Comments Published by georgy on Monday, January 14, 2008 at 3:11 AM.
Nineveh was a great city in the Assyrian Empire.The Book of Jonah says one needs to walk 3 days to travel from one end to the other of this city.
The people were not Jews,but Gentiles who had pagan Gods.
But when Jonah prophesied about their impending destruction and the need to repent to the One God they did listen to him.
It was very unusual.Even the Israelis often disregarded the warnings of their Prophets.
But here was a group of gentiles who cared to heed the warning from God.
The King hearing about the thins prophesied by Jonah,tells all his subjects to fast and mourn the coming days.
The people put on sackcloth and repented in ashes and dust.Mothers stopped breastfeeding their babies and shepherds stopped feeding their animals...the youth stopped their festivities and mourned..
And God accepts their repentance and tears,even though Jonah is angry that his prophesy doesnt happen and Jonah thinks he is made a fool before Nineveh.
But God gently instructs Jonah that he has no right to be angry about this.He proves this to Jonah through a small example.
A plant which grew up quickly beside Jonahs resting place and gave him much relief through its coolness and shade dried up all of a sudden one morning due to wormbites.
And Jonah feels sad for the plant.
God asks him,"How much more should i care for a city of 1,20,000 children"?
As the three days lent is in remembrance of the fastingof the natives of Nineveh, the Lent is generally known as Nineveh Lent. This lent has certain uniqueness.
1)Smallest canonical lent of the Holy Church.
2)Based on an event of the Old Testament.
3)Natives of Nineveh were not Jews,but they were gentiles.
Theme:--Repentance before God.Repent in tears and ashes.
Book of Jonah,Chapter 3.
Chapter 3
And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
003:002 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
003:003 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.
003:004 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
003:005 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
003:006 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
003:007 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
003:008 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
003:009 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
003:010 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Ba-oota d' Ninevayee or the Fast of the Ninevites
It is kept today by the religiously devout members of the Church of the East, the Chaldean church,Syrian Orthodox Church
This fast has been observed by the Assyrians since the early centuries of Christianity. The fourth century Mar Aprim the Great wrote twelve hymns about Jonahs travel to Nineveh and the Repentance of the Ninevites.
In comparing the observance of the Fast during his time with that of the ancient Ninevites Aprim writes:
"compared with that repentance,
This of ours is like a dream;
In the presence of that supplication,
This of ours is but a shadow..".
Perhaps the fast was forgotten in later centuries. We learn that it was revived in the sixth century. The bishops of Nineveh and Beth Garmee (Arbil and environs) during a period of pestilence decided to proclaim a fast similar to the one observed by their ancestors as told in the Old Testament hoping that it would help to put an end to the plague. they shared their idea with then patriarch Ezekeil (567-582) and he approved of it, declared a three-day fast and prayers, ordered; "it should be observed in perpetuity." By all accounts the fasting and the praying eased the epidemic.
http://christiansofiraq.com/BaootaFeb86.html
Reference in NT."this generation".
Matthew 12:41
41 "The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold,something greater than Jonah is here."
Source:
Kevin, Trivandrum (Contributing Editor)
Fasting is the oldest commandment humanity has known. It was the commandment God gave to Adam, to abstain from eating from a certain tree while eating from all the others (Genesis 2:16-17). Thus God put a limit so that the body would not exceed it. One should abstain not for deprivation and repression, but so one can rise above the level of the body and matter. This is the wisdom or philosophy of fasting.
Christ started his ministry with a fast. He rejected the temptations of Satan to eat in order to live, and revealed to him that humans are not only of flesh, but in them there is another element, the spirit. The food of the spirit is every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Many of the prophets fasted including David (Psalm 35:13, 69:10), Daniel (Daniel 9:3), and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4). The Apostles also fasted after the Ascension of our Lord and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon them, as proclaimed by Christ (Matthew 9:15). This was the first fast by the Christian Church.
http://www.sabeel.org/old/news/newsltr4/index.htm#Fasting
Article:Fasting in the Coptic Orthodox Church,by Father Raphael
Abstinence
The Church defines fasting as the abstinence from food for a certain period of time followed by the consumption of vegetable food, without animal fat or dairy products. There must be an abstinence from food for a certain period of time, for if we eat from the beginning of the day without abstinence, we become vegetarians and are not fasting. The period of abstinence differs from one person to another, according to their spirituality, health and age, but there is a minimium to this.
The spiritual state of the person during the fast is the most important attribute. The period of abstinence should be ascetic. One should not care for the body, but be above the level of eating and food, and should not keep thinking about when and what to eat, or prepare delicious food. The person who fasts should not eat covetously after abstinence. Those who do so, or choose their favorite dishes, have not spiritually benefited or learnt to be ascetic. We must begin with prayer and thanks before eating. We should refrain from eating meat or any animal products after abstinence, for the calories and other materials contained, stir lust and fierce savage nature. Birds and animals who eat flesh are more aggressive than those who eat grass and plants. Thus, we conclude that vegetable food is tranquil and sedative.
The Church and Vegetable Food
In the Holy Bible, fasting was performed by vegetable food. Vegetable food during fast is a Godly order with its origin in nature. From Adam and Eve until after the flood and Noah's Ark, humans did not eat meat, but survived, and lived long lives, on vegetables and fruit alone. Daniel ate vegetables so as not to defile himself with the portion of the king's meat (Daniel 1:8,12), while Ezekiel ate vegetables during his fast as the Lord ordered him (Ezekiel 4:9). Vegetarians, including monks and hermits, lived very long lives. Thus, we do not fear fasting lest it weakens our bodies, for it benefits the soul as well as the body.
http://www.sabeel.org/old/news/newsltr4/index.htm#Fasting
Nineveh's Fast
During the three day Nineveh's Fast, which precedes lent by fourteen days, we fast for repentance, as the people of Nineveh fasted when the prophet Jonah called them to repent. God forgave them their sins, as they each repented of their evil ways. In this way we fast and submit in true repentance with tears for God to have mercy upon us.
The Church rejoices more during the periods of fasting than on other days, for fasting is a reconciliation with God, a period when a broken heart calls and God listens. During a fast, we abstain from bodily food and care for the everlasting food of everlasting life. "Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life" (John 6:27).
{author:Father Raphael is a Coptic Orthodox priest in Jerusalem.}
http://www.sabeel.org/old/news/newsltr4/index.htm#Fasting
Fasting:signposts
*The people who are addicted to alcoholic drinks or smoking and those who always take very spicy foods, feel much more trouble in the early days of fasting.they feel nervous, angry, etc. After some days the situation changes and the patient returns to his normal condition.
*In the beginning of fasts some times a heaviness in tongue is felt, bad smell may be given out from the mouth or breathing, teeth may be sticky. Symptoms of fever may be felt in the mouth, tongue, breathing, etc. There is nothing to fear from such physical signs or changes.
It is actually the result of the CLEANSING PROCESS.
It informs us that the inner cleansing of the body organs is going on. All harmful substances - all debris, excreta, urine, perspiration, etc. - slowly leave the body. Later, the tongue becomes clean, mouth fresh and breathing clean, after ejection of the unwanted, polluting substances. At last, at the proper time, the patient feels really well and hungry.
*Weak persons should not be afraid of fasting, because their weight will increase rather than decrease.It is wrong to believe that fasting benefits only the obese persons.
*Sometimes, some boils or pimples are seen on the skin during fasting, but it should also be considered as a result of the cleansing process. Sometimes giddiness is felt and may result in swooning. The heart-throbs increase and other such symptoms are seen but we should not be frightened. There is no danger in this situation.
*Severe feeling of uneasiness and vomiting show the worst situation during fasting. This is a testing time and an effect of physical weakness is also felt but it is very beneficial to the body.
If continuous vomiting lasts for more days and even water is thrown out, it must be realized that the health of the patient is not in good shape. This happens because of dehydration. This should be considered a serious condition and the fasts must be discontinued immediately.
Health benefits
*This process causes the burning of sugar and fat and the body is then relieved of these poisons.
*The sick, old and damaged cells are flushed, and by eating the dinner/evening meal, these are replaced with new cells, which supply renewed energy to the body.
*The fats lined on the walls of the blood vessels degenerate during this fasting month. The blood rushes through these vessels and the quantity of oxygen and nutrition reaching the cells is much more which makes the cells become more active and strong.
*The human heart too benefits from fasting as well. During fasting there are no liquid intakes and food consumption, which improves the heart's performance.
*Fasting also controls metabolism complications. It helps in reducing acidity, nerves, colon, as well as controls the digestive system, as the abdominal muscles in the stomach are not strained and in fact become stronger due to the long time they have to stay without churning food.
Also the peace of body and mind during the Lents makes the body feel relaxed and comfortable
Fasting is not recommended for patients with high degrees of diabetes, and patients suffering from blood pressure. There are also other individual cases that should be examined before deciding to go on a fast," said Dr. Abdul Hay from Al-Salam Hospital.
Some clinics and hospitals receive cases of people suffering from certain illnesses connected with fasting during Ramadan. "Stomachaches, chest allergies, and urinary inflammations are some of the most common symptoms noticed during Ramadan. Both adults and children suffer from these illness, but they are not serious illnesses," said Dr Suad from the Ahmadi Hospital.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTg3OTUxMjk4
Spiritual benefits
*Fasting brings to fore the reality of our subservience to God and it helps in our submission to Him.
*Fasting conditions us upon the fear of God.
*It develops our character by strengthening our willpower and bolstering our patience.
Fasting strengthens the will and conditions a person to cope with difficulties in all aspects of his life. It helps to develop the very quality that only successful people possess, the quality of those people who can turn their desires into a reality by using skills and abilities that they have.
" Fasting, prayer and meditation blend easily together and improve my ability to pray this prayer with wholehearted commitment. They bring a degree of freedom from obsession with movement and things and help me sit quietly and listen for the voice of God. This concentration is reflected in greater stability, increased energy, absence of hurry and a growing awareness of what’s really important."--paul martin,chicago
"The longest I’ve fasted is four days. My results have generally been similar. There’s a physical purging that is reflected in increased clarity, reduced hostility. It knocks out worry and self-concern"--Richard Dunkin,ny
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1155
"When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to others to be fasting, but to your Father, who is in the secret place; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly."--Matthew 6:17,18
Article By:
Kevin, Trivandrum(Contributing Editor)
Why January 7th?
In ancient times, many, mostly unreliable methods had been used to calculate the dates according to either the lunar or solar cycles. By Roman times, the calendar had become three months out with the seasons, so in 46 BC, Julius Caesar commissioned the astronomer, Sosigenes to devise a more reliable method. This, we know as the Julian Calendar and was used widely for 1500 years. The month of his birth, Caesar had named Quintilis, but the Roman Senate later re-named it Julius (July) in his honour. In those days, February had 30 days every 4 years.
However, this calendar was still 11 minutes and 14 seconds longer than the solar year, so that by the year 1580, the calendar had accumulated 10 days off again. In 1582, therefore, Pope Gregory XIII corrected the difference between the sun and calendar by ordering 10 days dropped from October, the month with the least Roman Catholic Feast days. His calendar, we know as the Gregorian Calendar, which is used in almost all of the world today. Pope Gregory made further changes to keep the calendar in line, which on average is only 26.3 seconds longer than the solar year. The Gregorian Calendar is so accurate that it will take until the year 4316 to gain a whole day on the sun.
That year, 1582, October 5th became October 15th and was immediately adopted in most Roman Catholic nations of Europe. Various German states kept the Julian Calendar until 1700. Britain and the American Colonies didn't change until 1752, but Russia and Turkey did not adopt the Gregorian Calendar until the early 1900's.
So, January 7th by the Georgian Calendar would have been December 25th by the old Julian Calendar and is therefore why it is still Christmas Day for the Russian Orthodox Church. Many Russians will have celebrated along with the rest of us and will then celebrate again on the Orthodox date.
http://russian-crafts.com/customs/christmas.html
"The solar part of the revised Julian calendar was accepted by only some Orthodox churches. Those that did accept it, with hope for improved dialogue and negotiations with the Western denominations, were the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, the Orthodox Churches of Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria (the last in 1963), and the Orthodox Church in America (although some OCA parishes are permitted to use the Julian calendar). Thus these churches celebrate the Nativity on the same day that Western Christians do, 25 December Gregorian until 2800. The Orthodox Churches of Jerusalem, Russia, Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine, and the Greek Old Calendarists continue to use the Julian calendar for their fixed dates, thus they celebrate the Nativity on 25 December Julian (which is 7 January Gregorian until 2100)."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Calendar
It is frequently asked as to why Armenians do not celebrate Christmas on December 25th with the rest of the world. Obviously, the exact date of Christ's birth has not been historically established—it is neither recorded in the Gospels. However, historically, all Christian churches celebrated Christ's birth on January 6th until the fourth century. According to Roman Catholic sources, the date was changed from January 6th to December 25th in order to override a pagan feast dedicated to the birth of the Sun which was celebrated on December 25th. At the time Christians used to continue their observance of these pagan festivities. In
order to undermine and subdue this pagan practice, the church hierarchy designatedDecember 25th as the official date of Christmas and January 6th as the feast of Epiphany. However, Armenia was not effected by this change for the simple fact that
there were no such pagan practices in Armenia, on that date, and the fact that the Armenian Church was not a satellite of the Roman Church. Thus, remaining faithful to the traditions of their forefathers, Armenians have continued to celebrate Christmas on January 6th until today.
http://www.sain.org/Armenian.Church/xmas.txt
Armenian Christmas in the Holy Land-January 18th.In the Holy Land, the Orthodox churches use the old calendar (which has a difference of twelve days) to determine the date of
the religious feasts. Accordingly, the Armenians celebrate Christmas on January 18th and theGreek Orthodox celebrate on January 6th. On the day before Armenian Christmas, January 17th, the Armenian Patriarch together with the clergy and the faithful, travels from Jerusalem to the city of Bethlehem, to the Church of Nativity of Christ, were elaborate and colorful ceremonies take place. Outside, in the large square of the Church of Nativity, the Patriarch and his entourage are greeted by the Mayor of Bethlehem and City officials. Aprocession led by Armenian scouts and their band, advance the Patriarch into the Church of Nativity, while priests, seminarians and the faithful join in the sing of Armenian hymns. Afterwards, church services and ceremonies are conducted in the Cathedral of Nativity all night long and until the next day, January 18th.
http://www.sain.org/Armenian.Church/xmas.txt
About Christmas
The word Christmas originated as a contraction of "Christ's mass". It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038, compounded from Old English derivatives of the Greek christos and the Latin missa.
The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned on Christmas Day in 800. Around the 12th century, the remnants of the former Saturnalian traditions of the Romans were transferred to the Twelve Days of Christmas (25 December – 5 January). Christmas during the Middle Ages was a public festival, incorporating ivy, holly, and other evergreens, as well as gift-giving.(Roman Traditions)
Santa Claus
{Saint Nicholas/santa was actually a christians bishop who was martyred in the 3rd century.And he lived in the southern coast of turkey with mediterranean climate,not the north pole!)
The popular image of Santa Claus was created by the German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840–1902), who drew a new image annually, beginning in 1863. By the 1880s, Nast's Santa had evolved into the form we now recognize. The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s.[34]
Father Christmas, who predates the Santa Claus character, was first recorded in the 15th century, but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness.[35] In Victorian Britain, his image was remade to match that of Santa. The French Père Noël evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image.
Christmas Tree
The modern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century[38] though many argue that Martin Luther began the tradition in the 16th century.[39][40] From Germany the custom was introduced to England, first via Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and then more successfully by Prince Albert during the reign of Queen Victoria. Around the same time, German immigrants introduced it to America.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas
accusations of the pagan christmas-december
The NT doesnt tell when Jesus was exactly born.From the biblical description, most historians believe that his birth probably occurred in September, approximately six months after Passover.
One thing they agree on is that it is very unlikely that Jesus was born in December, since the bible records shepherds tending their sheep in the fields on that night. This is quite unlikely to have happened during a cold Judean winter. So why do we celebrate Christ’s birthday as Christmas, on December the 25th?
The answer lies in the pagan festivals.
In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.
n Roman times, the best-known winter festival was Saturnalia, which was popular throughout Italy. Saturnalia was a time of general relaxation, feasting, merry-making, and a cessation of formal rules. It included the making and giving of small presents (Saturnalia et Sigillaricia), including small dolls for children and candles for adults.[10] During Saturnalia, business was postponed and even slaves feasted. There was drinking, gambling, and singing, and even public nudity. It was the "best of days," according to the poet Catullus.[11] Saturnalia honored the god Saturn and began on December 17
The Romans held a festival on December 25 called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, "the birthday of the undefeated sun." The use of the title Sol Invictus allowed several solar deities to be worshipped collectively, including Elah-Gabal, a Syrian sun god; Sol, the god of Emperor Aurelian (AD 270–274); and Mithras, a soldiers' god of Persian origin.
Pagan Scandinavia celebrated a winter festival called Yule, held in the late December to early January period. Yule logs were lit to honor Thor, the god of thunder, with the belief that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas
Origen's view
Origen (185-254) strongly recommended against such an innovation such as celebrating the birthday of Christ.
Origen (Greek: Ὠριγένης Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca. 185–ca. 254) was an early Christian scholar, theologian, and one of the most distinguished of the early fathers of the Christian Church.
"In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were arguments against the winter Christmas. Shepherds freezing to death??
Snow is common for two or three days in Jerusalem and nearby Bethlehem in December and January. These were the winter months of increased precipitation in Christ's time, when the roads became practically unusable and people stayed mostly indoors.
"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields," wrote one Gospel writer, "keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:8). A common practice of shepherds was keeping their flocks in the field from April to October, but in the cold and rainy winter months they took their flocks back home and sheltered them.
Census during winter?
Other evidence arguing against a December birth of Jesus is the Roman census recorded by Luke. "And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered... So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem..., to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son..." (Luke 2:1-7).
The Roman and Judean rulers knew that taking a census in winter would have been impractical and unpopular. Generally a census would take place after the harvest season, around September or October, when it would not seriously affect the economy, the weather was good and the roads were still dry enough to allow easy travel. According to the normal dates for the census, this would probably be the season of Christ's birth.
September 29, 5 B.C.Birth of Christ--check out this link for their arguments,pretty convincing..
http://www.new-life.net/chrtms10.htm
Christmas insignificant in the early church?
The celebration of Christ's birth in the the early church
In the first 200 years of Christian history, no mention is made of the calendar date of Jesus' birth. Not until the year 336 AD do we find the first mention of a celebration of His birth.
Why this omission? In the case of the Church fathers, the reason is that, during the three centuries after Christ's life on earth, the event considered most worthy of commemoration was the date of His death. In comparison, the date of His birth was considered insignificant. As the Encyclopedia Americana explains, "Christmas... was, according to many authorities, not celebrated in the first centuries of the Christian church, as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth..." (1944 edition, "Christmas").
Speculation on the proper date began in the 3rd and 4th centuries, when the idea of fixing Christ's birthday started.
http://www.new-life.net/chrtms10.htm
Article By
Kevin, Trivandrum(Contributing Editor)
Tithing is the process of giving a tenth of all our wealth or earnings to the Lord is a Divine commandment given to Father Abraham, the Father of FAITH in the Lord of all things for His benevolent and free blessings that keep us alive in good health and cheer of mind, a gift of the Holy Spirit, Gen.14: 20. The sum total of all our worship and righteous lifestyle is a thanksgiving ritual to the Triune God who only can keep the vehicle of man running on the surface of this muddy sod. Our seen body frame and unseen one is a microcosm of a macrocosm, the author of which is the Heavenly King. Just like the motor vehicle, our body requires water, oil, petrol, grease, tuning and adjustment from time to time for its safe mobility. While the motor vehicle is a product of concrete or material components, the two-footed animal is a conglomeration of ethereal and cosmic cosmetics that manufacture a superlative product, which surpasses definitions of any kind that is beyond our grasp and the horizons of imagination.
Humility at the feet of the Lord is the only thing that can send some wavelengths to understand our great nothingness and God’s infinite heights of glory. A righteous man’s sinning at times may make one realize the everlasting mercy and loftiness of a Creator who is perfect in Himself absolves our transgressions. The transgressions of king David sent some divine light into the dark corner of his mind that whispered the eternal truth of the Almighty’s greatness and mercy, finger pointing the futility of our works. “O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. For thou hast no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God thou will not despise”, Ps.51: 15-17; ps.50: 13-15. The first commandment of offering a sacrifice had ended up in a flop because the elder one butchered the younger one who made a sacrifice from a pure heart. Celebrating a grandiose sacrament of liturgy of modern type on 101 altars by sacrificing the inevitabilities of a virtuous life is like a morning mist that vanishes by the ray of the sun.
The Tithe
The topic of tithing came all of sudden in a prayer meeting that demanded an answer why the oldest church in the world doesn’t emphasize the blessings of tithing, while all other churches give prominence of this commandment on the basis of the biblical proof that started from the time of Abraham. I gave all the explanations that I knew from the scripture. As it was an impromptu discussion, I feel that I couldn’t give full justice on the topic. Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, king of Salem, on his return from his expedition against Chedorlaomer, and the four kings in confederacy with him. He gave him the tithe of all the booty taken from the invaders. Jacob followed it by vowing to the Almighty the tithe of all the wealth that he might harvest in Mesopotamia, Gen.28: 22. It became an ordained law, Lev.27: 30 and 31, 32 later. It includes the tithe of the land that produces seeds, fruits,etc.
There were three sorts of tithes to be paid from the people (besides those from the Levites to the priests), Num.28: 26, etc.
- To the Levites for their maintenance, Num.18: 21, 24.
- For the Lord’s feasts and sacrifices, to be eaten in the place, which the Lord should choose to put His name, there; to wit, where the Ark should be, the Tabernacle or Temple. This tenth part was either sent to Jerusalem in kind, or, if it was too far, they sent the value in money, which was to be laid out for oxen, sheep, wine or what else they pleased, Deu.14: 28-29.
- In addition to these two, there was to be, every third year, a tithe for the poor, to be eaten in their own dwellings, Deu.14: 28-29.
However, There was no emphasis of this commandment either by Jesus or by His apostles.
Tithing in the Old Testament period
A zealous God of the OT was very particular of the people giving the tithe, the reason for the eternal Melchizedek to visit the Father of the faith. “He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest for ever, Heb.7: 1-14….For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well”. The Aaronite priesthood has changed to the visible priesthood of Jesus of the New Age, there by switching over from the previous priesthood to a new order of changing the tithing to a higher form of tithes. As the old form of blood sacrifice has transformed to a new form of bloodless sacrifice, the changing the law in the spirit of tithing is also automatic and spontaneous. Despite the charismatic groups muddles with the priesthood of the new age that is the real one of a former shadow, stressing that the age of priesthood has terminated with Jesus, they don’t change the law of the archaic tithing because their God is their stomach, for which they need covetable position that bring money and cheap name.
Because tithing is a commandment for which every adult was indebted to pay, the failure of which was equivalent of robbing God, Mal.3: 8, as all our possessions belong to God, declaring the naked fact that man is only a passing shadow on this earth. “Here tithes are received by mortal men; thereby one of whom it is testified that he lives”, Heb.7: 8. Abraham paid a tenth to Melchizedek, the testimonial of the presence of an Eternal God, whereas Jesus the Incarnate perfection of all goodly and godly things, Melchizadek, was a penniless destitute here on earth having no place to hide His face. The melchizadek that Abraham gave a tenth was a warrior who used weapons in defeating His enemies, whereas the weapons of Messiah are patience, endurance, love and forgiveness that armaments don’t need money for winning over the adversary. The weapons that cost money was required to win over the gentiles that fought against Israel, for which tithing implicitly was necessary for the Temple running, apart from the money collected for weaponries, but the NT weapons of love don’t cost money. Tithing therefore is not a commandment in the new age.
If we follow His footprints truly, there is no right for man to own anything in this world. Therefore, giving tithes and spending or wasting nine tenth of our wealth for our extravagances has no moral validity in the new age. “For we have brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content, 1.Tim.6: 7. “For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second”, Heb.8: 7. The shadowy first covenant of the OT has been replaced by a faultless covenant of bloodless sacrifice during the period of the second covenant of giving everything, including one’s own self, is the order of the offspring of the second covenant. As the third type of tithe is meant for charity work that is collected every year, the main emphasis of giving to the church and its running is the real tithing, giving to the needy should be a product of the first one, the true faith. The true rock of faith upon which the church is founded is to be cared and nurtured for. I have seen people stop giving to the parish or church due to internal feuding, but that which is promised to the parish is channeled to charity work and getting heavy punishment from the Lawgiver. It seems that giving to the church or charity is a secondary thing when comparing with the primary duty of to be in harmony with the brethren with whom we are associating in the parish and outside. One has to rise above the party spirit and unholy association is the main issue here. The Pharisees and Sadducees used to give a tenth of everything, but when it comes to faith and righteousness most of them failed miserably, Lk. 18:9-14. Unless we try to weave daily the white garment of incorruption by carrying the crosses in our routine life daily by having the right faith, all our charitable or virtuous lifestyle terminate to futility.
Many people claim that they have abundance of money and resourses because of paying tithes that indicates that they believe in a prosperity religion of superficial spirituality. Paying for getting in return is not the sign of an ideal spiritual way of life. How come then St.Paul to suffer from starvation that compelled him to do carpentry work for his daily bread. Giving the entire self without expecting any return is the way of the higher plane. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”, Mt.16: 24-27. The style of losing one’s life for the Lord is the Heavenly culture of conquering the eternal kingdom. It was not Jesus’ charity work we adore and extol; we glorify Him for forsaking His own life on Calvary that culminated into the covetable glory of resurrection and ascension, the litmus test of His glory and power. The Saviour lost a dear disciple on account of His charity work that probably converted Judas for financial swindling which in turn led the betrayer to sell the head of his Master. Money is a ruthless slayer of mankind, when it plays the role of a master, whereas money is a good slave for a benevolent master. When we analyze the culture of parish or church pandemonium that mushroom to more churches, it certainly display the gymnastics of Mammon who make havoc by the wealth of his earthly dominion. Many church empires that collected tithes have collapsed lately in the West by economic embezzlement that land in sexual corruptions and shameful reprieve.
The real estate and corporate churches of modern times have jettisoned the chaste spirituality with that of the mimicry of Mammon and Eros. Every church of today survives only by fund -raising gimmicks that evict the real spiritual ethos to the land of darkness. There are even churches that gospelise for the earthly prosperity and invade the apostolic churches for adding members to their prosperity churches. If money has been the vital part of evangelization, Jesus would have handled the finance, instead of giving the portfolio to the betrayer. Yes, money betrays God because it is the currency of the devil to lure the proud, vulnerable and the marginalized ones to be ensnared into the devil’s manifesto. The inscription on the money coin is Caesar’s, not God’s, the reason for Jesus asking the coin to be returned to Caesar, not to God because His inscription is not there. The wealth of God is the rock of faith upon which the church is founded, not on economic imperialism. While the imperial churches flourish materially for grabbing the flock of other folds, the real Bride struggles to breathe physically by enhancing inner palpitations. While heretical churches of the apocalyptic times flourish by heresy and financial prosperity, the true church is mutilated by internal squabbling and intrigues that caused by financial ambitions and self -conceits, the reason for not finding faith on earth at Jesus’ second coming, Lk.18: 8. The money culture that throttled the churches and families that by earning more wages cut the root of our existence here, on account of the material extravagances and consumerism that caused climate change which devastated this planetary system.
Jesus’ Manifesto
Sermon on the Mount is the main manifesto that clarifies that charity or love is the lifeblood of our life here, buttressed by sacramental nutrients. The same God who promised earthly gains also is saying to the young lawyer who approached Jesus to sell everything and give it to the poor and follow Him, Mt.19: 21. By giving to the poor it involves two things, firstly it liberate the owner from the clutches of earthly cravings, secondly it helps the have-nots. Possession of any wealth is like the man who plough looks back, like that of Lot’s wife. “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days”, Jas.5: 1-4. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”, Mt.19: 24. Give who asks you is the language of the other plane. Giving the thing that we like more is to be parted with for the other is the one step ahead of our primary charity work. John the Baptist also preached the same philosophy of giving one shirt to the other if one has two because there is reward even for giving a cup of water to the thirsty.
It also thrust the point that our life on earth next moment is a mercy that is left to the Creator. Unless we accomplish the role of stewardship faithfully and honestly, our life in this planet next moment is a decision from above. The tug of war between attachment and detachment or affiliation and denunciation is the crucial test of our salvation. To be a faithful and magnanimous stewardship is an essential qualification for the entry into the quality of afterlife. The superlative qualification of Jesus was that His attachment was only to the cross that its footing only was on this earth. His only victory of robbing a robber was fulfilled only when He was having no contact with this sordid planet that hatch intrigues, back-biting and betrayals. Voluntary detachment is only for the wise and dedicated; the fool that concoct treachery and wickedness throw away his possessions voluntarily at the time when his possessions pain and start stinking and betray him. The hard-earned price of Jesus’ head was thrown away voluntarily and Judas also ended up in between the earth and heavens, but not gaining any soul to go with him, other than his ruthless masters of the land of the dead. Alas, he bartered his own soul to the abysmal one on the altar of a sinister dark life.
Family Care
The family is a mission center where we start cultivating the art of giving and sharing. As the genesis of the parish is in the family, the give and take habit that moulds a person in this life is a God-given art. The family is the most important unit, therefore. The children are to be a product of the harmonious blend of various virtues, thereby depositing our wealth of wisdom and other resources in the family for their conducive bringing up. No ordinary person will neglect his growing up family at the mercy of Nature and squander the wealth for no reason. But sharing it with others is a primary necessity and a quality of mind. We can’t wait giving to others only after finishing all our household things perfectly well. All the mine- booming and Nature -plundering technologies that accumulated money has only multiplied the human problems, whereas in a natural economy that used primitive methods had only problems multiplied in the arithmetic order, but the high-tech economy has thrown man into a turmoil of humanitarian crises that uproot villages and societies and gathering people as vagabond tribes in a geometrical progression. Today’s animal magnetism that prey upon the marginalized and vulnerable ones have proved that only a half-starving economy can curtail the animality of man to a hold. Self- sufficiency is a deadly mix of volatile cocktail. Anything excess is bad because the flesh that is weak become a carnal agent of spiritual cannibalism. A man who doesn’t know how to share with others become a pest of the society because he doesn’t know that we are the heirs of the same father who expect that his children to care and nurture one another. “Charity begins at home”. It is the duty of the parents to care and nurture the family. Hand out anything excess to the suffering multitude after using for our bare necessities. Fasting or starving teaches us that “belly teaches all art”.
Two silver coins of the widow
The vast stretching of oblivious land that lie beyond the grave is not even able to accept the 2 silver coins of the widow who put them into the church treasury at her own will, so also the widow of Sarafat who parted away her remnant of food to prophet Elijah who gave provisions of food to the widow for the remaining period of the drought that ravaged Israel. This is how the wise and the obedient buy the property in the land of timelessness. Giving all our possessions and our own body and mind for others is the religion of the New Age. The apostolic time that began this true religion with a vociferous but silent Spirit was smothered as time passed; even there was an Anannias and saphira among them to hide a share of their wealth at the dawn of the early Christianity. Parting away everything for God and His creatures is the lifeblood of this new religion that witnessed the shedding of the innocent blood for others and living a life of a recluse who didn’t have a place to hide His head, hence rested at last on the cross on Golgotha. This is not a joke; this is the true spirit of evangelism that we have divorced for the sake of our lust. This is the outcome of the Spirit of the advent of Pentecost.
Silver and gold
“ I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth”, Said st.Peter to the lame, Acts.3: 6. Offering material help is a secondary thing, but making way in showering the Spirit of God upon the forsaken one is the real spirit of tithe in the NT period. To share the mental afflictions of the rich and poor is the ultimate aim of Christian charity or tithing. Abraham gave bread and wine to Melchizadek, not bread and blood of the OT order, the precursor of the bloodless sacrifice of the Incarnate Melchizadek. The benevolent tithe of the mercy period is to provide the thirsty one with the Holy bread and Blood of the Saviour. The spadework of offering this liturgical food is to convert the sinners and bring them to the fold of Heavenly brood. The true evangelization at the expense of our own life is the spirit of tithe of this age. In order to bring the sinners to the fold one must become an Elect of the Spirit who instill the fruits and the gifts of the Triune God. Parting away with money or food or helping at certain points of time is not the sign of real tithing, paving the way to the land of the living is the real Christian spirit, for which one has to throw away his own life and possessions is real record of giving a tenth. Freely you have received, freely you give”, not only material things, but also what we have received from Above, that is our body and mind for others. The Body and Blood of Emmanuel is our wealth, making way to offer this spiritual food for all the sinners of the world. “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”, mt.26: 28. Santa Clause is our messiah of the age that brings gifts to hide under the Christmas tree, whereas the Lamb’s gifts given openly is the shedding of His blood for quenching the thirst of the blood- drenched world.
The reason for not collecting tithes in the main stream Christianity is that that the Christian mission of evangelization doesn’t holt mere by tithes. Is it a tenth an insurance premium given for our salvation? We don’t have any claim in this ephemeral plane or thereafter even ransoming us by shedding His blood that bought us with a high price.
Where have you invested your nine tenths of your income or earning? Is it at the belly of the earth where the rich man hid it from Lazarus?
Prof. E.S.John(Contributing Editor)
Australlia
