Tithing and Religious Liberty
When Abraham met Melchizedek, after recovering the goods of the people of Sodom from their enemies, he gave to the Lord's priest "tithes of all." It is worthy of note that Abraham didn't first lay aside his personal expenses of the campaign before tithing the proceeds. He first paid the tithe, gave to the Lord His portion "of all," and then disposed of the remainder as he deemed just to all concerned. This is a good example in reckoning tithes due, inasmuch as it is one of the things that were "written for our learning." Rom. 15:4. The "mystery of godliness" is this: "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." 1 Tim. 3:16. The result to the sinner is faith in Christ, and the writing of God's law in the heart, according to the new covenant. There is no compulsion about the "mystery of godliness;" it is a marvel of religious liberty. On the other hand, the "mystery of iniquity" consists in the enforcement of religion and the observance of religious institutions by the power of human law. It is a scheme of the adversary of the Gospel by which zealous men are so blinded as to be led into palming off a base counterfeit for Scripture doctrine. Its fruit is spiritual Babylon, and its most striking demonstration was the Dark Ages. Its latest phase is in the modern efforts for religious legislation known as National Reform, Inter-church Federation, etc.