Biblical Perspectives on Tithes, Morality, and Early Human History

The Old Testament perspective on tithing is that it is a moral obligation and a sacred system of acknowledging God’s ownership and blessingsCS 69.1+1. Tithes are to be treated as holy to the Lord and kept sacred for the support of the ministry, a principle that continues to apply to modern churches with even greater weight due to the fuller light of the gospelEP 121.5+1.

The Origin and Nature of Tithing

• A Law for the Human Race: The tithing system was not merely a Jewish invention; it existed as far back as the days of Adam and was practiced by Abraham long before the Levitical codeCS 69.1+1.

• A Moral Obligation: Abraham’s act of giving a tenth to Melchizedek is the model for all believers, demonstrating that tithing is a duty recognized by moral agents regardless of their era Genesis 14:20TDOC 249.2+1.

• The Proportion of Increase: God specifically requires one-tenth of all increase from the land, the seed, the fruit, and the flock Leviticus 27:30-32ETI Tithe.3.

• First Fruits: Offerings are most pleasing to God when they come from the "first fruits" of our increase, representing our first duty to seek His kingdom above all else Proverbs 3:9ARSH March 31, 1859, page 150.9.

How Tithes Must Be Handled

• Kept Sacred: Tithe money is "trust money" and must be kept sacred for its designated purpose, specifically for the support of ministers who preach the wordPH157 7.2+1.

• Faithfulness in Stewardship: Neglecting this duty is considered robbing God and brings a curse upon the people, while faithfulness opens the windows of heaven for a blessing Malachi 3:8-10ETI Tithe.3.

• Systematic Giving: Believers are encouraged to "lay by in store" on the first day of the week as God has prospered them to ensure the resources of the church are maintained 1 Corinthians 16:2ARSH March 31, 1859, page 150.9.

Implications for Modern Churches ⛪

• Increased Obligation: Since Christians live under the clearer glory of the gospel age, our obligation to support God's cause is increased, not diminished, compared to those in the former dispensationEP 121.5+1.

• Support for Global Mission: When obligations in tithes and offerings are met, it opens a thousand doors of usefulness for home and foreign missions to share the message of mercy with the worldCS 36.3+1.

• A Remedy for Worldliness: Tithing and self-sacrifice serve as a safeguard against the "love of money" and avarice, which can otherwise drown the soul in perdition 1 Timothy 6:10CS 142.3+1.

• Perpetuity of the Principle: The principle of the tithing law is incorporated into the gospel, as the Lord has ordained that those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel 1 Corinthians 9:13-14ETI Tithe.3.

• A Safe Investment: Using means to aid in the salvation of souls is a safe investment that lays up a "good foundation" for eternal life 1 Timothy 6:19CS 151.2+1.

There is no discord between the Old and New Testaments regarding these principles; the law of God remains the standard for all moral agents in every age6BC 1095.7+1. By returning to the Lord His own, the church demonstrates its unreserved consecration to ChristEP 121.5+1.

The Bible reveals a perfect harmony in God’s plan of salvation and His moral standards, showing that while human nature became sinful and weak after the fall, God’s law remains an unchangeable transcript of His character. 📖 Though humanity partook of a sinful nature from Adam, the history of Cain and Abel serves as a lesson on the necessity of blood atonement and the importance of heart-felt obedience to the divine plan Genesis 4:3-4.

The Harmony of Scripture and Divine Law

The idea that the Bible is inconsistent fails to account for the fact that God’s law is an everlasting truth that does not vary or change Psalm 119:142.

• God’s Unchangeable Nature: With God, there is no "variableness, neither shadow of turning" James 1:17. His law is the foundation of His throne and cannot be altered to meet human inclination Matthew 5:18.

• The Scriptural Standard: Every portion of the Sacred Record, when properly interpreted, is in divine harmony with the whole Psalm 119:160. The law and the gospel are not at odds; the law points out sin so that the sinner feels the need for the Savior Romans 3:20.

Understanding the Early Human Family

Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam, born into a world recently marred by sin but still under the direct instruction of God.

• A Shared Sinful Nature: Like all who have lived since, they were of a weak nature because they partook of the sinful nature of their father, Adam Romans 5:12.

• Marriage in the Beginning: In the original creation, marriage was instituted by God between one man and one woman to be "one flesh" Genesis 2:24. In the earliest generations, out of necessity for the fulfillment of the command to "be fruitful and multiply," the immediate descendants of Adam married within the family unit before the specific prohibitions against such unions were later codified as the human race became more numerous and genetically degraded.

• The Integrity of the Home: From the beginning, God's design for marriage was monogamy and social equality Genesis 2:18-25. Any departure from God's original moral standard is treated as a result of man’s disobedience rather than a flaw in God’s law.

The True Nature of Sexual Immorality

The Bible is remarkably consistent in condemning sexual immorality (fornication) and adultery as sins that defile the heart and the character.

• Sin Begins in the Heart: Jesus clarified that "out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications... all these evil things come from within, and defile the man" Mark 7:21-23.

• The Seventh Commandment: The prohibition "Thou shalt not commit adultery" Exodus 20:14 is a pillar of truth. Looking upon another with lust is considered committing adultery in the heart Matthew 5:28.

• A Call to Purity: Believers are commanded to "abstain from fornication" 1 Thessalonians 4:3 and to let no uncleanness be named among them, as becomes saints Ephesians 5:3.

The Contrast of Cain and Abel

The difference between Cain and Abel was not a matter of different laws, but of different hearts and degrees of faith.

• Faith vs. Self-Will: Abel offered a sacrifice of blood by faith, recognizing his need for a Redeemer Hebrews 11:4. Cain, however, brought a "Christless offering" of his own works, disregarding God's express requirement for the shedding of blood for the remission of sin Genesis 4:3-5.

• The Root of Murder: Cain’s jealousy and stubbornness led him to murder his brother. This same spirit of intolerance and envy is what causes man to maltreat his fellowman 1 John 3:12.

• Our Brother's Keeper: When Cain asked, "Am I my brother’s keeper?" Genesis 4:9, he expressed the selfishness that results from rejecting God’s light. We are, in fact, responsible for the influence we exert on others Romans 14:7.

Conclusion: Consistency through Christ

The Bible provides everything necessary for a "course of Christian consistency." While man may make mistakes and follow natural inclinations, the Word of God remains a "perfect law of liberty" James 1:25. By surrendering to Christ, the "living stones" of the church are built into a spiritual house, reflecting the purity and benevolence of God to a world in darkness 1 Peter 2:5. 🌟

Incest is explicitly defined by the Bible as a heinous sin and a form of moral corruption that defiles both the individual and the land. 📖 While the early descendants of Adam lived in a unique period of human history, the Word of God is clear that such acts are an abomination and a violation of the sacred principles of purity He has established for His children.

The Moral Law and Incest

The Bible leaves no room for ambiguity regarding the nature of incest; it is a direct transgression of God’s standard of holiness.

• The Land is Defiled: The practice of incest and other sexual perversions is what caused the land of Canaan to "vomit out its inhabitants" Leviticus 18:25. God warns His people that they must not commit these "abominable customs" lest they be cut off from among their people Leviticus 18:28-30.

• The Penalty of Death: Under the law given to Israel, incestuous acts were met with the severest of judgments. For example, a man who lay with his father’s wife or his daughter-in-law was to be "surely put to death" Leviticus 20:11-12.

• A Curse upon the Transgressor: Scripture pronounces a specific curse upon those who uncover the nakedness of near kin, including sisters or mothers-in-law, stating that "all the people shall say, Amen" in agreement with the judgment Deuteronomy 27:20-23.

Incest as a Result of Moral Degeneracy

Rather than being justified, incest is portrayed in Scripture as a fruit of bitterness, rebellion, and a heart separated from God.

• The Example of Absalom: The rebellion of Absalom against his father David culminated in the crime of incest. This was not prompted by God, but was a "vile suggestion" of a "corrupt heart" that added the sin of incest to that of treason 2 Samuel 12:11-12.

• The Influence of Paganism: The "Greek tragedies" and heathen philosophies are noted for being "full of incest" and murder, reflecting a mind that has "changed the truth of God into a lie" Romans 1:25. The Stoics and Epicureans even defended such "horrid crimes" as things indifferent, showing the depth of human depravity Romans 1:32.

• A Lack of Divine Wisdom: Those who plot such wickedness are "destitute of the enlightenment which comes from God," for "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" Proverbs 9:10.

The New Testament Standard

The New Testament reaffirms the gravity of this sin, even when the surrounding culture might tolerate it.

• Not Named Among Gentiles: Paul rebuked the church at Corinth for tolerating a case of incest—a man having his father’s wife—noting that such a thing was "not so much as named among the Gentiles" 1 Corinthians 5:1.

• A Warning to the Church: Believers are commanded to "flee youthful lusts" and follow "righteousness, faith, charity, and peace" 2 Timothy 2:22. Incest is listed among the "works of the flesh" and "uncleanness" which prevent a person from inheriting the kingdom of God Galatians 5:19-21+1.

• Judgment of God: While human systems may sometimes cover these deeds with a "cloak of godliness," the Bible warns that "God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous" Hebrews 13:4.

The Root Cause and the Remedy ✨

The ultimate cause of all sexual immorality, including incest, is a heart that is not subject to the law of God.

• The Carnal Mind: The "carnal mind is enmity against God" and is "not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" Romans 8:7. This state leads to "vile affections" and a "reprobate mind" Romans 1:26-28.

• Cleansing Through Christ: No matter how deep the stain of sin, there is a remedy. Jesus invites the repenting soul: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" Isaiah 1:18.

• Walking in the Spirit: The solution to the "lust of the flesh" is to "walk in the Spirit" Galatians 5:16. When we "behold" Jesus, we are "changed into His glorious likeness" and receive the power to "cleanse ourselves from every secret sin" 2 Corinthians 3:18+1.

In conclusion, the Bible never justifies incest; it consistently identifies it as a "heinous sin" and a "disgusting, soul-and-body-destroying vice." God’s call to every individual is to "restrain his passions and be controlled by principle," maintaining a "character which is the counterpart of the divine character." 🌟