Looking for recommendations on articles about the validity of tithing for the Church today. Not how it should be practiced, but whether or not it is still obligatory.

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Chad
He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. (Psalms 15:5 KJV)

Writings of Thomas E. Peck, 3 vols, Banner of Truth, 1999
Vol. 1, pp 146-157, "The Moral Obligation of the Tithe"

Peck's argument is narrowly addressed to the specific question, "whether the precise proportion of the tenth is the divinely-ordained proportion--that proportion alone (or at least, the smallest) which God will accept as a rental, or as an expression of our dependence, our gratitude, our devotion to him."

Peck, who was an old school 19th century Southern Presbyterian, by his argument persuaded me against advocating the legal tithe, which position I formerly held.

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Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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Thanks Reverend! I will check around for that. I don't foresee myself being persuaded in that direction, but would enjoy reading his arguments nonetheless.

As a side question, I was reading some writings by Peter Wallace online, and was fascinated by some of the old Presby discussions on joint-stock companies and other economic issues. He cites a lot of Presby journals to quote GA discussions and old articles. My question is where in the world can I find those? Would I have to visit a library at a large Seminary, or the archives of a denomination, or what?

For example:

"œThe General Assembly of 1836,"� BRPR 3.3 (July, 1836) 443.

or,

"œFines on the Mode of Going to Worship on the Sabbath--A Symptom of an Anti-Religious Inquisition,"� Presbyterian Banner (October 29, 1859).

or,

"œSabbath Rail-way Trains,"� Presbyterial Critic 1:3 (March, 1855) 134-140.

John Piper has some interesting articles on tithing at www.desiringGod.com.

__________________
Richard C. Barcellos
M.Div., 1989, The Master's Seminary
Th.M., 2000, Whitefield Theological Seminary
Managing Editor, Reformed Baptist Theological Review (www.rbtr.org)
Part-time Lecturer in New Testament and Administrative Assistant to the Dean, Midwest Center for Theological Studies (www.mctsowensboro.org/), Owensboro, KY

Gary North's Tithing and the Church

Is a good treatment of tithing from the pro side.

__________________
Chris Rhoades -33
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church (PCA) Nashville, TN-Under Care

Vera theologia non theoretica, sed practica est; Finis siquidem eius agere est hoc est vitam vivere deiformem. - Martin Bucer
""True theology is not theoretical, but practical. The end of it is living, that is to live a godly life."

Replicated Post

Chad,
You would probably need to check out some archive or other. The Montreat (NC) or Philadelphia Presbyterian archives have lots of that stuff mouldering away. Stuff like it is always coming on-line, however. Some of the older more strictly theological journals are available in some electronic format or other, some on CD. The more popular papers are probably much harder to find.

FWIW, the RTS Jackson Library has at least some of those periodicals as well.

Here is the link for the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia. The Montreat office is scheduled to be closed by December 31, 2006.

[Edited on 5-3-2006 by VirginiaHuguenot]

__________________
Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project

"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole

Thanks! My wife will be thrilled when she hears where we are going for our next vacation. First the moulding archives in Philadelphia, then to the RTS Jackson library.

Do they let any amatuer hack (like me) in to the treasure room?

I'm not entirely sure about their policies (perhaps someone else on the board who affiliated with RTS can answer), but I did notice this statement on their library website:

You might also want to check out the PCA Historical Center in St. Louis, MO as another possible resource.