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The National Tithe
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Author: Ed Howes
Topic: Politics
Viewed: 48 time(s)
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The multiple tithes and offerings of ancient Israel were
collected by the priests and distributed as social welfare by
the Levites, who were the civil administrators of their times.
Those who handled the funds were known to the people as
righteous men, concerned with matters of social justice. They
could be and were trusted by those who gave and those who
received. In modern societies civil government has replaced the
Levitical priesthood and can not be trusted by givers or
receivers. The reason is the ease with which laws are changed -
this year the law is one thing; next year, another. Proud people
tell us we are a nation of law and not of men. And whose laws do
we obey but the laws of rich and foolish men - men who study law
and know no justice. Men who make laws for many to benefit few.
In ancient days, the basic annual tax was ten percent of
increase, due at the beginning of the harvest. Increase was
essentially net profit. If a citizen spent a thousand dollars in
materials to earn ten thousand, he knew God expected him to
offer up ten percent of nine thousand dollars. It was a
voluntary tax because scripture said to withhold it from the
poor was to rob God and robbing God would be considered grand
theft and cause for curses. There was no civil penalty or
judgment against one who withheld the tithe because his future
depended upon divine grace, Karma. He would be rewarded
according to his works or lack thereof.
Today civil government pretends they can require whatever they
wish, from whoever they wish, to create whatever they wish. In
their thinking they are gods and they are righteous gods. Every
day, more and more of those they rule over are made increasingly
aware that leadership does quite the opposite of their claims.
Eyes closed by many years of repetitive indoctrination, slowly
open in the weariness of obedient, unquestioning compliance and
service.
In ancient days, there were no standing armies providing nothing
but a false sense of security at great public expense, to the
detriment of rich and poor alike. Trained militias allowed
voluntary service a man could render a few hours of each month
until more was required to secure the social order. No great
space explorations to be financed. No debt burdens on which
interest must be paid. No professional lawmakers thinking
themselves worthy of great salaries in exchange for their
exclusive services to the highest bidders. There were not great
infrastructures to create, repair and maintain. Civil
administration was simple, voluntary and cheap, like charities.
Now it does not matter what is just or what is practical. Public
servants have become masters with the consent of the masters
they are supposedly serving and the consent of the money masters
they are truly serving. Roles are reversed and the new servants
make few demands upon the new masters. Confusion becomes the
only certainty in such an arrangement.
In ancient days, the tithe was collected to ease the burdens of
the poor. Today, we have a far more global consciousness and
tithes are collected to be disbursed among the poor who are not
exactly among us, yet often in much greater need, such that a
dollar has a much greater value to them, than those we used to
consider ?our own? - our domestic poor.
Due to the unmerited blessings of great wealth, the rich nations
have received over the past two centuries, we can see that a
tithe of twenty, thirty percent or more is appropriate if we are
to show gratitude, continue our wasteful practices and also
support the third of us in abject poverty.
A Christian national government would give no less than ten
percent of its annual revenues and it would be the very first
ten percent collected - to relieve the great need of people in
other nations. Had this been the case in ?Christian? America
over the past two hundred years, the poor of the world would not
be driven to come to America to have a better life. But this
tithe has been rejected in America. The present budget for
foreign aid comes in at seven tenths of one percent. A so called
Christian nation officially robs God by ninety three percent per
year. We are a nation of ?Christian? thieves. We lend on usury
and we borrow on usury. Christian America is deathly ill.
Christian America is terminally ill. And so what!
All that matters to America as a nation is appearance. Let us
present a pretty picture to the world that hides the underlying
rot. Fooling the world is so much easier than loving it and
caring for or about it. Let convenience reign. It is time for
someone else to do the hard work. We will cheer them on.
The sentiment expressed on U.S. currency; ?In God we trust? is
only that - sentiment. For the measure of trust is the national
tithe. We can give any amount because we know God will not only
replace what we give but will multiply it both for giver and
receiver. The niggardly people in authority are certain this is
not so. They trust in nothing but their own ?sacred? law and the
opposition of nature to their good intentions. The sickness of
the nation makes a growth industry of medicine. An industry with
minimal trust in God.
I have heard my whole life how generous Americans are and I
would be surprised if personal giving collectively surpasses
seven tenths of one percent and that would be due to the great
philanthropy of perhaps seven tenths of one percent of our
number. As a society, we do not trust in God, cannot trust the
men of God and only half trust the men of science. As a result
we neither trust our intuitions nor our neighbors. We are free.
We are free from trust, filled with doubt - the wellspring of
fear, which is the wellspring of violence, foreign and domestic.
We have become the prisoners of freedom and most of us would not
have it any other way. To do so would be un-American. Get all we
can while the getting is good. Hire an Army to help us keep it
and get us more. It?s the American thing to do.
About the author:
Freelance writer published in newspapers and many websites.
justanotherview.com
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