Tithing - Deuteronomy 14

Chapter 14 is all stuff that has been discussed previously, such as a prohibition on self-mutilation and dietary restrictions. Interestingly, I just saw a Reddit post asking, from an LDS perspective, if self-harm was a spiritual defect. All the responses, which I agree with, was that this was a mental health issue and not indicative of a spiritual problem. If I recall correctly, when this was discussed previously, TB noted that anciently the pagan worships of the people around the Israelites at this time would do extensive decorative cutting of themselves and tattooing and this was God saying not to do that, for various reasons but also to set Israel apart from the pagans surrounding them. As far as self-mutilation in these days, obviously it’s not ideal, but does that extend to piercings and tattoos? I have tattoos and I know there has been counsel from the pulpit several years ago against tattoos, I personally don’t think it’s the end of the world, I thought about getting more, but so far have decided against it, again, I’m cool with it. There are no temple recommend questions about it. But I can definitely see God having a problem with a self-mutilation aspect of religious worship being built into this belief system he was trying to establish.

The kosher food system is set forth again, and there is a lot of animals that are divided, what’s allowed to be eaten and what’s not. On the approved list: cattle, sheep, goats, deer, fish, chickens, and pretty much nothing else. There is also some info about tithing, the people were to take a portion of their increase to the tabernacle/temple every year to give for the support of the poor and the Levites. If it would be too much or too far to take to take the animals or goods like oil or flour, etc, that stuff could be sold and the money could be transported to the main place and then those goods could be rebought “for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.” The IM notes that this translation has a poor connotation in English because it makes it sound like it was an indulgent event, but this statement simply means that the person who sold the goods back home, carried the money to the temple, and then needed to rebuy the stuff that was going to be paid in tithing, they could buy whatever they wanted, it wouldn’t need to be any kind of set menu or anything, they could buy whatever they wanted to pay their tithing as. These goods that were meant to be paid in tithing were for “the Levite (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat, and be satisfied.” This is the purpose of the tithing, and here is God’s promise for those who obey it, “that the lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thing hand which thou doest.”

Tithing is an interesting concept, in fact I just had a conversation with my son and ex-husband about this very topic. We were talking about why God commands us to do certain things if it doesn’t benefit God in any way and I used the example of tithing. God doesn’t need my money, he could turn every rock into gold nuggets, he could fill the church’s bank account by himself, he doesn’t’ need my money, so why does he command me to pay tithing? For my own blessings and growth of faith. My son of course said that it was because the church was stealing from me, which doesn’t make sense because if I really didn’t think that paying tithing benefitted me, then I would just stop paying it, and I am blessed far beyond measure for paying my tithing so I’m happy to do it. Anyway, I read a quote that I had saved several months ago about the church leadership going to destitute places like Africa and the Philippines, and telling the people that the best way to get out of poverty is to pay their tithing and I really had to think about that. I work hard and grew up very poor so I know what it’s like to not eat and all that, but I’m pretty comfortable now so it would be very difficult for me to tell people who are legitimately very poor to starving that the best way for them to get out of poverty is for them to pay tithing. It just feels like a very privileged and condescending position for me to take. Like I’m wiggling my monocle and saying “don’t worry poor person, just give your money to this church and you’ll be fine,” and I myself have plenty to eat. But then again, maybe the point is that if I don’t tell them about the opportunity to pay tithing then I am depriving them of the blessings that come with it. It really boils down to how much to I really believe in the promises that God has made when it comes to keeping his commandments. And it’s an interesting conundrum that I would find myself in. I believe in the blessings that come with tithing so much that I will gladly pay it myself, but I distrust that God would bless other people so much that I wouldn’t tell them about that same opportunity? Interesting to think about.