New Testament Commandments From the Apostles

The word "command" and "commandments" is a great source of confusion in the church today. While many tend to confuse the two covenants, one of which is in force, the "New" covenant, and the other has been "done away" in Christ, which is the "Old Testament".
Today we will zero in on one of the New Testament commands that strikes at the heart of a financial pillar in the modern church.

As many are aware, most churches operate under the ministry of a salaried pastor, and many of these ministers are paid via the 10% tithing requiremet. In the OLD Testament, it is clearly stated under the LAW of the OT, the Levites had a COMMAND to take tithes of their brethren:
Hebrews 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood,
have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren.

But what does the NEW Testament say about pastors, bishops, apostles, and church organizations? Do they have a similar "command" to take tithes and salaries of the Christian brethren for clergy pay?  A close reading of the letters of instructions written to New Testament churches reveals numerous, firm instructions, called "commands".

The apostle even wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

If the Lord spoke through Paul, it is very impotrtant to pay close attention to what Paul said were New Testament commands in 2Thes3:
4)  And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command.
6)  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.
(no distinction between the clergy and laity is given)

7 For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us:  for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; (notice the "we". apostle Paul, Timothy, Silvanus are to be imitated. not the mega church pastor or the "disorderly" , "brethren".  Prepare to see what "disorderly means!)

8)  neither did we eat bread for free at any man`s hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you: 
(notice the *we* did not eat for free at the hand of the church, but WORKED night and day not to burden them!  Quite a contrast to the burden put on people sitting in a pew to "give", "tithe", and contribute to what the clergy puts forth as a "vision" for the church.)

9)  not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves and ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.
 (Notice they WORKED as an example for the whole church,  pastors, elders, bishops included...)

10)  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.
(yes, it is true, there is a New Testament COMMAND to WORK, but if they don't work, the non-working brothers are not to eat..?)

11)  For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.
(some walk disorderly??  you must be joking? in the church, some not working?
Hello pastors? nothing about tithing reminders here...)

12)  Now  them that are such we command  and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
(I think we got some church payroll problems here for "them that are such" ...)

We saw the word "command" used four times in that passage.
In 1Tim. 4:11 These things command and teach. -But he never mentioned tithes or a salary for the pastor.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 

Let's see, tithing was a command for the Levites under the Old Law, but work is commanded under the New Covenant and no exceptions are made for a pastor, deacon, bishop, elder, overseer, prophet, teacher... No pastor has a command to receive tithes.

The apostles never once commanded tithing, and they gave us all of the New Testament commands.

Paul/Timothy, Silvanus said not a word about tithes or salary here, but instead commands them to work.  This is consistent with what he said in Acts 20 to the "bishops" and "elders" of the successful church of Ephesus:

31)   Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears.
32)    And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified.
33)    I coveted no man`s silver, or gold, or apparel. (nor tithes, nor a salary)
34)   Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 
(Paul worked as an example to the BISHOPS and ELDERS. Elders were pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelists given the oversight of the church to protect it from the wolves who would devour the substance of God's sheep.)

35)  In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Yes, it is shocking to realize the ministry was to work and help the weak, not take or extort from them in the name of tithing, "faithful giving to their ministry, or the reasoning used by the justifiers of profiting from the Sunday collection plate. 
Where is the scripture teaching the Sunday plate for the benefit of the church?
-or where is the church called a "storehouse" in your Bible?

• The apostles who forsook their nets and physical jobs to attend to the ministry of the Word and prayer were as Peter who said "silver and gold have I none..." as they walked in the footsteps of Jesus.  
  
• How many offerrings did Jesus ever take up from the great crowds that followed Him?
  
• Did He ever teach them to tithe to His ministry?  nooooo....
  Think about this next time you sit in a church and the offering plate comes by and you are given the little envelope to fill out. The real servants of God will always be provided for without the manipulations and practices of modern Christianity.

As shown in multiple scriptures, we all are to "imitate" their example by imitating the disciples in their ministry. Very few ministries "imitate" the disciples of scripture.  Most imitate the apostate practices of the weekly offering plate, ministerial tithes, salaries, and fundraisers. 

2Thess. 3 (NLT)
7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.
8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it.
We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.
9   We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.
10  while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

3.  Hebrews 13:7 Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.
4.  3rd John 1:11 Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

To the leaders in the church, Paul taught:
 Acts 20:35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Can you imagine, Paul quotes Jesus in telling the leadership they are to lead in giving, not receiving? Neither is any mention of a church "building", "assistant-associate pastor", setting up "departments", or any of the typical titled positions found around the typical church.   

Sadly, we live in a time where the scripture is laid aside in order to imitate what is taught in Bible College or by a Name Brand ministry. 
The professional minister is receiving their livelihood by extorting tithes and offerings as they seek to fund and maintain the personal kingdom they manage commonly known as a church. Tithing is 100% a false teaching. God defined the tithe as foodstuffs, not money. Neither of which is commanded to the church.

Have you ever wondered where it came from if it's not in the scripture?

In short, they are exchanging their ministry of "overseership" for the "filthy lucre", exactly the opposite of what Christ and the apostles taught and lived. Jesus called them "hirelings". 

They are imitating those before them who have learned to profit from the weekly collection rather than truly trusting God and obeying the commands given by Paul as he "commanded" the church and leadership to work in order to help support the weak and needy.
And importantly, most fail to imitate the disciples in preaching the gospel confirmed by healing the sick, casting out devils, or speaking in tongues.

  Who does your pastor imitate?