FELLOW READERS I WOULD LIKE SOME LIGHT SHED ON THIS ISSUE WHICH HAS BECOME A SOURCE OF SOME SERIOUS DECEPTION AND FRAUD IN TODAY'S CHRISTIAN WORLD. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AS FAR AS I CAN RECOLLECT THERE WERE NO CHRISTIANS AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL PRACTISED JUDAISM. MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXTRACTED VERSES FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BIBLE TO SUITE THEIR OWN SELFISH ENDS. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE AND HOW THE TITHES CAME ABOUT IS ; OUT OF THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL THE LEVITES WERE TASKED WITH ONE JOB OF SEEING TO THE SYNAGOGUE. FROM THE DESIGN, BUILDING, MAINTAINANCE AND VIRTUALLY ALL MATTERS OF THE CHURCH. THEREFORE ALL THE DESCENDANTS OF LEVI DID NOT ENGAGE THEMSELVES IN ANY BUSINESSES, FARMING, TRADING OR VENTURES. EVEN THEIR SERVANTS HAD JOBS THAT RELATED OR PERTAINED TO MAKING THE CHURCH AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE. FOR THAT REASON THE OTHER 11 TRIBES MADE A PACT TO DIVDIDE THEIR PROFITS INTO TEN AND GIVE A TENTH OR ONE PART OF THE TEN TO THE LEVITES. THIS HOW THE ORIGINAL TITHES CAME ABOUT. I EMPHASISED PROFITS BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER THEIR CAPITAL OR INCOME. IN TODAY'S "CHURCH" OR CHRISTIANITY HOWEVER, SO CALLED PASTORS ARE DEMANDING AND MAKING IT APPEAR SINFUL IF ONE DOES NOT FUFILL THIS "DUTY". PLEASE CLARIFY THIS IF YOU CAN. I KNOW I SOUND VERY SCEPTICAL, BUT IT IN THE QUEST FOR WHAT IS RIGHTEOUS, THAT ALL THESE DOUBTS HAVE ARISEN. PLEASE HELP AND NOT ANY LONG WINDED THEORIES, STRAIGHT TO THE CORE. THANK YOU.