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 judgement 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.

Ed Howes sought and found, knocked and entered. Now he sees things differently. To see moe of what he sees, please visit http://www.justanotherview.com

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