REVISION 10-6-23: I first wrote this page about 16 years ago. At the time I had very strong confusion and feelings about what our Church was teaching about tithing.
Since then, I have come up with somewhat of a new understanding about tithing. It is simply this. If after prayer and consideration, a person feels led by His Holy Spirit to tithe to their Church. Then they should. If after prayer and consideration, a person feels led by His Holy Spirit to give a different amount. Then they should.
I still believe that everything I have previously written below about tithing is Sound Doctrine. And I believe that my Systematic Theology Chapter Two still supports the belief that some people may be led by His Holy Spirit to give differently.
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Systematic Theology
Chapter Two:
Tithing and Old Testament Laws
It is Oct. 26, 2007, 6:30 in the morning. I have just got done working 64 hours in the last 4 days. Yesterday, I worked 20 hours straight, drove 2 hours and got home at 11:30p.m. Before I went to bed, I took a mild over the counter sleeping pill because I knew I needed rest to recover from the long week. I seek no recognition for my hard work; I just believe that the current conditions indicate that only the force of God could be keeping me awake when I have such a strong desire and so many logical reasons to be asleep.
As I was laying in our very dark bedroom a few minutes ago. I was praying as I do on at least a daily basis for the following:
1. Our parents and their loved ones.
2. The Senior Pastor of our Church and our Church Family.
3. The leader of our Home Group and our Home Group family.
4. Our President and all the soldiers that are fighting against evil.
5. Our sisters and their families.
6. All the friends, family and strangers that I can think of that are dealing with illnesses, injuries, or struggles.
7. Our home.
8. My wife, our kids, the dog, and myself.
This morning, as I some times do late at night, I was also praying to God that I would fall back to sleep. I nearly always fall right back to sleep. Instead, thoughts started racing through my mind and beliefs started churning in my heart. My eyes became increasingly awake, so I decided to get up and record some of my thoughts.
A few years ago the Senior Pastor of our Christian Church did a sermon on Tithing. Since then I have had occasional restless nights on the subject. I felt very uncomfortable with the idea of pressuring people to give. At the time the Bible was quite new to me, so I struggled between being a blind follower of what my Church was teaching and pursuing Sound Doctrine. I would frequently get up late at night and study the Bible, go online to Biblical websites or read Christian articles that I had recently received in the mail. Almost each and every time I would stumble directly onto info about the questions that were keeping me awake. Since that sermon I have spent an extraordinary amount of time studying and praying about the subject of Tithing. I believe God's presence has been waking me in the middle of the night and guiding the majority of my research.
If you have read my statements in Chapter One, The Basics, then you are aware that I just started reading the Bible about 5 years ago, and so my knowledge of the Bible and my beliefs may be a little immature for a 40 some year old man. If you read the rest of this Chapter 2, you will quickly realize that I did not finish this the night I started it. And I realize that if it had not been for that Tithing Sermon and the will of God, I would not have near the Biblical knowledge that I have acquired in such a short time, to write a paper nearly 30 pages long.
My beliefs about whether Tithing or any of the Old Testament Laws apply to Christians are at least a little different from what many Christian Churches currently teach, and a little different from what many Christians teach and believe.
I have had some rather heated discussions with some of our Home Group Members about the two subjects. As I said in Chapter One, I never want to be divisive of my Church Family or my Home Group Family. Therefore I may never share this Chapter of my beliefs with others. However I do believe that by organizing my thoughts and beliefs on paper, that I may be better prepared to share them with others if I ever feel led by the Holy Spirit to do so. I also believe that by putting my beliefs on paper, I may lose a little less sleep and be at least a little more at peace in my heart until the Holy Spirit leads me to write about another topic.
As in Chapter One, these writings are not intended to be teachings, or change anybodies heartfelt beliefs. I will be stating my beliefs and attempting to back them up with Sound Doctrine. All Scripture quoted in this Chapter will be from the NIV Bible translation unless otherwise stated. The page numbers will be of my giant print Bible.
I believe that both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach me to give generously:
p.291-DEUTERONOMY 15:10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart, then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
p.989-PROVERBS 11:25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
p.1007-PROVERBS 22:9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
p.1830-1 TIMOTHY 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to share. (19)In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
I believe that both the Old Testament and New Testament teach me that greed is a very serious sin. I believe that greed is evidence of the absence of a generous heart:
p.996-PROVERBS 15:27 A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live
p.1018-PROVERBS 28:25 A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
p.1758-1 CORINTHIANS 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived: Nether the sexually immoral not idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders (10)not thieves not the greedy nor drunkards not slanderers will inherit the kingdom of God.
p.1526-MATTHEW 23:25 Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence.
p.1604-LUKE 12:15 Then he said to them, Watch out. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
p.1802-EPHESIANS 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
p.1814-COLOSSIANS 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
p.1870-1 PETER 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money but eager to serve.
SOUND DOCTRINE
Before I go much farther I will attempt to define Sound Doctrine. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Sound as: free from flaw, defect, decay, error, fallacy, or misapprehension. The dictionary in the back of my Bible defines Doctrine as: teachings or beliefs about God. I believe that Doctrine or teachings and beliefs about God may be considered "Sound" if they are supported by the Holy Scriptures. The more often Scripture repeats a principle, the more I believe such "Doctrine" may be considered "Sound". When two different "Doctrines" disagree or conflict with each other, the "Doctrine" supported by the greater preponderance of Holy Scripture, I believe may be considered to be more likely Sound Doctrine and the truth. I do believe that the red print makes studying the Bible more interesting. I do not believe that the color of print has any affect on the preponderance of Scripture. The black print is what? The word of God, according to Man. The red print is what? The word of God through Jesus, according to man. All scripture has gone through several different languages, interpretations, and translations. Unless I was actually there, to witness for my self, what was actually said, I do not know exactly what was said. I do not consider Doctrine that is stretched, assumed, presupposed, implied, anticipated, denoted or equated to be Sound. I believe that if one Bible Translation has significantly different verse wording than many other Bible translations of the same verse, then that unique verse should be considered weak:
p.1837-TITUS 2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
p. 1779-2 CORINTHIANS Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not loose heart. (2)Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
p.1833-1 TIMOTHY 3:16 All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
p.1662-JOHN 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (24)He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
p.1659-JOHN 12:49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.
I believe that others should not blindly believe anything that is written here, or anything that is taught by anybody else for that matter. I believe that I should not rely on a Televangelists, Senior Pastor, Home Group Leader, Website or any body else to feed me Doctrine. I should be a self feeder on Gods Word every day, not just Sunday. I believe that I should examine all of God's Word entirely, both Old Testament and New Testament and prayerfully consider in my own heart what the truth is:
p.1707-ACTS 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
OLD TESTAMENT LAW & CHRISTIANS
Later in this Chapter I will try to explain my beliefs about Christians and Tithing. First I would like to try to explain my beliefs about whether Old Testament Laws apply to Christians.
I have seldom if ever heard any Christian claim that all 600+ Laws of the Old Testament apply to Christians. There are many Christians that teach that the crucifixion of Jesus only ended some of the Laws like the sacrificial Laws. I have heard some of these same Christians claim that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill them. They point out the following verse:
p.1491-MATTHEW 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
I believe that Jesus did come to fulfill the Law. The whole Law. I believe that Jesus came to fulfill ISAIAH 53, which preceded his birth by hundreds of years. As Jesus was born and lived, I believe that he did fulfill the Law perfectly. In MATTHEW 5:17, Jesus makes no distinction between different parts of the Law. This would mean, that if this verse indicates that Christians are to follow the Law, I am not allowed to pick and choose, as I wish, I must follow the whole Law, including Civil Laws, Dietary Laws, Sacrificial Laws, Moral Laws and The Ten Commandments:
NLT-GALATIANS 3:10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all these commands that are written in God's Book of the Law." (11)Consequently, it is clear that no one can ever be right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." (12)How different from this way of faith is the way of the law, which says, "If you wish to find life by obeying the law, you must obey all of its commands.
p. 1748 ROMANS 13:10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
I believe that God never intended for his Law to be permanent. His plan was for his Law to one day end:
p.1222-JEREMIAH 31:31 "The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
NLT-GALATIANS 3:19 Well then why was the law given? It was to show people how guilty they are. But this system of law was to last only until the coming of the child to whom God's promise was made. And there is this further difference. God gave his laws to angels to give to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.
I believe that Jesus came and lived to fulfill the The Law. I also believe that Jesus died to cancel the whole Old Law. The point and time when everything changed and the New Law began was when Jesus died:
NLT-EPHESIANS 2:15 By his death he ended the whole system of Jewish law that excluded the Gentiles. His purpose was to make peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new person from the two groups.
p.1800-EPHESIANS 2:15 By abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace.
p.1814-COLOSSIANS 2:14 Having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. (15)And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them by the cross.
p.1850-HEBREWS 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
I believe there are the Commands of God and the Commands of Jesus:
p.1663-JOHN 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. (10)If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
NLT-MATTHEW 28:20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
NLT-1 JOHN 2:7 Dear friend, I am not writing a new commandment, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the beginning. This commandment-to love one another- is the same message you heard before. (8)Yet it is also new. This commandment is true in Christ and is true among you, because the darkness is disappearing and the true light is already shinning.
I believe that there was the Old Law which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai for the Nation of Israel:
p.196-LEVITICUS 27:34 These are the commands the Lord gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.
NLT-DEUTERONOMY 10:3 So I made a chest of acacia wood and cut two stone tablets like the first two, and I took the tablets up the mountain. (4)The Lord again wrote the terms of the covenant -The Ten Commandments-on them and gave them to me. They were the same words the Lord had spoken to you from the heart of the fire on the mountain as you assembled down below. (5)Then I came down the mountain and placed the tablets in the Ark of the Covenant, which I had made, just as the Lord commanded me. And the tablets are still there in the Ark
NLT-DEUTERONOMY 31:24 When Moses had finished writing down this entire body of law in a book, (25)he gave these instructions to the Levites who carried the Ark of the Lord's Covenant: (26)"Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, so it may serve as a witness against the people of Israel.
I believe there is the New Law that God gave to Paul (named Saul at birth) in Arabia (Mount Sinai according to some commentaries) for the Nation of Israel, the Gentiles, for all:
NLT-ACTS 9:15 But the Lord said, "Go and do what I say. For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to the Kings, as well as to the people of Israel.
NLT-EPHESIANS 3:2 As you already know, God has given me this special ministry of announcing his favor to you Gentiles.
p.1790-GALATIANS 1:11 I want you to know, brothers that the gospel I preach is not something that I made up. (12)I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it from Jesus Christ.
p.1790-GALATIANS 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, (17)nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
NLT-GALATIANS 3:28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians-you are all one in Christ Jesus.
I believe that The Law of Jesus is the New Law that I should live under. I should not live under the Old Law, I believe this includes the 10 Commandments(engraved on tablets of stone), which is why Christians do not follow a large majority of Old Laws such as stoning Sabbath violators, because most of the Old Laws are not reestablished in the New Law of Jesus. To follow the Old Law which was actually given to the Nation of Israel through Moses; the Mediator between God and the people, I would need to ignore Jesus Christ the Mediator of a New Covenant, the messages laid on my heart by the Holy Spirit and the New Law given to me through Paul. I believe that if I look at a woman lustfully, I have broken the Law of Jesus, not the Law of Moses:
NLT-1 JOHN 2:7 Dear friend, I am not writing a new commandment, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the beginning. This commandment-to love one another- is the same message you heard before. (8)Yet it is also new. This commandment is true in Christ and is true among you, because the darkness is disappearing and the true light is already shinning.
NLT-1 CORINTHIANS 9:21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
p. 1766-1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.
p.1849-HEBREWS 8:13 By calling this covenant new, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
p.1780-2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
p.1659-JOHN 12:48 For I did not speak of my own accord, But the Father who sent me told me what to say and how to say it.
p.1778-2 CORINTHIANS 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, The result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (4)Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. (5)Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. (6)He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (7)Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, (8)will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious. (9)If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness.
NLT-2 CORINTHIANS 3:11 So if the old covenant, which was set aside, was full of glory, then the new covenant, which remains forever, has far greater glory.
p.1796 GALATIONS 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Does this mean that I should ignore the Old Testament? Absolutely not. Old Law and Old Testament are not the same. I believe that the crucifixion of Jesus canceled only the Old Law, it did not cancel the Old Testament. I need to study the Old Testament to be conscious of sin, and to properly understand how impossible my salvation would be if not for the love of God and Jesus. And I needed the Old Law to lead me to faith in Jesus. I believe that by studying the Old Testament, I learn that it is much more than just Laws, Regulations, and Commands. There is history (His-Story), genealogy, knowledge, advice and prophecy within the Old Testament:
NLT-GALATIANS 3:19 Well then why was the law given? It was to show people how guilty they are. But this system of law was to last only until the coming of the child to whom God's promise was made. And there is this further difference. God gave his laws to angels to give to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.
p.1850-HEBREWS 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
p.1734-ROMANS 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
p.1739-ROMANS 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would have not known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."
p.1860-JAMES 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
p.1793-GALATIONS 3:24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. (25)Now that faith has come we are no longer under supervision of the law.
p. 1743-ROMANS 10:4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
NLT-ROMANS 9:30 Well then, what shall we say about these things? Just this: The Gentiles have been made right with God by faith, even though they were not seeking him. (31)But the Jews, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law and being good instead of by depending on faith. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. (33)God warned them of this in the scriptures when he said, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that causes people to stumble, and a rock that causes them to fall. But anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed.
Some of the Pharisees attempted to force the Law of Moses on to the Gentiles:
p.1702- ACTS 15:5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.
The Apostles led by Peter, James, and Paul met with the Elders and had much discussion on the issue of applying the Old Laws to the Christian converts. They sent the Church at Antioch the following statement:
p.1704-ACTS 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: (29)You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
I'd like to share an example of how I feel about following Old Testament Laws. If I told a group of my followers that they must follow over 600 very difficult rules, to show me their reverence, discipline, obedience to my leadership, and earn their salvation. Then a few years later I go back and tell my followers that I will sacrifice my one and only son, to a horrible suffering death, that will end their obligation to follow the old rules and that they may earn their salvation by following a new set of rules. And the group of followers continued to follow the old rules for thousands of years after the sacrifice of my only son, how would I feel? I know that I would feel hurt. I would feel as though they have rejected or denied the validity of my gift:
p.1799-EPEHSIANS 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
If I am driving down the road, and come to a crossroad with a Stop sign and I do not stop, I am breaking the Law. If I return to the crossroad at another time, and the authority has removed the Stop sign, and promised that I will be safe, and I do not stop, then I have not broken the law, because the law no longer exists in that situation. If I choose to stop anyway, I have made the promise useless:
NLT- ROMANS 4:13 It is clear, then that God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to God's law, but on the new relationship with God that comes by faith. (14)So if you claim that God's promise is for those who obey God's law and think they are "good enough" in God's sight, then you are saying that faith is useless. And in that case the promise would also be meaningless. (15)But the law brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break.)
p. 1795 GALATIONS 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
I believe that following Old Testament Laws, demonstrates weak faith. I also believe that following Old Testament Laws is being disobedient to the Law given to me from God through Apostle Paul. But I should not judge, or tempt others who demonstrate weak faith, when they choose to follow Old Testament Laws given to the Nation of Israel through Moses:
p.1749-ROMANS 14:2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. (3)The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
p.1749-ROMANS 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to mutual edification. (20) Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
WOW! I had no idea that explaining my beliefs about Old Testament Laws would take me nearly 6 pages and over 24 hours at the computer. Well way back on page 3, I explained that later in this chapter I would share my beliefs about Christian Tithing. Because this issue is so controversial and so sensitive, this will be challenging.
I pray that God sends the Holy Spirit to guide my writings. And I pray that my attempt to use Sound Doctrine to express my heartfelt beliefs pleases the Lord.
OLD TESTAMENT TITHE LAWS-PRINCIPLES & CHRISTIANS
Though I have spent the last several pages explaining why I believe that Old Testament Laws do not apply to Christians, I am going to spend some time reviewing the Old Testament Tithe Laws and principles. There are many Christians that teach and believe that I should not tithe to follow The Old Testament Laws, but to observe Biblical principles of the Old Testament. Many Christians teach that these Biblical principles apply to Christians, therefore according to those Old Testament principles, as a Christian, I should give 10% of my gross income to my Church.
The first Tithe Law given to the Nation of Israel was a general tithe. I believe that the principle of this Tithe Law was to pay a general tithe to the Levites, basically for their Civil Services. All the tribes of Israel received designated land for their inheritance except the Levites. The Israelites were to provide wages to the Levites, who functioned as public servants, with what amounted to an income tax of 10%:
p.232-NUMBERS 18:21 I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in exchange for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.
p.232-NUMBERS 18:31 You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting.
I believe that the second part of the first Tithe Law was intended to provide specifically for the Levite Priests. All the Priests were Levites, but not all the Levites were Priests. The Levites were allowed to live, farm and store tithes in various towns possessed by the Israelites. The Levites were then to give a tenth of those tithes to the house of God:
p.232-NUMBERS 18:26 Speak to the Levites and say to them: "When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lords offering. (27) Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the wine press. (28)In this way you will also present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From this portion you must give the Lord's portion to Aaron the priest.
p.751-NEHEMIAH 10:37 Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain, offerings, of the fruit of our trees and our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes to the storerooms of the treasury. (39)The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and oil to the storerooms where the articles for the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the singers stay.
The tithes were not to be paid with currency such as gold, silver or shekels. Tithes were only to be paid by agriculture. In fact there was a penalty for paying in currency. I believe that according to the principle of this Tithe Law, if I am not a farmer, if instead I am a carpenter, boat builder, or pottery maker, I am not to observe this Tithe Law:
p.196-LEVITICUS 27:30 A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord, (31)If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it.
According to the principle of this law, if I only have 9 head of cattle, I am not to give any of my animals:
p.196-LEVITICUS 27:32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock-every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod-will be holy to the Lord.
The second Tithe law given to the Nation of Israel was a Yearly Tithe. The principle of this Tithe Law, was to make sure the people of Israel set aside enough food and drink to provide for the feast that was expected to take place in the presence of the Lord. I believe the principle of this law is about storing enough blessings to share with the needy or others who may be less fortunate, and then having a festival in the presence of the Lord, not about tithing:
p.290-DEUTERONOMY 14:22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. (23)Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.
Many Christians point to Deuteronomy 14:22 (wow spell that one with out looking it up) as meaning we should continue to follow Old Testament Tithe Laws to show reverence for The Lord. In my opinion, it does not say tithe to show reverence to the Lord. It says eat the tithe to show reverence to the Lord. According to the New Testament principle, our body is the Lord's Temple that he has chosen for the dwelling of his Holy Spirit. I believe that I revere The Lord by sharing my celebration of my blessings with others in fellowship and when I welcome the presence of the Lord in my heart as I share a meal. I believe that I revere The Lord by giving thanks for the blessing of my meal and by always remembering what his Son did for me. I believe that I should revere The Lord at each and every meal, with every breath I take, not just a few times a year, or every Sunday during communion. And because Jesus reestablished this principle of sharing a meal in fellowship, in the New Testament, I believe I should continue to follow the principle of breaking bread and passing a cup in The Lord's presence to show reverence for The Lord and remembrance of Jesus. I believe that because the Temple Courts no longer exist, that I may have such fellowship and reverence, in my home or wherever I am as long as I welcome the Lord's presence:
p.290-DEUTERONOMY 14:24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his name is so far away), (25)then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. (26)Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. (27)And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
NLT-ROMANS 12:13 When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner, or if they need lodging, for the night.
NLT-HEBREWS 13:2 Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
p.1678-ACTS 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
p.1679-ACTS 2:46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, (47)praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
NLT-LUKE 22:8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, "Go and prepare the Passover meal so we can eat it together.
NLT-1 CORINTHIANS 11:23 For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, (24)and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is given up for you. Do this in remembrance of me". (25)In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it."
p.1765-1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
p.1760-1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
The third Tithe Law given to the Nation of Israel was only to be paid every three years. The principle of this Tithe Law was to provide for the needy, the orphans, the widows, and the less fortunate:
p.290-DEUTERONOMY 14:28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that years produce and store it in your towns, (29)so that the Levites who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
The very next chapter of Deuteronomy explains the Old Testament Law of canceling debt:
p.290-DEUTERONOMY 15:1 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.
Many Christians teach and believe that the Old Laws of Moses were actually canceled at the cross; therefore Christians should not follow the Old Laws, but that Christians should practice the biblical principles of the Old Testament Law of Moses. The only Old Testament Law of Moses principle that I have ever heard any Christian refer to, is the Old Testament principle of giving firstfruits to God, recorded in NEHEMIAH 10:35, therefore we should tithe and give the first 10% of our income to the house of God, recorded in NEHEMIAH 10:37. I have never heard any Christian suggest that we should practice the Old Testament principle sandwiched right between those two verses recorded in NEHEMIAH 10:36:
p.750-NEHEMIAH 10:35 We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crop and of every fruit tree. (36)As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the first born of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the Priests ministering there. (37)Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain, offerings of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.
Perhaps Christians do not follow the Old Testament principle of NEHEMIAH 10:36 because there is no Temple or Levite Priest authorized to perform the ceremony of redeeming the firstborn of our sons as The Bible specifically requires. According to several websites, many Orthodox Jews do not attempt to follow the Old Testament Tithe Laws because the only ones allowed to receive the tithes were the Levite Priests and like us Christians, the Jews do not know who the Levites are. Since the destruction of the Temple in 70A.D., there is no one or no place authorized to receive tithes. Some Jews that follow Old Testament Laws have however created what I call a make-shift ritual for practicing the principle of redeeming the firstborn son. In my opinion the Christian practice of tithing is likewise; a make-shift ritual, for there is no Biblically accurate way possible to follow The Tithe Laws. For those Jews who do not believe in Jesus and therefore practice many of the Old Testament Laws, to create such rituals is quite understandable to me. For those Christians who believe in Jesus and therefore do not believe in following Old Testament Laws to select only one of the 600 and some Old Testament Laws which happens to be only one of several Tithe Laws to create a single ritual for, is in my opinion inappropriate. While I would sure like to follow The Old Testament Law of canceling debt today, there are many Old Testament Laws that I do not want to follow today. I'm certainly glad that I do not need to tear my house down every time I repeatedly find mildew as required in LEVITICUS Chapter 14. I believe that it is that sort of picking and choosing of which Old Testament Laws that Christians choose to follow, and choose not to follow that causes some to label Christians as hypocrites and causes many people to avoid churches, the Bible, and God all together.
PRE MOSAIC LAW-PRINCIPLES & CHRISTIANS
Some Christians teach and believe that Old Testament Laws were actually canceled at the cross and that Christians should not follow Old Testament Laws. But that Christians should give the first 10% of their income because tithing was a Biblical principle prior to the Law of Moses, that because Abram supposedly gave a tenth of his possessions to God, Christians should do the same:
NLT-GENESIS 14:20 And blessed be God Most High, who has helped you conquer your enemies. Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.
I believe that Abram actually gave a tenth of others possessions that Abram and the other 318 trained men recovered:
p.19-GENESIS 14:16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lott and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
I believe that none of the property was Abram's prior to the battle, so Abram refused to possess any of the property after the battle, Abram actually gave 90% of the repossessions back to the original owners. The tenth that Abram gave was out of the possessions of the other people, and that Abram gave on the behalf of the other people as a thank offering to God for blessing the people with freedom:
p.19-GENISIS 14:24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who sent me-to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.
I believe that Abram was indeed quite wealthy. Yet I have found no Biblical record of Abram ever giving any of his possessions to anybody and I certainly have not found any record of Abram giving a tenth of the increase of his flocks and herds. Spoils of War are not included in any Old Testament Tithe Law given to Moses. I believe that to be Biblically accurate and follow this principle of Abram in GENESIS 14, when I see God bless others, I should take a tenth of their possessions and give those possessions to God:
p.17-GENESIS 13:2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.
Some Christians teach and believe that Christians should give the first 10% of their income because tithing was a Biblical principle prior to the Law of Moses, that because Jacob supposedly gave a tenth of his possessions to God at the end of a Journey, Christians should do the same. I believe that Jacob made a deal with God. If God would bless Jacob with clothes, food, safety and his presence on Jacob's journey, then Jacob would give God a tenth. I have found no record that Jacob ever actually followed through with his vow. We do know that Jacob was quite dishonest, as Jacob stole his own brother's birthright according to GENESIS 25, and in GENESIS 27, Jacob deceived his own father to steal his own brother's blessing:
p.43-GENESIS 28:20 Then Jacob made a vow saying, "If God will be with me on this Journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear (21)so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God (22)and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give a tenth.
I believe that to be Biblically accurate and follow this principle of Jacob in GENESIS 28, I should make my own conditions with God (I shudder just thinking about it) and make a list of all the blessings that I would like God to provide for me and then after God blesses me with safety, wealth and health, then I should give God a tenth.
I believe that practicing the principles of Abram and Jacob because they supposedly gave a tenth of their own possessions before the Law of Moses was ever established, would also mean that to be Biblically consistent and accurate I should also practice another Biblical principle practiced before the Law of Moses was ever established. I should rest on the Sabbath, if I am going to follow the principle of Abram then I should certainly follow the principle of God. A principle so significant that violating the Old Testament Law that followed the principle, demanded a punishment of death:
p.3-GENESIS 2:2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. (3)And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
I believe that practicing the principles of Abram and Jacob because they supposedly gave a tenth of their own possessions before the Law of Moses was ever established, would mean that to be Biblically consistent and accurate I should also practice another Biblical principle, practiced by Abram as he was instructed By God, before the Law of Moses was ever established. I should make sure that my son and I are both circumcised. If I am going to follow a principle of Abram such as tithing, that has no record of instruction from God, then I should certainly follow a principle that followed an instruction of God such as circumcision. A principle so significant that when Moses himself violated the everlasting Old Testament command given to Abram, God intended to kill Moses:
p.22-GENESIS 17:12 For the generations to come every male among you must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with your money from a foreigner-those who are not your offspring. (13)Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. (14)Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.
p.90-EXODUS 4:24 At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses, and was about to kill him. (25)But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it. Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me, she said. (26)So the Lord let him alone, (At that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.)
I believe that the purpose and principle of all the Old Testament Tithing Laws was to provide for the widows, orphans, needy, civil servants and those less fortunate, similar to the purpose and principle of what I pay Social Security and Income Taxes for today. The total of the Tithe Laws was approximately 23%, very similar to what the average Australian pays today in Income Tax, but much less than what I as an average American pay in taxes. I realize that my income taxes are not optional, but my Social Security taxes are optional. If I choose to live the faith of the Amish, I am not required to pay over 7-1/2% of my income to provide for the elderly and those who can not work.
DATING IS ESSENTIAL
I believe that if God gave me a command, and then at a later date gives me an opposing command referring to the same principle, then I should follow the later command. For example; in approximately 1450 B.C. (EXODUS 20:5) God stated that he would punish children for the sins of their fathers, then in approximately1407 B.C. (DEUTERONOMY 28:58-59) God stated that he would send plagues, disasters, and illnesses on the descendants of those who broke his laws, then in approximately 571 B.C. (EZEKIEL 18:19-20) God stated that children will not be punished for sins of their fathers. I believe in the words of my Senior Pastor, who told me, "That the dating of EZEKIEL is essential in the understanding of this promise." I believe the same principle should apply to tithing and all the rest of the Old Testament Laws. If God told me to follow all of those Old Laws, and then at a later date, God tells me that all The Old Laws are canceled, and that I should start following The New Laws, then I should follow the later command. And if I violate the later command, I have sinned. I actually believe that all of the Ten Commandments were universal principles that existed as "unwritten laws" of ancient Greece. I also believe that if any ancient principle later becomes a Law of God, then the later status would bear greater significance. And then if that law is later canceled, then that later status would bear greater significance. I also believe that I am instructed to not follow principles of the Old Testament Law in the New Testament:
p.1794-GALATIONS 4:9 But now that you know God-or rather are known by God-how is it you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
p.1814-COLOSSIANS 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
p.1814-COLOSSIANS 2:20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belong to it, do you submit to its rules: (21)Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!
p.1734 ROMANS 3:27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith.
MALACHI & CHRISTIANS
I believe that some of the most common verses of the Bible that are at least slightly stretched to support the application of tithing to Christians are in MALACHI. Some Christians teach and believe that if Christians do not tithe, they are robbing God and they are cursed, but if Christians do tithe they will receive many blessings. Some Christians teach that the storehouse is equated to the church therefore the first 10% of my gross income should be given to my church as my tithe and the rest of my giving is considered an offering that may be given to any other charitable organization worthy of receiving the offering:
p.1481-MALACHI 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, "How do we rob you?" "In tithes and offerings." (9)You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. (10)Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
I believe that through the Prophet MALACHI, God is actually addressing the Nation of Israel specifically the Levite Priests, who were mistreating God's people. God is also addressing those who live under the Law of Moses. If this rebuke is directed at the Levites not the Israelites, then it is hardly directed toward Christians:P
p.1478-MALACHI 1:6 A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the Lord Almighty. It is you, O priests who show contempt for my name.
p.1479-MALACHI 2:1 And now this admonition is for you O priests.
p.1479-MALACHI 2:8 But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi, says the Lord Almighty.
p.1481-MALACHI 4:4 Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.
I believe those who live under the Law are cursed, not Christians who live under Grace:
p.1792-GALATIANS 3:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
I believe that if I choose to and live under the principle of Malachi, and therefore give 10%, I am still cursed, because God said bring the whole tithe. The Hebrew word for tithe is ma'aser which translates to a tenth, and each of the Tithe Laws specified a tenth, however tenth and tithing are not synonymous. The whole tithe was actually closer to 23%. I would also be cursed for choosing to live under this one Old Testament Law of Moses and then choosing not to keep the other 600+ Laws of Moses.
I believe that pour out blessing is referring to making it rain as the principle is commonly used in the Old Testament, which would have provided a better crop. I believe that Malachi is not referring to material or eternal blessings as some teach. I believe it requires at least a slight stretch of scripture to equate the Storehouse to the Church as some teach. I believe it is much more Biblical by its context and more likely to be Sound Doctrine to equate opening the floodgates of heaven to making it rain:
p.1481-MALACHI 3:11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit, says the Lord Almighty.
p.10-GENESIS 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month-on that day all the springs of the deep burst forth, and the floodgates of heaven were opened. (12)And the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.
p.10-GENISIS 8:2 Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky.
I struggle to believe that a Tithe and an Offering were considered separate events, even in the Old Testament Law of Moses. Maybe I am grammatically illiterate, but it appears to me that the two words are used synonymously in the Biblical context of scripture:
p.232 NUMBERS 18:24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: They will have no inheritance among the Israelites. (25)The Lord said to Moses, (26)Speak to the Levites and say to them: When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord's offering. (27)Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. (28)In this way you will also present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites.
NEW TESTAMENT LAWS AND PRINCIPLES ABOUT GIVING
I am finally going to get into what I believe to be some of the New Testament Laws and Principles about giving. The belief and teaching of Jacob is of similar principle to that of Malachi because it teaches us to give to God expecting blessings in return from God. I know that in Malachi God gives us permission to test him. But at a later time he told us something different. Again I believe the dating is essential. I also believe that following the principles of Jacob and Malachi from The Old Testament is a direct violation of many New Testament principles. I believe that giving in order to get, is getting the cart before the horse. If I give looking for blessings in return for what I do, or intend to do, then I believe that my heart is not in the right place. I should give just as I should love, from my heart-UNCONDITIONALLY. If I give looking forward, I may fail to see what God has already done. I believe that God has already blessed me beyond measure; I should give for what God has already done. I should give in praise for all the blessings I have received; healthy family, rewarding career, safe home, wonderful Church, not just the financial or monetary blessings:
p.1746-ROMANS 11:35 Who has ever given to God so that God should repay him?
I believe that there is about as much Biblical support for the idea of Christian Tithing as there is for Christian Blood Sacrifices, Christian Circumcision, Christian Stoning and Christian Sabbath. I believe that the idea of Christian Tithing and the idea of giving the first 10% of our fruits or income to a Church is a man made law or principle. I believe that the only thing Biblically comparable to the Old Testament Tithing Law of Moses and Christian Tithing is the 10% figure, which actually does not fit the Old Testament Law or principle properly as the total percentage of the whole Tithe Law was actually closer to 23%. I believe that to follow the man made principle of Christians giving 10% of firstfruits to a Church; I would need to violate some Biblical New Testament Principles about what I should do first. I believe that I should give my firstfruits to my family. If I say my firstfruits are reserved for God or a Church rather than family, I believe that I am doing as the Pharisees did and calling my money Corban, thus invalidating the word of God and that I am worse than an Infidel:
NLT-1 TIMOTHY 5:4 But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show Godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God very much.
p.1828-1 TIMOTHY 5:7 Give the people these instructions too, so that no one will be open to blame. (8)If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
p.1552-MARK 7:11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: Whatever help you might have otherwise received from me is Corban (that is a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. (13)thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.
I believe that, even if I do follow the Old Testament Tithe Principle and gave 10% of my firstfruits to the Church or any other charity and still had more to give, and choose not to give to those I see in need, I would be violating the Biblical instructions and principles of the New Testament, the Law of Christ:
p.1796-GALATIONS 6:10 Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.
NLT-GALATIONS 6:2 Carry each others burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (3)If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.
p.1580-LUKE 3:11 John answered, the man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.
p.1861-JAMES 2:15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food, (16)If one of you says to him, Go, I wish you well, keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it.
p.1870-1 JOHN 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (18)Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
p.1830-1 TIMOTHY 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
p. 1678 ACTS 2:45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
I believe that unless I give all I have to the poor and live like Mother Teresa, I fall short of the teachings of Christ. There is no Biblical record of Jesus ever instructing anyone to give to a Church. Jesus specifically instructed others to give to the poor.:
p.1622-LUKE 21:3 I tell you the truth, he said, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. (4)All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.
p.1616-LUKE 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, You still lack one thing, Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.
To be sure that my heart is in the right place and to be sure that my motives are pure and unconditional, I believe that as much as possible, all of my giving should be done anonymously. I should never discuss my giving with anyone except my spouse and the Holy Spirit:
NLT-MATTHEW 6:1 Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. (2)When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do-blowing trumpets in the synagogues and the streets to call attention to their acts of charity! (3)But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. (4)Give your gifts in private, and your Father who sees everything will, reward you.
In the same way; if I measure the percentage of my giving out to be 10% of anything. How can I be sure that my motive for giving is not an attempt to gain righteousness by practicing the principle of the Old Testament Tithing Law of Moses. I believe that if I give to comply with Church teachings or Church Membership expectations, I am giving under compulsion. I believe that I better follow the New Testament Biblical principles of giving, by giving according to what the Holy Spirit lays on my heart. I believe that I also better follow the New Testament Biblical principles by giving what I believe I can afford to give. Not out of compulsion or obligation. I believe that the more freely I give the more obedient I am to God's later commands. 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Is a common verse used by some Pastors and Televangelists to pressure Christians into giving beyond their means. They commonly overlook the very next verse and a few other significant New Testament verses:
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
p.1783-2 CORINTHIANS 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
I believe that for all I do, especially giving and serving, that I should always prayerfully seek the authorization of Jesus, get to know Jesus and then follow what is written in my heart, by the Holy Spirit and sow to please the Spirit:
NLT-MATTHEW 7:22 On judgment day, many will tell me lord, lord. We prophesied in your name, we cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name (23)But I will reply, I never new you. Go away, the things you did were unauthorized.
p.1778-2 CORINTHIANS 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, The result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
p.1796-GALATIANS 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.
p.1746-ROMANS 11:35 Who has ever given to God so that God should repay him?
I believe that Apostle Paul went out of his way to make sure that the Christians did not feel compulsion, pressure, obligation or cursed by their giving. Apostle Paul did not want Christians to feel as though their giving was wrung out of them. In this way I believe that Church Pastors, Televangelists and any other Charitable organizations claiming to be Christian should practice this Biblical principle clearly established in the New Testament:
p.1766-1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
AMP-2 CORINTHIANS 9:5 That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brethren to go to you before I do and make arrangements in advance for this bountiful, promised gift of yours, so that it may be ready, not as an extortion [wrung out of you] but as a generous and willing gift.
NLT-2 CORINTHIANS 9:5 So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
p.1774-1 CORINTHIANS 16:1 Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. (2)On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
p.1783-2 CORINTHIANS 8:13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 8:21 For we are taking great pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
GIVE TIME
Most of the teachings, sermons and articles that I have read or heard about giving, are all about giving money, while showing much less recognition or acknowledgment for the sacrifice of time. I believe that time is a commodity more precious than money, for once time is spent it is irreplaceable except by the grace of God. I know of many wonderful people on very meager incomes who may not offer generous financial support of worthy charities, but they give very generously of their time. I know of teachers with the credentials to gain very lucrative employment, but choose to teach at lower paying private or inner-city schools because that is where their heart leads them. In my opinion most civil servants such as Military, Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue, Elders and Ministers, give fruits of labor worth much more than their pay. I do not believe that any person who gives lovingly and generously of their time should be made to feel cursed or guilty for not giving 10% of their gross income. I believe that the New Testament places a significant emphasis on the principle of giving time:
p.1747-ROMANS 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
p.1491-MATTHEW 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (16)In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.
p.1869-1 PETER 4:10 Each one of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
p.1799-EPHESIANS 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us in advance.
p.1861-JAMES 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
p.1747-ROMANS 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. (7)If it is serving, let him serve, if it is teaching let him teach, (8)if it is encouraging, let him encourage, if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously, if it is leadership, let him govern diligently, if it is showing mercy let him do it cheerfully.
NLT- 1 CORINTHIANS 12:7 A spiritual gift is given to each one of us as a means for helping the entire Church.
I believe that when Apostle Paul writes about “sowing” in 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6, he is referring to giving as he writes about in verse 7:
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
I believe that when Apostle Paul writes about “sowing” in GALATIONS 6:8, he is referring to serving as he talks about doing in verse 9:
GALATIANS 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.(9)Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Again, I believe that whether it be time or money, my first fruits should go to my immediate family. I believe strongly in the words of my Senior Pastor who in a recent sermon said, "We strongly believe that yours and my ministry begins in the home. Absolutely nothing, nothing in the marketplace, nothing at church, there is no humanitarian effort that you can involve yourself, that supersedes yours and my personal responsibility to first serve our families in our home." I do believe that if I am providing my family with luxuries, and then find it unaffordable to give back to God for the blessings that he has given to me and my family, then I am neglecting God. It can often be a very difficult balancing act to decide when, where and to whom my efforts should be directed. I believe that the only way to be sure that I am doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right people-is to prayerfully seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
FAITH IN GOD & HIS WORD - NOT MAN OR FLESH
When I first started this research about Old Testament Laws, especially Christian Tithing, I could not help but feel a little guilty for questioning the teachings of my church. I was even scolded by some members of my Home Group. My Senior Pastor however, encouraged me to challenge every scripture that is used in service, to be a Berean and referred me to ACTS 17:11:
p.1707-ACTS 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
I now believe that the Bible clearly teaches me to maintain my faith in God and the Holy Spirit, not man. I should always do my best to follow Sound Doctrine. If I place my spiritual faith in a King, Televangelist, Home Group Leader, Elder or Senior Pastor, then I am overlooking Old Testament principles that are clearly reestablished in the New Testament:
p.419-1 SAMUEL 8:14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. (15)He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. (16)Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. (17)He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. (18)When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day.
p.1195-JEREMIAH 17:5 This is what the Lord says: Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
p.1779-2CORINTHIANS 4:1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not loose heart. (2)Rather we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
p.1834-2 TIMOTHY 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.
p.1837-TITUS 2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
There are many Christian authors and reputable scholars that call teachings of Christian Tithing heresy, scams, lies, extortion, coercion, oxymoronic, brainwashing, cultic and sin. I believe that most who teach Christian Tithing are simply teaching what they have been taught, which has been handed down over the generations. I believe that such teaching has been started by and carried on by good men who love God, and want to do right, but have allowed their strong desire to successfully pursue the good causes they represent, to cloud their judgment a bit. I believe that some of the teachings about Christian Tithing may be intentionally manipulative and deceptive and may have inappropriate motives such as greed, ego and power:
p.1834-2 TIMOTHY 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (4)They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
p.1752-ROMANS 16:17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. (18)For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people.
p.1827-1 TIMOTHY 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (2)Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
p.TITUS-1:10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. (11)They must be silenced, they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach-and for the sake of dishonest gain.
p.1873-2 PETER 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. (2)Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. (3)In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
HISTORY OF TITHING
I'd like to briefly share what I believe to be some of the accurate recorded history that I could find of tithing, from the dawning of creation to the modern church. During the nearly 2000 years from the time of Adam and Eve until the time of Abram and Jacob there is no Biblical record of Adam, Cain, Abel or Job following a Tithe Command or principle. Though they all gave blood sacrifices, there is no mention of any of them ever giving a tithe or a tenth of anything to anybody. There is no Biblical record of Abram or Jacob ever following a Tithe Command or actually giving a tenth of their own possessions to anybody. Nearly 2500 years goes by before the Law of Moses provides a Biblical record of any sort of actual tithing in cooperation of a Command or Law. Now another 2000 years have gone by since The Old Testament Law of Moses ended with no Biblical record of a Tithe Command ever given to anybody. The first record I could find of Christians Tithing to a church occurred over 500 years after the Old Testament Law of Moses ended.
According to The Catholic Encyclopedia,
"As the Church expanded and various institutions arose, it became necessary to make laws which would insure the proper and permanent support of clergy. The payment of tithes was adopted from the Old Law…The earliest positive legislation on the subject seems to be contained in the letter of the bishops assembled at Tours in 567 and the [canons] of the Council of Macon in 585."
If the Catholic Church made up Tithing Laws, that are not Biblically accurate, perhaps that is why it was illegal to own a Bible in Roman Catholic Europe for nearly 400 years and why Catholics are instructed to allow only the Pope and Bishops to interpret the Bible. And perhaps that is why I have never seen or heard of a Catholic Church with Bibles in the pews.
According to the book, "In Pursuit Of the Almighty's Dollar," by James Hudnut-Beumier, the Dean of Vanderbilt University:
(1750) Community funds (taxes) built the church.
(1776) As the revolution began, ten of the original thirteen colonies had some form of tax supported religion.
(1791) Government support gradually ended after The Bill Of Rights.
(1833) With the final elimination of commonwealth support for the Congregational Church, every religious group was left to its own resources. Quaker, Baptist and Methodist ministers tended to stress voluntary contributions and worked without set expectations regarding pay, receiving the freewill offerings of their hearers instead. Voluntary contributions became the NORM in American churches shortly after the start of the nineteenth century.
(1873) Alexander L Hogshead and John W Pratt, Presbyterians wrote; A tithe of ten per cent is God's everlasting minimum expectation. Tithing became an attractive source of funding to the degree that clergy could convince themselves and others that it was a spiritual law and advocates of tithing were not prepared to accept anything less then a tenth. Pratt later emphasized that tithing from Genesis 14 was prior to the law and must have been in compliance with pre-existing divine ordinance. In a later essay, Pratt wrote about robbing God, storehouse/church giving and overflowing blessing.
(1878) The Ulster Prize was given for an essay advocating voluntary plans of support.
Conclusion: The idea of tithing did not even emerge as a discussion in American churches before the 1870s. It is a relatively new doctrine.
According to an on line article by Robert K. Sanders:
(1861) James White, Founder of The Seventh Day Adventist Church wrote a rejection of the ten percent plan. The SDA Church was using the Systematic Benevolence Plan to support the salary of its ministers. It totaled 1 percent of one's total income.
(1876) Dudley M. Canright wrote a series of articles emphasizing Malachi as The Bible Plan of supporting ministry. After Canright urged the SDA to adopt his plan, James White and his Wife, SDA pioneer Ellen G White wrote on how those who did not abide by the Tithing Plan would be condemned and loose their heavenly treasure.
I doubt that it is possible to prove with Biblical or other credible documentation exactly where or when tithing first became a custom of the Church. Without such proof, all assumptions would be less than "Sound Doctrine."
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF WHAT?
Over the last few years, since I first heard my church do a sermon on Tithing, I have heard numerous Pastors, Elders and Home Group Members give descriptions on exactly how I as a Christian am supposed to tithe. I have read articles and books by several nationally known Christian ministers. I have also written to some nationally known Websites with a few questions on the subject of Tithing. I have yet to receive the same info from any 2 people. It would seem to me that if the principle of Christians Tithing were of such Sound Doctrine, it would not be so hard to find the same teachings. Though I have met several good Christians that actually do not follow and agree with their Church teachings about Tithing, I have met few willing to say so openly. With so many different teachings on Tithing, it is really quite confusing and hard to feel confident in most of them. Many Tithe promoters teach that Christians should give 10% of their gross income to their church, claiming that under the Old Testament Tithe Law, God's people were to give a tenth of their crops. Well if the people planted 100 bushels but only 70 bushels survived to be taken home, were they to Tithe 10 bushels or 7 bushels. A nationally known minister writes in his book that business people should give a tithe (10 percent) of their profit to God as an act of worship. I have heard a Minister of a Church that teaches and expects gross income tithing of its members; tell his congregation that they should give the first 10% of their income to the church as he gives 10% of his taxable income. In my opinion, business profit, taxable income and salaried or hourly gross income are hardly the same thing. Many business people take the cost of company vehicles, fuel, lunch meetings and other expenses out of gross revenue as business expenses to avoid showing taxable profit. Many ministers get perks such as housing allowances, company vehicles, discounted or free private children's education, discounted or free health care, all expense paid trips to exotic locations for pastoral training and a credit card for business meals and other miscellaneous business costs. To be consistent, if I am the average hourly or salaried church member sitting in the pew, I should deduct the expenses of vacations that include any work related site seeing or activities, all work related education, car payments, car insurance, gas, oil, auto repairs, rent or house payments, lunches during work, work shoes and clothes and then tithe from the remainder of my income. Some churches that expect me as a member to give 10% of my gross income to the church, also teach that I should follow the 10-10-80 rule. I should give 10% of my gross income to the church, save 10% and have fun with the remaining 80%. This must be some kind of strange new math, because if I bring home far less than 70%, how can I begin to have fun with 80%? If a Church issues specific monetary expectations of Members, that is similar to having Membership Dues. Many Churches are a 501c 3 non-profit institution. The U.S. Government considers it illegal for such a non-profit institution to collect Membership Dues. According to the principle of the New Testament (2 CORINTHIANS 8:13), Paul's collections from the churches were intended to achieve equality, the collections were not intended to create hardship for the givers while the receivers had life easy. I believe that some Church Leaders andTelevangelists are living much better off than their trusting followers who are depriving their own families to support lavish lifestyles of those with a flattering tongue.
MY CHURCH EXPERIENCE
At the encouragement of my Wife, I first started attending our families' Church August 25th 2002. It was the opening day of the newly constructed Worship Center. I was totally WOWED!!! The building was beautiful. The sermon and the music were awesome! I think the thing that wowed me the most was the people. Everybody shined. There were so many people enthusiastically, lovingly serving in so many various areas. The place just clicked like a well oiled machine. I felt so warmly welcomed. I did not feel like a stranger at all. I figured all the wow would wear off after the newness wore off. A short time after I first started attending our Church, at my Wife's encouragement, I agreed to join her and the kids to attend a Vacation Bible School. It was a Friday evening after I had just worked a long week out of town. I was not very enthusiastic about the idea, but I wanted to be with the family. So I drove us to our Church and parked in the parking lot. I got out of the car to walk to the Church with the family, and our kids took off running across the lot to the door. Again I was wowed. I told my wife that when I was our kids' age, my parents had to drag me to the door of the Church and our kids were actually running. Right then, I knew in my heart that we were in the right place. Since then, between Baptisms and Summer Camps; God through our Church has continued to do more for our children then I can ever begin to repay and I will be eternally grateful. Our Church does many things that I am very proud of, such as support the County Crisis Pregnancy Center, Habitat For Humanity and Missions from Katrina to Panama, the local community and all over the world. Sunday attendance has nearly tripled since we first started attending our Church, so it must be doing a lot of things right. I am pleased to say that because of our Church, our Children already know the Bible much better than I did at 40 years old, and I am still waiting for the Wow of our new Church to wear off.
As much as I love our Church and our Church Family, the more I study the Bible, the more I could not help but disagree with some of our Church's past teachings on Tithing. I am certain that our Church loves God and genuinely wants to do what is best to serve him through the Church, however any attempt to obligate or pressure people to give money or time makes me feel very uncomfortable.
I have a booklet that our Church printed several years ago that says, "We encourage one another to prayerfully consider working toward giving at least 10 percent of our gross income." It also says, "We encourage you to capitalize on the strategy of committing to regular giving. Please note that we consider your personal giving to be a matter between you and God."
A more recent Church Program Offering Statement read:
"Each week we share in an offering. We believe those who are members of the Church should support its work by giving to God as an act of worship & obedience. If you are not a member, you are under no obligation to give. Please do as you feel the Spirit leading you." I did not understand why I as a member should be expected to give any differently than non-members. Why should I as a member, not be welcomed to do as the Holy Spirit leads me? I believe that if non-members are openly invited to follow the Holy Spirit, some members who are present and aware of the invitation but not included in the invitation may feel slightly discouraged or unwelcome to also follow the Holy Spirit. I can not help but wonder if some attend a Church for years and avoid becoming members to avoid the obligation of giving and to continue following the Holy Spirit. I have heard several people stand in front of a Church at the time of collection and say that members were obligated to give tithes and offerings. As the Bible tells us repeatedly in The New Testament, to encourage others (1THESSALONIANS 5:11, HEBREWS 3:13, 2 TIMOTHY 4:2) I sure prefer the word encourage. The word obligate just makes me shudder.
On September 28, 2008 my Church Program Offering Statement read:
Each week we share in an offering. We believe God has blessed each of us & are joyful about participating in His work by giving back to God as an act of worship and obedience. Please give as you feel the Spirit leading you.
I am so proud of my Church for changing that Offering Statement. For removing the separation between members and non-members, for inviting all to follow the Spirit and for removing the implication of obligation toward members.
Over the years, on several occasions, I have heard Church Elders explain how they use prayerful consideration for many things from Missions to choosing new Pastors to buying new buildings to planning the growth of the Church. I believe that all people should be taught and encouraged to do the same regardless of membership. I believe that everybody, member, non-member and even those who do not attend any Church, likely benefit by the good being done by Churches in their community, and should support that good by sharing their talents, time, gifts and money as the Holy Spirit leads. I believe that the more people would immerse themselves in the Holy Spirit, the more people the Church may find qualified to be future Elders.
During a January 2005 sermon, our Senior Pastor said that he expects those attending the Church to discern what is being done around the Church with good practical eyes, to question what is going on behind the scenes, to ask what are they doing with the money. More recently, during collection people have stood in front of the Church explaining some of the Ministries being supported through the Church. In my opinion, the more the attendees of the Church are aware of all the great things the Church is doing, the more encouraged they will be, to prayerfully consider how they can be supportive of all the good being done by their Church.
FAITH BASED
In my opinion some Churches have gradually evolved from using New Testament encouragement to using Old Testament obligation. I have heard Elders and Pastors say many times that the Church should be "Faith Based". I have heard Pastors and others at Church say that we should tithe, not because we live under the Old Testament Law but to follow the Biblical principles. I believe that giving from the heart is an Old Testament principle clearly reestablished in the New Testament. I believe that if any Christian Church is truly "Faith Based" it will place its' faith and trust in the will of God. If God is pleased with the fruit of the ministry, the intentions and accomplishments of a Church, then he will send the Holy Spirit to lead the hearts and minds of the people, member or otherwise, to provide for that work. If members and non-members fail to prayerfully follow the direction of the Holy Spirit, how can the people adequately receive the message from the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit calls the people up, the Holy Spirit just might get a busy signal.
When God asked Moses to build a place of worship, the people were encouraged to give as their heart prompted them:
p.122-EXODUS 25:1 The Lord said to Moses, (2)Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man as his heart prompts him to give.
p.122-EXODUS 25:8 Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
If a Church asked people to give as their heart prompts them, to build and maintain a place of worship, the people just might give so much that it will be necessary to ask them to stop giving just as Moses had to do:
p.141-EXODUS 36:6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, (7)because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.
This might not be the best place for this paragraph but here it goes anyway. It is Sept. 5th, 2008, early afternoon. I have just got done working through the night. I have been without sleep for over 30 hours. I have been lying in my bed on a cloudy rainy afternoon unable to get some strongly needed and desired sleep. Sound familiar. If you go back to page 1 of this Chapter, you will notice that I was experiencing very similar circumstances nearly 1 year ago when I first started on this Chapter 2 of My Systematic Theology. I guess I feel like I am coming full circle. I could feel the Holy Spirit stirring thoughts in my mind and beliefs in my heart about some things I needed to say in this part of this Chapter. A few days ago I met with my Senior Pastor to discuss this Chapter. We had a wonderful discussion. He had noticed that I had used the word synonymous back on page 6, in a way that was not quite understandable to him. Perhaps that was because the word was not my word. I had gotten it from the online publication of an excellent well known Pastor. I barely know what the word means and I should not have used it. Do not bother looking; it is not there any more. Many of the beliefs that I have shared within this Chapter have come from numerous teachers of Christianity. I am writing this now because I could feel the Holy Spirit telling me to say a few things in my own words from my own heart. Actually I pray that these are God's words, that I am just working the keyboard. I guess I want everybody to be blessed with the same kind of relationship that I and many others share with the Holy Spirit. I believe that there are some of us at Church, that go up front at the time of Invitation and state that we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and accept him as our Lord and Savior. And then we are Baptized by immersion in water. And then, because the Church tells us so, we believe we are saved. And I believe that for some, because the Church tells us about God, we know about God, but some of us do not know God. I believe that by immersing ourselves in the Holy Spirit, we truly know God, rather than know about God. I believe that it is that relationship with the Holy Spirit that may guide us through all of our days and ways. GALATIANS 6:8 tells us that, if we sow to please the Spirit we will reap eternal life. I believe that we need do a little digging to sow. I have recently heard Pastors say, that they are not the Holy Spirit, they we can not tell us how and where to dig, and that we need to prayerfully consult with the Holy Spirit to learn that. I believe that our sowing is one of the greatest opportunities to cultivate our relationship with the Holy Spirit. By consulting with the Holy Spirit about how and where to sow, we are more likely to please the Holy Spirit and build that priceless precious relationship that is our gift from Jesus and know we are saved. I believe that some Churches immerse with water and sprinkle with the Holy Spirit. By immersing all believers in the Holy Spirit, we may better fulfill our mission to evangelize the lost.
CONCLUSION
I'm not saying that Churches and Ministers do not need support. They do, and most of them, such as the Ministers at our WRCC deserve every penny they are receiving and then some, they truly do so much for so many that I strongly believe that the fruits of their labor are worth much more than their pay:
NLT-GALATIONS 6:6 Those who are taught the word of God should help their teachers by paying them.
You may think that I have spent all this time, just looking for excuses not to tithe or give. I feel a little guilty discussing our giving, because the Bible tells us to do our good deeds in secret (MATTHEW 6:1). But actually, when the Church first did that sermon on Tithing, my Wife and I went home and put a pencil to all of our charitable giving, and at that time it was slightly over 10% of our income, so at the time we started giving a little less. Currently I do not know what our percentage is, or what our total is. I do know that we constantly prayerfully consult with the Holy Spirit on how we can give more time and money.
As long as I have been attending my Church, some of their past preachings and teachings of Tithing have been the only thing I have found any significant disagreement with. Like I have said several times before, I never want to be divisive of my Church. My disagreements written about in this Chapter Two of My Systematic Theology, are not intended to be a protest of any kind. I just found it difficult to sit and dutifully nod my head as though I agreed with and followed my Church's past teachings on Tithing, when I did not agree. I believe that to do so would be a lie. In ACTS 5, Ananias and Saphira were put to death for lying to the Holy Spirit about their giving. All of my writings in My Systematic Theology are only intended to honestly state what I believe and why I believe it. Regardless of what my Church preaches or teaches about Tithing in the future, I will just consider any disagreement that I have to be a disputable matter that I will not allow to interfere with my relationship with my Church.
I am not the sort of person that has a problem with every discussion about money during Church. In fact, I fully support all teachings, discussions and sermons about finances that are Biblically SOUND DOCTRINE. Recently our Senior Pastor gave an extraordinary sermon about finances. He told us there is something unbiblical about a Church pouring on guilt to get us to give more, serve more, participate in more stuff. He explained that God does not need anything from us financially, but His word is abundantly clear what he would like for us in regard to our finances. He also explained many of the hazards, risks, and Biblical problems of debt. I totally agreed with and appreciated his entire sermon. I believe that in many ways debt is Biblically wrong. I also believe that any money I spend on debt will only reduce what I can afford to make better use of by helping those less fortunate. Our Senior Pastor closed his sermon by telling us, that what God wants for us more than anything else is to have an intimate relationship with Him. I believe that an intimate relationship with God may be achieved by immersing myself in the Holy Spirit. By allowing the Holy Spirit to guide all my ways. Including my financial ways.
During a 10-12-08 sermon, our Senior Pastor presented the question of how much do we give back to God? Should we give 10% of gross income or 10% of net income? He explained that these are some questions that have been a major source of controversy in evangelical circles. He described how since April 2003, he had done at least 8 sermons on Malachi 3:10. "Bring the whole Tithe into the Storehouse." The Storehouse being the place where we receive our Spiritual nourishment. He explained that back in February, someone had pointed out to him how some people do not have 10% to give. The Senior Pastor admitted that though Malachi 3:10 is a great Old Testament passage, the truth was that he had unintentionally neglected what the New Testament standard on giving is. He went on to say, "The New Testament has provided you and I with a completely new standard." He pointed out that according to the New Testament, whatever we give is acceptable as long as we give it cheerfully. We should each decide in our own heart how much to give. Not what the preacher says, not what's written in the bulletin. This trusting should be between us and God alone and also our Spouse if we are married. This journey should not start unless we have prayed and we really feel like we have been given permission from God.
I can not tell you how moved I was by this sermon. I totally support the new direction the Senior Pastor is presenting on this subject of giving. I can not tell you how PROUD I am of him for having the courage to present ideas that are so different from what has been previously established within my Church. My heart is so touched to know that my Church has the leadership of a man that chooses to carefully put "SOUND DOCTRINE" first, regardless of the common practice of many other Churches. I also feel so blessed to know that my Church is led by a man humble enough to admit that he does not know it all, willing to still open his heart and mind and be teachable. I believe it is difficult to question the motives of a man who puts The Almighty God and His Word first, rather than the not so almighty $.
As I recently attended a Men's Bible Study, I found it a little concerning that several long time Christians of our Church explained that they did not understand what the Holy Spirit is. I believe that in order for my Pastor's new teachings on giving from the heart to properly support the Church, the Church may want to focus more teaching on opening the heart to receive the messages being sent by God through the Holy Spirit.
As I read and hear all of the various teachings about whether or not Old Testament Tithe Laws or any of the other 600+ Old Testament Laws apply to Christians, I can't help but ask myself a few questions:
1. I believe it is wrong to follow Old Testament Laws, so how do I practice the principle of an Old Testament Law without following the Old Testament Law?
2. If the New Testament Law says anyone who fails to provide for his family first has denied the faith and is worse than a non-believer and has nullified the word of God. Isn't it saying that I am a non-believer in Jesus? Isn't the same New Testament Law telling me that by practicing The Old Testament Tithing Law of Moses that my beliefs and actions are actually denying Christ?
3. Some Christians teach and believe that the crucifixion of Jesus ended only the Blood Sacrifice Laws for Christians and that the rest of the Old Testament Laws still apply to Christians. If that is so, why do Christians teach that the "Turn the Other Cheek Law" of MATTHEW 5:39cancels or prevails over the "Eye for an Eye-Tooth for a Tooth Law" of LEVITICUS 24:20? As my Senior Pastor said in a recent Sunday sermon, "Jesus initiated a new and healthier system in the New Testament." Is the LEVITCUS "Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth Law" considered to be a Blood Sacrifice Law? If I wish to be Biblically consistent and accurate, shouldn't I allow all the New Testament Laws of giving from the heart without compulsion to cancel or prevail over all obligatory Old Testament Tithe Laws of giving in ways that are currently Biblically impossible?
4. Are non-members of a church encouraged to remain non-members because they are encouraged to give as the Holy Spirit leads them, while members are pressured, expected and obligated to give 10% of their gross income?
5. How many good Christians who truly follow the greatest Commands according to Christ, of loving God and loving others are made to feel cursed, unwelcome and guilty because they are not blessed with the financial stability to follow a Church teaching of Old Testament Tithe Law of Moses?
6. How many of those same good Christians who may not be blessed with the financial stability to offer 10% of their gross income to any charity, but give lovingly, abundantly and unconditionally of their time to the Church are then taught to feel cursed, guilty or unwelcome in church or heaven?
7. How many of those same good Christians, one day carefully study the Bible and learn Sound Doctrine for themselves, then realize that they have been at least slightly misled and emotionally manipulated into following Old Testament Tithing Law of Moses and may have actually violated some New Testament principles of giving, then decide to stop giving all together to the Church that misled them?
8. How many of those same good Christians then leave the Church, or worse yet, leave God?
In closing, I believe the New Testament is quite clear about the following:
· The more I give to any who appear to be needy or are otherwise less fortunate than I; the more obedient I am to God's later commands of the New Testament.
· God is pleased with all giving, from the heart, as directed by the Holy Spirit, regardless of how much or what percentage I give to a Church.
· There is very little if any scriptural support or guidelines for giving to a Church, Televangelists or any other modern ministry.
· If I am aware of others who need financial assistance, moral support, or help with chores or services especially my immediate family 1TIMOTHY 5:4-7 and MARK 7:11, then my Church Family GALATIONS 6:8; I should prayerfully, humbly, covertly, provide to the best of my ability without making them go through the embarrassment of asking for help.
· Whether I am tipping a restaurant server, hotel housekeeper, paper boy, mail carrier, paying a babysitter, buying Girl Scout cookies, giving gifts to my Pastors, even giving blood; all giving of money, time or talents generously from my heart with a love for giving pleases God.
· If I feel led by the Holy Spirit to Tithe or follow any Old Testament Laws in some form or fashion, then I should obey that instruction.
· As the opening line of the Carrie Underwood song "Small" says, "What you got if you ain't got love, the kind that you just want to give away." I believe that no amount of giving will make up for a lack of love.
p.1769-1CORINTHIANS If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
In a recent sermon our Senior Pastor gave an excellent explanation of several signs and recent news events that indicate that the end of time may be very near and that Jesus may very well return within our lifetime. It reminded me of how precious time is. Do me a favor. Take a deep breath. Now let it out real slow. That deep breath we just took was just by the Grace of God. It could have very well been our last. We all know love ones and acquaintances who are lost. Regardless of when Jesus returns, we never know when that last breath will come, and then it will be too late to save others. That is why I believe it is so important for us to evangelize as many people as possible as soon as possible. Perhaps we should be less concerned about pressing Old Testament Laws on Christians as the Pharisees did in ACTS 15, and spend less time writing papers about Tithing and Old Testament Laws. Perhaps we should focus our concerns on writings, discussions and teachings that inspire the lost to be saved, and inspire those good Christians that are already saved to work harder and smarter to save others.
By TIM LAFEVER
REVISED 2-24-10
Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my Web Site.
As I was laying in our very dark bedroom a few minutes ago. I was praying as I do on at least a daily basis for the following:
1. Our parents and their loved ones.
2. The Senior Pastor of our Church and our Church Family.
3. The leader of our Home Group and our Home Group family.
4. Our President and all the soldiers that are fighting against evil.
5. Our sisters and their families.
6. All the friends, family and strangers that I can think of that are dealing with illnesses, injuries, or struggles.
7. Our home.
8. My wife, our kids, the dog, and myself.
This morning, as I some times do late at night, I was also praying to God that I would fall back to sleep. I nearly always fall right back to sleep. Instead, thoughts started racing through my mind and beliefs started churning in my heart. My eyes became increasingly awake, so I decided to get up and record some of my thoughts.
A few years ago the Senior Pastor of our Christian Church did a sermon on Tithing. Since then I have had occasional restless nights on the subject. I felt very uncomfortable with the idea of pressuring people to give. At the time the Bible was quite new to me, so I struggled between being a blind follower of what my Church was teaching and pursuing Sound Doctrine. I would frequently get up late at night and study the Bible, go online to Biblical websites or read Christian articles that I had recently received in the mail. Almost each and every time I would stumble directly onto info about the questions that were keeping me awake. Since that sermon I have spent an extraordinary amount of time studying and praying about the subject of Tithing. I believe God's presence has been waking me in the middle of the night and guiding the majority of my research.
If you have read my statements in Chapter One, The Basics, then you are aware that I just started reading the Bible about 5 years ago, and so my knowledge of the Bible and my beliefs may be a little immature for a 40 some year old man. If you read the rest of this Chapter 2, you will quickly realize that I did not finish this the night I started it. And I realize that if it had not been for that Tithing Sermon and the will of God, I would not have near the Biblical knowledge that I have acquired in such a short time, to write a paper nearly 30 pages long.
My beliefs about whether Tithing or any of the Old Testament Laws apply to Christians are at least a little different from what many Christian Churches currently teach, and a little different from what many Christians teach and believe.
I have had some rather heated discussions with some of our Home Group Members about the two subjects. As I said in Chapter One, I never want to be divisive of my Church Family or my Home Group Family. Therefore I may never share this Chapter of my beliefs with others. However I do believe that by organizing my thoughts and beliefs on paper, that I may be better prepared to share them with others if I ever feel led by the Holy Spirit to do so. I also believe that by putting my beliefs on paper, I may lose a little less sleep and be at least a little more at peace in my heart until the Holy Spirit leads me to write about another topic.
As in Chapter One, these writings are not intended to be teachings, or change anybodies heartfelt beliefs. I will be stating my beliefs and attempting to back them up with Sound Doctrine. All Scripture quoted in this Chapter will be from the NIV Bible translation unless otherwise stated. The page numbers will be of my giant print Bible.
I believe that both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach me to give generously:
p.291-DEUTERONOMY 15:10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart, then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
p.989-PROVERBS 11:25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
p.1007-PROVERBS 22:9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
p.1830-1 TIMOTHY 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to share. (19)In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
I believe that both the Old Testament and New Testament teach me that greed is a very serious sin. I believe that greed is evidence of the absence of a generous heart:
p.996-PROVERBS 15:27 A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live
p.1018-PROVERBS 28:25 A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
p.1758-1 CORINTHIANS 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived: Nether the sexually immoral not idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders (10)not thieves not the greedy nor drunkards not slanderers will inherit the kingdom of God.
p.1526-MATTHEW 23:25 Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence.
p.1604-LUKE 12:15 Then he said to them, Watch out. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
p.1802-EPHESIANS 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
p.1814-COLOSSIANS 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
p.1870-1 PETER 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money but eager to serve.
SOUND DOCTRINE
Before I go much farther I will attempt to define Sound Doctrine. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Sound as: free from flaw, defect, decay, error, fallacy, or misapprehension. The dictionary in the back of my Bible defines Doctrine as: teachings or beliefs about God. I believe that Doctrine or teachings and beliefs about God may be considered "Sound" if they are supported by the Holy Scriptures. The more often Scripture repeats a principle, the more I believe such "Doctrine" may be considered "Sound". When two different "Doctrines" disagree or conflict with each other, the "Doctrine" supported by the greater preponderance of Holy Scripture, I believe may be considered to be more likely Sound Doctrine and the truth. I do believe that the red print makes studying the Bible more interesting. I do not believe that the color of print has any affect on the preponderance of Scripture. The black print is what? The word of God, according to Man. The red print is what? The word of God through Jesus, according to man. All scripture has gone through several different languages, interpretations, and translations. Unless I was actually there, to witness for my self, what was actually said, I do not know exactly what was said. I do not consider Doctrine that is stretched, assumed, presupposed, implied, anticipated, denoted or equated to be Sound. I believe that if one Bible Translation has significantly different verse wording than many other Bible translations of the same verse, then that unique verse should be considered weak:
p.1837-TITUS 2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
p. 1779-2 CORINTHIANS Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not loose heart. (2)Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
p.1833-1 TIMOTHY 3:16 All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
p.1662-JOHN 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (24)He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
p.1659-JOHN 12:49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.
I believe that others should not blindly believe anything that is written here, or anything that is taught by anybody else for that matter. I believe that I should not rely on a Televangelists, Senior Pastor, Home Group Leader, Website or any body else to feed me Doctrine. I should be a self feeder on Gods Word every day, not just Sunday. I believe that I should examine all of God's Word entirely, both Old Testament and New Testament and prayerfully consider in my own heart what the truth is:
p.1707-ACTS 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
OLD TESTAMENT LAW & CHRISTIANS
Later in this Chapter I will try to explain my beliefs about Christians and Tithing. First I would like to try to explain my beliefs about whether Old Testament Laws apply to Christians.
I have seldom if ever heard any Christian claim that all 600+ Laws of the Old Testament apply to Christians. There are many Christians that teach that the crucifixion of Jesus only ended some of the Laws like the sacrificial Laws. I have heard some of these same Christians claim that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill them. They point out the following verse:
p.1491-MATTHEW 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
I believe that Jesus did come to fulfill the Law. The whole Law. I believe that Jesus came to fulfill ISAIAH 53, which preceded his birth by hundreds of years. As Jesus was born and lived, I believe that he did fulfill the Law perfectly. In MATTHEW 5:17, Jesus makes no distinction between different parts of the Law. This would mean, that if this verse indicates that Christians are to follow the Law, I am not allowed to pick and choose, as I wish, I must follow the whole Law, including Civil Laws, Dietary Laws, Sacrificial Laws, Moral Laws and The Ten Commandments:
NLT-GALATIANS 3:10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all these commands that are written in God's Book of the Law." (11)Consequently, it is clear that no one can ever be right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." (12)How different from this way of faith is the way of the law, which says, "If you wish to find life by obeying the law, you must obey all of its commands.
p. 1748 ROMANS 13:10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
I believe that God never intended for his Law to be permanent. His plan was for his Law to one day end:
p.1222-JEREMIAH 31:31 "The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
NLT-GALATIANS 3:19 Well then why was the law given? It was to show people how guilty they are. But this system of law was to last only until the coming of the child to whom God's promise was made. And there is this further difference. God gave his laws to angels to give to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.
I believe that Jesus came and lived to fulfill the The Law. I also believe that Jesus died to cancel the whole Old Law. The point and time when everything changed and the New Law began was when Jesus died:
NLT-EPHESIANS 2:15 By his death he ended the whole system of Jewish law that excluded the Gentiles. His purpose was to make peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new person from the two groups.
p.1800-EPHESIANS 2:15 By abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace.
p.1814-COLOSSIANS 2:14 Having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. (15)And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them by the cross.
p.1850-HEBREWS 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
I believe there are the Commands of God and the Commands of Jesus:
p.1663-JOHN 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. (10)If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
NLT-MATTHEW 28:20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
NLT-1 JOHN 2:7 Dear friend, I am not writing a new commandment, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the beginning. This commandment-to love one another- is the same message you heard before. (8)Yet it is also new. This commandment is true in Christ and is true among you, because the darkness is disappearing and the true light is already shinning.
I believe that there was the Old Law which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai for the Nation of Israel:
p.196-LEVITICUS 27:34 These are the commands the Lord gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.
NLT-DEUTERONOMY 10:3 So I made a chest of acacia wood and cut two stone tablets like the first two, and I took the tablets up the mountain. (4)The Lord again wrote the terms of the covenant -The Ten Commandments-on them and gave them to me. They were the same words the Lord had spoken to you from the heart of the fire on the mountain as you assembled down below. (5)Then I came down the mountain and placed the tablets in the Ark of the Covenant, which I had made, just as the Lord commanded me. And the tablets are still there in the Ark
NLT-DEUTERONOMY 31:24 When Moses had finished writing down this entire body of law in a book, (25)he gave these instructions to the Levites who carried the Ark of the Lord's Covenant: (26)"Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, so it may serve as a witness against the people of Israel.
I believe there is the New Law that God gave to Paul (named Saul at birth) in Arabia (Mount Sinai according to some commentaries) for the Nation of Israel, the Gentiles, for all:
NLT-ACTS 9:15 But the Lord said, "Go and do what I say. For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to the Kings, as well as to the people of Israel.
NLT-EPHESIANS 3:2 As you already know, God has given me this special ministry of announcing his favor to you Gentiles.
p.1790-GALATIANS 1:11 I want you to know, brothers that the gospel I preach is not something that I made up. (12)I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it from Jesus Christ.
p.1790-GALATIANS 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, (17)nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
NLT-GALATIANS 3:28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians-you are all one in Christ Jesus.
I believe that The Law of Jesus is the New Law that I should live under. I should not live under the Old Law, I believe this includes the 10 Commandments(engraved on tablets of stone), which is why Christians do not follow a large majority of Old Laws such as stoning Sabbath violators, because most of the Old Laws are not reestablished in the New Law of Jesus. To follow the Old Law which was actually given to the Nation of Israel through Moses; the Mediator between God and the people, I would need to ignore Jesus Christ the Mediator of a New Covenant, the messages laid on my heart by the Holy Spirit and the New Law given to me through Paul. I believe that if I look at a woman lustfully, I have broken the Law of Jesus, not the Law of Moses:
NLT-1 JOHN 2:7 Dear friend, I am not writing a new commandment, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the beginning. This commandment-to love one another- is the same message you heard before. (8)Yet it is also new. This commandment is true in Christ and is true among you, because the darkness is disappearing and the true light is already shinning.
NLT-1 CORINTHIANS 9:21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
p. 1766-1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.
p.1849-HEBREWS 8:13 By calling this covenant new, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
p.1780-2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
p.1659-JOHN 12:48 For I did not speak of my own accord, But the Father who sent me told me what to say and how to say it.
p.1778-2 CORINTHIANS 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, The result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (4)Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. (5)Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. (6)He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (7)Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, (8)will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious. (9)If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness.
NLT-2 CORINTHIANS 3:11 So if the old covenant, which was set aside, was full of glory, then the new covenant, which remains forever, has far greater glory.
p.1796 GALATIONS 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Does this mean that I should ignore the Old Testament? Absolutely not. Old Law and Old Testament are not the same. I believe that the crucifixion of Jesus canceled only the Old Law, it did not cancel the Old Testament. I need to study the Old Testament to be conscious of sin, and to properly understand how impossible my salvation would be if not for the love of God and Jesus. And I needed the Old Law to lead me to faith in Jesus. I believe that by studying the Old Testament, I learn that it is much more than just Laws, Regulations, and Commands. There is history (His-Story), genealogy, knowledge, advice and prophecy within the Old Testament:
NLT-GALATIANS 3:19 Well then why was the law given? It was to show people how guilty they are. But this system of law was to last only until the coming of the child to whom God's promise was made. And there is this further difference. God gave his laws to angels to give to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.
p.1850-HEBREWS 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
p.1734-ROMANS 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
p.1739-ROMANS 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would have not known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."
p.1860-JAMES 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
p.1793-GALATIONS 3:24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. (25)Now that faith has come we are no longer under supervision of the law.
p. 1743-ROMANS 10:4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
NLT-ROMANS 9:30 Well then, what shall we say about these things? Just this: The Gentiles have been made right with God by faith, even though they were not seeking him. (31)But the Jews, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law and being good instead of by depending on faith. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. (33)God warned them of this in the scriptures when he said, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that causes people to stumble, and a rock that causes them to fall. But anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed.
Some of the Pharisees attempted to force the Law of Moses on to the Gentiles:
p.1702- ACTS 15:5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.
The Apostles led by Peter, James, and Paul met with the Elders and had much discussion on the issue of applying the Old Laws to the Christian converts. They sent the Church at Antioch the following statement:
p.1704-ACTS 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: (29)You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
I'd like to share an example of how I feel about following Old Testament Laws. If I told a group of my followers that they must follow over 600 very difficult rules, to show me their reverence, discipline, obedience to my leadership, and earn their salvation. Then a few years later I go back and tell my followers that I will sacrifice my one and only son, to a horrible suffering death, that will end their obligation to follow the old rules and that they may earn their salvation by following a new set of rules. And the group of followers continued to follow the old rules for thousands of years after the sacrifice of my only son, how would I feel? I know that I would feel hurt. I would feel as though they have rejected or denied the validity of my gift:
p.1799-EPEHSIANS 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
If I am driving down the road, and come to a crossroad with a Stop sign and I do not stop, I am breaking the Law. If I return to the crossroad at another time, and the authority has removed the Stop sign, and promised that I will be safe, and I do not stop, then I have not broken the law, because the law no longer exists in that situation. If I choose to stop anyway, I have made the promise useless:
NLT- ROMANS 4:13 It is clear, then that God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to God's law, but on the new relationship with God that comes by faith. (14)So if you claim that God's promise is for those who obey God's law and think they are "good enough" in God's sight, then you are saying that faith is useless. And in that case the promise would also be meaningless. (15)But the law brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break.)
p. 1795 GALATIONS 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
I believe that following Old Testament Laws, demonstrates weak faith. I also believe that following Old Testament Laws is being disobedient to the Law given to me from God through Apostle Paul. But I should not judge, or tempt others who demonstrate weak faith, when they choose to follow Old Testament Laws given to the Nation of Israel through Moses:
p.1749-ROMANS 14:2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. (3)The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
p.1749-ROMANS 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to mutual edification. (20) Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
WOW! I had no idea that explaining my beliefs about Old Testament Laws would take me nearly 6 pages and over 24 hours at the computer. Well way back on page 3, I explained that later in this chapter I would share my beliefs about Christian Tithing. Because this issue is so controversial and so sensitive, this will be challenging.
I pray that God sends the Holy Spirit to guide my writings. And I pray that my attempt to use Sound Doctrine to express my heartfelt beliefs pleases the Lord.
OLD TESTAMENT TITHE LAWS-PRINCIPLES & CHRISTIANS
Though I have spent the last several pages explaining why I believe that Old Testament Laws do not apply to Christians, I am going to spend some time reviewing the Old Testament Tithe Laws and principles. There are many Christians that teach and believe that I should not tithe to follow The Old Testament Laws, but to observe Biblical principles of the Old Testament. Many Christians teach that these Biblical principles apply to Christians, therefore according to those Old Testament principles, as a Christian, I should give 10% of my gross income to my Church.
The first Tithe Law given to the Nation of Israel was a general tithe. I believe that the principle of this Tithe Law was to pay a general tithe to the Levites, basically for their Civil Services. All the tribes of Israel received designated land for their inheritance except the Levites. The Israelites were to provide wages to the Levites, who functioned as public servants, with what amounted to an income tax of 10%:
p.232-NUMBERS 18:21 I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in exchange for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.
p.232-NUMBERS 18:31 You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting.
I believe that the second part of the first Tithe Law was intended to provide specifically for the Levite Priests. All the Priests were Levites, but not all the Levites were Priests. The Levites were allowed to live, farm and store tithes in various towns possessed by the Israelites. The Levites were then to give a tenth of those tithes to the house of God:
p.232-NUMBERS 18:26 Speak to the Levites and say to them: "When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lords offering. (27) Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the wine press. (28)In this way you will also present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From this portion you must give the Lord's portion to Aaron the priest.
p.751-NEHEMIAH 10:37 Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain, offerings, of the fruit of our trees and our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes to the storerooms of the treasury. (39)The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and oil to the storerooms where the articles for the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the singers stay.
The tithes were not to be paid with currency such as gold, silver or shekels. Tithes were only to be paid by agriculture. In fact there was a penalty for paying in currency. I believe that according to the principle of this Tithe Law, if I am not a farmer, if instead I am a carpenter, boat builder, or pottery maker, I am not to observe this Tithe Law:
p.196-LEVITICUS 27:30 A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord, (31)If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it.
According to the principle of this law, if I only have 9 head of cattle, I am not to give any of my animals:
p.196-LEVITICUS 27:32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock-every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod-will be holy to the Lord.
The second Tithe law given to the Nation of Israel was a Yearly Tithe. The principle of this Tithe Law, was to make sure the people of Israel set aside enough food and drink to provide for the feast that was expected to take place in the presence of the Lord. I believe the principle of this law is about storing enough blessings to share with the needy or others who may be less fortunate, and then having a festival in the presence of the Lord, not about tithing:
p.290-DEUTERONOMY 14:22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. (23)Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.
Many Christians point to Deuteronomy 14:22 (wow spell that one with out looking it up) as meaning we should continue to follow Old Testament Tithe Laws to show reverence for The Lord. In my opinion, it does not say tithe to show reverence to the Lord. It says eat the tithe to show reverence to the Lord. According to the New Testament principle, our body is the Lord's Temple that he has chosen for the dwelling of his Holy Spirit. I believe that I revere The Lord by sharing my celebration of my blessings with others in fellowship and when I welcome the presence of the Lord in my heart as I share a meal. I believe that I revere The Lord by giving thanks for the blessing of my meal and by always remembering what his Son did for me. I believe that I should revere The Lord at each and every meal, with every breath I take, not just a few times a year, or every Sunday during communion. And because Jesus reestablished this principle of sharing a meal in fellowship, in the New Testament, I believe I should continue to follow the principle of breaking bread and passing a cup in The Lord's presence to show reverence for The Lord and remembrance of Jesus. I believe that because the Temple Courts no longer exist, that I may have such fellowship and reverence, in my home or wherever I am as long as I welcome the Lord's presence:
p.290-DEUTERONOMY 14:24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his name is so far away), (25)then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. (26)Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. (27)And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
NLT-ROMANS 12:13 When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner, or if they need lodging, for the night.
NLT-HEBREWS 13:2 Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
p.1678-ACTS 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
p.1679-ACTS 2:46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, (47)praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
NLT-LUKE 22:8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, "Go and prepare the Passover meal so we can eat it together.
NLT-1 CORINTHIANS 11:23 For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, (24)and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is given up for you. Do this in remembrance of me". (25)In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it."
p.1765-1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
p.1760-1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
The third Tithe Law given to the Nation of Israel was only to be paid every three years. The principle of this Tithe Law was to provide for the needy, the orphans, the widows, and the less fortunate:
p.290-DEUTERONOMY 14:28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that years produce and store it in your towns, (29)so that the Levites who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
The very next chapter of Deuteronomy explains the Old Testament Law of canceling debt:
p.290-DEUTERONOMY 15:1 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.
Many Christians teach and believe that the Old Laws of Moses were actually canceled at the cross; therefore Christians should not follow the Old Laws, but that Christians should practice the biblical principles of the Old Testament Law of Moses. The only Old Testament Law of Moses principle that I have ever heard any Christian refer to, is the Old Testament principle of giving firstfruits to God, recorded in NEHEMIAH 10:35, therefore we should tithe and give the first 10% of our income to the house of God, recorded in NEHEMIAH 10:37. I have never heard any Christian suggest that we should practice the Old Testament principle sandwiched right between those two verses recorded in NEHEMIAH 10:36:
p.750-NEHEMIAH 10:35 We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crop and of every fruit tree. (36)As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the first born of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the Priests ministering there. (37)Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain, offerings of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.
Perhaps Christians do not follow the Old Testament principle of NEHEMIAH 10:36 because there is no Temple or Levite Priest authorized to perform the ceremony of redeeming the firstborn of our sons as The Bible specifically requires. According to several websites, many Orthodox Jews do not attempt to follow the Old Testament Tithe Laws because the only ones allowed to receive the tithes were the Levite Priests and like us Christians, the Jews do not know who the Levites are. Since the destruction of the Temple in 70A.D., there is no one or no place authorized to receive tithes. Some Jews that follow Old Testament Laws have however created what I call a make-shift ritual for practicing the principle of redeeming the firstborn son. In my opinion the Christian practice of tithing is likewise; a make-shift ritual, for there is no Biblically accurate way possible to follow The Tithe Laws. For those Jews who do not believe in Jesus and therefore practice many of the Old Testament Laws, to create such rituals is quite understandable to me. For those Christians who believe in Jesus and therefore do not believe in following Old Testament Laws to select only one of the 600 and some Old Testament Laws which happens to be only one of several Tithe Laws to create a single ritual for, is in my opinion inappropriate. While I would sure like to follow The Old Testament Law of canceling debt today, there are many Old Testament Laws that I do not want to follow today. I'm certainly glad that I do not need to tear my house down every time I repeatedly find mildew as required in LEVITICUS Chapter 14. I believe that it is that sort of picking and choosing of which Old Testament Laws that Christians choose to follow, and choose not to follow that causes some to label Christians as hypocrites and causes many people to avoid churches, the Bible, and God all together.
PRE MOSAIC LAW-PRINCIPLES & CHRISTIANS
Some Christians teach and believe that Old Testament Laws were actually canceled at the cross and that Christians should not follow Old Testament Laws. But that Christians should give the first 10% of their income because tithing was a Biblical principle prior to the Law of Moses, that because Abram supposedly gave a tenth of his possessions to God, Christians should do the same:
NLT-GENESIS 14:20 And blessed be God Most High, who has helped you conquer your enemies. Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.
I believe that Abram actually gave a tenth of others possessions that Abram and the other 318 trained men recovered:
p.19-GENESIS 14:16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lott and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
I believe that none of the property was Abram's prior to the battle, so Abram refused to possess any of the property after the battle, Abram actually gave 90% of the repossessions back to the original owners. The tenth that Abram gave was out of the possessions of the other people, and that Abram gave on the behalf of the other people as a thank offering to God for blessing the people with freedom:
p.19-GENISIS 14:24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who sent me-to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.
I believe that Abram was indeed quite wealthy. Yet I have found no Biblical record of Abram ever giving any of his possessions to anybody and I certainly have not found any record of Abram giving a tenth of the increase of his flocks and herds. Spoils of War are not included in any Old Testament Tithe Law given to Moses. I believe that to be Biblically accurate and follow this principle of Abram in GENESIS 14, when I see God bless others, I should take a tenth of their possessions and give those possessions to God:
p.17-GENESIS 13:2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.
Some Christians teach and believe that Christians should give the first 10% of their income because tithing was a Biblical principle prior to the Law of Moses, that because Jacob supposedly gave a tenth of his possessions to God at the end of a Journey, Christians should do the same. I believe that Jacob made a deal with God. If God would bless Jacob with clothes, food, safety and his presence on Jacob's journey, then Jacob would give God a tenth. I have found no record that Jacob ever actually followed through with his vow. We do know that Jacob was quite dishonest, as Jacob stole his own brother's birthright according to GENESIS 25, and in GENESIS 27, Jacob deceived his own father to steal his own brother's blessing:
p.43-GENESIS 28:20 Then Jacob made a vow saying, "If God will be with me on this Journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear (21)so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God (22)and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give a tenth.
I believe that to be Biblically accurate and follow this principle of Jacob in GENESIS 28, I should make my own conditions with God (I shudder just thinking about it) and make a list of all the blessings that I would like God to provide for me and then after God blesses me with safety, wealth and health, then I should give God a tenth.
I believe that practicing the principles of Abram and Jacob because they supposedly gave a tenth of their own possessions before the Law of Moses was ever established, would also mean that to be Biblically consistent and accurate I should also practice another Biblical principle practiced before the Law of Moses was ever established. I should rest on the Sabbath, if I am going to follow the principle of Abram then I should certainly follow the principle of God. A principle so significant that violating the Old Testament Law that followed the principle, demanded a punishment of death:
p.3-GENESIS 2:2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. (3)And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
I believe that practicing the principles of Abram and Jacob because they supposedly gave a tenth of their own possessions before the Law of Moses was ever established, would mean that to be Biblically consistent and accurate I should also practice another Biblical principle, practiced by Abram as he was instructed By God, before the Law of Moses was ever established. I should make sure that my son and I are both circumcised. If I am going to follow a principle of Abram such as tithing, that has no record of instruction from God, then I should certainly follow a principle that followed an instruction of God such as circumcision. A principle so significant that when Moses himself violated the everlasting Old Testament command given to Abram, God intended to kill Moses:
p.22-GENESIS 17:12 For the generations to come every male among you must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with your money from a foreigner-those who are not your offspring. (13)Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. (14)Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.
p.90-EXODUS 4:24 At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses, and was about to kill him. (25)But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it. Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me, she said. (26)So the Lord let him alone, (At that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.)
I believe that the purpose and principle of all the Old Testament Tithing Laws was to provide for the widows, orphans, needy, civil servants and those less fortunate, similar to the purpose and principle of what I pay Social Security and Income Taxes for today. The total of the Tithe Laws was approximately 23%, very similar to what the average Australian pays today in Income Tax, but much less than what I as an average American pay in taxes. I realize that my income taxes are not optional, but my Social Security taxes are optional. If I choose to live the faith of the Amish, I am not required to pay over 7-1/2% of my income to provide for the elderly and those who can not work.
DATING IS ESSENTIAL
I believe that if God gave me a command, and then at a later date gives me an opposing command referring to the same principle, then I should follow the later command. For example; in approximately 1450 B.C. (EXODUS 20:5) God stated that he would punish children for the sins of their fathers, then in approximately1407 B.C. (DEUTERONOMY 28:58-59) God stated that he would send plagues, disasters, and illnesses on the descendants of those who broke his laws, then in approximately 571 B.C. (EZEKIEL 18:19-20) God stated that children will not be punished for sins of their fathers. I believe in the words of my Senior Pastor, who told me, "That the dating of EZEKIEL is essential in the understanding of this promise." I believe the same principle should apply to tithing and all the rest of the Old Testament Laws. If God told me to follow all of those Old Laws, and then at a later date, God tells me that all The Old Laws are canceled, and that I should start following The New Laws, then I should follow the later command. And if I violate the later command, I have sinned. I actually believe that all of the Ten Commandments were universal principles that existed as "unwritten laws" of ancient Greece. I also believe that if any ancient principle later becomes a Law of God, then the later status would bear greater significance. And then if that law is later canceled, then that later status would bear greater significance. I also believe that I am instructed to not follow principles of the Old Testament Law in the New Testament:
p.1794-GALATIONS 4:9 But now that you know God-or rather are known by God-how is it you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
p.1814-COLOSSIANS 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
p.1814-COLOSSIANS 2:20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belong to it, do you submit to its rules: (21)Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!
p.1734 ROMANS 3:27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith.
MALACHI & CHRISTIANS
I believe that some of the most common verses of the Bible that are at least slightly stretched to support the application of tithing to Christians are in MALACHI. Some Christians teach and believe that if Christians do not tithe, they are robbing God and they are cursed, but if Christians do tithe they will receive many blessings. Some Christians teach that the storehouse is equated to the church therefore the first 10% of my gross income should be given to my church as my tithe and the rest of my giving is considered an offering that may be given to any other charitable organization worthy of receiving the offering:
p.1481-MALACHI 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, "How do we rob you?" "In tithes and offerings." (9)You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. (10)Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
I believe that through the Prophet MALACHI, God is actually addressing the Nation of Israel specifically the Levite Priests, who were mistreating God's people. God is also addressing those who live under the Law of Moses. If this rebuke is directed at the Levites not the Israelites, then it is hardly directed toward Christians:P
p.1478-MALACHI 1:6 A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the Lord Almighty. It is you, O priests who show contempt for my name.
p.1479-MALACHI 2:1 And now this admonition is for you O priests.
p.1479-MALACHI 2:8 But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi, says the Lord Almighty.
p.1481-MALACHI 4:4 Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.
I believe those who live under the Law are cursed, not Christians who live under Grace:
p.1792-GALATIANS 3:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
I believe that if I choose to and live under the principle of Malachi, and therefore give 10%, I am still cursed, because God said bring the whole tithe. The Hebrew word for tithe is ma'aser which translates to a tenth, and each of the Tithe Laws specified a tenth, however tenth and tithing are not synonymous. The whole tithe was actually closer to 23%. I would also be cursed for choosing to live under this one Old Testament Law of Moses and then choosing not to keep the other 600+ Laws of Moses.
I believe that pour out blessing is referring to making it rain as the principle is commonly used in the Old Testament, which would have provided a better crop. I believe that Malachi is not referring to material or eternal blessings as some teach. I believe it requires at least a slight stretch of scripture to equate the Storehouse to the Church as some teach. I believe it is much more Biblical by its context and more likely to be Sound Doctrine to equate opening the floodgates of heaven to making it rain:
p.1481-MALACHI 3:11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit, says the Lord Almighty.
p.10-GENESIS 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month-on that day all the springs of the deep burst forth, and the floodgates of heaven were opened. (12)And the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.
p.10-GENISIS 8:2 Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky.
I struggle to believe that a Tithe and an Offering were considered separate events, even in the Old Testament Law of Moses. Maybe I am grammatically illiterate, but it appears to me that the two words are used synonymously in the Biblical context of scripture:
p.232 NUMBERS 18:24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: They will have no inheritance among the Israelites. (25)The Lord said to Moses, (26)Speak to the Levites and say to them: When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord's offering. (27)Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. (28)In this way you will also present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites.
NEW TESTAMENT LAWS AND PRINCIPLES ABOUT GIVING
I am finally going to get into what I believe to be some of the New Testament Laws and Principles about giving. The belief and teaching of Jacob is of similar principle to that of Malachi because it teaches us to give to God expecting blessings in return from God. I know that in Malachi God gives us permission to test him. But at a later time he told us something different. Again I believe the dating is essential. I also believe that following the principles of Jacob and Malachi from The Old Testament is a direct violation of many New Testament principles. I believe that giving in order to get, is getting the cart before the horse. If I give looking for blessings in return for what I do, or intend to do, then I believe that my heart is not in the right place. I should give just as I should love, from my heart-UNCONDITIONALLY. If I give looking forward, I may fail to see what God has already done. I believe that God has already blessed me beyond measure; I should give for what God has already done. I should give in praise for all the blessings I have received; healthy family, rewarding career, safe home, wonderful Church, not just the financial or monetary blessings:
p.1746-ROMANS 11:35 Who has ever given to God so that God should repay him?
I believe that there is about as much Biblical support for the idea of Christian Tithing as there is for Christian Blood Sacrifices, Christian Circumcision, Christian Stoning and Christian Sabbath. I believe that the idea of Christian Tithing and the idea of giving the first 10% of our fruits or income to a Church is a man made law or principle. I believe that the only thing Biblically comparable to the Old Testament Tithing Law of Moses and Christian Tithing is the 10% figure, which actually does not fit the Old Testament Law or principle properly as the total percentage of the whole Tithe Law was actually closer to 23%. I believe that to follow the man made principle of Christians giving 10% of firstfruits to a Church; I would need to violate some Biblical New Testament Principles about what I should do first. I believe that I should give my firstfruits to my family. If I say my firstfruits are reserved for God or a Church rather than family, I believe that I am doing as the Pharisees did and calling my money Corban, thus invalidating the word of God and that I am worse than an Infidel:
NLT-1 TIMOTHY 5:4 But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show Godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God very much.
p.1828-1 TIMOTHY 5:7 Give the people these instructions too, so that no one will be open to blame. (8)If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
p.1552-MARK 7:11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: Whatever help you might have otherwise received from me is Corban (that is a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. (13)thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.
I believe that, even if I do follow the Old Testament Tithe Principle and gave 10% of my firstfruits to the Church or any other charity and still had more to give, and choose not to give to those I see in need, I would be violating the Biblical instructions and principles of the New Testament, the Law of Christ:
p.1796-GALATIONS 6:10 Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.
NLT-GALATIONS 6:2 Carry each others burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (3)If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.
p.1580-LUKE 3:11 John answered, the man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.
p.1861-JAMES 2:15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food, (16)If one of you says to him, Go, I wish you well, keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it.
p.1870-1 JOHN 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (18)Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
p.1830-1 TIMOTHY 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
p. 1678 ACTS 2:45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
I believe that unless I give all I have to the poor and live like Mother Teresa, I fall short of the teachings of Christ. There is no Biblical record of Jesus ever instructing anyone to give to a Church. Jesus specifically instructed others to give to the poor.:
p.1622-LUKE 21:3 I tell you the truth, he said, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. (4)All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.
p.1616-LUKE 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, You still lack one thing, Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.
To be sure that my heart is in the right place and to be sure that my motives are pure and unconditional, I believe that as much as possible, all of my giving should be done anonymously. I should never discuss my giving with anyone except my spouse and the Holy Spirit:
NLT-MATTHEW 6:1 Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. (2)When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do-blowing trumpets in the synagogues and the streets to call attention to their acts of charity! (3)But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. (4)Give your gifts in private, and your Father who sees everything will, reward you.
In the same way; if I measure the percentage of my giving out to be 10% of anything. How can I be sure that my motive for giving is not an attempt to gain righteousness by practicing the principle of the Old Testament Tithing Law of Moses. I believe that if I give to comply with Church teachings or Church Membership expectations, I am giving under compulsion. I believe that I better follow the New Testament Biblical principles of giving, by giving according to what the Holy Spirit lays on my heart. I believe that I also better follow the New Testament Biblical principles by giving what I believe I can afford to give. Not out of compulsion or obligation. I believe that the more freely I give the more obedient I am to God's later commands. 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Is a common verse used by some Pastors and Televangelists to pressure Christians into giving beyond their means. They commonly overlook the very next verse and a few other significant New Testament verses:
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
p.1783-2 CORINTHIANS 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
I believe that for all I do, especially giving and serving, that I should always prayerfully seek the authorization of Jesus, get to know Jesus and then follow what is written in my heart, by the Holy Spirit and sow to please the Spirit:
NLT-MATTHEW 7:22 On judgment day, many will tell me lord, lord. We prophesied in your name, we cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name (23)But I will reply, I never new you. Go away, the things you did were unauthorized.
p.1778-2 CORINTHIANS 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, The result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
p.1796-GALATIANS 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.
p.1746-ROMANS 11:35 Who has ever given to God so that God should repay him?
I believe that Apostle Paul went out of his way to make sure that the Christians did not feel compulsion, pressure, obligation or cursed by their giving. Apostle Paul did not want Christians to feel as though their giving was wrung out of them. In this way I believe that Church Pastors, Televangelists and any other Charitable organizations claiming to be Christian should practice this Biblical principle clearly established in the New Testament:
p.1766-1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
AMP-2 CORINTHIANS 9:5 That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brethren to go to you before I do and make arrangements in advance for this bountiful, promised gift of yours, so that it may be ready, not as an extortion [wrung out of you] but as a generous and willing gift.
NLT-2 CORINTHIANS 9:5 So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
p.1774-1 CORINTHIANS 16:1 Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. (2)On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
p.1783-2 CORINTHIANS 8:13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 8:21 For we are taking great pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
GIVE TIME
Most of the teachings, sermons and articles that I have read or heard about giving, are all about giving money, while showing much less recognition or acknowledgment for the sacrifice of time. I believe that time is a commodity more precious than money, for once time is spent it is irreplaceable except by the grace of God. I know of many wonderful people on very meager incomes who may not offer generous financial support of worthy charities, but they give very generously of their time. I know of teachers with the credentials to gain very lucrative employment, but choose to teach at lower paying private or inner-city schools because that is where their heart leads them. In my opinion most civil servants such as Military, Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue, Elders and Ministers, give fruits of labor worth much more than their pay. I do not believe that any person who gives lovingly and generously of their time should be made to feel cursed or guilty for not giving 10% of their gross income. I believe that the New Testament places a significant emphasis on the principle of giving time:
p.1747-ROMANS 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
p.1491-MATTHEW 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (16)In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.
p.1869-1 PETER 4:10 Each one of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
p.1799-EPHESIANS 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us in advance.
p.1861-JAMES 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
p.1747-ROMANS 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. (7)If it is serving, let him serve, if it is teaching let him teach, (8)if it is encouraging, let him encourage, if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously, if it is leadership, let him govern diligently, if it is showing mercy let him do it cheerfully.
NLT- 1 CORINTHIANS 12:7 A spiritual gift is given to each one of us as a means for helping the entire Church.
I believe that when Apostle Paul writes about “sowing” in 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6, he is referring to giving as he writes about in verse 7:
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
I believe that when Apostle Paul writes about “sowing” in GALATIONS 6:8, he is referring to serving as he talks about doing in verse 9:
GALATIANS 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.(9)Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Again, I believe that whether it be time or money, my first fruits should go to my immediate family. I believe strongly in the words of my Senior Pastor who in a recent sermon said, "We strongly believe that yours and my ministry begins in the home. Absolutely nothing, nothing in the marketplace, nothing at church, there is no humanitarian effort that you can involve yourself, that supersedes yours and my personal responsibility to first serve our families in our home." I do believe that if I am providing my family with luxuries, and then find it unaffordable to give back to God for the blessings that he has given to me and my family, then I am neglecting God. It can often be a very difficult balancing act to decide when, where and to whom my efforts should be directed. I believe that the only way to be sure that I am doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right people-is to prayerfully seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
FAITH IN GOD & HIS WORD - NOT MAN OR FLESH
When I first started this research about Old Testament Laws, especially Christian Tithing, I could not help but feel a little guilty for questioning the teachings of my church. I was even scolded by some members of my Home Group. My Senior Pastor however, encouraged me to challenge every scripture that is used in service, to be a Berean and referred me to ACTS 17:11:
p.1707-ACTS 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
I now believe that the Bible clearly teaches me to maintain my faith in God and the Holy Spirit, not man. I should always do my best to follow Sound Doctrine. If I place my spiritual faith in a King, Televangelist, Home Group Leader, Elder or Senior Pastor, then I am overlooking Old Testament principles that are clearly reestablished in the New Testament:
p.419-1 SAMUEL 8:14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. (15)He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. (16)Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. (17)He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. (18)When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day.
p.1195-JEREMIAH 17:5 This is what the Lord says: Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
p.1779-2CORINTHIANS 4:1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not loose heart. (2)Rather we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
p.1834-2 TIMOTHY 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.
p.1837-TITUS 2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
There are many Christian authors and reputable scholars that call teachings of Christian Tithing heresy, scams, lies, extortion, coercion, oxymoronic, brainwashing, cultic and sin. I believe that most who teach Christian Tithing are simply teaching what they have been taught, which has been handed down over the generations. I believe that such teaching has been started by and carried on by good men who love God, and want to do right, but have allowed their strong desire to successfully pursue the good causes they represent, to cloud their judgment a bit. I believe that some of the teachings about Christian Tithing may be intentionally manipulative and deceptive and may have inappropriate motives such as greed, ego and power:
p.1834-2 TIMOTHY 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (4)They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
p.1752-ROMANS 16:17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. (18)For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people.
p.1827-1 TIMOTHY 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (2)Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
p.TITUS-1:10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. (11)They must be silenced, they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach-and for the sake of dishonest gain.
p.1873-2 PETER 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. (2)Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. (3)In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
HISTORY OF TITHING
I'd like to briefly share what I believe to be some of the accurate recorded history that I could find of tithing, from the dawning of creation to the modern church. During the nearly 2000 years from the time of Adam and Eve until the time of Abram and Jacob there is no Biblical record of Adam, Cain, Abel or Job following a Tithe Command or principle. Though they all gave blood sacrifices, there is no mention of any of them ever giving a tithe or a tenth of anything to anybody. There is no Biblical record of Abram or Jacob ever following a Tithe Command or actually giving a tenth of their own possessions to anybody. Nearly 2500 years goes by before the Law of Moses provides a Biblical record of any sort of actual tithing in cooperation of a Command or Law. Now another 2000 years have gone by since The Old Testament Law of Moses ended with no Biblical record of a Tithe Command ever given to anybody. The first record I could find of Christians Tithing to a church occurred over 500 years after the Old Testament Law of Moses ended.
According to The Catholic Encyclopedia,
"As the Church expanded and various institutions arose, it became necessary to make laws which would insure the proper and permanent support of clergy. The payment of tithes was adopted from the Old Law…The earliest positive legislation on the subject seems to be contained in the letter of the bishops assembled at Tours in 567 and the [canons] of the Council of Macon in 585."
If the Catholic Church made up Tithing Laws, that are not Biblically accurate, perhaps that is why it was illegal to own a Bible in Roman Catholic Europe for nearly 400 years and why Catholics are instructed to allow only the Pope and Bishops to interpret the Bible. And perhaps that is why I have never seen or heard of a Catholic Church with Bibles in the pews.
According to the book, "In Pursuit Of the Almighty's Dollar," by James Hudnut-Beumier, the Dean of Vanderbilt University:
(1750) Community funds (taxes) built the church.
(1776) As the revolution began, ten of the original thirteen colonies had some form of tax supported religion.
(1791) Government support gradually ended after The Bill Of Rights.
(1833) With the final elimination of commonwealth support for the Congregational Church, every religious group was left to its own resources. Quaker, Baptist and Methodist ministers tended to stress voluntary contributions and worked without set expectations regarding pay, receiving the freewill offerings of their hearers instead. Voluntary contributions became the NORM in American churches shortly after the start of the nineteenth century.
(1873) Alexander L Hogshead and John W Pratt, Presbyterians wrote; A tithe of ten per cent is God's everlasting minimum expectation. Tithing became an attractive source of funding to the degree that clergy could convince themselves and others that it was a spiritual law and advocates of tithing were not prepared to accept anything less then a tenth. Pratt later emphasized that tithing from Genesis 14 was prior to the law and must have been in compliance with pre-existing divine ordinance. In a later essay, Pratt wrote about robbing God, storehouse/church giving and overflowing blessing.
(1878) The Ulster Prize was given for an essay advocating voluntary plans of support.
Conclusion: The idea of tithing did not even emerge as a discussion in American churches before the 1870s. It is a relatively new doctrine.
According to an on line article by Robert K. Sanders:
(1861) James White, Founder of The Seventh Day Adventist Church wrote a rejection of the ten percent plan. The SDA Church was using the Systematic Benevolence Plan to support the salary of its ministers. It totaled 1 percent of one's total income.
(1876) Dudley M. Canright wrote a series of articles emphasizing Malachi as The Bible Plan of supporting ministry. After Canright urged the SDA to adopt his plan, James White and his Wife, SDA pioneer Ellen G White wrote on how those who did not abide by the Tithing Plan would be condemned and loose their heavenly treasure.
I doubt that it is possible to prove with Biblical or other credible documentation exactly where or when tithing first became a custom of the Church. Without such proof, all assumptions would be less than "Sound Doctrine."
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF WHAT?
Over the last few years, since I first heard my church do a sermon on Tithing, I have heard numerous Pastors, Elders and Home Group Members give descriptions on exactly how I as a Christian am supposed to tithe. I have read articles and books by several nationally known Christian ministers. I have also written to some nationally known Websites with a few questions on the subject of Tithing. I have yet to receive the same info from any 2 people. It would seem to me that if the principle of Christians Tithing were of such Sound Doctrine, it would not be so hard to find the same teachings. Though I have met several good Christians that actually do not follow and agree with their Church teachings about Tithing, I have met few willing to say so openly. With so many different teachings on Tithing, it is really quite confusing and hard to feel confident in most of them. Many Tithe promoters teach that Christians should give 10% of their gross income to their church, claiming that under the Old Testament Tithe Law, God's people were to give a tenth of their crops. Well if the people planted 100 bushels but only 70 bushels survived to be taken home, were they to Tithe 10 bushels or 7 bushels. A nationally known minister writes in his book that business people should give a tithe (10 percent) of their profit to God as an act of worship. I have heard a Minister of a Church that teaches and expects gross income tithing of its members; tell his congregation that they should give the first 10% of their income to the church as he gives 10% of his taxable income. In my opinion, business profit, taxable income and salaried or hourly gross income are hardly the same thing. Many business people take the cost of company vehicles, fuel, lunch meetings and other expenses out of gross revenue as business expenses to avoid showing taxable profit. Many ministers get perks such as housing allowances, company vehicles, discounted or free private children's education, discounted or free health care, all expense paid trips to exotic locations for pastoral training and a credit card for business meals and other miscellaneous business costs. To be consistent, if I am the average hourly or salaried church member sitting in the pew, I should deduct the expenses of vacations that include any work related site seeing or activities, all work related education, car payments, car insurance, gas, oil, auto repairs, rent or house payments, lunches during work, work shoes and clothes and then tithe from the remainder of my income. Some churches that expect me as a member to give 10% of my gross income to the church, also teach that I should follow the 10-10-80 rule. I should give 10% of my gross income to the church, save 10% and have fun with the remaining 80%. This must be some kind of strange new math, because if I bring home far less than 70%, how can I begin to have fun with 80%? If a Church issues specific monetary expectations of Members, that is similar to having Membership Dues. Many Churches are a 501c 3 non-profit institution. The U.S. Government considers it illegal for such a non-profit institution to collect Membership Dues. According to the principle of the New Testament (2 CORINTHIANS 8:13), Paul's collections from the churches were intended to achieve equality, the collections were not intended to create hardship for the givers while the receivers had life easy. I believe that some Church Leaders andTelevangelists are living much better off than their trusting followers who are depriving their own families to support lavish lifestyles of those with a flattering tongue.
MY CHURCH EXPERIENCE
At the encouragement of my Wife, I first started attending our families' Church August 25th 2002. It was the opening day of the newly constructed Worship Center. I was totally WOWED!!! The building was beautiful. The sermon and the music were awesome! I think the thing that wowed me the most was the people. Everybody shined. There were so many people enthusiastically, lovingly serving in so many various areas. The place just clicked like a well oiled machine. I felt so warmly welcomed. I did not feel like a stranger at all. I figured all the wow would wear off after the newness wore off. A short time after I first started attending our Church, at my Wife's encouragement, I agreed to join her and the kids to attend a Vacation Bible School. It was a Friday evening after I had just worked a long week out of town. I was not very enthusiastic about the idea, but I wanted to be with the family. So I drove us to our Church and parked in the parking lot. I got out of the car to walk to the Church with the family, and our kids took off running across the lot to the door. Again I was wowed. I told my wife that when I was our kids' age, my parents had to drag me to the door of the Church and our kids were actually running. Right then, I knew in my heart that we were in the right place. Since then, between Baptisms and Summer Camps; God through our Church has continued to do more for our children then I can ever begin to repay and I will be eternally grateful. Our Church does many things that I am very proud of, such as support the County Crisis Pregnancy Center, Habitat For Humanity and Missions from Katrina to Panama, the local community and all over the world. Sunday attendance has nearly tripled since we first started attending our Church, so it must be doing a lot of things right. I am pleased to say that because of our Church, our Children already know the Bible much better than I did at 40 years old, and I am still waiting for the Wow of our new Church to wear off.
As much as I love our Church and our Church Family, the more I study the Bible, the more I could not help but disagree with some of our Church's past teachings on Tithing. I am certain that our Church loves God and genuinely wants to do what is best to serve him through the Church, however any attempt to obligate or pressure people to give money or time makes me feel very uncomfortable.
I have a booklet that our Church printed several years ago that says, "We encourage one another to prayerfully consider working toward giving at least 10 percent of our gross income." It also says, "We encourage you to capitalize on the strategy of committing to regular giving. Please note that we consider your personal giving to be a matter between you and God."
A more recent Church Program Offering Statement read:
"Each week we share in an offering. We believe those who are members of the Church should support its work by giving to God as an act of worship & obedience. If you are not a member, you are under no obligation to give. Please do as you feel the Spirit leading you." I did not understand why I as a member should be expected to give any differently than non-members. Why should I as a member, not be welcomed to do as the Holy Spirit leads me? I believe that if non-members are openly invited to follow the Holy Spirit, some members who are present and aware of the invitation but not included in the invitation may feel slightly discouraged or unwelcome to also follow the Holy Spirit. I can not help but wonder if some attend a Church for years and avoid becoming members to avoid the obligation of giving and to continue following the Holy Spirit. I have heard several people stand in front of a Church at the time of collection and say that members were obligated to give tithes and offerings. As the Bible tells us repeatedly in The New Testament, to encourage others (1THESSALONIANS 5:11, HEBREWS 3:13, 2 TIMOTHY 4:2) I sure prefer the word encourage. The word obligate just makes me shudder.
On September 28, 2008 my Church Program Offering Statement read:
Each week we share in an offering. We believe God has blessed each of us & are joyful about participating in His work by giving back to God as an act of worship and obedience. Please give as you feel the Spirit leading you.
I am so proud of my Church for changing that Offering Statement. For removing the separation between members and non-members, for inviting all to follow the Spirit and for removing the implication of obligation toward members.
Over the years, on several occasions, I have heard Church Elders explain how they use prayerful consideration for many things from Missions to choosing new Pastors to buying new buildings to planning the growth of the Church. I believe that all people should be taught and encouraged to do the same regardless of membership. I believe that everybody, member, non-member and even those who do not attend any Church, likely benefit by the good being done by Churches in their community, and should support that good by sharing their talents, time, gifts and money as the Holy Spirit leads. I believe that the more people would immerse themselves in the Holy Spirit, the more people the Church may find qualified to be future Elders.
During a January 2005 sermon, our Senior Pastor said that he expects those attending the Church to discern what is being done around the Church with good practical eyes, to question what is going on behind the scenes, to ask what are they doing with the money. More recently, during collection people have stood in front of the Church explaining some of the Ministries being supported through the Church. In my opinion, the more the attendees of the Church are aware of all the great things the Church is doing, the more encouraged they will be, to prayerfully consider how they can be supportive of all the good being done by their Church.
FAITH BASED
In my opinion some Churches have gradually evolved from using New Testament encouragement to using Old Testament obligation. I have heard Elders and Pastors say many times that the Church should be "Faith Based". I have heard Pastors and others at Church say that we should tithe, not because we live under the Old Testament Law but to follow the Biblical principles. I believe that giving from the heart is an Old Testament principle clearly reestablished in the New Testament. I believe that if any Christian Church is truly "Faith Based" it will place its' faith and trust in the will of God. If God is pleased with the fruit of the ministry, the intentions and accomplishments of a Church, then he will send the Holy Spirit to lead the hearts and minds of the people, member or otherwise, to provide for that work. If members and non-members fail to prayerfully follow the direction of the Holy Spirit, how can the people adequately receive the message from the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit calls the people up, the Holy Spirit just might get a busy signal.
When God asked Moses to build a place of worship, the people were encouraged to give as their heart prompted them:
p.122-EXODUS 25:1 The Lord said to Moses, (2)Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man as his heart prompts him to give.
p.122-EXODUS 25:8 Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
If a Church asked people to give as their heart prompts them, to build and maintain a place of worship, the people just might give so much that it will be necessary to ask them to stop giving just as Moses had to do:
p.141-EXODUS 36:6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, (7)because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.
This might not be the best place for this paragraph but here it goes anyway. It is Sept. 5th, 2008, early afternoon. I have just got done working through the night. I have been without sleep for over 30 hours. I have been lying in my bed on a cloudy rainy afternoon unable to get some strongly needed and desired sleep. Sound familiar. If you go back to page 1 of this Chapter, you will notice that I was experiencing very similar circumstances nearly 1 year ago when I first started on this Chapter 2 of My Systematic Theology. I guess I feel like I am coming full circle. I could feel the Holy Spirit stirring thoughts in my mind and beliefs in my heart about some things I needed to say in this part of this Chapter. A few days ago I met with my Senior Pastor to discuss this Chapter. We had a wonderful discussion. He had noticed that I had used the word synonymous back on page 6, in a way that was not quite understandable to him. Perhaps that was because the word was not my word. I had gotten it from the online publication of an excellent well known Pastor. I barely know what the word means and I should not have used it. Do not bother looking; it is not there any more. Many of the beliefs that I have shared within this Chapter have come from numerous teachers of Christianity. I am writing this now because I could feel the Holy Spirit telling me to say a few things in my own words from my own heart. Actually I pray that these are God's words, that I am just working the keyboard. I guess I want everybody to be blessed with the same kind of relationship that I and many others share with the Holy Spirit. I believe that there are some of us at Church, that go up front at the time of Invitation and state that we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and accept him as our Lord and Savior. And then we are Baptized by immersion in water. And then, because the Church tells us so, we believe we are saved. And I believe that for some, because the Church tells us about God, we know about God, but some of us do not know God. I believe that by immersing ourselves in the Holy Spirit, we truly know God, rather than know about God. I believe that it is that relationship with the Holy Spirit that may guide us through all of our days and ways. GALATIANS 6:8 tells us that, if we sow to please the Spirit we will reap eternal life. I believe that we need do a little digging to sow. I have recently heard Pastors say, that they are not the Holy Spirit, they we can not tell us how and where to dig, and that we need to prayerfully consult with the Holy Spirit to learn that. I believe that our sowing is one of the greatest opportunities to cultivate our relationship with the Holy Spirit. By consulting with the Holy Spirit about how and where to sow, we are more likely to please the Holy Spirit and build that priceless precious relationship that is our gift from Jesus and know we are saved. I believe that some Churches immerse with water and sprinkle with the Holy Spirit. By immersing all believers in the Holy Spirit, we may better fulfill our mission to evangelize the lost.
CONCLUSION
I'm not saying that Churches and Ministers do not need support. They do, and most of them, such as the Ministers at our WRCC deserve every penny they are receiving and then some, they truly do so much for so many that I strongly believe that the fruits of their labor are worth much more than their pay:
NLT-GALATIONS 6:6 Those who are taught the word of God should help their teachers by paying them.
You may think that I have spent all this time, just looking for excuses not to tithe or give. I feel a little guilty discussing our giving, because the Bible tells us to do our good deeds in secret (MATTHEW 6:1). But actually, when the Church first did that sermon on Tithing, my Wife and I went home and put a pencil to all of our charitable giving, and at that time it was slightly over 10% of our income, so at the time we started giving a little less. Currently I do not know what our percentage is, or what our total is. I do know that we constantly prayerfully consult with the Holy Spirit on how we can give more time and money.
As long as I have been attending my Church, some of their past preachings and teachings of Tithing have been the only thing I have found any significant disagreement with. Like I have said several times before, I never want to be divisive of my Church. My disagreements written about in this Chapter Two of My Systematic Theology, are not intended to be a protest of any kind. I just found it difficult to sit and dutifully nod my head as though I agreed with and followed my Church's past teachings on Tithing, when I did not agree. I believe that to do so would be a lie. In ACTS 5, Ananias and Saphira were put to death for lying to the Holy Spirit about their giving. All of my writings in My Systematic Theology are only intended to honestly state what I believe and why I believe it. Regardless of what my Church preaches or teaches about Tithing in the future, I will just consider any disagreement that I have to be a disputable matter that I will not allow to interfere with my relationship with my Church.
I am not the sort of person that has a problem with every discussion about money during Church. In fact, I fully support all teachings, discussions and sermons about finances that are Biblically SOUND DOCTRINE. Recently our Senior Pastor gave an extraordinary sermon about finances. He told us there is something unbiblical about a Church pouring on guilt to get us to give more, serve more, participate in more stuff. He explained that God does not need anything from us financially, but His word is abundantly clear what he would like for us in regard to our finances. He also explained many of the hazards, risks, and Biblical problems of debt. I totally agreed with and appreciated his entire sermon. I believe that in many ways debt is Biblically wrong. I also believe that any money I spend on debt will only reduce what I can afford to make better use of by helping those less fortunate. Our Senior Pastor closed his sermon by telling us, that what God wants for us more than anything else is to have an intimate relationship with Him. I believe that an intimate relationship with God may be achieved by immersing myself in the Holy Spirit. By allowing the Holy Spirit to guide all my ways. Including my financial ways.
During a 10-12-08 sermon, our Senior Pastor presented the question of how much do we give back to God? Should we give 10% of gross income or 10% of net income? He explained that these are some questions that have been a major source of controversy in evangelical circles. He described how since April 2003, he had done at least 8 sermons on Malachi 3:10. "Bring the whole Tithe into the Storehouse." The Storehouse being the place where we receive our Spiritual nourishment. He explained that back in February, someone had pointed out to him how some people do not have 10% to give. The Senior Pastor admitted that though Malachi 3:10 is a great Old Testament passage, the truth was that he had unintentionally neglected what the New Testament standard on giving is. He went on to say, "The New Testament has provided you and I with a completely new standard." He pointed out that according to the New Testament, whatever we give is acceptable as long as we give it cheerfully. We should each decide in our own heart how much to give. Not what the preacher says, not what's written in the bulletin. This trusting should be between us and God alone and also our Spouse if we are married. This journey should not start unless we have prayed and we really feel like we have been given permission from God.
I can not tell you how moved I was by this sermon. I totally support the new direction the Senior Pastor is presenting on this subject of giving. I can not tell you how PROUD I am of him for having the courage to present ideas that are so different from what has been previously established within my Church. My heart is so touched to know that my Church has the leadership of a man that chooses to carefully put "SOUND DOCTRINE" first, regardless of the common practice of many other Churches. I also feel so blessed to know that my Church is led by a man humble enough to admit that he does not know it all, willing to still open his heart and mind and be teachable. I believe it is difficult to question the motives of a man who puts The Almighty God and His Word first, rather than the not so almighty $.
As I recently attended a Men's Bible Study, I found it a little concerning that several long time Christians of our Church explained that they did not understand what the Holy Spirit is. I believe that in order for my Pastor's new teachings on giving from the heart to properly support the Church, the Church may want to focus more teaching on opening the heart to receive the messages being sent by God through the Holy Spirit.
As I read and hear all of the various teachings about whether or not Old Testament Tithe Laws or any of the other 600+ Old Testament Laws apply to Christians, I can't help but ask myself a few questions:
1. I believe it is wrong to follow Old Testament Laws, so how do I practice the principle of an Old Testament Law without following the Old Testament Law?
2. If the New Testament Law says anyone who fails to provide for his family first has denied the faith and is worse than a non-believer and has nullified the word of God. Isn't it saying that I am a non-believer in Jesus? Isn't the same New Testament Law telling me that by practicing The Old Testament Tithing Law of Moses that my beliefs and actions are actually denying Christ?
3. Some Christians teach and believe that the crucifixion of Jesus ended only the Blood Sacrifice Laws for Christians and that the rest of the Old Testament Laws still apply to Christians. If that is so, why do Christians teach that the "Turn the Other Cheek Law" of MATTHEW 5:39cancels or prevails over the "Eye for an Eye-Tooth for a Tooth Law" of LEVITICUS 24:20? As my Senior Pastor said in a recent Sunday sermon, "Jesus initiated a new and healthier system in the New Testament." Is the LEVITCUS "Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth Law" considered to be a Blood Sacrifice Law? If I wish to be Biblically consistent and accurate, shouldn't I allow all the New Testament Laws of giving from the heart without compulsion to cancel or prevail over all obligatory Old Testament Tithe Laws of giving in ways that are currently Biblically impossible?
4. Are non-members of a church encouraged to remain non-members because they are encouraged to give as the Holy Spirit leads them, while members are pressured, expected and obligated to give 10% of their gross income?
5. How many good Christians who truly follow the greatest Commands according to Christ, of loving God and loving others are made to feel cursed, unwelcome and guilty because they are not blessed with the financial stability to follow a Church teaching of Old Testament Tithe Law of Moses?
6. How many of those same good Christians who may not be blessed with the financial stability to offer 10% of their gross income to any charity, but give lovingly, abundantly and unconditionally of their time to the Church are then taught to feel cursed, guilty or unwelcome in church or heaven?
7. How many of those same good Christians, one day carefully study the Bible and learn Sound Doctrine for themselves, then realize that they have been at least slightly misled and emotionally manipulated into following Old Testament Tithing Law of Moses and may have actually violated some New Testament principles of giving, then decide to stop giving all together to the Church that misled them?
8. How many of those same good Christians then leave the Church, or worse yet, leave God?
In closing, I believe the New Testament is quite clear about the following:
· The more I give to any who appear to be needy or are otherwise less fortunate than I; the more obedient I am to God's later commands of the New Testament.
· God is pleased with all giving, from the heart, as directed by the Holy Spirit, regardless of how much or what percentage I give to a Church.
· There is very little if any scriptural support or guidelines for giving to a Church, Televangelists or any other modern ministry.
· If I am aware of others who need financial assistance, moral support, or help with chores or services especially my immediate family 1TIMOTHY 5:4-7 and MARK 7:11, then my Church Family GALATIONS 6:8; I should prayerfully, humbly, covertly, provide to the best of my ability without making them go through the embarrassment of asking for help.
· Whether I am tipping a restaurant server, hotel housekeeper, paper boy, mail carrier, paying a babysitter, buying Girl Scout cookies, giving gifts to my Pastors, even giving blood; all giving of money, time or talents generously from my heart with a love for giving pleases God.
· If I feel led by the Holy Spirit to Tithe or follow any Old Testament Laws in some form or fashion, then I should obey that instruction.
· As the opening line of the Carrie Underwood song "Small" says, "What you got if you ain't got love, the kind that you just want to give away." I believe that no amount of giving will make up for a lack of love.
p.1769-1CORINTHIANS If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
In a recent sermon our Senior Pastor gave an excellent explanation of several signs and recent news events that indicate that the end of time may be very near and that Jesus may very well return within our lifetime. It reminded me of how precious time is. Do me a favor. Take a deep breath. Now let it out real slow. That deep breath we just took was just by the Grace of God. It could have very well been our last. We all know love ones and acquaintances who are lost. Regardless of when Jesus returns, we never know when that last breath will come, and then it will be too late to save others. That is why I believe it is so important for us to evangelize as many people as possible as soon as possible. Perhaps we should be less concerned about pressing Old Testament Laws on Christians as the Pharisees did in ACTS 15, and spend less time writing papers about Tithing and Old Testament Laws. Perhaps we should focus our concerns on writings, discussions and teachings that inspire the lost to be saved, and inspire those good Christians that are already saved to work harder and smarter to save others.
By TIM LAFEVER
REVISED 2-24-10
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