I hate being picky about terminology, but i feel this issue is important enough to be picky about. Many non-tithers use the terms “freewill giving”, “Spirit led giving”, and “grace giving” to describe how they give. The only problem is that the use of some of these terms to describe their philosophy of giving send out mixed messages. In this post i am going to describe the difference between spirit led, freewill, & grace giving. I will tell you why grace & freewill giving is not a term that clearly describes our opposing view about tithing. In the end i will tell you why “Spirit led” giving is the correct terminology that does illuminate the differentiating properties between tithing and new covenant giving.
Here’s the issue, people who enforce tithing tend to say, “i believe in grace giving and I believe in freewill giving, it’s just that i believe 10% is the starting point.” I would venture to say, that they are probably right – they do believe in grace and freewill giving. Their motivation to tithe may not be as if it were a law; their motivation is because they are under God’s grace and love. The issue is that they are led by a law, not by the Spirit.
Freewill Giving
I’m not going to pull up dictionary definitions, but generally i believe that everyone has freewill. Whether you believe tithing is commanded or not, you believe that God doesn’t force you to do something. So freewill giving is a very broad definition. By nature the term, “freewill” doesn’t describe attributes that are against tithing. Tithing can be freewill also.
Grace Giving
Ok, so grace giving sounds much more definitive right? After all, the Old Testament was under the law and we are under grace, so anyone who tithes is still under the law, right? Well, many tithers claim that they are under grace as well, simply for the fact that they are free from the curse. Typically these are the ones that tell you that the tithe is not a law that you will be punished for, and yet in the same sentence convince you how the tithe is the minimum, and God expects you to give it. Hence they somehow morph an old testament concept to fit under the new covenant relationship. Regardless, yes, we are all under grace whether we believe in tithing or not. So, the term, “grace giving” doesn’t exactly describe the attributes that are against tithing either.
Spirit Led Giving
The most bizarre concept to me about tithing, is that God can’t trust his Spirit to help you make the right decision as to where you can give the first 10%, but he can trust his Spirit to guide you with offerings? Spirit led giving puts the Holy Spirit in control of what you do with every single penny. Don’t confuse, “spirit led” with “spirit filled”. Both terms are totally different concepts. Spirit led is receiving instructions from the Holy Spirit as your source as opposed to using scripture to dictate your actions. Spirit filled is more or less obtaining character attributes of God.
I guess another term that would be safe to use is “new covenant giving“. When you debate others about tithing, this terminology stuff can get nit-picky, and sometimes frustrating. Next time you talk with someone about tithing, i challenge you to use the term “spirit led giving”.
What do you think about all this terminology? Do you think it matters? Do you call your giving something different? If you do, I’d like to hear it.
Related Posts
- Spirit Led Giving Defined
- Bible Verses on Spirit Led Giving
- Tithe by Law. . .More under Grace
- New Testament Giving – We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight
Tags: freewill, giving, grace, holy spirit, tithing
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Let’s be honest. The church as an institution is at it’s core a non-profit organization that exists on the donations of its membership.
We should be shifting our focus to creating a culture of generousity rather than employing faild persuasive tactics couched in pseudo-theological vocabulary.
Read more at: http://tinyurl.com/6blgjm.
I have been reading Pagan Christianity and I am blown away. The authors take on Pastors, and sermons is amazing and it seems to ring true. I can’t wait untill I have finished the book and I know it well enough to explain it to my wife and others.
While there’s so much to appreciate in your blog, we would have to help ourselves avoid unbalanced (and often unreasonable) statements. Here’s one such mistaken ideas that caught my attention:
This is a huge minus and an often repeated mistake that so many people use in their arguments against tithing. Sadly, not many such people realise the fact that this is simply contradicting the Word of God.
Let’s note those named:
- Abraham,
- Moses,
- Noah,
- Jacob,
- King David,
- Isaac;
. .and there are three things highlighted in that quote, viz:
(a) none of those mentioned above had the gift of the Spirit;
(b) their communication with God was between them and an earthly priest; and -
(c) they did not have personal communication with God.
Quite the opposite is revealed in Scripture, and let’s see a few:
(a) “none of those mentioned had the gift of the Spirit”?
Well, what about MOSES and DAVID? Two pointers may help correct this misrepresentation – Moses (Numbers 11:17-25); and David (1 Samuel 16:13). When we go through the OT, there are so many instances where we find many of the OT saints experienced and were led by the Spirit of God (Exo. 35:30-31; Isa. 63:11; Hag. 2:5, etc).
(b) “their communication with God was between them and an earthly priest”?
Not true. In some instances, some priests were involved; but that does not negate the fact that they had communication with God without the involvement of any priest, as the following reveals:
- Abraham (Gen. 13:4; 15:1; 17:3-5)
- Moses (Exo. 33:11)
- Noah (Gen. 9:8-9)
- Jacob (Gen. 32:9-12)
- King David (2 Sam. 22:1ff)
- Isaac (Gen. 25:21).
These and several more other verses reveal simply that they had direct communication with God without involving any earthly priests.
(c) “they did not have personal communication with God”?
This is already answered in (b) above.
Beloved, when we enter into discussions of this nature, I often wonder if this whole argument against tithes is simply a mindset rather than a careful appraisal of what Scripture teaches. It is unhealthy for anyone to make contradictory assertions and thereby assume that others are wrong while they “must” be right!
By all means, avoid extreme statements – often, they are obviously convoluted and unjustified when closely examined in the Word of God. One cannot use untrue statements to justify one’s arguments against a Biblical subject – and it does not matter whether they are made by tithers or non-tithers.
Blessings.
The issue of tithe have generated a lot of ripples in the Church leading to backsliding of many. In some congregation, emphasizes on tithe have overtaken the message of salvation, grace and love. The truth remains that a spirit-led giving is what the early Christian practised and should be preached. I believe no Christian is under a curse for not giving tithe as preached in some congregations. Christ, the scripture stated, has redeemed us from the curse of the law.
Thank you Darlington please tell others brother and set other Christians free from giving bondage.