I haven’t done so officially yet, but i was just thinking the other day about writing a testimony about how i came to my conclusion about tithing. I guess what prompted this was when i had mentioned to someone that i used to tithe. They asked me what reasons did i switch my views on tithing and if it had anything to do with the abuse of money in the church. Typically people ask questions like that because they wanted to see if my tithing stand was born out of ill conceit. Most people think that if your opposition sprouted from rebellion then they think that your argument is not legitimate. I’m sure there are many people out there today that believe in Spirit-led giving because they questioned abuse in the church. I’m sure some of them are still rebellious and bitter about it. But let’s not throw out the truths that we find even though they are found in the doubting moments of the church.
My tithing testimony doesn’t include a rebellious foundation. I grew up in a church that was very good with money. We had no debt, and we had great outreach. We didn’t have the bells and whistles, like coffee shops and stage lighting like most seeker sensitive churches, but we still had more than what we needed. I remember the church going into debt only once because the school needed classrooms. It was a facility that cost only 1 million dollars and was well worth the cost for the students of a complete high school and church to constantly use.
So anyways back to my testimony, i got my first job at 16 at an ice cream shop. My very first paycheck i tithed on. I tithed from then all the way through the end of college. I didn’t question it. My parents had tithed all their lives and so i would as well. I really didn’t even know what verses that tithing was commanded from, but i tithed anyways. I am glad that i gave all that money, and there are no regrets there. The only thing i regret to tell you about my tithing testimony is that i was living by a law and i didn’t know why. It was automatic.
There’s been some controversy today about ATM tithing and automated debits for your offering. People are afraid that since the money is not physically placed in an offering plate that we will be out of tune with the heart of giving. But with how tithing is automated today, what difference does it make if you blindly press a button on the internet, or you just blindly sign a check? If there is no spiritual interaction involved it doesn’t matter if you have automatic withdrawals or you place cold hard cash in a gold offering plate as it passes by.
Let me tell you that one of the hardest things for me was to tithe my income when i was paying my way through college. Most people have it harder than i did, but i paid for my own gas, insurance, vehicle, entertainment, tuition, and books. My parents gave me a place to stay and eat for free, but they didn’t give me anything extra. Over one summer i had three jobs and was working about 70 hours a week. Regardless of how hard i worked i still had to take out some loans. Luckily it was only about 1 years worth of school debt
This is essentially what i did with my money. I was a giver, not an investor. An investor is Spirit-led, but a giver follows directions from a dead law.
So as i was saying about my tithing testimony in college. At the end of college i became involved in a fellowship that challenged and fed me. We did lots of ministry together. One day a friend confronted us about tithing. He said that tithing is not required of New Testament Christians. I immediately argued with him. Of course i didn’t agree. I couldn’t have been wrong all these years. After all, tithing is commanded in the bible, right? After that i began to search the scriptures to prove him wrong. The more and more i studied, the more and more, i couldn’t prove him wrong. It was the craziest thing! I kept going over and over scriptures. I kept questioning my reasoning. There’s just no way that this much of the church has been wrong for so long about tithing. Then it hit me. What was the number one thing that Jesus talked about in the bible? It wasn’t heaven, hell, hatred, the tongue, lying, or satan. It was money.
Outside of the Holy Spirit and the Word, money is the most powerful and influential substance known to mankind. If there is anything that the church can be wrong about, it’s gotta be about money.
So i’ve been heavily studying and discussing tithing since 2005. I started a tithing website, started this blog, and started a tithing group in order to get the word out. Hopefully one day, i will write a book.
I cannot tell you the amount of growing and learning that God has given me over the past years. I wish i could just take a portion of my heart, soul, and mind and let you see the truths that God has spoken to me about Spirit-led giving. My passion on this subject is what keeps me writing about it so much. If this truth was not so alive in me i wouldn’t be able to write as much as i do. Right now, i believe there are over 180 blog articles that have been written here since 2006. Each day there are about 245 unique visitors, 3280 hits, and 175 google searches. That is another thing that keeps me motivated about this site. I know people are searching for the truth.
I am convinced to my grave that Spirit-led giving is what God intended for his Children under the New Covenant. Would i remain open to a new evidence that tithing is required for us, well, sure! I have listened to hundreds of sermons, and read dozens of books on tithing, so i’m not sure that much of anything new is out there to reveal, but an open mind is there, believe it or not. I hope my tithing testimony encourages some. Please share your testimony as well. It will encourage me and others.
Related Posts
- Testimony from Rory Moore
- Have Debt? Start Tithing
- God Before Mortgage
- Foreclosure, Tithing, & Guilt
Tags: church, finances, stewardship, tithe, tithing
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Deacon & Uaher were here and read up
The mandated Christan 10% to the local church moneytithe doctrine. It is the fith or sixth thing that chrisians in America learn after they make a commitment to become Christians. Chistians feel so strongly about it but they cannot support it with the Bible. Christian moneytithing is Unchallenged leagalism, automaticaly belived. We know that salvation comes without works but the moneytithe doctrine teaches that spirituality, faith, Blessingings and Christian growth come through the works of moneytithing. Thankyou for promoting free will Offering the only giving that Christians should do. Wow I had not thought of it that Jesus talked so much about money but he never required a moneytithe in the Old or New testement.
Frewillgiver
Since tithing is definitely a principle taught in the Bible, it is absolutely shocking to hear the number of people that teach that tithing isn’t relevant for Christians today. Many of these individuals decry tithing as an “illegal and abusive practice of the Church”. They claim that if you practice tithing you are still under “Old Testament bondage”. The purpose of this article is not to identify every scripture in the Bible relating to tithing, but rather to try to refute some of the arguments commonly used to convince people that Christians don’t need to tithe.
1) Tithing is not necessary under this current dispensation of grace.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “If the ‘grace’ you have received does not help you to keep the law, you have not received grace.” While it is true that we now live in a dispensation of grace, that grace was purchased at a tremendous cost. It did not free me of all obligations to Christ. Lev. 27:30-32 emphasizes that the tithe is “holy unto the Lord”. We are commanded to “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:16). If we consume upon ourselves that which is holy unto the Lord, then we are cheapening the grace that purchased our redemption.
‘If the “grace” you have received does not help you to keep the law, you have not received grace’.
2) Tithing was only an Old Testament teaching, and was not applicable in the New Testament.
Scripture records several ceremonial obligations, such as the law of animal sacrifices, which are no longer binding upon the New Testament church (Heb. 9:8–10). These were types that were fulfilled by Christ at his first advent. However, tithing was instituted for a specific purpose and not as a type. The Apostle Paul presented no argument against tithes as he did repeatedly against the ceremonial issues of the law (ex. meats, holy days, new moon feasts, Sabbath days, circumcision, etc.). Jesus himself even commended people for tithing (Matt. 23:23). There are many scriptures in the New Testament showing where the ceremonial law of God was fulfilled and no longer applicable to the church, but there is no scripture stating that tithing in no longer necessary. It is very audacious of men today to take it upon themselves to make changes to God’s written plan for the tithe.
3) Tithing was only required of Jews, not Gentiles.
The vast majority of our Bible was written to the Jews. All of Jesus’ words were spoken to Jews. That does not mean we can disregard them because we are not Jews. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
4) Before the Law of Moses, tithing was done on a voluntary basis.
All true worship of God is voluntary on our part. That was true before, during and after the Law of Moses. No one makes you attend church. No one forces you to be baptized. No one makes you live a holy life. Similarly, no one can compel you to tithe. That does not mean that it’s optional either. The grace of God allows us to obey all of God’s Word and not just the parts we like.
5) Malachi 3 was only written to the Jews that were under the Mosaic Law.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (II Tim. 3:16). Of course Malachi was writing to the Jews in his day, because the Gentiles were still the wild olive branch that had not yet been grafted in (Romans 11:17). If we are to say that the scriptures only apply to the people that they were originally written for, then we can disregard the entire Bible. We don’t need to show charity, because that was only a charge given to the Corinthians.
6) It is impossible to give tithes to the one true High Priest and anyone else collecting tithes under grace is a fraud and a robber.
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:40) It is true that we are not able to physically give our tithes to Christ, and he has no need of them anyway. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalms 50:10). However, he has established a church that bears his name and is his representation in the earth.
7) Those that tithe are denying that Christ fulfilled the law of Moses.
There was a law of God in place long before the Mosaic Law was instituted. For example, God instructed Noah regarding the number of animals he was to take into the ark. He differentiated between the “clean” and the “unclean” animals. The Bible does not record the law defining such unclean animals, until Leviticus 11. Yet, that law was already in existence in Noah’s time.
Similarly, the principle of tithing preceded the establishment of God’s covenant with ancient Israel and it did not cease with the establishment of the second or new covenant!
8) A pagan Roman Catholic Church established tithing centuries after the Bible was written.
This is a very weak argument since there are so many scriptures in the Bible that shows God’s people observing the principle of tithing. The truth is God himself established tithing in the book of Genesis (Gen. 14:20).
9) Only Levites could collect tithes and since the Levitical priesthood has ended, so has tithing.
This argument is based on the assumption that God gave the tithe eternally and unconditionally to the Levites. The Bible does not say that. When we tithe, we are giving it to the Lord and not to man. Man only uses it. In Malachi 3, Israel was not robbing the Levites of tithes – they were robbing God.
The ability to receive tithes was not just based on ancestral heritage. The Bible even records some examples of individuals receiving tithes that were not Levites. Abraham paid tithes to Melchesidek (Gen. 14:18-20) and he obviously was not a Levite since Levi would not be born until many years later. There were some who came and brought their tithes to Elisha (II Kings 4:42).
10) Only food products from the land were “titheable”; money was never a “titheable” item.
There is certainly no scripture that excludes money as a “titheable” item. In fact, the scriptures say that you are to give tithes of all your increase (II Chron. 31:5). In the agricultural society of Moses day, the primary source of wealth for people was their crops and animals. This was their source of income. God is laying out a principle that you are to tithe from your source of income.
11) Giving offerings has replaced tithing, and you only need to give what you feel is appropriate for your situation.
“Proportional giving” is a concept that is impossible for Christians to fulfill. We can never give back to the Lord in proportion to how he as blessed us. If we gave everything we had, we would still fall far short.
In addition, offerings were not a New Testament creation designed to replace tithing as some would want you to believe. In fact, the giving of offerings was taught in the Old Testament in addition to paying your tithes. The children of Israel were required to bring an offering when they came up to the Temple three times a year (II Chron. 8:13). Giving offerings is not to be in place of your tithes, but in addition to it. The Israelites had robbed God of “tithes and offerings” (Mal. 3:8). If they were one and the same, this passage would not make sense.
In conclusion, people can come up with all kinds of arguments to not do something that they don’t want to do. Due to space, I have not even addressed some of the weaker arguments sometimes used (ex. tithes were suppose to be brought into the storehouse and the New Testament church has no storehouse). From studying the scriptures, I strongly believe that tithing is still relevant for our day. It was instituted as a method to support the work of God and to be a vehicle by which God could bless his people. Both of which we still need today.
I have written about tithing at http://realchristianity.wordpress.com/2008/03/04/to-tithe-or-not-to-tithe/
Keep speaking the truth as there are many still living in bondage and are afraid to stop tithing in case they get ‘cursed’
Alan
How much you make alan?
Truth About Tithes
BIBLE VERSES
Is Your Giving by the OLD COVENANT or by the NEW COVENANT
Jesus Died to Set us Free From The Law!
The following Bible verses prove Jesus No Longer Demands The Tithe!
Is Your Giving by the Law or by The Holy Spirit?
Question: Have you been taught the liberty of giving by the Holy Spirit. Or are you taught the legalistic law of giving called tithing? The Bible say’s if you live according to the law you become a debtor to keep the whole law. The Bible also says if you try to justify yourself by the law you will fall from grace.
OLD COVENANT
Moses Established Levitical Law Of Tithing – Only Required Every Third Year!
Deuteronomy 14:27-29 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you. “At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
Moses’ Levitical law mandates a four-way split of the tithe! The storehouse was to provide a welfare fund using 75% of all tithes! The tithe was to bless the poor, not put a yoke of bondage on them!
Deuteronomy 26:12 “When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year—the year of tithing—and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled, then you shall say before the LORD your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them.
According to the Levitical Law of tithing established by Moses, priests are limited to room and board, as the Levitical Law prohibits priests from owning property.
Joshua 14:3 Moses had granted the two-and-a-half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest,
Joshua 18:7 The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the LORD is their inheritance.
Are we Under the Law Or Not?
NEW COVENANT established in Jesus’ New Testament
Hebrews 9:16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be a death of the testator.
Before Jesus died to establish His testament, the new covenant, He said to those still under the law at that time;
Matthew 23:23-26 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Hebrews 8:6-13 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Are You Guilty of Wrongfully Demanding The Tithe? Repent!
Matthew 9:13 …go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Matthew 12:7 …if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have
condemned the guiltless.
Galatians 2:16 …man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ…
Original Jewish Christians Set The Standards Required For Gentile Christians
Acts 15:1-29 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Galatians 5:1-18 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Romans 7:6 …now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that WE SHOULD SERVE IN THE NEWNESS OF THE SPIRIT and not in the oldness of the letter.
Galatians 3:24-25 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Hebrews 7:18-19 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and un-profitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (Read Hebrews chapters 7 & 8 for more clarity)
But Still…
Acts 20:35 …‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Only, Let Your Giving…
Philemon 1:14 …not be by compulsion…
2 Corinthians 9:7 …let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
Matthew 6:1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Give by The Holy Spirits Leading With Faith and Love…
Luke 6:38 …and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
2Corinthians 9:6 …He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
But Remember…
1Corinthians 13:3 (paraphrased) Though you bestow all your goods to feed the poor, and even give your body to be burned, but have not love, it will profit you nothing.
To Those Who Give Out of Love as They Are Lead by The Holy Spirit…
2Corinthians 9:10 …He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness…
James 1:25 …he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
New Covenant followers of Jesus are free to give as the Holy Spirit leads them.
Are you free to exercise this liberty Jesus died for you to have?
What sacrifice does Jesus really want from you?
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Warning to all pastors: STOP DEMANDING the TITHE, says THE LORD JESUS
These Bible verses were compiled from the New King James Version by Brian & Jon Hanna Truth Ministries, PO Box 25096, Cleveland, OH 44125 http://www.ConnectionMagazine.org, email: jon@connectionmagazine.org
Our purpose is to rightly divide the word of the One True Almighty God/Father/Savior Jesus Christ who’s word is found in the Holy Bible; To provoke you to read His Word thoroughly; To incourage you to seek Him diligently in prayer, and to help you develop a strong relationship with Him.
Please visit http://www.connectionmagazine.org with your corrections and/or comments
All this talk about tithing not being a biblical pricinpl e is bunch of crap. I will agree say tithing usually means 10% of your income. However, giving is still taught and you should be doing it. All these verses about we are no longer under the law. Which is true, but we still live the law. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. So if you are living for God and Christ, you will live the law without having to do all the sacrifices. Which where what Jesus set us free from, but the practices of tithing, I have are throughout the new Testament, just not a 10%. I would say it is based on what you can do, and like it was said it is not to say it is money.
In other parts of the world people bring crops for pastors as their tithe. It is what you can do and based on where you live. US, we have money, well not if you look at the National Debt, but anyway. Giving would be money, but lets say you cannot afford to get 10%, which I would say is a good percent to use since it was what Abraham gave, but is not mandatory. However, you can give like 4%. Then you should give 4%.
Let’s say you are so tight budgeted that you cannot afford to give any money, so you tithe your time. This is of course goes above and beyond already serving in the Church.
Do not be so quick to throw the Law out, because Jesus did not abolish the Law.
I hope you didn’t get the idea from my blog posts that i wanted to throw out the law or that i don’t want people to give. Of course we should all be sacrificial in our giving.
It’s amazing how defensive people who tithe get when they are faced with the following….
1) Why tithe when Christians never tithed
2) Which tithe do you tithe, do we even have a right to not tithe two of them?
3) What do you do during the seventh year when NO tithe was required?
4) Do you give your tithe to a Levite, a tithe to the poor and do you tithe for the festival?
5) How do twist scripture so that tithe is MONEY?
..this is just the beginning….
What God wants is us to care for each other. The Levites portion was the tithe… the poor (who were not required to tithe) were also the recipients of the tithe.
If you are going to “tithe” biblically, then you better make sure you are doing it by the book.
For those of who have been freed from the law of sin and death, our whole being is for God’s glory, our time, talents and money.
Only God can make a claim on any of these three and He does it through the Holy Spirit that lives deep within each one of us who are called and held by Jesus.
Ken,
Thanks for stopping by. I love it when their defense is just a bunch emotional discharge of empty proof. It’s interesting to me that the majority of sermons that are accompanied by testimonials are the ones about tithing. That’s partly because the pastor can’t get too deep into scripture on the topic otherwise people start asking questions.
- Jared B.
Tim Green
Which is it? Is failing to moneytithe 10% a sin or not. If monetithing is what Jesus requires then we are in a grave sin for telling people that they are not required. If monetithing 10% is manditory then please present verses in the New testement. We don’t want to be in sin so enlighten us. However if you are wrong then I declare that you are in sin for teaching an error which is a stumbling block to the givers of the moneytithe and a bigger sin for the recievers of the moneytithe. The old testament people had money and crops but they were never required to moneytithe 10%. Your view of tithing sounds like freewillgiving if one can give 4% of their income. Just come right out and admit that Preachers are wrong when they demand a moneytithe of 10%. Would you ever proclame that folks are in sin if they do not monetithe 10% of their money? You know that so many churches do exaclly that or they allow their congregations to get the impression that they must give 10% of their money or they are in sin. Take a stand are preachers who allow people in their congregations to think that they are in sin if they don’t tithe 10% of their money stealing or not?
Are you hot cold or lukewarm over this issue of moneytithing? You cannot have it both ways because there really is no middle groud.
Freewillgiver. please respond
To me, the fundamental question is are we bound to giving to the pastor or to the needs of our brothers and sisters (Matthew 25:35-46)? The reality is that many pastor see the tithe as a revenue stream – period. They don’t trust us to give from the heart (as scripture commands in 2 Corinthians 9:7), so they tie the bondage of the law around our necks, twist Malachi 3 and declare that we’re cursed for witholding it, and some pastors are even kicking people out of church if they don’t consistently give their 10%.
So Ken, no one is arguing about giving – especially grace giving. But if your defending the “tithe”, then you either support it as a 10% tax (which as we all know, tithe means “tenth”), or you support giving from the heart as the Lord leads.
Sorry Ken – I was addressing Tim’s post, not yours.
I agree with you :-)
If the tithe includes money and/or acts/deeds. My question is: How many people actually give 2 hours and 24 minutes (a tenth of each day) to acts/deeds for God?
I know if I tithe 10% and then have to worry the rest of the week how I’m going too pay bills and feed my family then I’m not a cheerful giver.
I agree with your belief in Spirit-led giving. Just this week, I have been confronted with a choice. Pay my tithe to my church, where my pastors manage with their own faith to hold down a million dollar home and a few luxury cars (which I am in no way criticizing them for) OR buy new school clothes for my godson. This is a child that I met at a birthday party of a friend in the projects. He is very poor, his mother practices bi-sexuality, parties all the time, and is very physically abusive to all three of her children. I listened to the Lord and got involved in this child’s life. Believe me, I have paid a price for this decision. I’ve had the Dept of Children & Families called on me 3 times (always ending up in my favor) since my godson came to live with me. People just don’t understand why some white girl wants to take care of some ghetto black boy. But, I just did what was in my heart. It was not the most “opportune” time either, when he came to live with me (I am a single mother with two sons of my own). I have struggled a lot financially and had my faith challenged on a whole new level. I’ve been criticized and persecuted by many, especially those close to me, some who don’t want the little black boy around. But, they don’t know what this boy and me have been through together or how close we are now. He’s my son. And recently he has been telling me how God has been speaking to him (and its true, I am a witness) Now, you tell me, do I send my little boy to school for another year of humiliation because he has old worn out clothes and make part of my pastor’s Hummer payment or, do I get to experienc the true joy (I hold back tears now) of giving so passionately from my heart to my godson. I already know the answer for me, my godson and I are going shopping this week and nothing gives me greater pleasure. And I believe God is smiling too. Why would the Lord withhold blessing from anyone who would use it not just to give to a charitable cause, but would use it to be a witness to a young child and say “this is how much God loves you”. I haven’t just given this boy money, I have given him my whole heart. I will never leave him nor forsake him.
Why can’t it be both? If I willfully ascribe to giving 10% of my money to the church, and I do so with a thankful heart for the blessings God has given me, then I don’t see why that is a problem.
We don’t live in an age of livestock and harvests, but as a salary earner, my increase is money which can be traded for such goods. I realize that as a New Testament believer, I am not bound by the old law, but if you read in the New Testament, new believers sold EVERYTHING they had and gave it to the church. You don’t really see many people doing that nowadays, even though it is biblical.
My testimony is simple regarding tithing. I lost my job and had to move to another state. I was $14,000 in debt. I found a steady job that paid half of what I made at the first job. I had to move back in with my parents. I had never tithed before, but I felt like it was the next step in my personal walk with God. My parents were strongly against me giving a tithe since I was in debt. However, I felt that it was what I was supposed to do. It took me over a year to get out of debt. I didn’t spend money on games, entertainment, expensive food or clothes. I worked hard to put as much of my debt behind me every month. Within my first year of tithing, I started a job which paid more than the first job I had. I continued to tithe and after 2 years, I was making 20% more a year from receiving 3 raises. This was miraculous because my company has been tight about money and yet I was blessed again and again.
I am not a millionaire, but I feel secure in my God. Whenever my car has broken down, or I’ve needed money, I’ve had enough in savings to cover it. Sure, it’s frustrating to have very little at times, but I always have enough to take care of problems that arise. I believe that I am blessed because in obedience to God I started to tithe. I lost my first job I believe because I turned my back on God and the church. I think God wanted me to be more committed to Him this time around and giving Him my money just furthur solidifies my committment and love for Him. Everything I have is His and yet he asks for so little in return.
I think this is something each of us work out as part of our salvation and our walk with God. I personally do not like freewill giving because it is emotional in response, just like impulse shopping. Giving regularly is a more disciplined action. Done in the right context, it is actually a very beautiful thing that can draw you closer to God.
Unlike your parents, when I started tithing, I was getting out of debt, not sinking myself furthur in it. I was able to throw over $1k at it every month until it was gone. Because I had been so unresponsible starting my adult life, tithing made me meditate on how I had gotten where I was. To be honest, the amount I was paying in tithe, was less than what I had been paying to go out to eat every month in my previous lifestyle.
When I got my first house, the lender said “I know you are looking for a house in X range, but you could afford SO MUCH MORE.” This is the bullfish that so many people have swallowed by greedy lenders. I ran the numbers in advance of my home purchase and got something I knew I could afford while putting away savings every month.
I agree that basic economics is important for Christians. High school kids should be taught basic life skills like balancing a check book.
If tithing causes you to go furthur in debt, then you need to evaluate how you are spending your other money. Tithing helped me look at that in my life.
****PRAISE GOD FOR YOUR TESTIMONY STEPHANIE!!!****
Seriously – if you’re living so tight that you can’t spare a DIME something is wrong with you. Give up the cable, the Starbucks, the pager and a cell phone and prove good stewardship…then when you get on top you can bless yourself too!!!
To Stefanie, thanks for your testimony. What a refreshing input on an otherwise bleak and dismal site. I stumbled upon this place and have been amazed at the comments. Obviously a gathering place for those inclined to justify, rationalize there reason for giving less than 10%. To Dori, bless your heart. I personally give a tithe to the church and also support, through giving, other Christian charities, and give of my time at church. But my personal belief is that the 10% is given to God (not specifically the church) for his will. It would appear his will is for you to help this child. God Bless You, but of course he already has.
Jerry,
My stance on tithing does not rationalize giving less than 10% any more than your 10% stand rationalizes giving less than 100%. Not unless you really think a tithe equals a 100% committed steward?
Your comments are from an amateur’s point of view. Not only does it lack facts, but it lacks discernment about the motives and achievements of many participants on this blog. I know many people who do give more than 10%, and also teach against the tithe. Kind of shocking isn’t it? Makes you wonder how people can be against tithing, and yet fight greed? Hmmm, kind of sounds like they understand how to be Spirit led.
- jared
I too grew up thinking that this was completely scriptural. I met my wife in college who held the same views and after we were married we tithed ourselves right into debt. Years of guilt followed because we weren’t able to “keep up with the Jones” at church in our tithing effort. It wasn’t until last year (14 years later) that I began to really dig into the source of tithing. Our church did a campaign on giving and we led a small group that “helped” folks focus on their finances. What I learned in this group was a tragedy. We had “law-a-holics” who were borrowing money from parents to pay their bills so they could pay their tithe. I didn’t hear any outrage from the leadership team. I became angry.
I have been set free from the law of sin and death. I am disappointed in the contemporary church today that still quietly sits back and indirectly enforces the tithe. Moreover, I am taken back at the notion that I will be more blessed if I am being ‘obedient’ to the tithe and could possibly be ‘cursed’ if I’m not. What a tragedy.
Unfortunately, the church has played up through personal testimonies that tithing automatically = blessings! There is a real danger that exist here and there isn’t enough time to go into depth about it but know this…the church will be held accountable for their selfish money-hungry sins.
Bill,
Thanks for sharing your testimony.
- jared
[...] but is a necessary evil in order to convince people to pay for your new mansion. You can even use personal testimonies that show how people were cursed for not giving their [...]
Please pray for me and my wife. We have been serving God free from the yoke of tithing in our episcopalian church. Recently a new Priest (thats what we call them) was posted to our Church. He immediately started to teach about the importance of tithing. I have been involved in the music ministry of the Church. But I am aware of the scam of tithing. I opposed his tithing teaching through emails with our members. The new Priest reacted by removing me from the music ministry! Please pray for my future in the local Church.
I know of two cases in my own life about tithing. A member of our Episcopalian church, who came out of SDA continued to tithe in spite of her poverty. Her two children were born invalid. She died and the family did not even have money to buy a coffin !
Another case is my collegue who was from Brethren background, also high on tithing. In his old age, the wife left him for another man and he is spending his rest of life at an Old Folks Home.
Tithing will definitely rebuke the devourer for your sake. When you honor God with your finances, you must believe in His promises, confess his Word and give cheerfully.
When I relocated down here to Raleigh God blessed me with a job where I made the same salary. He was very faithful, however due to not coming down here with a plan, I had to start over. In January I had to quit the job, and my income was about maybe $300 a month. I started sending my resume out again in February. God whispered in my ear and told me to send the resumes out in the name of Jesus. Still there was no job yet, in my discouragement I had to trust God and know that he was the source.
God allowed my resume to get into the right peson’s hand, he blessed me with daycare for both of my children. I do not have a car but God blessed me with transportation to and from work(I do not have to pay a dime out of my pocket for it. I am a faithful tither to God be the glory. I donot care where the money came from I gave that 10 percent cheerfully, and I spoke God’s word over it. He has opened doors which no man will be able to close, and he did not just open up the door but the windows too. I am still sitting here and praising God in my spirit and at my desk Thanking God. Remember God is the source…..He is the Provider, and the one who will rebuke the devourer for your sake. You have to believe, I do not care what the situation looks like, just stretch out on that faith.God will bless you before that offering and Tithe gets to the storehouse. I am a living witness. STRETCH OUT ON FAITH AND CONFESS GOD”S WORD. Be obedient to God with your finances and watch God. No it may take sometime, but remember God’s timing is always right. He is a God of decency and order. GIVE, GIVE,and keep on giving. If you do not have the offering, be obedient with the tithe. Dod will make a way out of no way. If he did it for me it can be done for anyone. Do not block the blessing by stealing from God.If you have stole from him repent, and make it right with God. Please be blessed and prosper.
hi ihave been searching for confirmation on tithing. I am asingle mum with 2 daughters and as well as tithing for over a year and giving generous offerings i had to pursue another job in addition to my full time job. Last week i prayed and confessed to God that i felt oppressed and bound and could he explain why i was left struggling each month and when he was going to open up the windows of heaven and pour out my blessing. Today after spending several hours researching i agree that God does not require Gentiles to tithe but to give to the poor with a good heart, I feel so free and dont need to take on amother job to make ends meet. The God TV preachers whom I trusted has left me with doubt in my heart and I will no longer trust their teaching but rely on the holy spirit to guide me with the ruth. Thank you for your research of the scriptures which made it easier for me to discover and have the truth confirmed andrea
You’re missing one very very important point here. Acts 2:42 states “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”
Did you miss that? “had all things in common and sold their possessions and goods and divided them among all, as anyone had need”…so should we do this?…so how can it be that tithing is not applicable but neither is this?
You are correct that Spirit lead giving is best….I don’t believe in tithing. Honestly, having read your testimony I realize, why tithe when we can give so much more!! My only point is, let not people use your testimony as a reason not to tithe, rather let it be a reason to give so much more.
I can only say in Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
This is so very true, nothing provides a better sleep, a more joyful and thankful heart and contentment than giving with gladness. Thank you for reading. Blessings. Daniel
Dan G.,
it’s not about giving above and beyond a tithe. The poor did not tithe in the old testament. bankers, lawyers, doctors, and carpenters did not tithe on their occupational income either. The Israelites were required to give less than 1% of their increase in spoils of war.
We can’t take extraordinary examples of giving in the new testament church and claim that they are models for how we should give today. They are examples, not models. The only thing we should model is their faith, not what they gave. The same goes for giving in the old testament.
- jared
There is a differnce between a tithe and an offering. An offering is beyond your tithe. I am not against free will offering, but I am syaing that a free will offering should not be in place of your tithe. Also, how does the New Testament nullify the Old? Does the New Testament refute the Old Testment Law?
All the requirements of the law has been fulfilled by Jesus! We are accepted in Christ Jesus – not by our offerings or tithes! If your basis is NOT ‘Jesus is my Righteousness’ then you are in danger.
Tithing, honestly is about obedience. Its not just to give. The bible tells us that obedience is better than sacrifice, and tithing should teach us to give from a place of doing what we know to be true. I think some ministries stress tithes for the wrong reasons but bottom line is God set a standard, and we should follow it. The true blessing of tithing is the fact that it can be challenging…regardless of how much money you make. A tenth of a million dollars IS A LOT. lol, but when we give to God from a place of trust and activate our FAITH with that giving results are produced. Its easier to give when you have but feels impossible to do when you dont. I can give while in need because I really have learned that God will provide all my needs and that is where my faith lies. He said “man shall not live by bread alone” He is the provider and being obedient and KNOWING that God will provide what i “eat or drink” I can give freely because God is my source. We can never have what we are afraid of letting go.
I have personally been in study on the subject of tithing for quite sometime now. I gave my life to Christ over 35 years ago and in the early days of my walk I never heard my pastor pound on the subject of tithing as it is today. We gave as the Lord enabled us to give and we weren’t put under bondage from it. I was in a small church, yet it was packed every Sunday and Wednesday , and even for prayer on Friday nights half of the church was there. I never heard that tithing was a “commandment” as I hear in my church now. In that little church I grew up in we had one need after another met. We put an addition on the church and still had a surplus of money for other areas of ministry. In the church I am in now, as leaders you must put your name on the tithe envelop and if you don’t you will be told to step down from your position. So I asked the pastor…if you aren’t hurting for money and it really isn’t necessary for people to write their names, how can they be brought into your office if they don’t give? Well…let’s say the true spirit about his understanding of tithing came out. I brought out the scriptures about tithing being every three years etc. and I also brought out one more famous scripture used for tithing in Malachi 3 . The scripture used most often is in verse 8…Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, In what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. Vrs 9 You are cursed with a curse. Now back up! Who was this being said to? Let’s go to verse 5…And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows, and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien-Because they do not fear Me, Says the Lord of hosts.
The Lord was talking to the priest about forcing God’s people to pay them tithes! I am finding that the pounding for tithes comes out of the Shepherding/Discipleship/Mentoring movement and it promotes “lordship” over people’s lives through a ministry/church/pastor and displaces Christ in the life of the believer. It locks people into giving 10% and doesn’t give the New Testament place of giving without being compelled to do so. There are so many who don’t study let alone read the Word so they are told this is what the Word says, and they blindly follow. We are to bless and help one another and its not with money all the time. Tithing clothing(good, clean ones not your rags), food(not something you have in your pantry for years), and other necessary materials in life. When we catch a glimpse of helping each other as we journey through life as the (true aliens) we won’t have a problem with giving (whether we call it tithing or not)
Galatians 3:11
“So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
Hebrew 8:6
“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises”.
Hebrew8:7
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Galatians 3:13
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree”
James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
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.”
Romans 8:32
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
Hebrews 7: 28
Moses’ Teachings designated mortals as chief priests even though they had weaknesses. But God’s promise, which came after Moses’ Teachings, designated the Son who forever accomplished everything that God required.
Colossians 2: 14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross”
The Terms and conditions of the New Covenant was fulfilled by Jesus on the Cross. The New Covenant is unconditional and entered into by faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary. There were 613 laws including Sabbath keeping Friday to Sat. night to nothing but pray or study the Word.
Abraham did not pay tithes before the law. He gave a one time tenth which does not qualify as faithful tithing. He was also circumcised before the law!
You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. Galatians 5:4
Also it would make more sense to keep the circumcision law if one were to choose any Old Covenant law and use Abraham as an example of keeping the law before Moses gave the Law.
Unlike the one time voluntary tithe that he voluntarily gave Melchizedek God did not demand this but God did demand Circumcision of all male babies on the eight day.
Be consistent or just shut up. Some of you are looking like brainwashed clones who cannot think for yourselves.
By the way I give (not pay) tithes the key word here is give. It is out of worship not to pay God for favor. A long time ago the Holy Spirit gave me the revelation that my favor comes from the payment Jesus made on the Cross when he said Paid in full same as it is finished
John 19:30) He fulfilled the law they no man could keep with perfection and then gave me a access and right standing (favor) with God. I disdain any boasting of any payment but the one Jesus made on the Cross!
I have a two-part question…given that Malachi 3:10 says, “Prove me now herewith”, isn’t God daring us to prove Him in the area of finance? Secondly – has anyone here actually attempted to prove God in the area of finance?
Second is a point really, and not so much a question. If God is, as He says in Hebrews 13:8, the same yesterday, today, and forever, does it not stand to reason that the same words in Malachi apply today?!
Thanks for taking a moment…
To whom is the challenge directed to?
I tithed my 10% for years prior to my change in beliefs about the validity of tithing. I have had moments of challenges and triumphs during both periods of my life.
How would you explain the things that God has already changed?
In my humble opinion, He is challenging all believers.
Let’s start with point 1…
I believe in all out obedience to God as a true sign of our love to Him. In love, Christ obeyed the Father’s wish (Matthew 26:39, Phillipians 2:5) for Him to complete the plan on the Earth. Since we are God’s elect (ekklesia – the called out), then we should very clearly be acting, living, problem solving unlike anyone in the world, and certainly our lives should look FAR different than those not in the world (Romans 12:1-2).
I think it also important to point out that Christ is to be not only Savior, but Lord as well. In other words – those that raised their hands in some emotional catharsis 10 years ago, but don’t show any signs that they are different than anyone else, are in some very real, very dangerous territory (but we can get into that elsewhere)
That being said, I feel that tithing is a non-negotiable. Just like loving on people, praying for people, and being a clear example of Christ on earth (individually, some of us are the only Christ some people will ever meet). In Luke 6:38, Christ (it’s in red in my Bible) said, “give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom” and then in 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul admonishes us that, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” Lasty, Gen 8:22 states, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” This principle is apparent in both the natural and spiritual. When you plant a kernel of corn, you don’t get one kernel back. If you did, you would scratch your head and wonder, “What the”. When you sow, you reap, and you reap MORE than what you’ve sown as well as LATER than you’ve sown.
So – tithing is not only God’s command, but it also allows us to sow that we might reap. Now…all of this academic and Scriptural discussion is good – but what is truly powerful is God’s will being LIVED OUT in the life of a Christian.
Let me lay out for you a simple testimony. This month, I’ve sown 10% of earned income, and 15% on a check that I wasn’t expecting. I therefore have $1,000 in $100 bills sitting in an envelope waiting for this coming Sunday. In faithfulness to His Word (which cannot ever fail according to Matt 5:18, Numbers 23:19, Psalms 119:89) the following events transpired:
This week has been my biggest ever in my business. I have earned $15,726 in commissions.
· I went to the post office and awaiting me was a check for $1727.19. This check was the result of a class action lawsuit. All I had to do a few months ago was sign up and say, “Yes”.
· When I got home, I had an e-mail indicating that Sprint had shipped me something. Having no knowledge of any order being placed, I immediately called them to find out what was up. Apparently (even though the phone is not available for either wait-listing through retail stores nor was it available for telephone order) a new EVO HTC phone was sent. This was in spite of me accepting that I might have to wait a while to get one, and it being completely out of my mind that day.
· A friend of my wife’s came to our home and gave me over $200.00 in very stylish clothing that I probably would have never bought for myself
Now – I recognize that there are many folks in the church that don’t dare approach the throne of Grace in a spirit of boldness as instructed in Hebrews 4:16. I don’t know why, but God sent His Son to die on the cross that we might have that level of fellowship with Him (see also John 10:10, John 1:12, Romans 8:15).
So – if I can look God in His face, know that I am doing everything in my power to live a life of love and excellence, witnessing, tithing, serving in my church and literally practicing the same kenosis (Gk. ??????? – lit. pouring of one’s self out) which Christ did on the cross, why would I not legitimately know that God can provide for my needs and desires (as promised in Psalms 37:4, Matthew 6:33, James 5:16)
I could go on…or not. Again – my testimony is being lived out and I can direct you to many people to verify what I’ve told you. I will continue to tithe, and since I cannot out-give God, I would venture to guess that one day I will be able to live on my 10-15%. I hope this helps clarify my position.
Anthony,
For every testimony you can share about receiving ‘unexpected’ money after tithing, i can share with you a testimony that is quite opposite. Did you know that statistics show that those who actually give away the highest percentage of their income are in the low income bracket in America?
I cannot subscribe tithing in the non-negotiable category. Principles such as love and prayer are untethered. Giving is as well. . . until we attach a minimum standard. We cannot adopt one of the many giving laws in the bible and claim that it’s non-negotiable, anymore than i can say that praying 3 times a day is non-negotiable.
At the very best, giving 10% of our increase, is not universally practiced or required in scripture. There were many times where giving from increase was less than 10%. There were people who were not required to give a tithe at all from their occupational income. There are examples where tithing is required and other times where it seems optional.
Look, if there was anything about tithing that was remotely consistent throughout scripture, i would adopt it; but there isn’t, and there is no argument against that. If you read my testimony in my blog post above, you will see how i struggled with my decision to believe what i’m saying now. But there’s just no way to justify a minimum standard of giving, just as there is no way to justify a minimum standard to serve.
- jared
More specifically – let’s play out this scenario: I just became a Christian. I have been baptized. What now? How do I live in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, frighten Satan, free others from bondage and captivity, and basically be the salt and light I have been called to be?!?!?!
Steward:
Perhaps I am misunderstanding your point – so let’s work to clarify. How does one know that you or I are Christians, or children of the Most High God?
Steward –
You used an interesting word above – untethered… Further, you mentioned a ‘minimum’ standard that we are to meet.
In light of James 1:22, James 2:14-16, Matt 5:13-16, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Cor 10:31, and in exchange for the love and salvation that we’ve been given, please comment on our role as Christians on the Earth. What are we supposed to DO?!?!
Or – as your ‘minimum standard’ comment implies earlier, are we to ‘do’ anything?
I’m not sure what kind of answer you are looking for, but there are 69 books in the bible that should help you answer this. I don’t think i can answer this in one comment
Matthew 7:20, John 13:35, 1 John 5:13, John 10:27 . . . to name a few
I look at my relationship with God they way i look at my relationship with my wife. If i love my wife, won’t i provide for her needs? If i love my wife, will i care for her hurts? If i love my wife, will i sacrifice for her?
I remember working hard over the summers while going through school so I could scrape out enough money to buy my wife an engagement ring. I would venture to say that most men buy a ring that is probably out of our price range, but because of our puppy love we put our logic aside and buy a ring way out of our price range. Looking back, I don’t think that I could tell you that my sacrifice was foolish. As a matter of fact, I would say that it probably wasn’t foolish enough. I’m not the one who is going to wear the ring & show it off, so it doesn’t concern me that other people know how rich I must have been or how much money I have. I just wanted my wife to know one thing. I want to represent how valuable she is through my sacrifice. Romantic giving will cost you. Other people will look at you to the point of being foolish, but what does a man care when he’s in love. What does a child of God care when he’s in love with his creator? Love makes us silly. Somehow I think it ties into the reason why 1 Corinthians says ‘God loves a cheerful giver’. The root word for “cheerful” in that passage comes from our word “hilarious”. It’s ironic that love makes us silly & how God is pleased with a silly, in-love giver.
Right – but also keep in mind that our commitment to God may not always be romantic, nor emotional.
In fact, we are to walk by FAITH and not by sight or feelings (2 COR 5:7)…so our commitment shouldn’t change based on how we feel, what the checking account balance looks like, or that we might be late for a rent payment.
Specifically – your dispute with the tithing believer hinges on the victories and defeats that you’ve suffered, even while tithing…correct?
A Defense Of Tithing
Since tithing is definitely a principle taught in the Bible, it is absolutely shocking to hear the number of people that teach that tithing isn’t relevant for Christians today. Many of these individuals decry tithing as an “illegal and abusive practice of the Church”. They claim that if you practice tithing you are still under “Old Testament bondage”. The purpose of this article is not to identify every scripture in the Bible relating to tithing, but rather to try to refute some of the arguments commonly used to convince people that Christians don’t need to tithe.
1) Tithing is not necessary under this current dispensation of grace.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “If the ‘grace’ you have received does not help you to keep the law, you have not received grace.” While it is true that we now live in a dispensation of grace, that grace was purchased at a tremendous cost. It did not free me of all obligations to Christ. Lev. 27:30-32 emphasizes that the tithe is “holy unto the Lord”. We are commanded to “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:16). If we consume upon ourselves that which is holy unto the Lord, then we are cheapening the grace that purchased our redemption.
‘If the “grace” you have received does not help you to keep the law, you have not received grace’.
2) Tithing was only an Old Testament teaching, and was not applicable in the New Testament.
Scripture records several ceremonial obligations, such as the law of animal sacrifices, which are no longer binding upon the New Testament church (Heb. 9:8–10). These were types that were fulfilled by Christ at his first advent. However, tithing was instituted for a specific purpose and not as a type. The Apostle Paul presented no argument against tithes as he did repeatedly against the ceremonial issues of the law (ex. meats, holy days, new moon feasts, Sabbath days, circumcision, etc.). Jesus himself even commended people for tithing (Matt. 23:23). There are many scriptures in the New Testament showing where the ceremonial law of God was fulfilled and no longer applicable to the church, but there is no scripture stating that tithing in no longer necessary. It is very audacious of men today to take it upon themselves to make changes to God’s written plan for the tithe.
3) Tithing was only required of Jews, not Gentiles.
The vast majority of our Bible was written to the Jews. All of Jesus’ words were spoken to Jews. That does not mean we can disregard them because we are not Jews. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
4) Before the Law of Moses, tithing was done on a voluntary basis.
All true worship of God is voluntary on our part. That was true before, during and after the Law of Moses. No one makes you attend church. No one forces you to be baptized. No one makes you live a holy life. Similarly, no one can compel you to tithe. That does not mean that it’s optional either. The grace of God allows us to obey all of God’s Word and not just the parts we like.
5) Malachi 3 was only written to the Jews that were under the Mosaic Law.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (II Tim. 3:16). Of course Malachi was writing to the Jews in his day, because the Gentiles were still the wild olive branch that had not yet been grafted in (Romans 11:17). If we are to say that the scriptures only apply to the people that they were originally written for, then we can disregard the entire Bible. We don’t need to show charity, because that was only a charge given to the Corinthians.
6) It is impossible to give tithes to the one true High Priest and anyone else collecting tithes under grace is a fraud and a robber.
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:40) It is true that we are not able to physically give our tithes to Christ, and he has no need of them anyway. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalms 50:10). However, he has established a church that bears his name and is his representation in the earth.
7) Those that tithe are denying that Christ fulfilled the law of Moses.
There was a law of God in place long before the Mosaic Law was instituted. For example, God instructed Noah regarding the number of animals he was to take into the ark. He differentiated between the “clean” and the “unclean” animals. The Bible does not record the law defining such unclean animals, until Leviticus 11. Yet, that law was already in existence in Noah’s time.
Similarly, the principle of tithing preceded the establishment of God’s covenant with ancient Israel and it did not cease with the establishment of the second or new covenant!
8) A pagan Roman Catholic Church established tithing centuries after the Bible was written.
This is a very weak argument since there are so many scriptures in the Bible that shows God’s people observing the principle of tithing. The truth is God himself established tithing in the book of Genesis (Gen. 14:20).
9) Only Levites could collect tithes and since the Levitical priesthood has ended, so has tithing.
This argument is based on the assumption that God gave the tithe eternally and unconditionally to the Levites. The Bible does not say that. When we tithe, we are giving it to the Lord and not to man. Man only uses it. In Malachi 3, Israel was not robbing the Levites of tithes – they were robbing God.
The ability to receive tithes was not just based on ancestral heritage. The Bible even records some examples of individuals receiving tithes that were not Levites. Abraham paid tithes to Melchesidek (Gen. 14:18-20) and he obviously was not a Levite since Levi would not be born until many years later. There were some who came and brought their tithes to Elisha (II Kings 4:42).
10) Only food products from the land were “titheable”; money was never a “titheable” item.
There is certainly no scripture that excludes money as a “titheable” item. In fact, the scriptures say that you are to give tithes of all your increase (II Chron. 31:5). In the agricultural society of Moses day, the primary source of wealth for people was their crops and animals. This was their source of income. God is laying out a principle that you are to tithe from your source of income.
11) Giving offerings has replaced tithing, and you only need to give what you feel is appropriate for your situation.
“Proportional giving” is a concept that is impossible for Christians to fulfill. We can never give back to the Lord in proportion to how he as blessed us. If we gave everything we had, we would still fall far short.
In addition, offerings were not a New Testament creation designed to replace tithing as some would want you to believe. In fact, the giving of offerings was taught in the Old Testament in addition to paying your tithes. The children of Israel were required to bring an offering when they came up to the Temple three times a year (II Chron. 8:13). Giving offerings is not to be in place of your tithes, but in addition to it. The Israelites had robbed God of “tithes and offerings” (Mal. 3:8). If they were one and the same, this passage would not make sense.
In conclusion, people can come up with all kinds of arguments to not do something that they don’t want to do. Due to space, I have not even addressed some of the weaker arguments sometimes used (ex. tithes were suppose to be brought into the storehouse and the New Testament church has no storehouse). From studying the scriptures, I strongly believe that tithing is still relevant for our day. It was instituted as a method to support the work of God and to be a vehicle by which God could bless his people. Both of which we still need today.
Joel, for you to say that many are against tithing because we love money and are stingy is wrong. Jesus sometimes ask christians to give specific amounts of money that will take a lot of faith to to obey. We all live by faith now, not following the tithe laws given exclusively to the Israelites in the old testament. I am sad to see so many christians are deceived into this “money tithe” that greedy false teachers and pastors are using to defraud many good born again christians.
Please, before we start could you please go and read Numbers 18:1-3NKJ or AMP version. Read Deuteronomy 14:22-29, Nehemiah 10:37-39, Mathew 23:23.
Please understand that God gave these Laws to Moses specificly and instructed Moses to follow it very carefully or else He will punish all who fail to practice it.
God clearly ask for 10% of “FOOD GROWN WITHIN THE GATES OF ISRAEL” as tithes
We are not allowed to change the Law, for example Sabbath,circumsicion,burnt offerings, sin offering etc…. according to the Law of Moses.
Money tithes is a “FALSE TEACHING”. How would you like to change one of the ten commandments like, for example “Thou shall not kill and change it to Thou shall not kill but if Asians or African Americans offend you then you can kill them and repent after.
No one is allowed to change the law of Moses or Mosiac Law. Even Jesus did not change the Mosiac Law.
Galatians 3:10NKJ,AMP,NLT says ” CURSED is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them”
That CURSE Paul mention is real if you want to test it.
Only Jesus can remove that CURSE FROM OUR LIVES. He did on the cross in Galvary.
You or your pastor can not remove that CURSE, like they teach in Malachi 3:10 to pay the tithes or you will be cursed. Or you are robbing God if you dont pay the (money tithe)
Please read your bible and stop insulting christians by promoting this LIE (money tithes)
FRAUD IS STILL FRAUD IN GODS EYES. TO teach a lie to defraud christians of their money IS A SERIOUS THING TO GOD. I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS WARNNIG SERIOUSLY.
Have a peaceful day.
Sorry, I mean Anthony E Fierro
I hope you read the scriptures that I gave you . Paul asked the Galatians who ” BEWITCHED THEM” in Galatians 3:1 . If you do not understand that then we have a problem.
False teachers and greedy pastors lie about scriptures to line their pockets but I think you must ignore Jesus warnning about wolves in sheeps clothing because you know better.
I am confused now – a guy named Joel is arguing against a guy named Joel?
Anyways…I’ve presented multiple cogent arguments based solely on scripture. You are either going to OBEY God’s word at face value, or your not. It’s really a choice…
From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gesthemane, it is about choice, it’s been about choice, and it will always be about choice.
I have chosen…and God has, and will continue, to richly bless my life and the lives of those around me because I have said, “Yes” to being an open, willing vessel of His blessing.
I say you are a Mormon Anthony Fierro, pretending to be a born again christian. I can spot a fraud by the way you defend the tithing law.
Moron? OK… I am glad I am a blood bought Christian because if I were not, and dependent solely upon Christians who call names to spread the word, I would be in some deep kimchi.
Don’t knock tithing until you actually try it. If you’d like, we can sit down and match up paystubs and then we can see who has financial victory in their life.
You name the time and place. My e-mail address is anthonyefierro@yahoo.com
Anthony,
Do you mean obey or be cursed ? Could you please explain your position clearly. You are mixing the old and new covenant. If you are a gentile then you have no business with the old covenant period. Study the word of God properly and stop the misleading statements you are making, you are responsible for deceiving many christians. Its your faith in christ that activates the blessing not keeping the law. Unless you do not know the diffrence.
Anthony, you sound like someone really mess with your head and brain washed you.If you tithe, you need to keep all the rest of the Mosiac law. sin offerings,burnt offerings,cleansing ceremonies and if you catch anyone committing adultry or breaking the sabbath you need to stone them to death but then again you might argue you are not a Jew.
That means Jesus blood was not good enough to clean your sins, because you need to offer more sin offerings under the law. That is not only stupid but pathetic to say the least.
Tithing is a law, thats what Jesus said in Mathew 23:23.
Immature people like you are easy prey for CON ARTIST.
To accept Jesus as your saviour does not give you the right to change the tithing law that God gave Moses. Its the same as driving a Hyundai doesnt turn you into a korean national
Jackie:
It is unfortunate that as a believer you would resort to name calling (i.e., brainwashed, immature). Further, and probably more egregious, is the fact that of all of the cogent, salient, scripture based arguments that I have developed, you pick Mt. 23:23 out of the clear blue sky. But, despite the fact that you want to call names and imply that I am some mental wimp, let me share with you some of my testimony so that you can get to know me for real, rather than just cast darts at someone who is a stranger.
In October 2008, I lost my son Jacob to leukemia. Within 18 months (before and after), I lost my job, and my home. Literally, I felt like Job…except there was a key difference between him and I…he was ‘a righteous man’ before God, whereas I was not.
I drank heavily for a bit, cursed God, but ultimately knowing how merciful, kind, and loving of a God we serve I did come back to Him and asked Him, “Why?!” and “How can I succeed and live that blessed and on top live that I not only see others live, but also is implied in your word (i.e., Dt 28:1-14, Psalms 91, Psalms 37). Much like Mary at the wedding in Cana in Gallilee – I heard, “Do whatever He tells you”. So – I went back to church, kept my mouth shut, and just started serving with my whole body (my whole heart wasn’t entirely in it, as God was still working on that part!).
In addition to serving on Sundays in my church’s media and logistics teams, I began to plant the incorruptible seed of God’s word in my heart EVERY DAY. I used the below list of confessions (with scriptural backing provided) below. i just kept telling myself these things over and over and over until my mind and my body started acting it out. You see – I know that the blessed and on top life is out there. I have SEEN IT. I have seen people with success and victory in EVERY area of their life. After my son died, it triggered in me a hunger that I have never known. I guess the real truth is that, if I know my son is in Heaven, I am going to do whatever it takes to hear, “Well done, thou Good and faithful servant” on that day. I miss my son immensely, and I loved him so much. There is absolutely NO aspect of God’s word from Genesis to Revelations that I will not at least TRY to implement in my life.
Having said that, I am no fool. I am in the loan business and bust my chops DAILY to provide for my family. Further, I hear countless stories of financial messes that people are in. But, I will state here again that. in the roughly 22 months since my son’s passing, I have received a beautiful home in which I live (if you want to hear my testimony on that one, I would be happy to share it – e-mail me at anthonyefierro@yahoo.com or call my cell 661 810 5797), I have steady employment with an employer who has been gracious and kind to me, even during months when it looks like I was kind of shaky, each month I am producing more and more loans and both September 10 and October 10 commission dates look like they will beat (just those two months) the entire year of 2010 prior.
In love Jackie I will tell you that Matthew 23:23 doesn’t say, “Don’t tithe”. It says, “don’t tithe and ignore the more weightier matters of the law such as love, justice, mercy, faith etc”. See – the problem in Jesus’ day was that the ‘church folk’ thought they had their game down but had no relationship with God. There was no love, no passion, no evidence of repentance in their lives. THATs what He was addressing.
Jackie – I forgive you for name calling. Know that I have just tried God at His word, and He has proven Himself faithful EVERY time. I would encourage you to step out in faith…tithe and then during your prayer time say God – I have these items of concern. Could you take care of me and mines like you know I am taking care of you and yours?! He will meet you not 1/2 way…but all the way.
I know, because He’s done it for me. I LITERALLY live a life of blessing so abundant I can’t contain it all!
I love all of you, because You’re all my brothers and sisters in the Lord, and if I have not love all of this would be worthless (1 Cor 13).
John 1:12 I am a Child of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus
2 Corinthians 5:17 I am a new creature in Chris Jesus, old things are passed away, behold all things have become new!
John 15:11 I am happy
Isaiah 53:5 I am healthy
Romans 8:37 I am victorious
Philippians 4:13 I am successful
Galatians 5:1 I am free
Psalms 118:24 This is a day that the Lord hath made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!
Psalms 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times and his praises will continually be in my mouth
Psalm 107:1-10 I am the redeemed of the Lord
Matthew 26:28 I have been washed in his blood
Ephesians 1:13 Filled with his Spirit
Deuteronomy 8:3 and live by his Word
I will humbly obey and assertively execute God’s will and Word
Romans 1:17 I walk by faith, and not by sight (or feelings)
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me
James 1:2 I find joy in trials, for I know they bring maturity
Romans 8:28 All things work together for my eternal good!
Luke 10:9 I have power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt me. The devil is under my feet (he is a liar)
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue that speaks against me will be judged
Matthew 5:44 I will love my enemy and bless those who curse me.
Psalms 23:1 The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not want
Psalms 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein
Philippians 4:19 My God shall/has supplied all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus
Matthew 5:13-16 I am a light and an example of God and His love
Isaiah 61:6 Wherever I go, the atmosphere changes because the Spirit of God is within me
2 Corinthians 5:18-2 I am an ambassador, a representative, a witness for Jesus
Matthew 28:16-20 Today I will look for opportunities to win souls for Christ
Anthony your testamony shows your faith in Christ not the law. All we have comes from Christ. Jesus said to tithe addressing the Jews and He mentioned food, mint,ainse and cummin its NOT MONEY.
Jesus said that TITHING IS IN THE LAW ,please read it again. He included tithing in the law of Moses. Mathew 23:23. Read it very very slowly so you will get it.
Do not change what Jesus said for your love of money. Money is not holy on to God.
Jackie:
The fact that you think I love money kind of fits within the paradigm formed by your previous comments (that I am brain washed and immature)…sooo…
Let it be done do you according to your faith.
Perhaps I am wacko. I take God at His word and assume that if he did it for someone like Joseph, David, Moses, Abraham, then he can do it for me too.
What’s funny is that you accuse me of loving money, but I’m the one that can part with a DIME ON A DOLLAR without batting an eye, while it seems like you (and many others) will come up with every excuse in the book to not DO THE WORD.
Like I mentioned in a previous post – take the challenge – I DARE you, or anyone else reading this, to just try God. Just try. For 52 weeks, be a consistent giver. When you write your check, or before you give, say the following declaration to yourself and God:
“Into the Kingdom of God I sow my seed. Every penny shall produce for God and for me. The GOSPEL shall be preached, LIVES shall be changed, BODIES shall be healed, SOULS shall be saved, SATAN has been stopped, and by FAITH the needs of this (both you and the church) ministry have already been met in Jesus name, AMEN.
And after 52 weeks, if nothing has changed for you, I will PERSONALLY reimburse you.
There it is. The gauntlet is down. Will you meet the challenge?!?! Do you have the guys to go for the glory?!?!
If not – best of luck in your endeavors.
God does not need us to lie about scriptures to finance his work on earth. Take the lowly seat and stop bragging about peanuts. Givng God 10% percent some christians think they need the Queen of England to give them a special medal or call them Lord. PLEASE GIVE US A BREAK.
ASK GOD FOR A REVEALATION OF THE SPIRIT OF HUMILITY,
Jesus is not a waiter that you tip him with 10% thats pathetic, talk about stingy.If I share with you how financialy blessed I am you will suffer from unbelief. TAKE THE LOWLY SEAT.
OK – let it be done to you according to your faith.
Sorry Anthony, Its not you I am angry with its the pastors who teach lies and change scriptures to rob people because of greed. I agree with Sam and Joel, Paul taught about giving what we can afford in 2 Corinthians 8:12
Please dont take anything I said pesonaly,I cant stand these false teachers and pastors robbing christians all over the world
Malachi 3:10, Deut. 28:1-14, Luke 6:38, Prov 11:24
Anthony,
Read Deuteronomy 14:22-29, Malachi 3:10, Mathew 23:23.ITS SAYS FOOD not US DOLLARS or EUROS. Have a shot of reality. Im sorry for your son but do not be like the foolish Galatians. Only one curse still works even to this very day the DOUPLE CURSE in Galatians 1:8-9. Its for those people who deceive christians or manipulate people to go back and practise the law that was given to the Jews exclusively by God.
OH OK – well since I don’t grow oranges what would you suggest Sam?
Give what you can afford 2 Corinthian 8:12 .Give what you can afford. Thats what Apostle Paul taught inspired by the Holy Spirit. Try it it will bless you in a way you have never experienced before. DO not support pastors who lie about scriptures
Anthony,
I am not against your giving I am against the false teaching used by many to put good christians under the law again without knowing.The Holy Spirit will reveal to you the wolves out there if you only ask Him. 2 Corinthians 8:12 SAYS GIVE WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD, NLT,AMP,NKJ,Message bible. Tithing was compulsory, giving according to Pauls teaching was not.Paying and giving are not the same thing.
Give to support Gods work but give what you CAN AFFORD.
I agree – any legalism is bad… But the question is were we freed to just act any old way, or is there a way we can show God our love in a TANGIBLE way?
Please do not just give your money to any ministry, Jesus warned us about wolves.
The Lord knows you love him and will lead you to a few pastors who do not lie and twist scriptures for financial greed.
Check this scripture out (1 Timothy 6:5AMP) Its scary.
Dear Anthony Fierro, Grace and the law of Moses dont mix unless you are mentally disturbed. Find out Gods tithing law commandments he gave Moses then you will start to understand what we are debating here. Deuteronomy 14:24 says it very clear to turn the tithe into money or sell the tithe. Its elementary, for crying out loud.
Do you practise SIN OFFERINGS TOO ? or that is for your pastor. Are you a levite?
Jesus did not collect tithes Hebrews 8:4 teaches that he cant be a priest if He was here right now.
Jesus didn’t need tithes – He owns the cattle on 1000 hills, the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein.
But your church (and the body as a whole) does need your finance in order to spread the Word. It is an unfortunate sign of times, but if you think about it, MEGAMEDIA churches exist today as a very demonstration that Christians don’t give. The only voices you hear in the media are the ones that have massive media budgets, and who, oh by the way, don’t talk about repentance or sacrifice, but have somehow (probably in fulfillment of 2 Timothy 4:3) avoided that topic. They talk about the benefits, but not the work that is required to get there.
And no – I am not mentally disturbed. God has in fact given me a spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Sam: Mixing ‘old and new’ is OK – because we serve the SAME GOD (Heb. 13:8).
A few key points:
1. How was Abraham justified? Faith demonstrated through obedience. We would all agree with that, right?! I mean, we are His seed if we believe, and the only true demonstration of what someone believes is through their actions, right!? Now – when God told Abraham to slaughter his Isaac, he could have done what man clearly has a history of doing – analyzing, questioning, casting doubt on God’s goodness and faithfulness, and thereby coming up with abundant reasons to not obey, or…as history has it…He could have straight up obeyed.
2. If Heaven is moved by faith (see both Mark 7:25-30, Matthew 15:21-28, Luke 23:43) and I look at God’s promise to me (in Mal. 3:10 is just one example, but let’s throw in Luke 6:38, Philippians 4:19) and absolutely RUN with it, why could God not bless me.
3. I would agree with ‘Its your faith in christ’ that starts the ball rolling and gets me into RELATIONSHIP with God, but how do I prove that faith?! You chide me with the phrase, “Unless you do not know the difference”…but let’s dive in to that topic for a moment.
In light of James 1:22, James 2:14-16, Matt 5:13-16, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Cor 10:31, could you please tell me how, if I raise my hand one day in Church to become a Christian, my life should look and feel different thereon?
I further extend this challenge to anyone on this page. I have used scripture after scripture to defend my position. Further, if that is insufficient, I have my own financial testimony which no one has yet been able to refute.
Anthony, Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law ? Please share with us if you are a mormon or which denomination you belong to ? Could you please share with us what your views on Malachi 3:9. Do we rob God if we do not tithe and are we then cursed for not obeying.
Could you share with us what Hebrews 8:13 and Galatians 5:1-4 mean to you
Read those scriptures first before you comment
I did not receive the Holy Spirit nor salvation via the law, but grace through faith. However, But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Further, be doers of the word, and not just hearers only, thus deceiving yourselves. If we love God, we will keep His commandments. Further, if we are waiting for a move of the spirit (as implied in the phrase ’spirit led giving’), Jesus said, “The words I speak are spirit and they are life”, and further “Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together shall men give into your bosom”. So clearly if we are to give ‘according to the Spirit’ and Paul admonishes us to, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” then why would we not give 110%, just like Jesus did, and not just 10%?!
Now – the reason tithing is such a hot button (so far on this blog I’ve been called a moron, brainwashed, and mentally weak) is because its about money (to man), and about the heart (to God). God doesn’t need your money, or your mouth, or you. He used a donkey, a burning bush, and he’s even said that if we don’t praise God the ROCKS will cry out…so God doesn’t need anything. What he requires is obedience. I know that some are not going to try to find MORE ways to obey God…I get it. However – again – God continually proves his providence time and again if he knows he can trust me.
The bottom line is this:
I DARE you, or anyone else reading this, to just try God. Just try. For 52 weeks, be a consistent giver. When you write your check, or before you give, say the following declaration to yourself and God:
“Into the Kingdom of God I sow my seed. Every penny shall produce for God and for me. The GOSPEL shall be preached, LIVES shall be changed, BODIES shall be healed, SOULS shall be saved, SATAN has been stopped, and by FAITH the needs of this (both you and the church) ministry have already been met in Jesus name, AMEN.
And after 52 weeks, if nothing has changed for you, I will PERSONALLY reimburse you.
There it is. The gauntlet is down. Will you meet the challenge?!?! Do you have the guys to go for the glory?!?!
Anthony, Your comments reveals that you do not know the diffrence between works of the Law and acts of faith. For example Abraham sacrificing his son was an act of faith not works of the law. Sin offerings,burnt offerings tithing 10% of (food grown in Israel) circumsicion and 600 more laws were for Jews only. The new covenant started after christ died on the cross sealed with Jesus blood.
You can not change the tithing laws God gave Moses. If you dont agree with that then Im afraid you need serious help or deliverance. In other words you need to change your nappy.
I DARE you, or anyone else reading this, to just try God. Just try. For 52 weeks, be a consistent giver. When you write your check, or before you give, say the following declaration to yourself and God:
“Into the Kingdom of God I sow my seed. Every penny shall produce for God and for me. The GOSPEL shall be preached, LIVES shall be changed, BODIES shall be healed, SOULS shall be saved, SATAN has been stopped, and by FAITH the needs of this (both you and the church) ministry have already been met in Jesus name, AMEN.
And after 52 weeks, if nothing has changed for you, I will PERSONALLY reimburse you.
There it is. The gauntlet is down. Will you meet the challenge?!?! Do you have the guys to go for the glory?!?!
Further Joel – your comments reveal that you spend no time in the Word, and although you SAY you trust God with your eternal soul, you can’t trust him with a dime?!?! Are you feeling well today?
Hi Anthony, Your comments reveal that you like the lime light and the attention you grave for. Now for all who comment on this site please do not be offended or misinterbret this comment I am about to make to help free brother Anthony from pride and arogance.
Anthony, God has blessed me in a way that you will not be able to comprehend. I have given finances that God released to me and my family to support churches,pastors and the poor in signifigant amounts. God gave me very clear instructions where the money should go and who I support . I have been retired for nine years but I am involved with charities full time.I retired when I was 37yrs of age. If I tithe (money) that means not only I will put myself under a CURSE but I will have to give God only a very small amount of what I give.
My name is not Joel,I use this site to try and help free christians from this DECEPTION enslaving many christians because of ignorance from money hungry wolves using the word of God for profit.
So you break yourself off to insult others but can’t use your real name?! What does that say about how much you believe in your message!?
I believe that every Christian should have a surrendered purse – not 10% but 100%. Every day, every moment we must be yielded to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. If He prompts us to give (any amount, any thing) to ANY needy person (not necessarily to the Church) we must be ready to dig deep and give. No questions, no buts. This is the Life of Faith in the Spirit that I believe God wants us to live.
It is unfortunate that a conversation amongst Children of the Living God must include accusations of arrogance, mental weakness, being brainwashed and immature.
I have responded in love to many of the things that have been said, and I have defended my position with scripture.
This will be my last post, as I get the sense that a lot of this is clanging symbols, given that a lot of it is being done without love.
According to your faith, let it be done unto you.
Let not your left hand know what your right hand does. Stop bragging about your 10% unbiblical money tithes. Its just peanuts, Jesus gave His all and you want to give Him only 10% that is very sad. Anthony, Paul wrote to the Galatians and asked them to reveal who the witch was in chapter 3 verse 1. Manipulation is witchcraft.
Teaching and promoting money tithes is a serious lie,deception, fraud. Do you want to be called Moses,Apostle Paul or Elijah ? Give me a break What do you call people who steal money from christians ?
A THIEF !
When Apostle Paul asked the Galatians who bewitched them he ment exactly what he said. Paul wanted to know who the witch was and who manipulated the Galatians to go back and try to keep the old Mosiac law. If that is name calling then I am guilty too then. People who lie and delibrately misquote scriptures are called “Fraud or Con artist ” “wolves in sheeps clothing”.
If you are not deceiving christians then you have no reason to be defensive. But if you are lying about scripture then you are a “witch”, liar and a fraud
Paul already cursed you and its recorded in Galatians 1:8-9
Jesus offended many people when he was here when He called them I quote “white washed tombs, dogs,hypocrites,” etc….
(A) Please use scripture to support your position rather than your lengthy lists of why one should avoid giving.
(B) I am not a teacher nor a promoter – but as James asks us, I am a DO-er… Secondly…AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN ALL OF THAT in Mk 5:21-34, Matthew 15:22-28, Luke 23:43, John 2:1-11 (those are in the BIBLE), PEOPLE WHO were not Jews, didn’t care about Mosaic law or the prophets or whether or not there was a new covenant, old covenant, or no covenant at all, who APPROACHED God (Jesus is Lord, right?!) from a position of faith. Inwardly, they said to themselves, “I don’t know wwgi this guy Jesus is, nor do I understand why or how, but I know this Jesus can do for me!!”
In EACH instance, people knew very little about all this techno-babble that each of you claim to be experts at. They weren’t Bible scholars…but people with NEED. I am a person with NEED who has read Malachi 3:10, Deut. 28:1-14, Luke 6:38, Prov 11:24, and who has complete faith that God can do what He says He can do.
Now – at the top of this blog (or – because it so effectively clouds the real issue here – this FOG) Mr. Stewart says, “I haven’t done so officially yet”. Why not? Let’s see it my man!! Because as far as I am concerned, I have financial need (because in America, if you don’t have money you can’t really do HUGE things. You can do some things, but not HUGE things like build a church, schools, libraries, etc. You need finance to do these things. So – if I see a place in scripture where God is encouraging me to test His Goodness in the area of finance (again – the Word can be taken literally), then I am going to test it to the fullest, give faithfully, and DARE to see what God can make happen with a willing vessel.
You guys can sit on the sidelines with your excuses, explanations, degrees, reasons, justifications, in order to juke and jive, sidestep the real deal here and never REALLY get anywhere with God or accomplish anything for Him in His Kingdom if you’d like, but I am diving in feet first and am running with it.
Further, if one would accuse me of trying to ‘work the works of the law, and thusly negatiing the cross’, I would argue much like my man James (one of the people who wrote in the Bible) the following: You don’t have to DO anything for salvation, only BELIEVE…but you better BELIEVE you need to do something with your salvation!!
Get off your blessed assurance, get out there and save some LIVES.
Lastly – if you guys are this cold and insulting to a man who loves his family, serves his church, gives of himself, and has shown a clear tendency to find any excuse to obey God’s word, I wonder how you treat those heathen around you who AREN’T saved. What towns do you guys live in…maybe can roll out and saves and impact some lives there since all you guys do is find ways to AVOID being what God has told you to be – SALT AND LIGHT!
What can I say? Someone who doesnt care if its the old covenant or the new covenant and then turn around and argue strongly about tithing laws is not only foolish, irresponsible and childish. Its the same as trying to argue with a 2yr old child.
Anthony, please stop trying so hard to copy TV evangelists you look so stupid and sound like a person standing on their toes to be taller than everyone else. Just relax and be yourself
Dont try so hard to impress us you have no idea what we are debating here, go back to kindergarten.