Tithing in the new testament
As long as I have been a Christian I can remember people arguing and debating about tithing. Some say it was only an Old Testament Law that doesn’t need to be followed as believers under the New Covenant. And some say that it is just a relevant to New Testament Christians as it was in the Old Covenant.
I recently wrote about my tithing experience and I’d like to offer my thoughts on tithing in the New Testament…
It isn’t a means of salvation
You can’t earn your way to Heaven by giving and you won’t be excluded from Heaven by your lack of giving.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Out of our Faith, our good works manifest. So, in my opinion, if someone truly understands how great of a gift they have been given, they will expend a lot of energy giving back.
Can you be blessed without tithing?
Some say you won’t be blessed if you don’t tithe. I kinda think this completely depends on the person and their maturity level as a Christian. You expect more from a 13 year old than a 5 year old - right? I don’t think God is any different, He knows where were are on our walk and will meet us where we are.
I was a Christian for a while before I started tithing and I think I was doing okay. I know some Christians who don’t tithe and seem to be very blessed. But, there is no getting around the fact that you will be MORE blessed if you tithe, than if you don’t. The Bible says that there will ALWAYS be seedtime and harvest (Gen 8:22). What we sow, we will reap. If we give, it will be given back to us in good measure.
Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
God loves a cheerful giver
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
God loves a cheerful giver, not under compulsion, if you aren’t giving with the right attitude, don’t waste your time… If you have a bad attitude about it and want to change it, just ask God for help. He will, I promise.
Tithing verses in the New Testament
There are a ton of verses about tithing in the Old Testament and a lot fewer in the New Testament. Actually, it is true that tithing isn’t talked about nearly as much in the New Testament as the Old Testament. Personally, I don’t believe that in anyway takes away from the fact that tithing brings a blessing.
Under the New Covenant our salvation is not based upon our obedience to the 10 Commandments, but does that mean that we shouldn’t still follow them? Are they suddenly of no value? I think the same can be said of tithing. While you can debate all day long about whether or not it is a command for New Testament believers, it will still provide a blessing like it did in the Old Covenant.
FMF brings up two great points about New Testament tithing…
1. Jesus endorsed the tithe
In Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 Jesus referred to tithing as something that should not be neglected…
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
2. As New Testament believers we are called to a higher calling
Like it or not, we are living under the New Covenant and as a result, we have increased responsibilities in certain areas.
Luke 12:48 (NIV)
…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
From FMF…
“No longer are animal sacrifices necessary, but we are now to sacrifice our own lives and live for Christ, not ourselves. No longer is ‘an eye for an eye’ appropriate but we are to love our enemies and ‘turn the other cheek’. These are only two examples of heightened responsibilities Jesus taught His people. As such, I can only conclude that the same holds true with the tithe. While it used to be the requirement, it should now be the minimum.”
He said we could test Him
Do we have any better invitation that to actually test it out and see if it really works? Most of us who do tithe were probably in the same spot as the non-tithers and didn’t believe it ourselves, but we tried it out. Guess what, just like God promised, things are better after tithing! It really is like all the other areas of our walk with God - it requires FAITH. No it doesn’t make sense that when we give all this money away, things will actually be better - but I have found it to be true in my own life and others have as well.
Malachi 3:10 (NIV)
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
It is so much bigger than us
The much bigger issue here is that God’s Kingdom needs to be advanced!
Who does He use to do that? Us, the believers! If we aren’t funding and financing Kingdom activities, then who will? How are the lost going to be reached if we don’t send those to preach? (Romans 10:15)
We shouldn’t be getting all caught up in percentages and what we “have to do” according to the Bible - what we (as God’s people) need to do is to forget about our ambitions, goals, and motives and pick up God’s plan. We have been saved from eternal separation from God by grace! With all that we have been given, how can we do anything else but give all we have?
What if we all got our minds off of our own earthly bank accounts and focused on sowing into things that will have eternal value.
“I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity.”
- John Wesley
I know it is difficult to comprehend, but eternity is a LONG TIME! We can either be doing things with our time and money that may benefit us for a few years down here, or we can see ourselves as the eternal beings that we are, get our priorities lined up with God’s, and starting giving in a way that will actually last for eternity!
Matthew 6:20 (NIV)
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
When we give into our churches and into ministries that are reaching the world, we get to be included in their eternal reward. We are the BODY of Christ, we all have a part to play.
Ephesians 4:16
…from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
The amazing thing is that as we start getting our focus off of ourselves and on meeting the needs of others, we will have our needs taken care of. It is just the way God set it up. He is so good, isn’t He?
I would love to hear your comments - so please share them below. Disagreeing is absolutely okay, just please be civil. Deal?
Comments on Tithing in the new testament
Good Post!
Yes, there are more verses that mention the tithe in the old testament but so what? We should read the Bible as one unit.
Furthermore, it should be pointed out that the tithe was never described as redemptive. Its stated purpose (See Malachi 3:10 and others) was for the support of God’s house (i.e. local church). This need did not end with Jesus’ sacrifice. If anything, this need grew exponentially.
Make no mistake, the tithe is 10%. The word tithe literally means a 10th. This is the beginning of giving but not the end-all. There were other types of offerings that apply (i.e. so-called “alms” giving to the poor, support of missionaries, etc.). If you’re attending a local church — and you should! — you should give a tithe to that church otherwise, frankly, you’re a freeloader.
Most important, God gave us His very best — Jesus — to us so that we can have redemption, adoption, and fellowship. Isn’t it a small thing to give him 10% (at least) when, in fact, he owns it all anyway?
I just started tithing faithfully starting January 2008 (I’ve been a Christian since 1995). And while I haven’t had any wind falls or pay increases (in fact I feel as if I’m under-paid)and I’m in debt over my head, God had blessed me tremendously. There have been numerous layoffs at my job and I’ve been spared each and every time. All my bills are paid and I’ve never been without. I believe that that only reason God hasn’t blessed more is because my heart isn’t right. I’m still hoping money will save me when it’s Him who will save me. I’m in continual prayer about this and hope that you all will pray for me. I love the site! It has been a great blessing to me to read about everyone else success stories. It is very encouraging!
Fixed expenses of
housing/food
student loan garnishment
medical
comprise 90 percent of my income
Don’t see a lot of room for tithing until income/expenses improve.
CoolHappyGuy said:
Make no mistake, the tithe is 10%.
Okay, try this…
A’s employer pays him $50K cash plus $10K non-cash fringes (e.g. health insurance).
B’s employer pays him $60K cash without fringes. B buys his own (non-group) health insurance for $15K.
C’s employer used to pay $50K cash plus $10K non-cash fringes, but changed the compensation to $60K cash without fringes.
Questions:
How much is A’s tithe?
How much is B’s tithe?
Did C’s tithe change when his employer changed the compensation?
I believe that god speaks to your heart and lets you know what is best to do in your own personal situation. As a student, I don’t have a lot of cash but I would say that I still “tithe” - it’s just not all to the church, or all at once. I give about 5% of my income to the church through the collection plate, and spend another 5% on charitable giving that god encourages me to do (paying for someone else’s coffee in a time when they need my counsel, contributing to charities) or saving to contribute in goods to offer to the church rather than money (I have just bought a new couch for our prayer room). I think that for me, the Lord has just asked in my life to live in the spirit of giving… and who am I to argue?
Another great post. Thanks for the research to put this together.
It really boils down to a matter of faith and personal conviction.
Hi Bob,
I tell you this just as an illustration, not to toot my family’s horn. My husband and I have decided within our hearts to give, and to give generously. Much of that time, it equates to approximately 10% of our monthly income which we give to our church. However, more recently, we determined, after much prayer and discussion that our giving is better served by being given directly to those that are in need, within the Body, rather than simply our church as a building. We belong to a church that is a type of “mega” church (it serves over 2000 a week) and as such it has many administrative costs. It may be that they are not unreasonable for the size of our church, however, we do not feel that the bulk of our OFFERING (we don’t call it a tithe, unless we are sharing food, which the “tithe” was ALWAYS) is being given to the areas where it is most needed by giving it to the church. (Because so much of it goes to administrative needs.) So, it’s our opinion that the giving we do, should be generous and with a willing heart so we give to those that we know are in need. And in those circumstance, more often than not, we give well above the 10% which is the definition of “tithe.” So while I agree that we, as believers, are blessed by giving monetarily or even with our time or with food, etc. That giving in monetary ways is not the only way to OFFER ourselves and what we’ve been given, unto the Lord. That is just our opinion, but I thought I’d share. I will agree that giving to the Body, in whatever capacity we give, has been a blessing; a tremendous blessing, and I would also encourage others to do so, as the Holy Spirit leads them. Thanks for letting me share. Be blessed!
We cannot justify paying tithes in this new dispensation because Abraham did so! There are many other things that Abraham did that we have decided not to follow because we label them as Old Testament practices. Everything Abraham did, he did before the law: animal sacrifice, circumcision, tithing (a one time event) etc. So we can well argue that animal sacrifice is compulsory for the church today because it had been a standard practice from the beginning. Abel did it, Noah did, Abraham did it, Isaac did it, Jacob did it and the list goes on. They definitely did it before the law was introduced. However, we do seem to forget that our relationship with God in this new dispensation is completely different from the relationship God had with Abraham.
If we carefully consider the events surrounding Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedek, we will see how ignorant we are of God’s word. Abraham goes on a battle to rescue his relative, comes back victorious, meets a High Priest and decides to give a tenth of the recovered plunder to him and then proceeds to give the rest of the plunder to the King of Sodom. How does that singular act become binding on us today? We are just misapplying scriptures and drawing our own conclusions because they seem plausible. A noble act does not validate God’s word. We already have a hard time obeying clear-cut commands why then do we want make additional doctrines, which we know would be very difficult to obey? Talking about the consequences of noble deeds over simple obedience ask King Saul and Uzzah. King Saul was told to utterly destroy the Amalekites and everything they owned but he decided to spare the fat cattle to present as an offering to God. Note they were not going to eat them but to offer them as a burnt offering unto God, how noble! Was God pleased? No! What about Uzzah? His actions could be attributed to zeal for the things of God. The cart carrying the Ark of Covenant stumbled and he held onto the Ark to prevent it from falling and God struck him dead. He was only trying to help! But God does not need your help!
Back to Abraham and Melchizedek. Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek and NOT to God! He would not have been worse off if he didn’t and he certainly was not better off when he did. He was already wealthy, he was already blessed and that did not come from him sowing seeds, paying tithes or giving offerings. It had nothing to with his actions. Some of his actions were indeed questionable and if works were the basis for God’s blessings upon his life, he definitely would not have been blessed. He was a liar and an adulterer. We do not see any portion of scripture that cites this singular act as a standard requirement of our faith in God. If it was, the apostles would have mentioned it! Ananais and Saphira would definitely not have died; they could have argued that it was the tithe of the sale of their property that they brought.
Let us stop being Pharisees in our sharing of the Word, giving people heavy burdens that we know they cannot bear. Enough of this works led Christianity, where you beat your chest, take pride in tithing and then believing that God is obligated to bless you and provide all your needs as well as rebuke the devourer for your sake. That is works! You are relying on your works to save you and have definitely thrown faith out the window! Bible says God spoke to Abraham and Abraham believed God and that was credited to him as righteousness. That was why he was blessed and definitely not by giving a tenth to Melchizedek.
Somebody would ask “but the bible definitely says that you have to pay your tithe so that God will rebuke the devourer for your sakes”. Does the bible truly say that? Why do we dive straight to Malachi 3: 10 without starting out at chapter 1 to gain a better understanding of what is being said? If you start reading from chapter one and verse one you will find out that this book was not a command for the church to come, it never even referenced Abraham’s act to Melchizedek as the reason for the warning. If you read it you will clearly see that the prophet was addressing the practice of priests in his time. The priests had started to do their own thing, offering up diseased animals as offerings unto God and they had also begin to default on their tithes, a command that was given to them by God with no bearing on Abraham’s act to Melchizedek. So how can we truthfully say that this is the reason why we are being saddled with this burden of tithe paying every month? Are we not then guilty of reviving the law? Are we then not claiming our blessings from God through our works instead of through faith?
I am not advocating stinginess in the church, neither am I encouraging people not to give towards the work of God. I am only pointing out where we have erred. And err we have! How can giving ten percent of what you earn every month keep the devil at bay? If you advocate this doctrine, you are in effect saying that you do not need the sacrifice of Jesus and you are very capable of taking on the devil by yourself with your works. What a pity! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! You cannot supplement your salvation by the works of your hand, you cannot be in right standing with God by doing good deeds in the name of putting God first or giving him the best. Those of the old dispensation could not get right with God by doing that so why do we think we can? God has made it easier for us, we do not have to live by a set of rules, and there are no dos and don’ts that we have to obey to make us right before Him. That is why Jesus came and with the death of Jesus, there had to be a change in the way we relate to God.
The doctrine of tithe is very dishonest. It has no place in this present dispensation, the blood of Jesus has redeemed us and thus we should not trample his sacrifice under foot, treating it as an unholy thing by promoting salvation by works.
Stop making people feel guilty for not paying tithe, God does not require it from us. We are supoose to give as we are led. And remember Jesus said on the cross “it is finished!” so do not think you can add to what He’s already done.
Tony,
thanks for taking the time to share your insight - I think the main point of confusion that we seem to be having is the difference between salvation and blessing. I am in complete agreement with you that tithing or any other work will not put us in a better place with God - Jesus did that for us.
On the other hand there is no denying that there are biblical principles and laws that God has set in place. If we work with the principles we will enjoy the blessings of them, if we do not we won’t. It isn’t a matter of heaven or hell, but it does affect the level and depth of blessing that we will experience.
Giving is just one of these laws God has set in place. BY humbling ourselves God exalts us, if we are merciful and truthful we find favor with people, if we get in God’s word and meditate on it we will experience true success - the list goes on and on…
Also, I am not sure how you think this post makes people for guilty for not tithing. That in no way was my intention and after re-reading what I wrote, I don’t see anything that suggests that… Basically the message I was trying to point out was that regardless of how we feel about tithing, we should get our mind off ourselves and focused on giving to God’s plans. Personally, I have clear evidence in my life that I have been far more blessed since I started tithing than I was before. Maybe it is just a coincidence, but I don’t really think so…
I really appreciated this article.
Tithing is a matter of faith-point blank. Each person must determine in his or her heart do they really trust God? I hear those who do not tithe because of their financial issues that prevent them from tithing and I say what a shame. I wonder if those people really are good stewards of their finances in the first place. I have friends who tithe and the ones who do not believe in what the bible clearly states are more materialistic and have financial problems. I cannot change their view so I am amazed that they bother to tell me their struggles and they how never put two and two together. Trusting God regardless of the situation is not so easy at first because fear sets in and God does not move according to your fear but your faith. God has a way of placing us in His Hands especially when it is uncomfortable BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL! Please trust Him with His money. If you search your hearts, you will discover that you spend more than 10% on things that have no benefit at all.
I also see how people purpose in their hearts to play with God by giving the money directly to the poor in place of tithing. God means what He says. If you do not believe me then read about Jonah and Saul, and Adam. Why can’t you pay your tithes and give to the poor? I do because I believe in giving and my family receives abundant blessings as a result. If you keep in mind that you are giving God His money and not some preacher then you will comprehend the lesson of tithing. The lesson is to trust Him and Him only to supply all your needs. God does not seem to move on our timetable and I believe that this is why people fear tithing. Joseph had a dream that his family would bow down to him but I wonder what would have happened to Joseph if he had given up when: his brothers threw him in the hole: or when they sold him into slavery; or when he went into prison. Joseph held on to God’s promise and finally he walked into the promise. Believe God!
I speak form experience where it has hurt my flesh to tithe but my spirit is happy because I know that God has already made my way (Isaiah 43:19). In addition, keep your mind focused on God instead of the situation, remembering that Peter walked on water as he looked at Jesus but began to sink when he looked at the situation. I perceive that some of your try your best (worst) to beat God and as He told Paul, you cannot kick against the pricks. You may believe that you are correct but the Holy Ghost will lead you into Truth. Truth is a place where your head knowledge means nothing and there God gets the glory.
I pray for you all that you review all scriptures concerning giving and you will see that giving is a faith and heart issue more so than about money. Additionally, you must be lead by the spirit in order to comprehend spiritual matters. Please seek the Lord and the true intentions concerning tithing and you will believe God.
I wonder have you all considered why the first Christians sold all and shared their possessions amongst each other. I wonder if you do not believe in the tithe then why aren’t you preaching that message considering that it is a New Testament principle? I believe in giving more than the tithe because I love the Lord, I believe what He says, I believe in the principle of sowing and reaping, seedtime and harvest, and more important-obedience to our true and holy God. In review of the many scriptures on giving all throughout the bible, I can only conclude that God wants us to trust Him by giving. If your heart does not bear witness to giving the ten percent then that is your choice. No one can change your heart but I did want to present an occasion where you all may revisit your view on why tithing is such a sore issue for you. Why are you kicking against the prick?
I understand giving finacially to advance the kingdom. However, this is where I am torn. My husband is in the trucking industry. He is a company driver. Needless to say, my salary is barely enough to support my three children (ages 8, 12, and 15) and myself. The 12 and 15 year old are both in band and I am owed $12k in child support by their father. I am currently enrolled in grad. school to obtain my 5 yr teaching license so that I can KEEP my job. A member of my church’s praise/worship team and choir, I was told that if I don’t start paying tithes I can’t participate on the praise/worship team and choir. I was also told that absences from Wed. night service or Thurs. night rehearsal due to school were unexcuseable. Am I to understand that GOD wants me to pay the 10% and my utilities be turned off, my car be repossessed, and we have no place to live? Don’t get me wrong, I give. However, I do not give 10%.
Sonyia,
Again, I must admonish you to trust God enough to know that He makes your ends meet financially. Most people I know who do not believe in tithing have financial problems. It troubles me that in this difficult time that there are so many people discouraging believers from tithing and we see the fruit. Please try God and see won’t He show you how faithful He is. I do also admonish you to study the scriptures on tithing as well as giving because if your heart and mind is not settled then you won’t tithe by faith and whatever is not of faith; it is sin. So please get your heart and spirit right before you tithe. Talk to others who tithe and they will attest to just how God makes the river in the desert.
See, you are giving what you want to give and your finances are not blessed. You may ask why but the answer is because you are being disobedient. This may not be your intent so I am not saying this to be harsh but we err because we do not know the scripture. Websites like this discourage believers from walking in the total blessings of God. Although tithing pre-dates the law, Malachi mentions that God says to test Him and see that He opens up blessings that you cannot contain. I have not observed God making a promise similar anywhere else in the Bible. The blessings may not always be monetary blessings but He may bless you through other people. Please step out in faith. You will not be disappointed.
Your church is only honoring biblical principles by ensuring that that all members obey the bible. The biblical church also would not allow a known fornicator or a person who sows seeds of discord to be in any position of ministry, which includes the choir. I applaud your church for taking such a bold stance for righteousness. I also see that although you have other responsibilities if you cannot be there for the choir then you are tying their hand. Perhaps when things slow down for you and you make a decision to tithe then you can return. I understand that you may have all the best intentions in the world and want to worship the Lord through singing, but the other members are present for rehearsal and if you cannot be there with them then it affects the entire choir.
I pray for your strength in the Lord because you are reading my comments, you have many issues that are pressing, you have your church warning you, and you hear the comments on this website that appease your flesh. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into the truth. There is a part of you that knows God’s will and there is your situation staring you in the face. I pray that you listen to God and make the right decision. Partial obedience is disobedience. Additionally, read Matthew 23:23 and pay attention to what Jesus says about tithing. Life is not easy and the world has so many demands on our life but we must resolve to do thus saith the Lord. Man’s wisdom is foolishness so I pray that you will accept the truth and not faint.
Change remember that Peter walked on water as he looked towards Jesus. When he took his eyes off of Him then he sank. Keep your eyes on Jesus through faith and you will do the impossible. Your money will be enough and your bills will be paid. Psalms 37 says that, “I was young and now I am old yet I have NEVER seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging for bread. Are you righteous? DO you believe the word? Well, you are NOT forsaken. Trust Him and He will work these problems out for you.
I completely agree with everything you have said. It is the truth that most Christians don’t seem to want to hear. Tithing is an old testament command to the Jews….not the gentile/Christians. And not only that..it had nothing to do with money…Tithing was all about food.
What I have never understood is why do we go back to the law which was put to rest by the blood of the lamb on the cross, and try to revive it again. Why would anyone want to put themselves back under the law. And even more depressing is why would Christians want to follow a command given only to the Jews?
My mother said to me many, many times as I was growing up and asking questions..” a person must rightly devide the word of truth”.
Please dear Christians…read your bible, and ask God to open your heart to his truth….sometimes it is not what your church may preach, but its what God has to say to your heart that matters…learn to listen to that still small voice, and as the bible says…” you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. Peace to you all.
I think it is untrue to link non payment of tithe with financial problems. I see no evidence in the bible to support that. It is so ironic that we pentecostals that have the loudest voices do not even understand scriptures as we ought. We still seem to express the works mentality, trying to gain God’s favour by works and that is a pity. Child of the most high, don’t kid yourself! This doctrine of tithing distracts us from the truth. Looking at scriptures, 2 corinthians 8 : 12 talks about giving and it says the most important thing about giving is first of all having a willing mind. Then give according to that which you have not according to that which you do not have. Spirit led giving which the new testament advocates does not prescribe a ten percent. God owns all that you earn, he does not own just a ten percent and He would require any percentage as He sees fit.
Sonya, I do feel your pain. I am in a similar predicament in my church because i do not believe in this ten percent business. I know how it feels not to have enough to get by and in all honesty can not squeeze out the MANDATORY ten percent from an already lean pocket. But all I can say is that Jesus died so that you would be liberated and He has said that He will not put more upon us that we can bear. Present your case before him and he will definitely make a way. He might lead you to a good financial advisor and even open doors of opportuinities to you. And do not forget, Jesus did not condemn the widow for the little she gave so do not feel judged or condemned.
Nita, I totally agree with you, we christains want to revive the law!
It is quite funny though, I discovered two things about tithing: one, in the bible, God never instructed that money should be tithed. Instead tithes where paid from the produce of the land, crops and livestock. Two, the jews that where originally given the instruction to tithe do not tithe today and I beleive they have a better understanding of tithing than we do. They do not tithe beacuse, when God gave the law to tithe, He gave specific guidelines. The tithe most only be collected by the descendants of Levi and there was a designated place it was to be collected. Presently since they do not have proper records of Levy’s descendants and also cannot gain access to the place where God told them tithes must be collected, they do not pay tithes becaus eit would be illegal.
So can anyone show me where in the bible we have been instructed to tithe money and where it says that without that we cannot prosper. And please remember we are talking about tithing specifically and not giving in general.
Tithing has been a big topic in my household this year. I am not sure where I stand on whether you have to tithe. My thought though is tithing shows your faithfulness to the Lord and in turn He will bless you. I have been unemployed since February and my wife stays home with our girls. That being said, we continued to tithe even though there was no income coming in. Each month, when we were not sure how we were going to pay the bills, the Lord provided. He gave painting jobs to my wife (she is an artist) and website jobs for me (a side job for me). If we didn’t tithe, would we have gotten those jobs? Maybe, but I truly believe because we gave our finances up to the Lord in February, he has provided for us in his way. After all, its in the Lord’s prayer. Give us this day our daily bread. Every day of every month this year he did just that and I know it is the power of tithing that blessed us!
How can a Christian talk about “offer body as a living sacrifice” when he is arguing about offer above 1/10 or below 1/10?
I have 3 sons, 8, 6, and 4. Our household income has meets the standard of low-income.
My wife and I decide to offer 2/10 to God each month, for 8 years, we never in a situation of “in need”. Sometimes when it seems “not enought”, we change our life style, not our offering percentage.
May God bless you as He has blessed us.
Just want to clearify that we give 1/10 to our church, and 1/10 to the people of organization that we think is in need. And it is a work of joy to search for the people/organization that has more needs than us.
Hi Tony Issac
You are a true Berean. I agree with you. I also think that tithe is a matter of freewill just as Abraham gave of his choice. I’ve been feeling as though this whole issue of tithing is the circumcision doctrime of our day. Acts 15. It’s also treated as though it’s a moral command when in fact it is really part of the ceremonial part of the law. However the real problem is that we in America tend to interpret the scripture based on our western culture and not on the culture of biblical times. Also, 95% of christians have little or no understanding of our covenant relationship with God through the death,burial,resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. We are in the same ( actually better according to Hebrews ) covenant relationship as Abraham was with the Lord. Part of the covenant blessing is justification through faith.
I was just reviewing the teaching on justification.
(Before I continue I’m assuming anyone reading this knows that Jesus is God and Man in one) Justification means that God has accepted the sacrifice of Christ and his covenant blood as our sacrifice (i.e as if we died on the cross with him) and He actually imparts righteousness to us and considers and declares us to be innocent and eligible to receive all the covenant promises. A big reason Christ took human nature upon himself was to undo what Adam did and receive as a man all the blessings of Heaven and then give those blessings freely to all who will belive. That’s why Jesus would say as the Father has given me a kingdom so give I you a kingdom. That’s why the scripture says that we are of of God and joint heirs of Christ. As a man the second Adam, Christ received all the promises of God that were promised to the fathers and we get to share those promises with Him in this life. There’s not enough space to tell all Christ did, but one thing He did was to live under the law as the second Adam and fulfill it’s obligations and because he was perfectly innocent and righteous (as a man under law)and overcame every temptation of Satan (as a man and for mankind) He crushed the head (i.e. authority) of Satan over mankind. God sees us as He does Christ. Innocent and righteous because of our faith in Christ.
Through His humanity Christ has taken away the condemnation and curse of the law which would include the so-called curse of not tithing.
There are other parts of this tithe teaching that are conveniently left out. Such as the year of the tithe when the tithe was to be given to the poor,widows and strangers. Paul said that circumcision was nothing and uncircumcision was nothing but the new creation i.e our new life in Christ by faith. I think we can say the same about tithing. It’s faith in the covenant blood of Jesus Christ. I’ve known people who have tithed and struggled financially. The sad part is that when they went for answers they were told that it must be some “hidden sin” that is preventing the blessing of God or they must have a generational curse on their family. Well I’ve seen generational curses broken rebuked and everthing else and people still struggle financially. What make me angry is that these good christians who really love the Lord start questioning their own faith and Gods love for them - which is what legalistic teachings ultimately lead a sincere christian to do. Then they become the proverbial dog chasing it’s own tail, the faster they “work” to catch their tail the more dizzy the get. I’ve also seen people who haven’t tithed and they’ve been blessed beyond measure. They love the Lord and use their blessings to help others. It’s faith that matters. Faith in the blood, faith in the life that Christ lived here as the second (last) Adam. Faith in the love of God towards us. Faith that God was serious when He said I will cut a new covenant with my people and that He would not remember our sins or iniquities anymore. I’m tired of seeing the people of the new covenant kept in religious guilt and shame because someone is always reminding them of their sin or what a good christian should do. If you want to tithe go ahead their is no condemnation towards you. If you can’t afford to tithe then don’t, give what you are able to. You are under no condemnation in Christ and God has bound himself to bless you because of His covenant. Will you be a millionare? That is up to the Lord. But God has promised to bless and supply all our need according to his riches in glory and not how much we give towards him. That is exactly what He did to Abramham before he gave one penny. Keep studying and keep proclaiming the truth in spite of the rejection that comes with it your reward will be great. For a really good teaching on covenant go to http://www.preceptaustin.org. search for covenant and you’ll find a thirteen lesson teaching. There is also some excellent audio by wayne barber on the same sight. If the modern day church in America can ever get back to our covenant roots we will see more of Gods love, mercy and power just as our forefathers did.
God Bless
Sonyia,
Dear Sister, leave that church as fast as your little feet will take you. That is a legalistic system that puts you under condemnatiom and continual doubting of where you stand with the Lord. You have been justified i.e. declared innocent by the blood of Jesus and your faith in Him. And that free gift of justification has entitled you to the same covenants of promise as the Jewish christians are entitled to. read Ephesians ch. 1 and 2.
I wish I knew where to tell you to go to find a good church but as you start looking for a new fellowship keep asking these questions. Are they teaching about Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Are they teaching on Gods covenant favor or works? Do I feel loved and accepted by the Lord or do I feel condemned by the Lord? ( You may not hear condemning words directly, but you will feel a witness by what the members think is the will of God for you.) If you get a mental picture of the Lord and you see him with an attitude of waiting on you to get it together so He can bless you, then that is condemnation and false guilt at work in your life also known as legalism. It’s really the work of Satan to try and get you back under law so he can use the law to ultimately separate you from the cross and Gods love and presence displayed through Jesus Christ.
I’m sure these well meaning but ignorant christians do not have any ideal that they themselves have unwittingly believed a lie. I’m sure they sincerely believe they are serving the Lord in what they have told you, but they are dead wrong scripturally.
In some parts of the country there is a crazy unscriptural practise called a “tithing covenant agreement”. Pastors that promote this heresy will flat out tell you that they are not obligated to pray for you unless you have signed this agreement. You can’t even be a member of their church unless you sign this paper. And being a member entitles you to special priviledges that nonmembers don’t have access to.
How do I know? I know of some people that it happened to and I was one of them. I had a friend who was a “tithing agreement” of one church in Arizona. I had briefly gone to bible college with the pastor. She was behind in her house payments and was on the verge of losing her house. These tithing churches brag how they will take care of their members, but even though they knew of her situation they didn’t do anything to help her. So I had my wife call the church ( they knew my voice )and ask if she joined the church and became a tithing covenant member if they would help if she needed it. Naturally like a good politician they said yes. Then we laid the hammer of love down and challenged them and said ” then why aren’t you helping someone in your church who is also a singer in the choir . They said that she had to be a tithing covnenant member. When we said that she was they started stumbling all over themselves to save face. Within a week my friend had her money and her house was saved.
I said all that to say this. We live in perilous times politicaly, economically, and spiritually. A truly biblical New Testament church will be more interested in being a blessing rather that receiving a blessing just as Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Granted there are some churches that are too poor to help financially and need help themselves but if that is the case they should at least agree with you in prayer and have the other members praying and agreeing with you without any condemnation period.
A truly new testament church will be flowing with blessings from the Lord and everyone will be sharing His blessings with each other. ( I don’t mean just financial either)
It’s all about Jesus,faith, the blood, covenant, grace and the love of God and all of these come as a free gift from the Lord. Free,Free,Free. If you’re in a church making you feel as though you have to earn the blessings of the Lord then leave and don’t look back and don’t let condemnation and/or false guilt play with your emotions. Pray for them and the church in America and yourself that the eyes of our understanding will be opened so that we can know the love of God and show it to the rest of the word by loving one another. You sound like you want to give and that you like to give. The Lord sees your heart and I know He will remember you and the covenant he has with you in Christ. You take of yourself and your children believing that the Lord will make a way for you to be blessed. God blessed Abraham before he even gave one cent of tithe. You can read the progression in Genesis chapters 12 through 14. I have a good teaching/prophecy on my website that I think would be a blessing to you. It’s under the October 18 prophecy which I’ll be changing shortly because the Lord has given me something else to share with the church. http://www.covenantministriesofamerica.com
Since tithing today,as we know it, is not found in the Bible, where did it come from? devon
Hi Dan Dickerson. It is such a relief that someone reads there bible thoroughly. I have really concerned and very worried over this issue of tithing. It showed to me that christians these days have no understanding whatsoever of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the liberty that this act has secured for us. Instead we seek to be tied down by the old testament doctrines which those of the old testament found difficult to bear. I discovered something else again in the book of Malachi that no one ever preaches about. They pick the money bit and live out the portion that says God hates divorce. If we are holding unot Malachi 3:10 as a reason to support tithing, then we should hold unto malachi 2 that talks about God’s dislike for divorce. Please I admonish us all, read your scriptures thoroughly. Because it works does not make it right. Doing that means that you are validating God’s word with your own personal experiences and that is very dangerous. The Mormons was born out of a personal experience and so many other pseudo christian groups. Coming to think of it, the richest people in the world did not become rich by tithing, they became rich by making sound investments and business moves. we christians are too lazy! We want everything done for us and that is why these doctrines of sowing seeds, tithing etc. are so appealing. GO AND WORK! He that does not work, should not eat. Thats what the scriptures says.
Tony,
thanks for commenting so much on this post, while I don’t agree with you on some points, it is nice to get a good discussion going. Also I appreciate that you are keeping your comments civil and in love - our debate and arguments don’t really amount to much if we don’t do it in love..
Well let me first say this, I do agree that Christians should read their bibles thoroughly and “rightly divide the word of truth” and I also believe that wealth is attained by us putting our hands to something for God to prosper. In my experience I have found that most of the blessing I have received from God came in the context of me doing something.
But on to my main question for you… You seem like a very faithful Christian who really has a heart for God… What is your main motivation against people tithing?
I think I know where you are coming from, I used to be in a church where a visiting minister came in and made the non-tithers stand up and publicly rebuked them. Clearly this is off base since we should not be giving under compulsion.
But, even aside from the issue of the tithe, giving causes a blessing for the giver. To the degree that we sow, we reap. It is seen all through out the scriptures and I think you probably agree with me on giving (just not tithing) right?
If you are in agreement with me on that, don’t you feel that as we continue to prosper one of the best uses of our money (as stewards) is to sow into the Kingdom of God (storing treasures in heaven) to win more souls for Jesus?
Personally, that is my life goal, to make as much money as I can so that I can give as much into God’s Kingdom as possible - regardless of what the percentage is - do you think I am wrong for wanting to do that?
Hi Bob,
Am really sorry for coming across like that and believe me, my comments are not directed at you but at the doctrine of tithing and the damage it has done and is still doing. Maybe its a bit of misplaced aggression on my part since I cannot defend myself against the preachers that have battered me with this doctrine, I picked an easy target to vent my anger and completely forgot that everything has to be done in love. I apologise again.
Quite seriously though, I feel that this doctrine is a bit untrue and gives believers false hopes and worst still, it creates guilt in the hearts of those who genuinely want to serve God but unfortunately haven’t got the financial means. If we look at scriptures, we will find out the reason the law of tithing was introduced. It was a form of taxation in which the kingdom of Israel ran. The levites were the public office holders who provided, education, healthcare, legal mediation and spiritual advice. As such, the tithes were a means of providing for them and running the kingdom. The other thing the tithes were for was to provide for the less privileged, the orphans and the widows quite akin to the welfare system a lot of western countries today adapt. It was never intended to be a show of righteousness (The Pharisees made it so unfortunately).
Not everybody in ancient Israel paid tithes. The less privileged didn’t. It was used to help folks like these. Unfortunately, when everyone is made to feel guilty for not tithing, today’s church does not consider the less fortunate ones struggling to survive. The tithes are actually supposed to help people such people but not in today’s church. Instead they make these people believe their none payment of tithe makes their situation deserving. Is that Christianity? I think not. Sonyia I apologise for making reference to your situation, but Bob, do you think she has been fairly treated by her church? The early church took care of the needs of their members. I am so passionate about this because I have been a victim of this bible bashing. I was out of work for a about a year, my wife was expecting, I submitted numerous applications, I was afraid that I would lose my home, I was behind on the household bills and did not get any help from the church whatsoever. Instead I was made to feel guilty for not tithing. Well a tenth of zero is what? Zero. And that was exactly what I had. However, in spite of what we were going through, I still gave to those who were worse off than myself but it did not count because I did not mark the tithe register in church and act like the priest and the levite who left their fellow Jew to die on the road in the parable of the good Samaritan. I eventually found a job and the Lord really smiled on my family and me and there the church was again berating me for not paying tithe again. Am not against giving, I am against this legalistic style of giving. God has asked me to give my two months wages which I received in arrears and I did that. And believe me, it was not easy. God has asked me to empty my pockets and give when I barely had enough myself. I am not a tight fisted, disgruntled Christian with an axe to grind. It is the injustice meted upon well meaning folks who want to serve God that cuts me. Why should someone be kicked out of church for not paying tithes? Even adulterers and fornicators are not treated that badly.
My heart genuinely goes out to those in situations like this and believe me it’s not a good place to be. That’s why I have decided to speak out and not hold my peace. People are exploited and manipulated with a man made doctrine. If it were of God, it would not have been the burden it is today. Families struggling financially would not be made to feel guilty and thus believe they brought their situation upon themselves. It pains me very much.
I have to say, I admire your maturity. You did not respond in my same tone.
May God bless you richly and am not sure if you are married but as I wrote this, I felt your wife being impressed in my heart. It is well with her.
Tony,
thanks for replying - just so you know, I wasn’t saying that you weren’t being civil at all - I honestly thought that you kept your composure pretty well considering how passionate you are about the topic - you should read some of the comments I get sometimes from Christians
Anyway, in regards Sonyia, I agree with you - in fact, while we may disagree about the blessing that tithing brings, we agree that no one should be forcing anyone to give anything. To me that falls under the category of “giving under compulsion” (2 cor 9:7). And come to think of it, if someone is being forced to give, then it really isn’t giving anymore.
I’ve been in the same boat you mentioned. In fact, the preacher I mentioned in the previous comment came to the church I was attending when I was out of work and was struggling financially. I know how difficult it is when you are broke and I pass no judgment on anyone - the way I see it this whole tithing/giving thing is between the giver and God. And God always sees things differently than we do…
And FYI I am married and I appreciate your kind words.
Tithing is such a touchy subject. I feel tithing is between the tither and our Lord. We shouldn’t be guilted into tithing because this is not giving, this is forced parting of our money. There has been much debate on whether it is biblical or not to tithe. I am not sure either way but as far as my heart, we tithe because the Lord will provie. Now does that mean if we stop tithing, the Lord will stop providing? No! Does it show less faithfulness if we stop tithing or if we do less than “1/10″? No! Yes the Lord says to tithe 1/10 but I have to believe in my heart that he would not want you to go financially bankrupt.
This brings up my purpose of tithing. I feel if you show the Lord you trust in His promises of tithing, he will bless you. As I wrote on my blog about trusting God http://christianparentingtipsandideas.blogspot.com/2008/10/trusting-god.html the Lord provided for us in a big way this year when I was unemployed for most of the year and my wife stays home with the kids. I believe part of that was because we were faithful in tithing as often as we could. There were times we could not afford to but the Lord still blessed us in what we needed.
As far as I am concerned, we are tithing to the Lord, Not The Church. If you are feeling pressure by your church to tithe and you feel it is wrong, find out their stance on tithing. If it isn’t what you believe, maybe it is the Lord’s way of having you move on to another church.
Hi,
I tithed for 8 years on gross income. My bank balance does not reflect a blessing. My health does not reflect a blessing. Tithing, on it’s own, has not brought me any extraordinary blessings to date, unless God has been keeping would-be-assassins at bay, and keeping me from being hit by a truck or something else I don’t know about, but as far as “tithing” money, which would mean I am sowing money, I am yet to reap a monetary return.
It was part of a physical covenant, we are part of a spiritual one. Why would we tithe anyway? To receive a physical blessing? Jesus said to sow unto heavenly things, not earthly.
Galatians says that to take one part of the law, makes one obligated to observe the entire law, and take on it’s curse if we transgress in one part.
Hello! NEW covenant!
May the truth be known, and in any case, we’re probably straining at a knat as my good brother in the Lord said.
Glory to God always. It’s either false doctrine or it’s not. It can’t be both, at least in my opinion.
Hi Greg,
I admire your sincerity. I don’t think I have met that many tithe payers who are this sincere. I have studied this subject quite intensely and know that this tithe debate rages on all over Christianity. I personally do not tithe and draw my reasons from scripture but now looking through scripture, I see that those that tithe do not commit any sin neither do those that don’t. It all goes down to motive and one’s relationship with God.
By motive, I mean; why do you tithe? Out of fear? To secure prosperity? To please the elders of your church so you don’t get kicked out? Or are you doing it based on your relationship with God. If it is out of fear, that’s a sin. Bible says anything not done in faith is sin. If you are doing it because you are being compelled, God is not in it. And definitely no blessings would follow.
After Zacchaeus met with Jesus in Luke 19, he resolved to pay back all the he had collected deceitfully and also vowed to give a certain percentage of his wealth to the poor. That was a personal choice, which he would get blessed for. Jesus did not make it a requirement for him to receive salvation. In as much as that was not tithing per say, am drawing on its connection to finances.
I think if you tithe and you are doing it unto the Lord with a sincere heart, God will bless you for it and if you do not tithe and you are doing it unto the out of a sincere heart, you are not sinning either. Lets consider Romans 14 from the Message Bible.
1 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.
2 -4For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ’s table, wouldn’t it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn’t eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God’s welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.
5Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.
6 -9What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.
10 -12So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture:
“As I live and breathe,” God says,
“every knee will bow before me;
Every tongue will tell the honest truth
that I and only I am God.” So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.
13 -14Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.
15 -16If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don’t eat, you’re no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? Don’t you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning!
17 -18God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you’ll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.
19 -21So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault. You’re certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God’s work among you, are you? I said it before and I’ll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don’t eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.
22 -23Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.
From the above scripture we see that one has the right to compel anyone to tithe and no one has the right to compel anyone to do otherwise. It is a personal thing between each individual and God.
So Greg, if you feel you should keep tithing (not out of compulsion) please go right ahead and if you feel you shouldn’t, just as well.
I hope this helps.
I just want to say thanks to all who have offered commentary about my situation. While I find that many share my belief, I am not so confident that I will find a church home in MS that does. It’s apparent that many have resorted to preaching for the money and not caring for the soul. Pray for me as I pray for you and may we all continue to seek and grow closer to God in these last and evil days!
Just want to clarify that Jesus preach for the money but also care for the soul. And they do related. A Christian care about money already hurting his own soul.
Blessing does not come after you tithing, it comes at the time you change your life style and offer your best to our Lord.
The 1/10 is not a law to give, it is only a standard for you to look and evaluate your life style. It’s a precentage, not a certain amont.
Cut your cable, stop prescribe the magazine, eat less, shop only what you need not what you want… and want less month by month.
These practice bless me a lot.
Hi Devon
I remember the name of a book called The lie of the Tithe that is supposed to be very informative - I haven’t had a chance to read it and I think the only way to buy it is online. I did take some church history in bible college and can vouch that the part on wikipedia about the early church not collecting tithes is fairly accurate to the best of my recollection. Hope this helps you get started in learning more on the truth. I personally am not for or against it, I think it’s a choice between the person and Jesus. However, I do get upset when people use the scripture to manipulate or even threaten someone into tithing. This whole subject is pretty huge today. I can’t believe how many emails i’ve gotten just from my comments on this post.
Your question is a great one. Unfortunetly the answer is a long one with a lot of church and secular history involved. I’m not an expert in either. But there is a lot of information that is fairly accurate here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithes. I did some research about 6 or 7 years ago and remember that I found out that the modern version of tithing was instituted by the catholic church around 500 or 600 A.D. as a way to compensate the priests. At one point in it’s history if one did not pay tithes to the catholic church then that was grounds for excommunication. I wish I could remember more. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t keep notes from that study because at the time I didn’t think I would ever really be needing them. Boy, was I wrong or what
If we really knew and could see the redemption of Jesus and what His whole mission was about we wouldn’t even have to be writing about this subject. Everyone is so quick to jump up and espouse the virtues of tithing or not tithing but all the while The scripture says that God desires mercy and not sacrifice. I known people on both sides of the issue who wouldn’t know how to show mercy if it hit them between the eyes. And it seems to me that the ones I’ve seen blessed the most on either side of this issue are the ones who are merciful, especially to the poor - in their own congregation first - and then to others. Didn’t Jesus say to be merciful as our Father in Heaven is merciful. Didn’t the Spirit of God say if we don’t love our brother whom we have seen how can we say we love God whom we have not seen. Didn’t James say that if a poor brother/sister came to church and we say be warm and well fed but we didn’t give them what they needed to be warm and well fed that the love of God was not in us. We collect tithes in the modern age and neglect our poor brothers and sisters or put demands on them that are impossible for them to keep. The people in the old testament had it better than some people in church today. At least the poor then could glean the fields and there was even a year of tithing for the widows and poor and orphans. Didn’t Jesus say that a religious person went to prayer i.e. stood in Gods Presence and told God how good he had been by saying I tithe of All I possess while the poor sinner couldn’t even look up and cried God be merciful to me a sinner. The pharisee went home righteous in his own eyes while the sinner went home righteous in Gods eyes. My prayer is that we all will ask for the Lord to open the eyes of our understanding so that we all can truly see the enormous love of God towards us so that we can start showing that same love to one another instead of spending time scratching an itch that probably doesn’t need scratching.
Mercy is greater than tithing or not tithing. Love is the greater virtue. If someone is tithing and has no love then as 1 Cor. 13 says it is nothing and profits the person nothing. They may be blessed financially but without love they are bankrupt. Same for non-tithers or those who give what the spirit leads them to give. You may give 5% cheerfully but without love it profits you nothing. Covenant Mercy is king in the Kingdom of God.
Hi Dan,
Another nice piece and quite informative too. I just pray that God intervenes in this situation that the church of today has placed itself.
Ironically, the doctrine of tithing is not the only questionable doctrine in today’s church. Faith has been so abused and it has been redefined as wishful thinking and at times a bit of stupidity. I fear that we are ging back to the time before the reformation. Now christianity has become more of a works thing than anything else. You are being bullied into accepting everything preached from the pulpit. If you raise any objection, you are tagged a rebel and made to believe you are a sinner. What is so painful about it is the fact that we in this dispensation have our bibles where we can actually study and know the truth for ourselves but those before the reformation did not have access to bibles and were easily decieved. But God never leaves Himself without a witness, he will always reserve the 7000 who will not bow to baal. Thanks to the sacrifice of Jerome, Martin Luther and a lot of their contemporaries who sacrificed thier lives for the gospel, we now enjoy christianity. With the way the church has turned out night, may the labours of the reformers not be in vain. We now preach the very things they fought against! The just no longer lives by faith but by works. We no longer enjoy God’s grace but still strive to earn HIS approval by works and boast about these works!
All sorts of doctrines that originated from the catholic church are being peddled right, left and centre in today’s church and have now been accepted as christianity. Jesus never told us to celebrate His birth; christmas was never in the bible! Titles from the catholic church are now the order of the day in today’s church. A clergy laity divide is present today that never existed in the early church.
I fear for today’s church, am so concerned about where we are headed.
Am so sorry for seemingly steering us away from the issue at hand but ironically, this doctrine is actually a small part of the real problem; salvation by works.
Another reformation is coming and it is going to be a really big one. Senator Grassley’s inquiry would be nothing compared to it! People would be exposed for what they really are and only the truth will prevail. The bible really says that the truth would become scarce, it most certainly is. Today’s knowledge of God is sooooo shallow, people are easily deceived.
I apologise once gain folks and paticularly to you Bob because this forum was not set up to discuss this but i just could not ignore the fact.
Plumbline Ministries has excellent teaching on tithing, giving and curses on finances.
Mal 2:2 If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name,” Says the LORD of hosts, “I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart.
The principle is that blessings can be cursed. So the blessing resulting from tithing in Mal 3:8-10 can be countered by generational curses or curses that come into our lives.
By the same principle, blessings can soften the effect of curses. Thus the tribe of Levi had a curse that they would be scattered in Israel (Gen 49:7). However, they were blessed when they stood a stand for the Lord at the foot of Mount Sinai.
Exo 32:28 So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
Exo 32:29 Then Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.”
They were still scattered in Israel in the Levitical cities but the scattering was a blessing to the people as the Levites ministered to the people throughout Israel.
The Apostle Paul has taught that we are under grace and not under the law. He teaches on this at length in Colossians 2 and Galations 4 and indeed is somewhat frustrated at the Galatians.
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Gal 2:19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
Gal 3:2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—
Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
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For example, strict observance of the Sabbath was introduced under the Law.
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Col 2:16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
Col 2:17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Gal 4:9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
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Now both the observance of the Sabbath and tithing are principles and have precedence before the Law was established. The Sabbath was first observed by God. An example of tithing - albeit a one-time tithe - was done by Abraham to Melchizedek.
However, you can observe a principle and reap its benefit without being legally obliged to observe the principle.
Chuck Missler in his teaching on the Sermon on the Mount observes that the standard in the Sermon on the Mount is much higher in every way than the standards set by the Law. Everything we are and everything we have belong to Christ. We seek the Kingdom first in everything we do and all the choices we make.
Giving 10% of one’s income seems much easier than making all our choices in lifestyle, career, choices about where we live and work and take care of our bodies and rest and sleep unto God and to advance the Kingdom but without being legalistic about it.
Rom 7:3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
Rom 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
Hi Susan,
I am inclined to disagree with you over these so called principles. If we go by what you have said, then circumcision becomes relevant because it was done before the law. It was a principle before the law. Animal sacrifice as well had been in existence before the law even so that the book of hebrews says that Abel’s sacrifice was offered up in faith.
Back to Abraham’s tithe. He did not tithe his personal possessions, there was nothing spiritual about his encounter with Melchizedek. So if we want to uphold this so called principle, then we will have to go and raid our enemies, tithe the plunder and give out the remaining 90%.
Lets face it, we are still trying to apply old testament principles in the new testament. They are totally different. The new testament is solely faith based and has no place for so called principles.
Tithing is done off increase.
Abraham tithed from unexpected gains obtained in an unprovoked battle to recover his relative. Abraham prospered at other times and there is no record of his tithing at any any other time. However, this is an example of a precedent before tithing was established as part of the Law.
Circumcision was a mark of God’s covenant with Abraham. Circumcise = berith which means ‘to cut’. Cutting one’s flesh was a mark of covenant. We are under the New Covenant. Christ does have covenant marks on His body.
The principle of animal sacrifice was ‘without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.’
Both Old and New Testament are full of principles which are not mandatory under the New Covenant but are universally applicable. Dietary and sanitary principles are found in much of the Law.
Covenant and law are different than principle. We have to be able to distinguish the two.
If one is following the way tithes were presented in the Old Testament, it is a far more complex issue than I think is taught in churches these days.
I first came across this in teachings of Plumbline Ministries. Plumbline focuses on the ‘first fruits’ principle on which the tithe is based rather than a legalistic interpretation of a tithe requirement.
They focus our intention on the original intent of the tithe in Deuteronomy 14:22-29, pointing out that two out of three years, the tithe is saved up. The people then go to Jerusalem, buy their favorite food with that money and then eat that before the Lord with great joy.
The intent seems to have been to build anticipation of this event every year of looking forward to a joyful family celebration where you’d spend more money than you would otherwise spend and celebrate in the presence of the Lord.
The third year, they were to use the tithe to provide for the Levite, the orphans, widows and aliens. Plumbline points out that a lot of creativity is required from us in how we distribute this money and that God designed it this way.
Hi Susan
It’s late ( I started this at 10 pm ) and I was going to go to bed but I can’t pass this by. I’ll try and keep this short and make sense at the same time.
There is no way I’m going to cover everything so I urge you and others to go to this website ( it’s not mine )
http://www.preceptaustin.org/covenant_in_the_bible.htm and spend at least 6 months in prayer and study on this subject. It will change your life and reading/understanding of the scripture like nothing else can. Parts of the bible that make no sense at all to our western mindset will become totally understandable with a godly revelation of covenant in scripture. For example, have you ever wondered why Johnathan took off his his robe,armour, sword and belt and gave them to David after he and David cut or made a covenant ? You’ll have to go to the website to find out ; )
By the way it’s not because they were sexually attracted to each other as some have thought.
You seem like an intelligent and informed person scripturally so I’m sure this is an oversight on your part. But, do you realise that when someone
implies or says that a christian, who has choosen not to tithe,is under a curse that they are actually saying that the Father will trample on His own blood - the
blood of Christ - and curse those whom He has blessed
The blood that was shed for the confirmation of Gods promises and covenant and the redemption of all who will believe.Nor can anyone say that blessings can be cursed and still be correct from a covenant point of view.
Let me explain. I am familiar with both generational curse and tithing curse teachings and I have come to believe that it is not a New Covenant stance.
Galatians clearly says that we are no longer under the curse of the law which includes everything from Genesis to the time of the resurrection of Christ. Why until the Resurection of Christ? Because Christ came as a man born under the law and therefore ministered under the law because the New Covenant prophesied by the prophets could not take effect until the death of Christ. ( Gal 4:5-6 , Hebrews ch. 9:17-18 ) . Jesus taught the disciples all that Moses and the prophets said about
Him Luke 24:27. The reason that Genesis is included in the law is because historically the Pentatuach. i.e. the five books that Moses wrote by inspiration, have been considered the five books of the law. I believe that the Jews still believe this today. In fact, their is a movement in Israel to make the Noahic Laws binding on the whole human race. The penalty for breaking the laws? Beheading ! But, back to the subject at hand
Biblical covenants have 7 or 8 elements to them but because of space I’ll just briefly cover two - maybe only one
as it relates to this subject of
cursing. Especially the modern day version of the generational and tithing curse.
Before I share the elements of covenant making I have to say that there were two types of covenant in Scripture that are really important for christians to understand today.
One type of covenant was , what I call , a two way covenant. Both parties involved made pledges or promises to keep and if either one broke the pledge/oath then the curse ( more on that later ) would come into effect. These covenants were always conditional and temporary and could only be fulfilled if both parties were
able and willing to keep their promises.
Israel was under this first type of covenant the two way covenant. They only received the benefits if they obeyed completely the whole law. The whole law. If they tithed but failed in other areas then they were in danger of the curse of the law. If they did fail they could offer a blood sacrifice which would atone for their sin and keep the angel of death or the devourer off their backs. But Israel not only had a history of breaking the law but also of turning their back on the blood sacrifice and turning to idols.
The other kind of covenant was what I call a one way covenant i.e its’ fulfillment depended on the one who had made or cut the covenant. These were often unconditional. God made one of these with Abraham. It was a covenant that was everlasting, as in cannot fail, and was in effect for ever. Jehovah made this type
( thats why it can’t fail ) of covenant with Noah, Abraham, David, and this may shock you, also with Jesus. Because all the promises to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David were to them and their seed ( singular not plural ) Galatians 3:16. This also requires
an understanding of why Christ had to become a real human being in the flesh, although He was sinless unlike us. There is not space for that here. ( the preachers of this generation have sure let us down, when is the last time you heard a whole years teaching just about Jesus and His work of redemption and covenant ? )
This is also the type of covenant every believer is under in Christ because through our faith in Christs sacrifice God placed us in Christ (1Cor.1:30) and has made us the seed of Abraham. It doesn’t matter if a believer sees the benefits of this covenant or not because it’s not dependant on sight it’s dependant on Gods promise and our faith in His promise. Since there is such a lack of knowledge in the body of Christ
about the New Covenant that’s probably why we don’t see more of the effects of this covenant on the world at large, because ” as thou hast believed so be it unto thee”. If we understood that we are witnesses of the covenant and that God would call upon us to validate that covenant with signs and wonders and miracles, we would turn the world upside down and inside out.
But, I do believe the Lord is ready to remember this holy covenant and He will cause it to be fulfilled in the earth soon.
Here are the elements of Biblical covenants
A. Pledges/Promises were made along with curses
B. A blood sacrifice was made / cut and offered to
Jehovah
C. the terms of the covenant were read
D. Witnesses were involved in order verify that a
covenant was made and were called upon when
necessary to validate it
E. A meal of some kind was usually shared ( as in
communion )
G. Gifts were exchanged
H. Garments were given, Sometimes armour was exchanged
as in David and Johnathans covenant
I think there is more but this is good enough for now.
The only two I’ll skim over are A and B some of C and use the Abrahamic covenant. Covenants as a practise were around before Abrahams covenant so the Lord used the custom of covenant, which men already understood, as a visual picture and way of communicating what His plans
and purposes for the human race were. Covenants actually began in the garden of Eden immediately after the fall when the Lord sacrificed an animal and clothed Adam and Eve with the skins or garments and then made the first Messianic Covenant promise in Genesis 3:15
Back to Abrahams day.
When two or more parties wanted to do a business transaction or a king wanted to make peace or become partners with another king they would make or cut a covenant in order to assure that the promises made would be honored. When covenants were made in the ancient days a sacrificial animal was slain or cut and split in two halves.( this was done with Abraham Gen 15:10) Then they would walk between the two halves ( called the walk of death i.e. this animal represents my death so that I can live for you ) and make a solemn binding oath saying
” May God do so and more to me if I do not keep the terms of this covenant.”
Basically they were saying may I cease to exist if I break this covenant with you. If they did break it then the other party had the right to slay or kill the covenant breaker. And if they didn’t kill them then the next of kin could, who was called the kinsmen redeemer aka avenger of the covenant.
However when God made covenant with Abraham He did not let Abraham walk between the two halves of the sacrifice because He knew that Abraham would fail to keep it. Abraham saw a burning furnace and a smoking lamp pass between the two halves. Most agree that these
represented Jesus Himself walking between the two halves. God was saying, I am going to be the sacrifice for your inability it be faithful to covenant and if I fail to keep this promise to you, Abraham my friend, then may I cease to exist as God.
( we know it is impossible for God to lie )
They would also call upon someone to be witnesses, God Himself was a witness to all covenants and still is today whether people realise it or not such as the marriage covenant.
When God initiated a covenant He would use heaven and earth as witnesses to validate the fact that it was a true covenant. That’s what was going on in Egypt