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The TRUTH about tithing... Tithing began before the law was introduced. The Law simply regulated the tithe. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, 400 years before the time of Moses and the Law, and according to Romans 4:12 we are to walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. If tithing was good for him, it should be good for us, too. We give tithes like Abraham gave them–not by the Law but by faith. And beside that, if the people of God paid ten percent before the Law, and ten percent under the Law, should we, who live by grace, be doing any less since we have a better covenant (Hebrews 7 : 2). There is a passage in Hebrews, which deals with this issue directly. It is Hebrews 7 : 8 "In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living." Melchizedek received Abraham's tithe. The Hebrew writer shows that Melchizedek is a prefigure of Christ. We can conclude that just as Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek we give a tithe to Christ who is declared to be living. Some people think this is a new issue. It is as old as the second century when more and more Gentiles were being converted. The early Jewish believers had no problem with tithing since they had done it under the Law and gave it to the priests. They simply gave their tithe to the elders of the church and did by love. However, as the church became less Jewish this issue came up to the church fathers. They answered the question of tithing with Matthew 23 : 23 "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." Notice Jesus said, "You should have practiced the latter (justice, mercy and faithfulness), without neglecting the former (tithing)." The fathers argued, and rightful so, that Jesus word ends the discussion. Since Jesus said not to neglect the former–being tithing–then no believer should neglect tithing. I wholeheartedly agree! Paul also uses the pattern of tithing under the law in 1 Corinthians 9 : 13 - 14 and says, "Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel." Paul argues that just as the priests got their food from the tithes of the people, so the preachers should live the same way. This passage clearly shows the mentality of the apostle and his understanding of carrying over the concept of tithing into the church. The passage often used to contradict this is 2 Corinthians 9 : 7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." The argument goes something like this: "Each believer has a right to decide for himself what to give and should not be told what percentage he should contribute." The problem with this argument is that the above passage is not dealing with giving to support the church, but rather giving to the poor. Under the Law, giving to the poor was a freewill offering. The Law commanded freewill offerings as well as tithes, "But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks." (Deut 12 : 5 - 6) It is quite inconsistent for people to appeal to freewill offerings yet claim that tithing has been abolished. Both tithing and freewill offerings were incorporated in the Law as the above passage shows, but they preceded the Law, thus they both should continue to be practiced. The burden of proof is placed on those who teach that tithing has been abolished. If so, where in the New Testament does it clearly say that tithing has been abolished? One last thing, notice the resemblance of the language Paul uses in the first passage in Galatians and compare it with the Old Testament passage about tithing: Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. (Galatians 6 : 6) And you and the Levites and the aliens among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. (Deut 26:11-12) Galatians 6 is dealing with giving to the teacher of the gospel and he uses the same language about the Levites receiving the tithe of the people and he calls it "all good things." This is pretty good internal evidence that the early church tithed. (file on my PC, not certain who should get credit for authoring this article) "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - part of Jim Elliot's October 28, 1949 journal entry One life will soon be passed, only what's done for Christ will last! |
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5/8/2008 11:18 am |
There are even more urgent necessities upon the Israel of God in these last days than were upon ancient Israel. There is a great and important work to be accomplished in a very short time, and God never designed that the law of the tithing system should be of no account among his people, but that instead of this, the spirit of sacrifice should widen and deepen for the closing work of the Gospel. Says the apostle: "Let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." 1 Corinthians 16:2. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." In these words Christ again condemns the abuse of sacred obligation. The obligation itself He does not set aside. The tithing system was ordained by God, and it had been observed from the earliest times. Abraham, the father of the faithful, paid tithes of all that he possessed. The Jewish rulers recognized the obligation of tithing, and this was right; but they did not leave the people to carry out their own convictions of duty. Ti:2:14: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity
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sorry but tithing was NEVER abou money. Jesus never tithed, the disciples never tithed, the poor never tithed. Tithing was done away with in the New Covenant. Modern day tithing as taught in Churches is WitchCraft
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5/8/2008 12:49 pm |
  
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5/8/2008 3:05 pm |
I am glad you posted this! I can not believe though that modern day tithing was called Witch craft! Wow! "God has called us to be fishers of men not keepers of the aquarium.  ~Katrina
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5/8/2008 5:17 pm |
It is not whether you tithe or not, I dont think, it is a matter of your heart.. To give with a heart that has wrong motivation is wrong, but to give with a heart for God out of obedience, I dont give to receive back, I give because I desire to bless my church, and to honour God. I am so tired of reading silly doctrinal aguments here... The state of our heart is the most important thing to God, and our love for our fellow bretheren... Netty. Just home from a wonderful honeymoon  matt31272 I love you my honey
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5/8/2008 7:34 pm |
take notice what's happening here! the teachings of no tithing,the teachings of you don't need to attend church,the teachings of old testament don't count we live under the grace of GOD....i am no scholar but if i may be able to say something here....GOD gave the law so either we lived by them or died by them...GOD knew that we could not of our own keep this law... so HE came as JESUS to fulfill the law as man and established a new covenant which IS: Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. now why dispute with people who chooses to be rebellious.if you do not want to pay tithes because you think it's not scriptural then don't.... if you think that you do not need to gather yourselves in a cooperate setting then don't. if you think that the law does not apply to you because you have a grace card then don't.if you don't think the you will be judge according to what you do here on earth as a believer then don't.. but remember....whatever you say can and will be held against you in the court of GOD....yes i said it....the very words you speak or write will be the very words that will speak against you when you stand before the JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live,saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,and every tongue shall confess to God. Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. To them that have ears to hear Choose life,So that both you and your seed may live
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5/8/2008 8:08 pm |
People choose which church they go to. If they don't like the churches policy about tithing they can freely choose another. How exactly are they "controlled"? I'm a little fuzzy on the connection between tithing and witchcraft. We are what we believe we are. C. S. Lewis
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5/8/2008 9:29 pm |
Excellent points! Each is accountable to God! Do you think the law He writes upon our heart is the same law He has already commanded us to follow, or did He change? JESUS the same yesterday,today,and forevermore people are going to believe whatever they want. most of the time they believe what someone else wrote never seeking for themselves what GOD is speaking for this very moment remember this busy... 2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,that they should believe a lie: 2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Choose life,So that both you and your seed may live
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5/9/2008 4:20 pm |
Amen Brother! May I offer a thought, like Christ, to look beyond the tithe to see how our offerings to God honors and praises Him for His goodness. Tithes enables the men of God to minister to the needs of His Church, poor and the lost souls of this world. Let us not forget the love of God that spread His arms upon the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins. What a price! A dear and beloved Pastor helped me to see and think of my prosperity in that it is all God's and He allows me to Honor Him with all of my increase in my tithes, offerings and gifts. Someday He will show me just what He was able to do with the offerings that we lay upon His Golden Alter in Heaven. May God Bless you in your service to Him! Always! Daniel
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5/9/2008 7:33 pm |
This argument reminds me of the dispute in Romans 14:13-23 13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. 19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. 22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. The key for me is the last verse," everything that does not come from faith is sin." One can tithe in faith or not tithe in faith, the key is that we are open to do what God shows us to do. Giving without faith can be as bad as refusing to give what God shows us to give. If one comes from a religious tradition that over empahsizes tithing and gets set free from the legalistic point of view, then tithing will represent the bondage of the law. If one comes from a tradition that encourages giving in different ways like tithing but does not apply guilt to make people give then the strenuous objections to the teaching will seem odd. The practice of tithing can be a good teacher to people to help them see that all that they have belongs to God. There is no condemnation to those who do not practice it, because the burden of the law has been lifted from us. Let us please cease from lobbing judgement at one another over what Paul in the first verse of Romans 14 called "disputable matters". We are what we believe we are. C. S. Lewis
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5/10/2008 1:56 am |
Jim, very good post on tithing, also your comments are commendable, GBY Gods way is my way,...Clay
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5/10/2008 2:54 am |
um the law was far more than the ten commandemnts we arent under law...we arent above it either but GALATIONS VERY CLEARLY SAYS THAT YOU ARE FOOLISH AND BEWITCHED IF YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE BY THE LAW im not arguing,,,just read your bible GRACE HOWEVER IS NOT TO BE ABUSED GRACE IS NOT CHEAP...it is Given to us in order that we might become increasingly rightoeous IN REALITY if we cant see that we are improving our conduct year by year by the renewal of teh HOLY SPIRIT ,,we are probably growing cold BUT A RETURN TO THE LAW...sorry Guys..read GALATIONS AND ROMANS its pure bondage and JUST AS MUCH AN OFFENSE TO THE BLOOD OF CHRIST AS IS LAWLESSNESS GRACE TO OBEY the law writtne on our hearts will confirm the ten commandments but if you want to go back to ritual washings and ritual lambs you really do insult jesus TITHING is preached as LAW and it doesnt exist as LAW it exists as a principle in the old testamnent, a principle that is MOST WORTHY of replicating in the new. GRACE MR CRUCIFIED..is NO EXCUSE FOR UNRIGHRTEOUSNESS OR LAWLESSNEpaul clearly addressed this in ROMANS WHAT THEN SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN THAT GRACE MIGHT ABOUND ???CERTINLY NOT ONLY DO NOT USE THE LIBERTY (WE HAVE) AS A CLOAK FOR VICE GOD IS NOT MOCKED EVERY ONE WILL REAP WHAT THEY SOW but again you are foolish and bewitched if you wnat to stand by LAW GRACE SAVED THROUGH FAITH so crucified dont give me the LAW CARD...give mr GRACE AND FAITH IN CHRIST,,,which leads to INCREASING RIGHTEOUSNESS IN CHRIST the bible says to put up with NO ONE who attempts to bring you into bondage again to mthe law if you stand by the law you have to fulfill the ENTIRE OLD TESTMANT THING go ahead very foolish AGAIN GOD IS NOT MOCKED<<GRACE CANNOT BE ABUSEd wasnt it petere that wanted to be curcumsised again AGAIN THE LETTER (LAW ) KILLETH KILLETH KILLETH but the SPIRIT GIVES LIFE LIFE LIFE the SPIRIT WILL OF COURSE CONFIRM TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS but NOT VIA LAW IT IS A FAR MORE EXCELLENT WAY THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD NEVER INSTRUCT ANYONE TO FULLFILL THE OLD TESTAMENT RITUALS HE both ABOLISHED AND FULLFILED THE LAW it (THE LAW WAS JUST AN INTERIM PREPARATION in order to preserve the isralei nation that CHRIST CAME TO end JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS THAT TRANSITION WHY WAS THE VEIL TORN WHY IS THE NEW COVENANT FAR MORE GLORIOUS THAN THE OLD (MOSES-corinthians) BECASUE THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS THE ACTAUL ABILITY TO CHANGE OUR HEARRTS NOW...so that rightoeuness can become increasingly literal and not JUST impuuted Guys this is 20% of the new testament woe unto us if we want pre christ!!!! why did he come if the LAW WAS NOT A SHADOW again...God is not mocked...lawlessness in a christian (unrepentent) does not lead to heaven...but ritheousness CAN ONLY COME BY FAITH AND GRACE and faith requires works as a confirmation we ARE NOOOOOOOOOT under law ...but as one wise preacher said,,,we arent above it either BUT>>>>>BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW NO FLESH sHALL BE JUSTIFIED thanks for your time...God bless you im not right,,,nor do i wnat to be un;like others i dont fight nor do i want to ( as ervant of the lord-which i aspire to be_ must not quarrel THE BIBLE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF READ ROMANS AND GALATIONS GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR PASSION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IT IS MUCH TO BE COMMENDED AND ADMIRED FRED
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5/10/2008 3:23 am |
Tithing folks ..please dont greive the spirit of course tithing is a grerat principle it is also one that multitiudes of sharks have used to fleece the Body of christ..and Gods judgement may be very harsh here but it doesnt excuse us not cooperating with God and giving faithfully and obediently YET NOT UNDER COMPULSION if God doesnt havev our wallets,,HE IS NO FOOL LIKE HUMANS CAN OFTEN BE IF GOD DOESNT HAVE OUR WALLETS HE WONT HAVE OUR HEARTS i warned Dennis not to lead people into rebeliion,,,just because sharks milk money via the LAW THING does not excuse us from the validity of the principle of tithing but it is not a law HOWEVER I DEEPLY RESPECT THE AUTHOR OF THIS POST..this is just a minor conviction...and we are allowed to differ on the minors,, BUT GOD isnt a fool,,,and i respect any man who may be excessive on the law of tithing MORE than a man who is an opponent of it because GOD is holy....and i try /endeavour to fear GOD i do NOT presume in ANY WaY THAT I AM ABOVE THE LAW..what FOLLY CERTAIN DESTRUCTION THERE,,i however do not try to be under the law read my above post on the distinction between the ten commandments ,,,the spirit of which HAS been written on my hearrt... and FOOLISH /abolished ordinances eg do not touch taste or handle REALLY WALKING IN THE SPIRIT IS VERY SIMPLE WE HAVE THE GRACE AND FREDDOM TO OBEY JESUS,,and his propmpting/direction in ECVERY SITUATION He WILL NEVER TESTIFY of OLD TESTAMENT RITUALS HE WILL ALWAYS TESTIFY OF RIGHTEOUSNESSS ans the SPIRIT of the ten commandments...LOVEV thy neighbour THE LAW OF LOVE REJOICE IN OUR LIBERTY...we arer free from ritual lambs..and ritual cleansing etc HOW TIRESOME REJOICE IN OUR LIBERTY BUT WOE UNTo us if we abuse it (HABITUALLY AND RECKELSSLY) that is lalessness and it will ultimately (if not rectified) lead to the ultimate identifaictation with the NATURE OF TEH SON OF PERDITION But For Jesus Sake LEAVE THE LAW ALONE Tithing...EVERYTHING IN THE OLD TESTAMNET IS OF ENEORMOUS VALUE the types and SHADOWS ARE FOR OUR INSTRUCTION but NOT for our OBLIGATION THE COMPULSION IS LOVE NOT LAW And 10% is A GREAT DISCIPLINE...provided it is not abused by sharks the LAW IS A GREAT TUTOR TO LEAD US TO CHRIST but make sure we leave the tutur and abide in CHRIST for example TITHING IS A GREAT DIDCIPLINE...and once fulfilled it should then lead to HABITAUL giving/tithing even BEYOND the 10% and better tithing as law then a LAZY LUKEWARM decieved church that doesnt GIVE,,,if God aint getting more of your wallet he isnt getting more of you but i would prefer not the law of tithing but the principle BUT AGAIN I DEEPLY RESPECT THE AUTHOR OF THIS BLOG FOR HIS BLOG and i defer to your convictions here (even tho i disagree,,the discipline is worthwhile...just not the LAW of it please) GRACE TO OBEY...and GRACE TO ENJOY (NEVER ABUSE ) the LIBERTY CHRIST PURCHASED ON THE CROSS my issue was more with mr crucufied on this site,,not the author LET EACH MAN STAND B Y STRONG CONVICTIONS...and i certainly respect the author for his We are FOOLS if fwe think we can rebel from TYPES AND SHADOWS in the old testamnet...but they arer fro our INSTRUCTION NEVER our obligation GOD BLESS FREd again as one wise preacher said we are NOT under the LAW (COMPULSION/OBLIGATION/RITUAL but we arernt above it either (rebellion /lawlessnes we have GRACE TO OBEY JESUS...NOT the law which was only a POOR refelction of what was to come i always paraphrase (a living epistle of sorts?) but one of the main purposes of the LAW WAS TO CONVICT EVERY MAN THAT HE FELL SHORT OF THE LAW ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD BEING JUSTIFEID FREEELY BY HIS GRACE (IN WHICH WE STAND) i only heard the first part of those two lines (line 1) GRACE to obey
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5/10/2008 3:36 am |
ps for the record i respect yuor position far more than dennises on this issue (tho ive told dennis that he has much worthwhile to say...despite a penchant for contreversy that can be unprofitable) i would rather go to a church that TAUGHT the principles of tithing than taught it not it is a PRINCIPLE,,,not a law training wheeles if you like,,til the discipline is instilled A preacher once Got rebuked by God for his fear of man in not wnating to insist the on giving too heavily it takes guts to preach it and i LOVE to hear it preached,,,just not in control, bashing,abuse.,,maniplation, LUST etc which i think is dennis ' very valid point but the end result must not be a licence to rebel , but rather a licence TO OBEY THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT
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5/10/2008 11:13 pm |
your credibility keeps increasing (not that it wasnt solid already). thank you for the distinction i can see what your saying ..thanks i think we are saying perhaps similar things others prefer to argue.....hey lets be revolutionary and prefer to agree!! now thats a revolution for what ive seen on BC FRED
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5/11/2008 9:14 pm |
thank you mr busykydad your post is enriching if i was to be objective and assess this healthy debate..i would say the points you bring across are VERY sound doctrine indeed therefore as an advocate of the GRACE not Law thing i hereby concede that YOUR POSITION IS VERY SCRIPTURALLY SOUND...and has edified me richly i confess i jumped at my trigger ,,,defending a position that was not where you were coming from at all thank you God Bless I still will not stand for any one trying to bring a man under law,,but you dont seem to be doing this...you in fact have been giving far deeper respect for the types and shadows PRE MOSES that i am most happy to embrace thank you for those valuable scriptures on abraham and jesus again i said TYPES AND SHADOWS ( i still think there was an awseoeme and very valid point originally made about the manipulation and abuse via coercion OF TITHING ) TITHING UNDER COMPULSION IS LAW,,,and control...and control yes is witchcraft (tithing has no diresct link to such) Give credit to several parties where it is truly due and for goodness sake BC...dont argue (wrestle with truth ) if you dont start out from a position where you are more than happpy to lose /concede your point you learn FAR MORE FROM A HEALTHY ARGUMENT that you lose ( like im happy to do here) than from an unhealthy argument that you are mnevere prreapared to lose and think you are infallible from the start how foolish..even if God grants anu of us the sense of slightly more solid doctrine IN ANY CONVICTION/argumenet (i use arguement in a healthy give and take sense) even if we feel we have slightly stronger doctrine on any point HOW FOOLISH WOULD WE BE TO NOT GLEAN MASSIVELY FROM OPPOSING VIEWS ..or to not even acknowledge that ther are opposing views for example i would be greatly enriched if mr catholic downloaded his history of catholicism to me...i could no doubt be enriched in his many examples of rich catholic history.....despite my personal convictions that are VERY DIFFERNT always be preapred to learn and conced from the other...otherwise our motive is wrong and we never should have begun So mr busykydad ...my hat and my respect That is the spirit of Jesus..may we all grow in it daily FRED
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5/13/2008 7:36 am |
what about a autographed handkerchief.....hardly used...steam cleaned
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5/13/2008 7:16 pm |
ok you can have my golf hat and my autographed handkerchief.....since your leaving fred
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5/14/2008 7:41 am |
i can...im high profile im world famous for something um i won a marbles contest when i was 14 it made the local paper
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6/5/2008 12:36 am |
Well taught...don't worry about what Dennis says, btw. It's best to just ignore him, because nothing anyone says gets through... -Danny Without love, there is no life...
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