The Tithe

I was abused as a child and later in my marriage. I’m now divorced. What came out of the mess of my life was Ministry for hurting women hurting women and abused children. Everywhere I was like the story of the Piped Piper, hurting women approached me in Grocery stores,Supermarkets, Parks etc. God gave me many spiritual daughters in the Lord. My goal is to open a safe shelter for homeless, abused women & children. Not trying to boast but in one year I had about ten women coming to my Church. Half asked for help, one in particular had been beaten by her husband and staying in a temporary shelter. She asked my Church to help her and got a long lecture on not tithing. They blamed all of her troubles on the fact that God was with-holding his blessings because she was not a tither. I had not talked to her in a while after she she went into the shelter & I didn’t know what was going on. She wrote a letter telling the Pastor I bought her to Church but she would never come back because she was given the third degree (raked over the mill) for not tithing. The Pastor over the Pulpit said we should not expect the Church to help people not paying their tithes and that many of them are professional takers. Later he was forced to resign for having a 2yr. adulterous affair. Just goes to show there is none righteous, no not one. Our righteousness surely comes from our position in Christ alone!

My mother in law is Seven Day Adventist and is also a born again believer.She thinks Christians are disobeying the ten commandments and could land up in Hell because of not keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. (set apart).For Devout Seven Day Adventist, everything stops on Friday as soon as the Sun sets she does nothing but read her bible or rest till Saturday at dusk. To her credit when my car broke down in a bad neighborhood she came to pick me up. I was shocked but apparently, it is alright for her to do good on the Sabbath.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In Gal. 4:30 the Apostle Paul was using an allegory and typology. Galatians deals with Paul’s rebuke of Judaizers. Here is the definition I got when I goggled up Judaizers:
“It is a term which refers to non-Jews and especially certain Christians, such as Jewish Christians, Quartodecimans, Ethiopian Christians, Seventh-Day Adventists and others, who claim the necessity of obedience to the Mosaic Laws which are found in the first five books of the Christian Old Testament.[1] Mainstream Christians generally consider obedience to the Mosaic Laws as applicable only to Jews. Similarly, “one who has Judaized” refers to a Christian who has accepted the necessity of adhering to the Mosaic Laws or to specific laws that are believed to be superseded, such as circumcision or sabbath observance. The ongoing Christian debate over Judaizing in Christianity or Biblical law in Christianity began in the lifetime of the apostles, notably at the Council of Jerusalem, and parallels the ongoing debate about Paul of Tarsus and Judaism and the Protestant views of the Ten Commandments”.

Jack Hayford wrote a book exposing the problem of a lack of sexual integrity within Church leadership.

It is named “The Anatomy of Seduction (Sexual Integrity).” Small wonder it got little recognition.

Problems in (many) Churches.
A). Materialism/ Promoting greed= Sow a seed (pay God) to receive a financial return on your seed investment).

B) No accountability. Divorce / bad moral behavior among Christian Leaders & Celebrities who continually appear on Christian Television. Do they understand that we can read the blogs and news reports of their divorce and affairs? Yet they don’t miss a beat appearing in Christian Conferences and TV appearances. All have sinned and fallen short but what happened to leading by example?

C). Those in Leadership or quick to ignoring or excusing Spiritual Abuse

D). Lack of Integrity. Such as: A Willful manipulation of bible text to enforce legalism or tithing.

E) Respective of persons. Celebrities and other influential persons receive preferential treatment regardless of their life-style.

Finally the most disturbing of all:
F). Compromising with the World. Why the need for having Youth Groups feature plays, video arcade games from this godless pop culture

James 4: 4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Romans 12:2
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.

I was once told that misfortune was either due to some kind of secret sin (like Job’s friends) or from not tithing. I told the Church secretary that I was tithing. She put me on hold and bought up my tithing record on the computer. She asked if I was tithing off the Net. I had many deductions for medical/dental Insurance for my kids, 401K and Aflac etc. At the time I was a single parent, divorced with no child-support coming in from a deadbeat ex-husband there was barely enough food and my kids wore used donated clothing.

In my opinion the Gospel of Prosperity is replacing the Cross. When did various Churches get so materialistic anyhow? I suppose take up your Cross is not as appealing as God wants you his beloved people to be rich!

I use to love Christian television programs which I will be careful not to name. Over the last 2yrs. I notice that they are promising healings and money if you send in certain dollar amounts. One shamelessly straight out
said to sow an uncommon seed of $1,000 for uncommon favor (big) favor from God. I thought there was laws against false advertisement. Anyway, a close Church friend of mine sent in $1,000 even though he was struggling to make ends meet and also paying tithes. He had nothing but bad fortune for days after wards. He said he is waiting to reap his harvest that God promised. I inquired as to whether God promised this or the TV Preacher. Needless to say he is still broke but has not spoken to me since. Seems like the lottery or slot machine if you asked me.

That was for Kris. Great teachable spirit but know their is a big difference in BC ( I mean before Calvary) and AD! (after Christ died)!

Good points Jack. I will take note. I am trying to have a teachable spirit.

Kris, you said, “I am sorry but we should never compromise the correct Biblical doctrine.” True enough, but this comes across as saying that tithing or giving generously for that matter, goes against Biblical doctrine. Then what about the early church and Barnabas himself. He gave half of what he owned, some gave all that they had to those who were in need in the early church and Paul or any of the Apostles never corrected them saying, “you are comprimising Biblical doctrine”. They had the chance then to tell them that, “you are going against what Christ has nailed to the cross” but instead, they rejoiced. Should not we too be allowed to rejoice. No one here is saying that tithing is a strict, 10% Biblical doctrine or law or teaching. It is a principle that we give back a portion that God has blessed us with as for those having needs, like the children who recieved a chance to go to church camp whose parents had no means to provide. I did not give these scholarships in expectation for anything in return, but only out of a love for the Body of Christ and as a form of worship and expression of love for God. I know that some children accept the free gift of salvation in these camps. The early church was so generous that no wonder the church grew with explosiveness (in Acts). The unbelievers saw that as an expression of love for their fellow members not as an obligitory offering. You can tell that the most certainly were not doing it for a Quid pro quo, just selfless giving out of a spirit of love, worship and adoration for the members gift of eternal salvation.

Do you think God is grieved by such generosity? By such selfless acts that some gave all that they had? Would God be thinking, “Oh no, they are compromising Biblical doctrine”. I would think not.

I have been up and I have been down but never did God let me fall to the ground.

Hello Anonymous, be honest, aren’t you just a tad bit waiting on the pouring out of the blessing you will not have room enough to store?
Just like many Churches you only blessed the pro-tithers?
Anyway, what happened to giving in secret for a reward by God openly?
May God bless all in Christ. Rich and Poor, whether you have a dime to tithe or not.

By the way I am a tither by choice. I do not expect anything in return but this is how I worship God. Jack, Kim, Gary God bless and keep you.

It is not love to teach that God’s Unmerited Favor is conditional based on our tithe performance because this is most they twist (tithing) it. I agree, but there is no merit that I expect nor do I believe it is required of the giver. I am giving a personal testimony to what God has done for me as I am a being a “cheerful giver”, not because I tithe, it is irregardless of what I give and grace is certainly unmerited anyway. I give as a principle that what God has bestowed upon me (unmerited for certain) I give back, as part of my worship, to Him. I can never outgive God, but He outgives me. I give out of love, not for unmerited favor. That makes it a “Quid pro quo” something for something”. I give as a form of worship & in fact give more than 10% of my income. In the early church era, some gave ALL that they had to distribute for those having need. Was it for ” God’s Unmerited Favor”? No, it was out of love…for the brethern in need. My offerings to the church are not spliting hairs to get exactly 10% but above & beyond as God blesses me. This is the same thing the early church did for the Body of Christ. Some of my offerings goes to church youth scholarships, some to the Food Pantry, & so on. It IS love to do this. I am not trying to teach anyone. What each has convinced in his or her own heart, that to them is right.

Thank you I will take note of what you said.

@ Fatima – No, I am not saying abuses of the Word and/or people should not be dealt with. What I am saying is arguing and striving with sincere believers over peripheral issues is a distraction and waste of time. For example, some of the individuals who left comments on this article seem obsessed with arguing for the sake of arguing, which is a foolish and dangerous endeavor for any believer.

Also, folks should make sure they actually understand (discern) what is being said before rendering an opinion on a matter, and not be hasty to jump to conclusions because of personal bias. If there are specific and obvious abuses occurring in any area of the gospel or church, they should be dealt with on an individual and personal basis. But, to attack other believers because they express a differing opinion on non-essential issues is divisive, and as I said before, grieves the Lord.

Regardless of which side of the tithe issue you’re on, we have much more important things to worry about in the body of Christ. Let’s get to work fishing for men, not scaring them away.

I want to add to what my husband wrote that anyone who loves the Lord will give to support his work. Please do not think us who oppose the Old Covenant to enforce tithing are against giving in support of the Church.
Intelligent people can figure out that they are benefiting from the Church their Churches Electricity, Air Conditioner,/Heater, Bible Studies, Hospitality, fellowship, padded pews etc. Those we refuse to support their Church home when they can go out to movies and dinner are similar to parasites. We often give more than a tenth but as the Holy Spirit guides us. We will not exalt in anything but God’s Grace in all things!

I meant not esteem the poor but those with money are esteemed which is just the opposite of what Jesus taught.

Jack
It is not love to teach that God’s Unmerited Favor is conditional based on our tithe performance because this is most they twist (tithing) it.

After reading a few of these comments I’m stunned that such a simple concept as tithing could be so misconstrued. Christians are not saved by anything but grace alone. However, the bible makes it very clear that giving (in all areas of life, not just our finances) is one of the benchmarks of a true follower of Jesus Christ. Does tithing determine our salvation? Absolutely not. Do people who are saved usually tithe? Yes.

It is true some churches, groups and individuals abuse the principle of tithing by enforcing it with legalism – that does not make tithing less relevant for today or significant in the life of a believer. It’s all about the motives of our heart, which only God can discern.

Bottom line? If you don’t want to tithe, don’t. If you don’t like churches that encourage tithing, find one that doesn’t. However, don’t attempt to negate the biblical principle of tithing because you don’t like it or want to do it. Tithing is between the individual and God. Stirring controversy in the body of Christ over peripheral issues (like tithing) is a waste of time and it grieves the Lord.

Sorry to break this news to you Jack but even on our best day without the help of the Lord it would still not be good enough, if you are honest. You broke one of those 613 laws this very day. We need his Grace daily in spite of our tithes and efforts. Grace vs law? I choose the free gift of grace.
John 1:16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Praying you learn that Grace is Unmerited Favor!

Gary do you also promote circumcision?
How about cease from all work from Friday evening till
Saturday night? Do you eat Pork? Do you keep the Pass Over you will not answer cause we already know the answer. You and the tithe police are selecting one law only? Answer my question as to why. You keep the tithe great, now you have 612 more to go. Ask any Jew there are 613 laws around the clock to keep. You are picking and choosing as if Jews had any say as to which ones to keep and break. Go back to James 2:10 all had to be kept or the whole contract was cancelled. This is why a lamb had to be slain for atonement of breaking God’s ordinances.
Again Blotting out ordinances which was contrary to us He took it out of the way and nailed it to the Cross. Col. 2:14 Sin is sin and Jesus raised the standard that even looking at a woman with lust was adultery. I for one am glad we are under Grace cause it would be a whole lot of stoning going on. Look at all of the divorces, Paula White now Benny Hinn.
All of our righteousness was still missing the mark, that is why it was seen as filthy rags in the sight of God. Give God the glory and not you tithe record. Maybe you are doing that but many are not.

Gary
Abraham believed God and is counted unto him as righteousness. It was his faith. He was also circumcised so are you making that a mandatory principle. Seems inconsistent to me.

Do you really think you have perfectly kept all 613 Old Covenant Laws?
Have you kept the Sabbath Frid to Sat night? Circumcised your male babies on the eight day?Yes Abraham was also circumcised. FYI the tenth he gave was voluntary and not a mandate for the blessing.

This law is speaking of circumsion and in context, it is talking about works and not giving offerings. Sandi, you have quoted, “Galatians 3:10
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” But you took it out of context. Its like quoting John 3:16 without vs 17-18. What “law” is Paul referring to? You must read the entire context. “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”[b] 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”[c] 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

So, Christ because the curse for us…the curse is of sin (Rom 6:23). That curse brings death. Paul is NOT talking about tithing at all, but the curse of keeping the old covenant laws of animal sacrifices and circumsion.

What do you say about Jesus’ statement then, in Matt. 5:17-19? Jesus says here, “Do not for a moment think that I have come down to earth to destroy the Law or the writings of the Prophets—the Bible. I have not come to destroy either of them. Instead I have come for their fulfilling.” The key word here in Matthew 5:17 is “fulfill.” The theology schools teach their students that it means “abolish.” That is foolishness. Twice in verse 17 Jesus said that He definitely had not come to “destroy” the law. “Abolish” means destroy. Jesus came not to destroy the law but to destroy it? “Fulfill” obviously does not mean destroy. The word “fulfill” in the Greek is plerossi, and comes from the verb pleroo, “to fill up, or make full,” and the noun pleroma, “a filling up, or fullness.” He completes the Law, not abolishes or destroys it. No curse here or Jesus would have never said this. The curse you took out of context is about circumsion and the ordinances, like the washings and the sacrifices, which Paul calls the “works of the law”. It has NOTHING to do with tithing. Do you also think that the Ten Commandments are a curse? No, the law teaches us about what sin is.

Paul says in Romans 3:31 …..’Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.’ The great theolgian John Wesley spoke on this verse saying, “I cannot spare the law one moment, no more than I can spare Christ.. each is continually sending me to the other.. the law to Christ, and Christ to the law.. the height and depth of the law constrain me to fly to the love of God in Christ.. the love of God in Christ endears the law to me.. above gold or precious stones;” – (John Wesley, The Original, Nature, Property, and Use of the Law. IV.7) Read for yourself in any Bible commentary.

Further, Paul says in Ephesians 2:15 …..’Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances.’ ….. Doesn’t this verse clearly say that the law, the ten commandments have been abolished? No. Because here, Paul is not talking about the Ten Commandments, he’s talking about the CEREMONAIL laws of Moses. The commands contained in ordinances are the laws written in the book of the law by Moses, not the ten commandments written on stone by the finger of God Himself. Also, if you take a look at the context of Ephesians 2, you will see that Paul is talking about circumcision, which was one of the laws “contained in ordinances”.

We can not take a single verse anywhere in the Bible without considering the context of the whole chapter or the preceeding chapter. It’s what Paul told Timothy to “rightly dividing the Word”. This is what he meant and it takes STUDY, not quoting one scripture. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly “dividing” the Word of Truth.” 2 Tim 2:15

Malachi 3 explained: There is no tither that never had enough room or storage to store their blessings. Billionaires just keep building and buying Mansions.

Pour out a blessing from Heaven regarding tithing indicated Rain would be the blessing poured out from Heaven.

Since the Tithe was food grown on the land that God had given the Tribes of Israel rain was needed to make the crops grow.

There would be so many crops that there would not be enough room to put it all in the Storehouse.

Priest could not own land and had to be fed along with the poor from the tithe.

A Famine resulted in no rain and a curse. This resulted in poverty and lack. God withheld the rain and this caused a famine during times of disobedience.

I heard Pastors say they did not have gold and silver, This is a lie, Joseph the favorite son of Jacob sold food in exchange for silver and gold during the seven year famine.

Dear Gary Linton,
Matthew 23:23 was Jesus talking to Jews before he fulfilled the law on the Cross. Malachi was God talking to Jews under the terms and conditions of the Old (not new covenant) Covenant law.
I can believe you love the Lord so I am trying to be gentle in my frustration. Do you understand Isaiah 64:6-9 “that all of our righteousness (good deeds) is as filthy rags in the sight of God?”.

We are justified (made right with God) given access and favor with God because we have put our faith in the payment Jesus made for us on the Cross; not by our tithe record, Old Covenant law-keeping, rituals and outward ceremonies. GRACE is (Unmerited F-a-v-o-r)! If you pay for a gift it is no longer a gift but a wage due you. Grace is a free gift available for any necessity in Jesus name.
John 1:16 ” From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

There is an Acronym “God’s Riches At Christ Expense is G-R-A-C-E!
Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.
He took the curse of sickness, poverty and lack. By his stripes we are healed (here on earth or later in Heaven).

(Jesus said on the Cross) Paid in full the translation is “it is finished”
Paid in full means the debt is completely paid with nothing left owing!

So the Law was nailed to the cross. I thought Jesus said He came to fulfill the Law and not one jot or tittle would be changed? The “Law” you speak of, if you read the scriptures in context, was the Laws and Ordinances of animal sacrifices. Sacrifices stopped literally in Jerusalem and with Israel, not ironically, when Christ was nailed to the Cross. But the “Laws” being done away, surely don’t mean the Ten Commandments either do they. Where d0 you draw the line in the “Laws”?

Matt 5:17-18 a little bit closer: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Matthew 5:17-18 pretty much spells it out. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

“Fulfilled” clearly means completed, not abolished. Matt 5:19 “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Fulfilled does not mean paid in full, it means it was fulfilled by Jesus. JESUS paid it all, but He did not destroy or do away with the Law.

Let’s take one of your “proof” scriptures. “Hebrew8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” What covenant law was the writer talking about? “The Levitical Priesthoods and animal sacrifices (Vs 3) not “The Law”. Christ took away the need for the ordinaces of sacrifices.

Now, lets take Galatians 3:10 “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” What is this curse of the Law? It is the same Law, of SIN…Christ hung on the tree (Cross) and took the curse for us (Vs 13) of death we had due us from our sins… and the “works of the law” (Vs 2) always refer to the physical ordinances and washings and sacrifices and circumcision (Rom 3:30). And again, tithing occured 400 years BEFORE the Law was delivered.

Christ came to fulfill the law and not to abolish it, but He did destroy the works (animal sacrifices, ordinances, etc) of the Law for He is the perfect, and forever sacrifice, once and for all. You make Paul out to be the destroyer of the Law, but the ordinances or what Paul calls the “works of the Law” are what Paul was talking about. These scriptures, refer to the Law of ordinances, washings, sacrifices. The Law that was cursing us was from the Original Sin in the Garden. ROm 6:23.

Paul says, in Rom 3:31 “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yes, we ESTABLISH the law.”

Anyway, to do away with tithing because is was part of the law is just plain wrong. Tithing was established 400 years BEFORE the Law was given so tithing was not part of the Law so your wanting to abolish the law (Against Paul’s and Jesus’ wishes) are wrong, except for the animal sacrifices, ordinances and circumcision.

Abraham gave a voluntary tenth ONCE only, so pray tell how can this one time tithe be a good example of faithful Tithing?
This is stretching the truth WAY out of context to say he paid Tithes- as in plural.

Tithe teachers also wrongly use the rationale that Abraham paid tithes before the law was given by Moses. This makes no sense either because Abraham was also circumcised before the law. Circumcision is not a command for the Christian Church. The Apostle Paul spoke out vehemently against justification by works. He preached Grace and then more Grace.
They are stealing the Lord’s credit an giving God’s glory to themselves for their tithe works. What a travesty! Our blessing and favor is because of the work of Christ on Calvary. Now ask God in Jesus name for your healing and daily needs. He will give you grace after grace every day you wake up. Finally our instruction in the New Testament can be found in 2nd Corinthians 9:7 Give as one decides too not out of pressure or duty.
Every believer should be a cheerful giver because we love God and God gave us his best (His only Son). Pastors teach the definition of why Jesus said “Paid in Full” before he died on his Cross. Teach it right, or the debate over your false Old Covenant tithe enforcement will continue from the people opposing it who have actually read the whole bible for themselves!

I am curious. We have a pastor and youth minister who engage in lying, cliquish behavior, and spending money on trips for pleasure. Some of the deacons have lied for them to cover up their habits. They have been caught and say they don’t think they are guilty of anything. Is it incorrect to pay your tithe to places like Haiti, a church that burned down in my community, and to the Baptist Missionary Organization instead of giving it to my church when our leaders are not living according to the Bible?

Thank you for inviting me to read your article. In the Spirit of love I submit the following:

1. The biblical tithe never consisted of money. It was commanded that Israel’s tithe be paid in the form agricultural produce (fruit, vegetables, wines, oils, grains, cattle).
2. God did not command Abram (Abraham) to tithe. Abram wasn’t following a “tithing law.” It was a voluntary act on his part. He was following a common social custom that was practiced in the ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Assyria and Babylon (what some call pagan nations). In addition he did not give a tithe from his personal possessions/wealth.
3. The prophet Malachi is speaking to ancient Israel, the Levites and the Levitical priests. He is chastising them because they are not following the commandments of the Law (Mosaic Law), which is the covenant between God and Israel. Malachi is reinforcing God’s promise to ancient Israel.
3. New Testament Christians, such as the Apostle Paul, did not practice tithing. Tithing was ancient Jewish religious ritual that was not carried over into Christianity. It passed away with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. New Testament Christians engaged in voluntary giving, free-will offerings, and koinonia.

Now I agree that members of a church should voluntary give what they can afford to support their church. However, when the church promotes tithing it is in fact placing Christians under the curse of the Law since tithing is part of the Law (Mosaic Law/Law of Moses).

In Christ there’s no more tithing under the Law. In Christ we give under Grace. Jesus the Christ freed Christians from the Law. Let’s walk in that freedom.

Peace & Blessings!