Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / New
Stats: 3,150,504 members, 7,808,854 topics. Date: Thursday, 25 April 2024 at 05:59 PM

To Tithe or Not to Tithe? - Religion (63) - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Religion / To Tithe or Not to Tithe? (61177 Views)

To Tithe Or Not To Tithe: The Whole Truth From The Bible. / Ten (10) Reasons To Tithe / Jesus Is The Fulfillment Of The Law (tithing), Do I Still Need To Tithe? (2) (3) (4)

(1) (2) (3) ... (60) (61) (62) (63) (64) (Reply) (Go Down)

Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by pilgrim1(f): 2:41pm On Nov 06, 2008
@KunleOshob,

KunleOshob:

You have not done so not even once angry all you have been doing is quoting totally irrelevant scripture and attempting to force another meaning in to them. I challenge you once again. Quote the clear injunction directed at christains that implies, suggests or even remotely encourages them to tithe. If you cannot quote that scripture then you have no cas and it is no use refering me to any previous post to confuse me others who might be reading this thread. Just quote the scripture in your next post. i am sure one or two lines with biblical reference should suffice.

I have quoted just one verse, which was dismissed out of hand by antagonists against tithes; so I refrained from discussing that verse further and instead ask simple questions. The reason for my approach this way is to help those who are too drive with their dismissals to reflect and see where they have been making fallacious assertions and directly contradicting Scripture - which is why I would like you to sort yourself out of the conundrum you have knotted yourself in as regards Melchizedek.

I have not see you make any reference to what I requested yesterday - to please go back and check to see if there are not a few things you have wrongly asserted. The point is this: if you make such seriously contradictory statements against what Scripture teaches, why should anyone take you seriously and assume that you even have a clue about what the Bible teaches on this subject at all?

KunleOshob:

My sister i implore you as a christian iit is wrong to add to or remove from the word of God, in your zeal to encourage tithes supposedly for "God's work" do fall in to the temptation of manipulating his word just to prove your point. God does not need your tithe, but the less priviledge around you do.

I am seriously ashamed for your sake. You would notice that all through my discussions in this thread, I have not been ferreting quotes from sources outside the Bible - I don't have any problem with a few who have employed such quotes; but I long anticipated that people would bring this allegation against pilgrim.1, and that was why my discussion has stayed on the Bible and nothing else! I have not removed or added anything - and those of you who have been removing and adding by "collectively condemning" what God never once condemned should have a deep reflection about this behaviour.

Second, the highlighted part of your statement is very shameful. Let us even for the sake of antagonists like you, assume that God does not need our tithes, you still come back to assert that the less privilege around us do! In other words, we should not give tithes to God but actually give them to the less privileged! Are you not seriously in need of a check up, Kunle? The very thing you condemned "collectively" is the same thing you're asking us to give to the less privileged! undecided

Dear bros, you seriously need to go back and plead before God that He should open your eyes to His Word and ways. I know that is like asking a huge thing upon your pride. But I make that requeston one basis: the serious malady of your fallacious assertions which are contrary to His Word. In so many instances, you have made wild statements which have been seriously opposite to Biblical declations. I do not often do this, but if you cannot take that advice to treat yourself to some humility, I would only come back and point you to those mishaps and leave you to your hubris.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by IMCCN(m): 3:00pm On Nov 06, 2008
A topic like like this will always generate wide & varied interests. What with the pains many have to go through to make money, what with tales, facts and figures about supposed "men of God" who are nothing but plain thieves, what with the selfishness of many of them. As a friend once told me, [and I agree completely]
"remove tithes and many pastors will start looking for something else to do" No intellectual arguments over this issue will suffice, especially given the structure of many churches presently. You just go in on Sundays, praise & worship God, give your thithe & offering & you leave, whatever happened to you within the week, nobody cares, except you are close to the hierachy of the church. This is a far cry from what obtained in the old testament congregations and even the early church [as recorded in Acts of the Apostles.2:42-47].

But be all these as they are, I believe tithe paying is a mark of covenant relationship with God. My advise to those who are reluctant to obey this Injunction by reason of the attitudes of some[b] men of God [/b] is to identify one who is not fake [several of them are real] and you can only do this if your faith in God is genuine [deep calleth unto the deep].
The truth is, while some are still arguing wether to pay or not, I know of those who pay far above the 10% recommended and instead of becomming poor, they are growing richer and richer in a transparently honest way!
If tithe paying is not necessary Jesus would not have made that statement He made in Matthew 23:23
But just like everything else, people will always have, look for, make up and invent reasons for not doing whatever they do not believe in or want to do.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by pilgrim1(f): 3:03pm On Nov 06, 2008
IMCCN:

If tithe paying is not necessary Jesus would not have made that statement He made in Matthew 23:23
But just like everything else, people will always have, look for, make up and invent reasons for not doing whatever they do not believe in or want to do.

Apt. Thank you. smiley
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by KunleOshob(m): 4:33pm On Nov 06, 2008
When a thread degenerates to personal insults as a result of fustration or substance to post i think it is time to opt out of that thread.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by pilgrim1(f): 4:51pm On Nov 06, 2008
KunleOshob:

When a thread degenerates to personal insults as a result of fustration or substance to post i think it is time to opt out of that thread.

You don't have to feel anyone is insulting you. If you do, think about those whom you were gleeful to insult previously simply because you don't want to tithe.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Ovamboland(m): 12:17pm On Nov 14, 2008
HAs the thread gone cold? what is the final conclusion? have we truly learnt from each other or stuck to our own private understanding
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by KunleOshob(m): 1:18pm On Nov 14, 2008
The truth is glaring even though some people would rather stand the truth on the head.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Nobody: 7:50pm On Nov 14, 2008
Couldn't agree more wink
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Elvischido(m): 11:02pm On Nov 14, 2008
I agree with HND holder where he was talking about tithe and giving reasons why one should "pay" tithes.
Pls nairalanders I want to correct something here! IT IS NOT PAYING TITHE BUT RETURNING TITHES AND OFFERINGS!
Besides that, this is the only place in the bible where God said TRY ME IN THIS"
then talking about whether new or old testament, God said that the heavens and earth shall pass away but His word shall reign forever and this includes the old testament! Afterall, that was the bible that Jesus read!
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Elvischido(m): 11:02pm On Nov 14, 2008
I agree with HND holder where he was talking about tithe and giving reasons why one should "pay" tithes.
Pls nairalanders I want to correct something here! IT IS NOT PAYING TITHE BUT RETURNING TITHES AND OFFERINGS!
Besides that, this is the only place in the bible where God said TRY ME IN THIS"
then talking about whether new or old testament, God said that the heavens and earth shall pass away but His word shall reign forever and this includes the old testament! Afterall, that was the bible that Jesus read!
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Nobody: 11:30pm On Nov 14, 2008
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Kuns: 1:45am On Dec 23, 2008

Tithes for God



The word tithe in Aramic (Hebrew) is ma'asrah meaning “tenth.” In the bible God asks for tithes of the:
Herd or flock (Leviticus 27:32)
Inheritance (Numbers 18:26)
Corn, wine, and oil (Deuteronomy 14:22-23)
Fruit, and offerings (Genesis 4:3)
Mint, anise, cumin (Matthew 23:23)
Rue, all manner of herbs (Luke 11:42)
What could God do with this stuff?
He told the Children of Israel to put them into heaps (2 Chronicles 31:5-6), and that they would be stored in a treasure house (Nehemiah 10:38).

Why does he, the creator of the fruit—flock and everything else, want this stuff (Genesis 1)?

Why put it in a “treasure house” to rot when it could be used to feed the millions of hungry people in the world?

Church leaders accept tithes in the name of God. They'll say “God needs your help building the church, ” What does god need with a multi-million dollar church? Nothing. These are the same so-called church leaders that you'll find riding in fancy cars, eating the best foods, living in expensive homes and living the life of wealthy people while their followers scrape and struggle to do “God's will” by tithing.

These so-called leaders will lead congregations in the worse of the worse neighborhoods and on their way to church to preach on Sundays or Saturdays or whatever day they declare to be the Sabbath. They will step over the homeless (54 ways you can help them) or the less fortunate.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Kuns: 12:55pm On Dec 26, 2008
Jesus NEVER said "pastor pass the bucket".

Matthew 10: 9 and I quote:

"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10: Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
"

Jesus said don't take your purse when you go out to preach (or reaally to teach not preach).
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by BProphecy: 1:34pm On Jan 06, 2009
The Tithe for the children of Israel -

It is God’s REQUIREMENT of the children of Israel (Gen.49:28) to tithe a tenth part (Nu.18:26, Neh.10:38, Matt.23:23, Lk.11:42, Lk.18:12 below).

The church of God (1 Cor.10:32 below, the living body of Christ Jesus - Col.1:24), whom Jesus has made “free” (Jn.8:36 below), are not under a REQUIREMENT, but are the “cheerful giver” as the giver has purposed in his own heart (2 Cor.9:7 below).


Nu.18:26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel (Gen.49:28) the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, [even] a tenth [part] of the tithe.

Neh.10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

Matt.23:23 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 (Lk.11:42 below).

Lk.11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone (Matt.23:23 above).

Lk.18:12  I (the Pharisee)  fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

1 Cor.10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.

Jn.8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
2 Cor.9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.



Patricia ©
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by ttalks(m): 10:31pm On Jan 06, 2009
IMCCN:

If tithe paying is not necessary Jesus would not have made that statement He made in Matthew 23:23
But just like everything else, people will always have, look for, make up and invent reasons for not doing whatever they do not believe in or want to do.

Some of u just keep on showing that u still do not get the complete message the bible is presenting.
The period in which Christ was here on earth before he was crucified and later resurrected was a period in which the law was still in operation.This is indicated by the bible; Galatians 4:4 being one of the verses that point that out:

Galatians 4:4
(4) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Based on the fact that the law/old covenant was still in operation, Jesus expected that all instructions of the law were to be kept.
When he made that statement about tithes, he was addressing the pharisees and scribes who he expected to be keepers of the law.
Tithes were part of the law,so Christ expected them to keep the commandment about them along with the other weightier matters of the law.

Now,after Christ's death and resurrection,the law came to an end since it had been fulfiled by him;as indicated by:

Romans 10:4
(4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

and many other portions of the bible such as:
Hebrews 8:8-9
Hebrews 8:13
Romans 3:19
Romans 6:14
Galatians 5:18
etc.

So,since the commandment of tithes was one given under the old covenant/law, it is only common sense as indicated by the new covenant that it is no longer a requirement within the new covenant.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by KunleOshob(m): 3:55pm On Jan 12, 2009
ttalks:

So,since the commandment of tithes was one given under the old covenant/law, it is only common sense as indicated by the new covenant that it is no longer a requirement within the new covenant.


Common sense is not common cheesy
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by sammyzacks(m): 6:01pm On Jan 12, 2009
Everything you do, do it with faith and with biblical understanding. This is a doctrinal issue that I can't give a direct answer to. So listen to your man of God and do as he teaches.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Epi: 10:58pm On Jan 12, 2009
@ttalks, bobbaf et al

Going through this entire thread, we argued about the old covenant vs. the new covenant.  Question: Could one of you explain to me why one part of the NT Jesus ask us not to follow the old covenant yet there is a verse saying  "I am not to destroy but to fulfill."

"Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."

And since we are on the topic of old covenant and new covenant - Should Christians eat pork?

Peace
ttalks:

So,since the commandment of tithes was one given under the old covenant/law, it is only common sense as indicated by the new covenant that it is no longer a requirement within the new covenant.

Peace
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by anonimi: 9:53am On Jan 13, 2009
epi:

@ttalks, bobbaf et al

Going through this entire thread, we argued about the old covenant vs. the new covenant.  Question: Could one of you explain to me why one part of the NT Jesus ask us not to follow the old covenant yet there is a verse saying  "I am not to destroy but to fulfill."

"Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."

And since we are on the topic of old covenant and new covenant - Should Christians eat pork?

Peace
Peace

What does it mean to fulfill something e.g. a law, covenant, contract, job etc?
Maybe if you can think deeply about the above question and read again Christ's word and works in the Bible you might find the answer you need and (I believe) seek.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Bota: 2:08pm On Jul 29, 2009
God is our creator and has asked for :

10% of our income (as tithe)- bring ye all the tithes into the store house ,

1/7 of our time (sabbath) - six days shall thou labor and do all thy work ,

Makes sense to me
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Bota: 2:18pm On Jul 29, 2009
Tithe, by its very definition is '' a tenth of something '' . Lets keep this at the back of our mind. This is what God has asked for, and that is our obligation. We may choose to give more (that will be offering), but the command is for us to return a tenth(tithe) of what has been given us.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by orisebawo(m): 3:26pm On Jul 29, 2009
Bota:

Tithe, by its very definition is '' a tenth of something '' . Lets keep this at the back of our mind. This is what God has asked for, and that is our obligation. We may choose to give more (that will be offering), but the command is for us to return a tenth(tithe) of what has been given us.

That is true but your statement needs backing up with reasonable explanations.

My take is simple on this matter and this is based on my understanding:

I do not believe in tithing, although i believe in offering and giving with a CHEERFUL HEART.

I believe tithing was part of the old testament and the death of jesus christ has made such practices irrelevant.

I have tried on my own to look for anywhere in the bible where tithing is supposed to be compulsory.

The more galatians and those old testaments are quoted before the call to tithe, the more i am convinced i am on the right part.

Even if at the end of the day my judgement is wrong , i am not bothered because when it comes to the things of faith, i act according to my belief.

If you believe in tithes that is fine, but dont tell me i need God to open my eyes to see things.

Everyone will be judged according to his faith and understanding, afterall not all of us can perform miracles, yet it doesnt make us less important in the eyes of God.

Whatever you do for God make sure it is what you actually believe in and not what you are told to believe in.

I love giving and i love sowing seeds, but as a good farmer i know there is a season for everything, a time to sow and a time to reap.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Bota: 3:54pm On Jul 29, 2009
orisebawo:

That is true but your statement needs backing up with reasonable explanations.

My take is simple on this matter and this is based on my understanding:

I do not believe in tithing, although i believe in offering and giving with a CHEERFUL HEART.

I believe tithing was part of the old testament and the death of jesus christ has made such practices irrelevant.

I have tried on my own to look for anywhere in the bible where tithing is supposed to be compulsory.

The more galatians and those old testaments are quoted before the call to tithe, the more i am convinced i am on the right part.

Even if at the end of the day my judgement is wrong , i am not bothered because when it comes to the things of faith, i act according to my belief.

If you believe in tithes that is fine, but dont tell me i need God to open my eyes to see things.

Everyone will be judged according to his faith and understanding, afterall not all of us can perform miracles, yet it doesnt make us less important in the eyes of God.

Whatever you do for God make sure it is what you actually believe in and not what you are told to believe in.

I love giving and i love sowing seeds, but as a good farmer i know there is a season for everything, a time to sow and a time to reap.


Hey, don't get so defensive. I was just giving the definition because there was some issue about the proportion of income that qualifies as tithe. BTW why is it that whenever something is not convenient we say it is old testament , na wa o
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by orisebawo(m): 4:16pm On Jul 29, 2009
Bota,

Ofcourse this is a topic that calls for the defence of what you believe in with reason, so yes i am being defensive on what i believe in.

I am not sure your last statement is relevant to this discussion as i dont know what convenience has got to do with the old testament.

It would have been better if you had added substance by discussing some of the points raised.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by seyenko(m): 11:05am On Jul 30, 2009
Matthew:
28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 28:17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew:
22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 22:38 This is the first and great commandment. 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Please can someone point out where Jesus commanded his disciples to collect tithe?
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Nobody: 4:43pm On Jul 30, 2009
seyenko:


Please can someone point out where Jesus commanded his disciples to collect tithe?

Jesus never commanded his disciples to collect tithes, it is the devil that is tempting the false prophets that abound today to twist the scriptures in order to manipulate people to paying them tithes
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Bota: 10:08pm On Jul 30, 2009
orisebawo:

Bota,

Ofcourse this is a topic that calls for the defence of what you believe in with reason, so yes i am being defensive on what i believe in.

I am not sure your last statement is relevant to this discussion as i dont know what convenience has got to do with the old testament.

It would have been better if you had added substance by discussing some of the points raised.



No sir, you are not defending , you are being defensive wink Anyway tithing is biblical ( I don't think there is any relevant bible passage that has not been quoted on this thread, so I'm not going to be a broken record and keep repeating the same thing ah ah) at the end of the day sha, as with every other thing, the choice falls squarely on your shoulder .
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Asreil: 9:53pm On Aug 02, 2009
THE LIE OF TITHING


Matt.23:23-24 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 ye ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

24 Ye blind guides! which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Here we have the only occasion in the New Testament where Our Lord tells anyone to pay tithes. Those who teach that Christians must pay tithes refer to this verse as the proof that Our Lord Jesus Christ established the continuance of the Mosaic Law of Tithing for His Church. These modern TITHE-TEACHERS then go on to define TITHING for their congregations: 10% of everything you get.

These TITHE-TEACHERS are liars. The following facts will be established in this article.

1. The Mosaic Law of Tithing was never 10% of everything you get.
2. The Temple (now considered to be the church-house) did not receive all of the tithes that were given by the Israelites.
3. Tithing was neither commanded nor observed in the early church.
4. Tithing as a covenant of prosperity is effective only for those who seek to be justified by the Law.
5. Those who demand 10% of everything you get, are identified with the Scribes and the Pharisees, who were the historic enemies of Christ.

The Mosaic Law Of Tithing Was Never 10% Of Everything You Get

Deut.14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

The ancient Israelite calculated and paid his tithes only once per year, after the harvest. During the year, he bought and sold, exchanged his labour for other men’s goods, and his goods for other men’s labours; on none of this income did he pay any tithes. All year long, he and his family ate of the increase of the land and of the livestock. What he consumed in the course of the year was not recorded and added to his total harvest for the purpose of calculating his tithes. If he went fishing and caught ten fish in the middle of the year, he ate them all; he didn’t save one of them to the end of the year in order to pay tithes on his fish. If he received some gold or silver in an inheritance, he was not required to pay tithes on his inheritance. It is simply ludicrous to propose that the Israelites were required to keep careful records of everything they got during the year, in order to make sure that they paid exactly ten percent of “everything they got” as a tithe. The Israelite was not commanded to tithe on everything he obtained and used throughout the year, but only on his increase at the end of the year. The same thing is true with a business in that a certain amount of the income is consumed in maintaining the operation. It is notable how the modern tithe teachers expect the ordinary working man to fork over 10% of his every paycheck before his bills or his taxes are paid. While on the other hand, if there is some rich man in the church that owns a large and flourishing business, that rich man is allowed to pretend that a large portion of his total income is not subject to the same law. Let me point out to you how ridiculous is this distinction: The business owner puts his company truck in the company name, and makes his payments with a company check. He has his gasoline credit cards in the company name, and pays those bills with a company check. So also with his insurance. After all these major operational expenses are paid for, he then pays himself whatever he will in a payroll check made out to himself. He is only expected to pay tithes on that check.

The ordinary working man who must have a car to drive to work has all these same expenses to meet, but he is expected to pay tithes on his total income BEFORE he pays for his car, his gas, and his insurance!

The hypocrisy is obvious! Can’t you see that the ordinary working man needs his car in order to conduct his own “business”? The only difference between the man who works for a paycheck and the man who owns his own company is a piece of paper. The working man pays a much higher percentage of his total income than the rich business owner, who has all sorts of “deductions” that he can calculate from his “personal” income. None of these tithe-teachers EVER demands that business owners pay tithes on their total business income, because they KNOW HOW FAR THEY CAN GO! It’s hypocrisy, and oppression of the poorer people in the church!

Tithes were only calculated and paid once per year in the Hebrew nation. All year long the farmer ate of the produce of his land, and used that produce to run the business of his farm. At the end of the harvest, tithes were calculated. The rich farmer who employed 20 herdsmen and 20 field hands did not get to take any more “deductions” than the poor farmer who had no employees. The yearly tithe was a simple calculation against the increase of the field at harvest time and the total herd of livestock on hand. This calculation did not include certain capital expenditures which effectually reduced the amount of the tithe. For example: a farmer has 70 sheep, and 30 sheep are born during the year, so he now has 100 sheep: but he needs an ox to plow his fields, so he trades 30 sheep for one ox. At the end of the year, he only pays tithes on 70 sheep, and he gets to keep his ox. The tithe of the livestock was always calculated against the total herd on hand, but only once per year, and there was an exception made for the poor: If a man started off with 10 sheep; 3 sheep were born in the course of the year, and he ate 4 adult sheep, he now has only nine sheep. If he still had only nine sheep at the end of the year, he was not required to give one of those sheep to the Lord as a tithe, even though he ate 4 sheep (Lev.27:32). The Mosaic law of tithing was never 10% of everything you get.

THE TEMPLE (now considered to be the church-house) DID NOT RECEIVE ALL OF THE TITHES THAT WERE GIVEN BY THE ISRAELITES.

Num.18:26,28 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a TENTH part of the tithe.

28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes which ye receive of the children of Israel, and ye shall give thereof the Lord’s heave offering unto Aaron the priest.

As a matter of fact, the priests of the Temple did not receive any tithes directly from the people at all. Only the Levites were entitled to receive tithes, and they paid a tithe of the tithe to the priests. Thus, the priests and the temple only received ONE TENTH of the tithes! The bulk of the support of the priests and the Temple came from the other offerings that were commanded under the law.




Deut.14:23 And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.

Who is eating the tithe? Not the Levite, not the priest! In Israel, every family was expected to make it to Jerusalem once per year to visit the Temple. Some of their tithes were used to defray the expenses of the trip and may have been used to make the other offerings that were commanded separately under the Law. They were eating and drinking from their own tithes! This is further confirmed in the verses that follow:

Deut.14:24-26 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set His name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee;

25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose:

26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household.

Oh! How I would love to take some time with verse 26, and talk about the wine and the strong drink that you were allowed to buy for yourself with the tithes, but we’ll save that for another time. Suffice it to say, that the tithes were used to finance the family pilgrimage to Jerusalem once per year. Not only were they not paying tithes on “everything they got”, but they were consuming some of the tithes themselves!

Deut.14:27-29 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.

28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shall lay it up within thy gates:

29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat, and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

Tithing in ancient Israel was income tax. Whatever they consumed in the course of the year did not have to be included in the calculation, and once every three years the ENTIRE tithe was given to the local Levites and the poor people in their own town. The Levites functioned as magistrates and school teachers in the villages in which they resided, so the tithe of the third year was given for the support of the local judiciary, and the funding of health, education, and welfare.

Only once every three years does it say that the ENTIRE tithe was given away, and in that case, NONE OF IT was brought to the Temple: but to the Levites and the poor people in their own towns. This is reiterated in Deut. 26:12 and Amos 4:4 (see also Tobit 1:7 in the Apocrypha). It is very difficult to come up with an exact set of figures on who got how much of the tithes in the end; but one thing is sure: the Temple in Jerusalem was not collecting 10% of the total income of the people, and at least 1/3 of the tithes were given to support education and poor people in their own community. How anyone with an honest mind can take the Mosaic Law of Tithing and come up with, “10 cents out of every dollar that passes through your hands belongs to the local church”, eludes me. I conclude that they don’t have honest minds.

The doctrine of tithing, as it is taught and received by many Christians today, is a LIE: it is a fabrication by clergymen, who fear that they will be unable to win the love and free hearted support of their congregations, and so, they have decided to scare their people into handing over the cash. It cannot be found in, or defended from the Law of Moses. It is not universally or fairly applied to all church members. You can bet that every tithe-teacher in Christendom has scoured the Bible to find support for their doctrine, and what they found did not favor their cause. They have ignored and misrepresented the Bible, and lied to you about this. Those who bear false witness in order to get your money are no less accountable than those who refuse to trust God with their money.

Tithing Was Neither Commanded Nor Observed In The Early Church

2 Cor.9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Will somebody please show me where in the New Testament we can find any of the believers paying tithes, or any of the Apostles asking for tithes? The epistles are full of discussions about giving for the support of preachers, teachers, and the poor: but no where do any of the Apostles ask for tithes or remind anyone to pay tithes. And, how can it be said that a man is not giving of necessity if he is obeying a LAW of tithing? How can it be said that a man is not giving of necessity, if he is convinced that he will be cursed with poverty if he fails to pay those tithes? Certainly, if the Apostle Paul thought he was authorized and obliged to demand tithes, he would have brought it up in 1 Corinthians chapter nine, where he asserts that he has a right to receive financial support from those he preaches to! Why doesn’t Paul remind them that they are obliged to pay those tithes, and that he has a right to receive those tithes?

As to the only time the New Testament records Our Lord telling anyone to pay tithes; if this was understood as a command to the Church, how come it is never reaffirmed by any of the Apostles? Certainly, this would have been a simple way to guarantee the income of the clergy. Jesus, in Matthew 23:34, is addressing the Pharisees, not His own disciples, and He calls the concern about tithing a gnat. And yet, to the tithe collectors of Apostate Christendom, the gnat IS the camel.

Ah! But I can hear the crowing! Someone out there is eager to remind me that Abraham paid tithes before the Law of Moses; so that makes it a law for The Church. Let’s just take a look at that story:

Heb.7:1-2,4 For this Melchisidec, King of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him;

2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; . . . .

4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.


In Genesis chapter 14, Abraham goes out to rescue his nephew Lot, who along with many others has been kidnapped. The kidnappers had ransacked the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah where Lot lived, and were on their way back to their own cities. Abraham took 318 servants with him, (boy was he rich), and rescued Lot’s family. He also took from the kidnappers all the loot they had obtained during their raids. After restoring the personal property of the residents of Sodom, he gave 10% of the loot to Melchisidec. This time, and this time only, are we ever told that Abraham pays tithes to anyone. There is no mention that he went home to round up 10% of the goods he had there, and anyone who could produce his own 318 man army was not poor. We are nowhere told that Abraham ever paid tithes on any of his income again. If Abraham establishes a law for Christians regarding tithing, then if you give away 10% of your next windfall, you have imitated Abraham. The purpose of Hebrews chapter 7 is not to establish a law of tithing, but to show how Jesus Christ was foreshadowed in symbols and figures throughout the Old Testament.

But then, someone will remember that Jacob said, Of all that Thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto Thee (Gen.28:22). We can presume from these words, that Jacob did, from that point, give the tenth to God: but to whom did he give it? How did he give it to God? There were no “clergymen” around to collect these tithes, and neither was there a Temple to bring them to. Perhaps Jacob gave these tithes to the poor; perhaps they were consumed in offerings by fire, but one thing is for sure: these tithes were not going into someone’s “storehouse”. Note: this was not a command to Jacob from God, but a vow made by Jacob to God. The antiquity of a practice does not make it a law for The Church, for circumcision also pre-dates The Law of Moses (John 7:22, Gal.5:2). I will in no way concede to THE LIE OF TITHING; but permit me to surmise here: that since our time, effort, our labor and our goods are all the practical equivalent of money; devoted Christians will always give MORE than 10% of all they have and all they get to God, in some way that God measures and recognizes.

I believe that those church members who take security in paying tithes would do well to consider these words of Our Lord Jesus Christ:

Matt. 6:1-4 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, Himself shall reward thee openly.

Now tell me if you can, how you can keep your left hand from knowing what your right hand is doing if you are being careful about that 10%? This is a clear command by Our Lord Jesus Christ to NOT KEEP TRACK of how generous we have been to church or charity. This also applies to keeping records of your giving for income tax purposes. If your church gives you that receipt at the end of the year for all your giving, you know, and they know, just how much you have given. That the Lord told the Pharisees to not neglect paying tithes is a reflection of His judgment on them: that they were not of His sheep. It was characteristic of Our Lord to encourage the self righteous in their works, and even to increase the requirement, so as to show them that they were not made righteous by these works.

To anyone who dares to ask the question: How much should I then give? There is only one answer: EVERYTHING. Jesus said:

Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

In the 18th chapter of Luke, a rich man asks the Lord what he must do to inherit eternal life. The Lord tells him to keep the commandments. When this guy proposes to the Lord that he has already kept all the commandments (and this must include tithing), and still something is lacking; Jesus says to him: sell ALL that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me (Luke 18:22). The man can’t handle this, and goes away feeling sorry for himself. In the matter of money, paying tithes was not enough for this man to be justified in relation to his money. To anyone who needs to ask, “How much must I give up?”, the answer is as it has always been: sell ALL that thou hast.

The only pattern for how much to give in the New Testament is in the 5th chapter of the Book of Acts. There, they gave everything they had: and when Ananias and Sapphira claimed to have forsaken all, when in fact, they only gave a part, they were struck dead on the spot for lying to the Holy Ghost.

In the end, paying tithes is just an easy way to get around what it means to FORSAKE everything. Consider how Jesus commands all of His disciples to sell all and give it away:

Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms: provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Can you tell me? How is it that professing Christians dare to think that if they have paid tithes that they have met the requirement for true discipleship? Is it not just a way to avoid facing up to what it finally means to forsake all?

I would like to take a moment here to make sure that you understand me. I do not go about counting anyone else’s money. Just because a man has the power to spend a lot of money doesn’t mean that he hasn’t given it all up for Christ. Once a man has forsaken everything for Christ, the Lord may decide to make that man a steward over His money. A man who is continuously forsaking all may also be continuously prospered. This question: Have you given up everything for Christ? Can only be answered by you and Christ. I make no judgments in the matter based on how prosperous someone else is. It’s none of my business to judge how much money the Lord gives another man. It’s none of your business either. What is your business, is to settle up with Our Lord about your own life, and your own money. If you lie to yourself about what is required to be the Lord’s disciple, He knows. SO DO YOU!

Tithing As A Covenant Of Prosperity Is Effective Only For Those Who Seek To Be Justified By The Law.

Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

There are only 3 reasons why anyone would subscribe to the doctrine of tithing as it is taught in Apostate Christendom today; they are:

1. They are in a state of spiritual immaturity and ignorance. Some allowance must be made for those who feel compelled to pay tithes, for they are being subjected to a relentless rant of warnings and promises by those who wish to collect those tithes. If they fear God and tremble at His word (Isaiah 66:2), they will look into the Bible for themselves and see the truth sooner or later.

2. They think to pay God “His cut” so they can do what they like with the rest of their money. They also get to be approved by their peers.

3. They believe that paying tithes is like investing money in the bank or the stock market. They expect to be prospered by God for paying tithes. Often enough, they are prospered, so that the doctrine of prosperity through tithing appears credible.

Those that teach a doctrine of tithing for Christians will often hold out the promises of prosperity from the Old testament. The most popular verse that is used to substantiate the doctrine of tithing for prosperity is Malachi 3:10. Let’s review this significant verse.

Mal.3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
There’s no doubt about it! This verse says that if you will faithfully pay your tithes that you will be prospered. The problem is, you are not allowed to pick and choose which Old Testament laws that you want to receive and which you want to ignore. The same promises are attached to the other laws as well (Deut.12:28, 28:1-6, Lev. 26:3-6).

As soon as you bind yourself to any promise that is connected with obedience to the Law, you have entered the covenant of the Law.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Yet these tithe teachers think to teach that you can ignore the whole law except to obey in one point! Tithing was part of the civil code that governed the nation of Israel. Only the Levites were allowed to collect the tithes. Tithing is not a part of the Ten Commandments, is no where commanded to The Church, and was neither taught nor practiced in Christendom until the latter part of the 6th century. Tithing is a part of God’s covenant with the Jews only.

Jer.31:31-32 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers . . . .

Heb.8:7-8,13 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

8 For finding fault with them, He saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

13 In that He saith, a new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

We, who claim to be Christians, have a NEW COVENANT. For Christians, the old arrangement is gone. Jesus said, The Law and the prophets were until John (Luke 16:16). In other words the covenant of The Law, as it was affirmed by the prophets, was ended at the appearing of John the Baptist.

Gal.5:3 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

I know that tithe teachers and tithe payers will not SAY that they are justified by the law, and will insist that their faith is in Christ. However, the Apostle Paul has it that any attempt to be justified in any one point by the law is to fall from grace. Circumcision is the subject in Galatians chapter 5, but circumcision is only a part of that ONE LAW. The tithe payer attempts to justify himself in this one respect: that he has given to God “His cut”, and so is justified by obedience to the law in this one matter. It’s no different than those who insisted on being circumcised! They were not insisting on a wholesale return to the entire law of Moses; just this one point. The Apostle Paul says:

Gal.5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

And so it is with the tithe payer who justifies his actions on the basis of the Old Covenant. He has FALLEN FROM GRACE. Hear this again:

Gal.3:19 For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

You simply cannot sneak into the Old Testament and think to jerk one rule out of it to take advantage of. You are under the curse if you do, and you better perfectly perform the rest of the law as well, or you will end up cursed. This is no small matter to God. Listen to the Apostle Paul:

Phil.3:8-9 Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

9 And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Whatever it is that you count as your righteousness, is that from which you take your confidence towards God. If you feel like you have settled the money question with God by paying tithes, you have come under the curse: you have your own righteousness. The true and obedient disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ is careful to not let his left hand know what his right hand doeth in matters of giving. He also knows that except a man forsake ALL that he hath, he CANNOT be Christ’s disciple (Luke 14:33). He is not in any way entitled to the selfish and personal use of the rest of his money just because he paid God His “cut”.

Let us consider the significance of Luke 17:10, where Our Lord tells us that after we have done all those things which are commanded to us, that we are to say that We are unprofitable servants. With this one statement alone, Our Lord has dispelled any illusions that we may have about God owing us something because we did what we thought was our duty in some small and singular matter. Any notion that God owes us prosperity in exchange for tithing is utterly repudiated by one statement from the Apostle Paul:

Rom.11:35 Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

This statement not only condemns tithing for prosperity, but every other doctrine of “give to me and God will give to you” that the false prophets of Apostate Christendom love to propound. I have even heard them “prophesying” that certain amounts of money would come to those who call in pledges! Oh the abuses! The shame that is brought upon the name of Our Lord because of these greedy men and their wicked, lying teachings! Listen again to the Apostle Paul:

1 Tim.6:7-10 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and clothing, let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich, fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Now we know that With God, all things are possible (Matt. 19:24-26), and there will be men and women in heaven who were very wealthy when they “fell asleep in Jesus”, but these people are the exception. It isn’t very easy for a camel to get through the eye of a needle. I found it interesting that the Hebrew word for camel is the Aramaic word for ROPE. The oldest complete Bible in man’s possession is the Aramaic Peshitta from 200 A.D. In this Bible, Jesus is saying: it is easier for a rope to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Whether we are talking about a small gate in the wall of Jerusalem or the eye of a real needle, the meaning is the same.

You will remember that I said earlier, that many who pay tithes do seem to be rewarded by God for doing it. This I do not doubt, but consider this: (and I bet this will come as a surprise to most of you) eternal salvation and eternal life are NEVER offered in The Law of Moses as a reward for obeying that law. Every promise that offers a reward for obeying The Law of Moses addresses TEMPORAL security and prosperity ONLY. Jesus said, Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt.5:20). The word translated to exceed here does not mean “more than”, but “better than”. Jesus is the mediator of a BETTER covenant, which was established on BETTER promises (Heb.8:6); but the Law of Moses promises long life, good health, prosperity, and power over all enemies to those who will obey it (Deut.28:1-13) The promises of The New Testament include most of these things, but they are offered as a reward for FAITH, and THEY INCLUDE ETERNAL LIFE. The righteousness that imbues one with eternal life is of a different quality than that which was obtainable through some relative performance of The Law of Moses. Those who take their security from some relative performance of The Law of Moses have fallen from grace, and these will be ultimately judged according to how well they obeyed the Mosaic Law of Tithing, AND the other 612 laws. God uses these tithers to support his work in the earth, and he rewards them according to the Mosaic promise, but ultimately, He regards these people as strangers. That this is the case is illustrated by a peculiar incident in the life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, when He is asked about the temple tax.

Matt.17:24-27 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

25 he saith, Yes. and when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

26 Peter saith unto Him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money; that take, and give it unto them, for me and thee.

Now every reference Bible on the market today is going to tell you that the word rendered tribute here means half shekel, and will give you Exodus 30:13 & 38:26 as references to this practice. It was a head tax that was levied on the population for the support of the Temple. Jesus, in calling the priesthood the kings of the earth, is not flattering them. As soon as Our Lord arrived on the scene and they knew of Him, their offices were no longer the hierarchy of heaven. Our Lord explicitly stated that in His Church, none of the leaders should be like the kings of the earth (Luke 22:25-27).

By the words Then are the children free, Our Lord releases all of His disciples from the obligation to pay any kind of tax, tithe, or fixed amount on a regular basis towards the maintenance of His Kingdom.

his tribute, Our Lord says by agreeing with Peter, is taken from strangers. The term strangers in Hebrew parlance, always means those who are outside of God’s covenant. And so it shall be fulfilled, that the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just (Proverbs 13:22).

Some of the tithe collectors of Apostate Christendom are so greedy for their gain, that they will fasten on the words lest we should offend them, that were spoken by Our Lord, as their last attempt to prove that you simply must PAY THOSE TITHES. I won’t even let them get away with that. By saying lest we should offend them, Jesus is denying that the half-sheckel temple tax is binding on His disciples. Our Lord did not refuse to pay, but, He treats that temple-tax with contempt by telling Peter to go fishing, and the first fish Peter catches has the exact amount of money in it’s mouth that was needed to pay the Temple Tax for both of them. There is also no record of Our Lord paying any tithes after the beginning of His public ministry. Sometimes the true disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ will have to make some temporary concession to the Scribes and Pharisees for the sake of appearances, but when this is necessary, the Lord will provide that money in such a way that it doesn’t really cost you anything.

As a matter of fact, that the tithe teachers of Apostate Christendom will continue to hunt and poke for every and any excuse to obligate you to pay that tithe, indicates that they ARE the Pharisees of Matthew 23:23-24.

Those Who Demand 10% Of Everything You Get Are Identified With The Scribes And The Pharisees, Who Were The Historic Enemies Of Christ.

Matt.23:1-3 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to His disciples,

2 Saying, The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works for they say, and do not.

I once was interested in joining a church that I had visited a few times, so I went to see the pastor. He presented me with a church creed that I was expected to read, agree with, and sign. This was many years ago, and I now believe that “creeds”; being supposedly summaries of the Christian faith, always add to or take away from The Word of God. At that time, though, I had more suspicions than convictions about many things. I had no trouble agreeing with everything in this church creed except the article that stated that “God has ordained, through the Holy Scriptures, that tithing is the duty of every Christian for the support of the work of the Church, and that this tithe was calculated against my pre-tax income”. As humbly as I could, I begged for permission to present my case that tithing was not 10% of everything you get, and was not commanded to the church. The pastor was willing, so I showed him all that you have just reviewed in this article. Finally, he conceded that it was not possible to substantiate the doctrine of tithing in his church creed from the Bible; BUT, he asserted that the Lord told him that if anyone wanted to be a member of that church, they must agree to pay tithes. I agreed with him that he had the right to make that stipulation as the pastor. I also agreed to pay the tithes, but only if he would rewrite the article on tithing in the creed so that it plainly stated that the requirement of tithing for the church membership came to him by revelation, and not from the Holy Scriptures. He politely, but firmly, informed me that there were plenty of other churches in town, and that I would be happier somewhere else.

You see, since only the Levites were permitted to take tithes, and Moses was of the tribe of Levi, this pastor presumed to sit in Moses seat. In the time of Our Lord, there was only one “official” church house in Israel: the Temple in Jerusalem. The modern tithe-teacher makes his own church-house to be the practical equivalent of the Temple of God, and presumes to sit in Moses’ seat. If I wish to attend his “temple”, I am obliged to do whatsoever he bids me observe and do. But remember, God no longer dwells in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48). If you have obliged yourself to someone who sits in Moses’ seat, then pay tithes you must. There is a certain expense to maintaining the building, the staff, and whatever else that is provided. They, the people of that church, have a right to expect a little help from anyone who wants to share in the use of their facilities. You have no right to take advantage of their programs, their building, their services, or their social functions unless you do something to help defray the cost. In the Medieval Catholic Church, and in many modern Jewish Synagogues, you “rent” your own seat or pew for so much per year. I find this practice less objectionable than the false doctrine of tithing that is used in Apostate Christendom today. The rent-a-pew idea is more honest, and does not establish a false doctrine. The big difference between the Pharisees of Ancient Israel and the Pharisees of Apostate Christendom is this:

Acts 17:24-25 God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with mens hands, as though He needed anything, seeing, He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things:

The Apostle Paul, who preached this from Mars Hill in Athens, heard this spoken by the deacon Stephen before the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:48. This statement, The most high dwelleth not in Temples made with hands, got Stephen killed, for the religious leaders that had him on trial knew what such a statement could mean for their position and influence. Paul was a witness to Stephen’s trial and execution, and was compelled to use this statement himself in his own ministry.

Before Our Lord came on the scene, the Temple was the physical center of God’s authority in the earth. Jesus said to the Pharisees: Behold, your house is left unto you desolate (Matt. 23:38). Since that time, God has no “temples made with hands” in the earth. You owe no allegiance to any church-house unless you are personally directed there by the Holy Spirit. You can leave or refuse to attend any time you want. The Lord no longer has need of a building, or stained glass windows, or marble alters for His glory. These are all things that you can have or not have as you are willing to pay for them. These decorations are for you, not for God.

Anyone who demands tithes has sat themselves down in Moses seat, and the Lord tells us who it is that sits there: the Scribes and Pharisees. They are still straining out the gnat, and swallowing down the camel (Matt. 23:23-24). What makes them worse than the Pharisees of Our Lord’s time is that they dare to claim that their church-house is the practical equivalent of the Jewish Temple! And besides, the house where Moses sat is now pronounced desolate (God is not there).

Finally, let us consider the only person in the Bible who demanded a 10% of everything you received: King Saul.

1 Sam.8:15,17 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers and to his servants.

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

Note that there is no discussion of increase in these verses. Saul will take 10% of everything you have, or get (and a lot more, too, read the whole chapter). Listen to what the Lord says about King Saul:

1 Sam.8:18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.

And why is it that these people were willing to put up with all of King Saul’s abuses?

1 Sam.8:7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee (Samuel), but they have rejected Me (God) that I should not reign over them.

They will put up with their King Saul, and pay him his 10%, because it’s easier to do that, then it is to grapple with these words of Jesus Christ: Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me (Luke 18:22).

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

The above article was taken from the website http://www.apostasynow.com from The Great Dream book.


Read Hebrews 7, the school master was abolished .i.e. the law that was given to the Children of ISRAEL ONLY!!!

God bless you all.
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by poweredcom(m): 10:03pm On Aug 06, 2010
Fela don talk am archbishop na miliki pope na enjoyment imam na gbaladun: na on G.O and pope life dey experience miracle and people are been told 2 pay tithe which is unscriptural and scam. men even if there is heaven or hell na pope and pastor go first go hell wat happened to our traditional belief:white man don nak una AFRICANS.
with bible, so dat if you ask people was Jesus black they will say NO while Jesus was from the tribe of the essens jews and thatw as why the pharisee hated him and that as why pilate wanted him dead and freed barnabas who is a big time culprit and he was a white hebrew,
see our jesus suffered racism and that is still repeating it self in todays worls, malcom x, martin luther king, mandela etc if a colored person speak truth they will be prosecuted
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by moses2010: 11:28pm On Sep 14, 2010
You can use the bible to justify tithe paying and also to disproof it base on the fact that "a man is justified by faith and not by the works of the law". Here is my take on this: The tithe you pay to your church, are you sure it is used in taking care of the poor and propagating the Gospel without misappropriation in the area of the pastor sending their children abroad for good education, driving best cars, living in best houses while you have not been able to take care of your fuuture? If the answer is yes, it is been spent judiciously, then continue in your giving of tithe. If the answer is no, then give your tithe (or any portion of your income you voluntarily want to give) rather to the poor around you and to help your relatives who are in need, and give offering to the church (which can be part of the tithe). Don't be a fool. Whenever you see a Pastor talking about money or saying his ministry is to make people rich or give so that God can bless you. It's all lies. Jesus is clear in his teaching, and it's all about "the kingdom of God".
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Gamine(f): 11:37pm On Sep 14, 2010
poweredcom:

Fela don talk am archbishop na miliki pope na enjoyment imam na gbaladun: na on G.O and pope life dey experience miracle and people are been told 2 pay tithe which is unscriptural and scam. men even if there is heaven or hell na pope and pastor go first go hell wat happened to our traditional belief:white man don nak una AFRICANS.
with bible, so dat if you ask people was Jesus black they will say NO while Jesus was from the tribe of the essens jews and thatw as why the pharisee hated him and that as why pilate wanted him dead and freed barnabas who is a big time culprit and he was a white hebrew,
see our jesus suffered racism and that is still repeating it self in todays worls, malcom x, martin luther king, mandela etc if a colored person speak truth they will be prosecuted

LoL, the song is playing in my head
Re: To Tithe or Not to Tithe? by Image123(m): 12:37am On Sep 15, 2010
Pilgrim.1 on top, oh dejavu.

(1) (2) (3) ... (60) (61) (62) (63) (64) (Reply)

"I Want To Marry A Rich Nigerian Man" - Black American Female Pastor Says / Bishop Oyedepo And Wife Arrive Benin City In Their Private Jet (Photos) / My Terrible Experience In A Church Today

(Go Up)

Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health
religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket

Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 193
Disclaimer: Every Nairaland member is solely responsible for anything that he/she posts or uploads on Nairaland.