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SUNDAY SERMON: THE TRUTH ABOUT TITHING


I came across this piece on a Whatsapp page and it so represented my views on tithing that I could have written it myself. Please enjoy the read!

The Trial of Pastor Jones (Author unknown)

*Judge*: *Mr. Jones* you have been charged with multiple counts of extortion. Your crime spree covers 20 years and thousands of victims. You have defrauded people out of their money with fear and manipulation, telling them they had to tithe 10% of their income as per the LAW to your Regd. organization (called Church) and that God would bless them if they did. You also told them that if they didn't tithe God would curse them.

How do you plead?

*Mr. Jones*: I plead not guilty your Honor, I have done nothing wrong. I have only preached what the Bible says. In the Bible Abraham tithed to Melchizedek and God blessed him for his faithful giving. The Bible even says he was rich in silver and gold.

*Judge*: Is it not true, *Mr. Jones*, that in Genesis Chapter 13 verse 2 the Bible says Abraham was rich with livestock, silver and gold?

*Mr. Jones*: Yes, you are exactly right, that's what I just told you.

*Judge*: Ok, we read about Abraham being a rich man in chapter 13 but it is not until Genesis chapter 14 that we read about Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek. So Abraham was already a rich man before he tithed to Melchizedek, wasn't he?

*Mr. Jones*: Yes, I suppose you are right.

*Judge*: So his riches were not the result of his tithe to Melchizedek?

*Mr. Jones*: No.

*Judge*: *Mr. Jones*, you also say God blessed him for his faithful giving. How many times is it recorded that Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek?

*Mr. Jones*: Well, just once.

*Judge*: So the Bible never said that he gave week after week?

*Mr. Jones*: No it does not.

*Judge*: Where did Abraham get the things that he gave to Melchizedek?

*Mr. Jones*: Well the Bible says it was from the plunders of war?

*Judge*: So you are telling me that he gave from the plunders of war?

*Mr. Jones*: Yes that's what the Bible says.

*Judge*: So he basically took things that were not really his in the first place and gave them as the tithe?

*Mr. Jones*: That is what the scripture seems to indicate.

*Judge*: Is it recorded that he ever took anything from his own possessions and tithed them to Melchizedek or anyone else?

*Mr. Jones*: I guess not

*Judge*: You guess not, you are a teacher and you are only guessing, is it or is it not written that he ever gave any of his own possessions as a tithe to anyone?

*Mr. Jones*: No it is not written anywhere that I have seen.

*Judge*: Is it recorded as to what exactly Abraham did give Melchizedek?

*Mr. Jones*: I believe it says plunder?

*Judge*: So plunder could be any number of things?

*Mr. Jones*: Yes, I suppose

*Judge*: It could have been food, cattle, sheep, the people's possessions or any number of things. It does not say it was all money correct?

*Mr. Jones*: Yes you are correct, it does not say just money

*Judge*: As a matter of fact money is never mentioned in that account at all is that correct *Mr. Jones*?

*Mr. Jones*: Yes your Honor, money is never mentioned just goods and food and people.

*Judge*: So there is no way you can say with any certainty that Abraham in fact gave Melchizedek any money at all?

*Mr. Jones*: That is right.

*Judge*: I only have one last question for you
*Mr. Jones*, did God command Abraham to give this plunder tithe to Melchizedek?

*Mr. Jones*: No, it appears that he did this voluntarily.

*Judge*: So are you trying to tell me that because of this voluntary, one time gift by Abraham, that may not have even consisted of money, all Christians everywhere are obligated to bring 10% of their weekly paycheck to a local Regd.Organization-church?
Considering all the evidence I would say you are beyond any shadow of a doubt guilty of deliberately trying to make the scriptures says things they have not said for financial gain.

*Mr. Jones*: Ok your Honor, I can see how foolish I was to try and use the story of Melchizedeck to try and get the people to tithe money. But there are many other verses that will support my belief on tithing. Jacob said he would give God 10% of everything. I think we should follow his example.

*Judge*: Let's see what Jacob said. Please read the verse you are talking about for me *Mr. Jones*.

*Mr. Jones*: In Genesis chapter 28 starting at verse 20 it says. Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God, then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God's house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give the tenth to you."

*Judge*: You said we should follow Jacobs example, is that right *Mr. Jones*?

*Mr. Jones*: Yes that is right, he vowed to give a tenth and we should too.

*Judge*: Let me point out one thing for you *Mr. Jones*, Jacob said he would Give God a tenth, ONLY if He blessed him first. So as you said previously, we should follow Jacob's example and tell God that we will only give him a tenth if he blesses us first. Is that right?

*Mr. Jones*: That is not what I meant.

*Judge*: What did you mean then?

*Mr. Jones*: That we should give God a tenth also.

*Judge*: There you go again, trying to make the scripture say what you want it to say for your benefit. I would also like you to tell me the scriptures that say that Jacob kept his vow with God. I would also like to know where he gave the tenth to because there was no temple or levites to give it to at that time.

*Mr. Jones*: I can not think of any scriptures that say where or if he ever tithed after his vow.

*Judge*: It seems fairly obvious to me that Jacob made a voluntary and conditional vow to God. This in no way can be used as a reason to demand others to bring their income

*Judge*: You have not said anything yet to convince me one little bit that people are obligated to tithe money to the local organizational institutions -churches and that you were justified in what you were doing. You have taken scripture and misapplied it to your beliefs and for your gain. But in order to be fair to you I will allow you to present more evidence.

*Mr. Jones*: In the book of Malachi chapter 3 starting at verse 8 it says, will a man rob God? yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, In what have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now with this, 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. So you see your Honor, we are commanded to bring the tithes into the storehouse or God will curse us.

*Judge*: Answer me this Mr Jones, Who was God Speaking to here?

Mr Jones: To the People of Israel

*Judge*: Can you please read Malachi 2: 1 Please Mr Jones

Mr Jones: Now This command is for you O PRIEST !!

*Judge*: Did God stop talking to the Priest in Chap. 3, Mr Jones?

Mr Jones: No your Honor!

*Judge*: Answer me this *Mr. Jones*, were you aware that God never required anyone to tithe money?

*Mr. Jones*: No I didn't know that.

*Judge*: The tithe spoken of here was always edible products never money.

*Mr. Jones*: Well your Honor that is because they didn't have money at the time so God had them tithe food instead.

*Judge*: Not true, money is first mentioned in Genesis and Malachi was written hundreds of years later. God had them bring food in so that the levites, the fatherless and widows may eat and be satisfied. The tithe was used mainly to take care of people. Also notice it says in the verse you quoted, that there may be food in my house. The food was the tithe. How do you completely overlook the word food in those verses?

*Mr. Jones*: I don't know

*Judge*: I also want you to know that these verses speak to nation under the Old Testament law. As you may or may not know Jesus fulfilled the law, it is no longer binding. Once again you have tried to completely take a scripture out of context and apply it to others for your benefit. Can you give me a single scripture where God changed the tithe from food to money?

*Mr. Jones*: I do not know of any.

*Judge*: So if God never changed it from food to money who did?

*Mr. Jones*: Man must have.

*Judge*: So far all you have done *Mr. Jones*, is take Old Testament scriptures out of context and try to apply it to believers under the New Covenant. Is this all the proof you have?

*Mr. Jones*: I do have a New Testament scripture that will show that Jesus told us to tithe.

*Judge*: Ok let me hear it.

*Mr. Jones*: Jesus said in Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. See Jesus said we should be tithing.

*Judge*: Let me ask you a question, who was Jesus talking to?

*Mr. Jones*: The scripture says the Scribes and Pharisees.

*Judge*: Are you a scribe or Pharisee?

*Mr. Jones*: Of course not.

*Judge*: Jesus also said in that passage, you have left undone the weightier matters of the law. Are we under the law *Mr. Jones*?

*Mr. Jones*: No.

*Judge*: Why not?

*Mr. Jones*: Because Jesus fulfilled it.

*Judge*: When did Jesus fulfill the law?

*Mr. Jones*: When He was crucified.

*Judge*: So the law was still in effect until Jesus death?

*Mr. Jones*: That is correct.

*Judge*: I think you know where I am going with this don't you?

*Mr. Jones*: Yes your Honor. Since Jesus had not yet been crucified and the law was still binding the Pharisees were required to tithe because it was part of the law. Once the law ended, tithing ended also.

*Judge*: I want you to take a look at that verse again. Also tell me, what were they tithing?

*Mr. Jones*: The scripture says it was mint, dill and cumin.

*Judge*: Is money mentioned?

*Mr. Jones*: No it was not.

*Judge*: Once again it was edible products that they were tithing, not money. Do you have anything else you would like to say?

*Mr. Jones*: If people only tithed edible products like the scripture says, then how would the church survive? We have our mortgage payment, utility bills, staff salary and a host of other things that we have to pay each week. We depend on the money from the people.

*Judge*: By "church" you mean your organization isn't it Mr Jones ?
-The need does not justify the means. In other words, just because you have all these debts does not give you the right to twist and manipulate scripture and cause people to give under fear of being cursed by God to meet your needs. Does It Mr Jones?
In closing, let me recap a few things for you *Mr. Jones*.
-The tithe was never money;
-The tithe was an Old Testament law, which is no longer binding. When it was binding the tithe was used to take care of people, not buildings.
- We are under a new covenant now.
Paul instructs the Corinthian believers how they are to give. He says in second Corinthians chapter 9 verse 7, Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. So each believer is supposed to give as he or she has determined in his or her heart.
If they determine to Give 10% well and good, If they keep aside some every week to meet this more better.If you are trying to make people give under the threat of being cursed or any other reason even blessing, you are wrong. Someone can not give cheerfully if they are being forced to give. If 'your church can not survive on freewill offerings maybe God is not part of your church at all.
Mr Jones, do you intentionally put your people under a Curse or a Bondage?

Mr Jones: Of Course not !!

*Judge*: Can you Read in context Gal 3:10-11: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them ....
AND
Gal 5:1-4 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage....

*Mr. Jones*: I never realized all these things, I have always been taught that we had to tithe money to the local church and that is what I have always taught. I can see now that I was completely wrong. I did not study the scripture for myself, I only took mans word for it.
Yes ' am guilty. I will not teach this error anymore.
Sentencing....... All Arise .....

It's your decision to make,

Use your tithe for personal stuff. Tithe is a scam. your pastors only encourage you to continue being foolish and obedient to it because it favours them and their family members only. Oyedepo, Adeboye, suleiman, kumuyi and other are billionaires because of your own stupidity. The God that created this world without taking money from anyone doesn't need your money to survive. Na your pastors dey chop am.

Jewessgratitud3:
Is it right to split your tithe to different parishes if you don't want your parish to know how much you're earning? Will it still cumulate as tithe?

Is this a wrong or deceptive move?

u need to pay tithe to church u worship not another church. Secondly, it's ur Pastor that received payment receipt so no one will know how much u earn except the PASTOR. Again most importantly, some people pay above 10% as tithe so no one will know how much u earn.

You still dey pay tithe...have you not heard of the pause in tithe payment due to the economic hardship? Meet your pasta for this wonderful gesture to help alleviate the economic burdens of the congregation.

No God did not perfect that

If you actually want to know what God said about tithes and not only what your pastor preaches to you then read Deut 14:22-29.
Then you won't need to ask future question but doing it right. Shalom

Jewessgratitud3:
Is it right to split your tithe to different parishes if you don't want your parish to know how much you're earning? Will it still cumulate as tithe?

Is this a wrong or deceptive move?

Na so the copy the Bible and your pastor talk am?

Jewessgratitud3:
Is it right to split your tithe to different parishes if you don't want your parish to know how much you're earning? Will it still cumulate as tithe?

Is this a wrong or deceptive move?

What if you put it in a blank evelop without writing your name on it and all?

Jewessgratitud3:
Is it right to split your tithe to different parishes if you don't want your parish to know how much you're earning? Will it still cumulate as tithe?

Is this a wrong or deceptive move?

Okay... Let's overflog this non-issue of tithing as usual...

If you have to follow an Old Testament doctrine of Tithe payment (As ludicrous as this portends), then you might as well do it as aptly directed in those Old Testament scriptures.

Revealing what you earn to your church leaders is your business and your choice... I hear some churches even have Tithe records with the names of the payers... Smh!!!

Totally irrelevant issues everywhere u go... For me i dont pay tithe becos its means nothing to me... If i must pay, giving it to the needy will be more appreciated...

Noooooo!

Jewessgratitud3:
Is it right to split your tithe to different parishes if you don't want your parish to know how much you're earning? Will it still cumulate as tithe?

Is this a wrong or deceptive move?

Ogbon, na you be Sodiki

Jewessgratitud3:
Is it right to split your tithe to different parishes if you don't want your parish to know how much you're earning? Will it still cumulate as tithe?

Is this a wrong or deceptive move?

I see nothing bad there. After all, according to what we've been made to believe, it all goes to God/god. 10% is 10% even if you choose to pay 3-times, or split it among 100 parishes / churches.

But wait Ooo, I thought things such as TITHing, are done anonymously. Since when did that change ?
Normally envelops are shared where one puts in the money and then drops it into collection bags/boxes after which prayers are made. if that's how it's being done, then no way they would know which envelop belongs to WHO.

abi have they started attaching Bio Data ?
Maybe so baba God doesn't mistakenly award the Blessing of someOne who paid ₦‎10-million to One who paid ₦‎500

Saao:
u need to pay tithe to church u worship not another church. Secondly, it's ur Pastor that received payment receipt so no one will know how much u earn except the PASTOR. Again most importantly, some people pay above 10% as tithe so no one will know how much u earn.

Damn... Just look at what a supposedly learned individual is posting... You definitely can't even back these with Biblical scriptures.

You just swallow doctrines hook, line, and sinker like a child.

Jewessgratitud3:
Is it right to split your tithe to different parishes if you don't want your parish to know how much you're earning? Will it still cumulate as tithe?

Is this a wrong or deceptive move?

God understands that you truly want to pay your tithe but something came up, which prompted to paying half.

You cannot get the answers you want here. Kindly talk to your pastor or better still talk to God

Jewessgratitud3:


You won't understand.

I understand.

Just needed to add an Addendum; On this formula, don't focus to receive your blessings as a whole from one entities anymore.

For example, Mr A would commence your breakthrough, and would end with Mr B, unlike when Mr A would be the sole manifesto of your breakthrough. Meaning your style of receiving from Heaven would change drastically. It's deep somehow.....

I just hope you can manage the Heavenly Dimension and Style at which blessings will fall on you.

#MICVOCT

bassdow:


I see nothing bad there. After all, it all goes to God/god. 10% is 10% even if you choose to pay 3-times, or split it among 100 parishes / churches

How does it go to God?!! Your Bible clearly states that God doesn't delight in the sacrifice of Bulls and Rams??!

Even the tithing in Israel was directed at the Jews solely for the benefit of full-time God-ordained Priests who were forbidden from working and owning farms but to serve and eat strictly from the storehouses of the temples.

None of you present-day believers are Jews (Not One)... At best, you are gentiles allowed into God's promise by Grace.

If your church needs money for anything, then cheerfully donate to them without compulsion as The Bible clearly states that He loves those who give cheerfully.

If you don't want your church to know how much you're earning then change church.

Jewessgratitud3:
Is it right to split your tithe to different parishes if you don't want your parish to know how much you're earning? Will it still cumulate as tithe?

Is this a wrong or deceptive move?

yes u can

No, you should offer yourself as sacrifice to a pastor since your brain is clearly useless. The world would do well without you staining it. Any human that carries their hard earned money to give a rich corrupt man is a foolish idiot that needs to die.

When there are poor children out there on the street that need help, many community projects that could be done if we all brought our 10% and used it to develop our communities and neighborhood. Things like street light, planting trees, paving the road, purchasing bins, etc. Yet you fool will carry your money and give it to a criminal pastor in church. May your God punish you the moment you do something as stüpid as that

Jewessgratitud3:
Is it right to split your tithe to different parishes if you don't want your parish to know how much you're earning? Will it still cumulate as tithe?

Is this a wrong or deceptive move?

Pay your tithe in full and in one church, you must not write your name on your tithe envelope, tithe is between you and God, and not between you and man.
Just my opinion

Angelfrost:


Damn... Just look at what a supposedly learned individual is posting... You definitely can't even back these with Biblical scriptures.

You just swallow doctrines hook, line, and sinker like a child.

please kindly check the book of Deut 14: 23 to 24, emphasis is in v 24.

Jewessgratitud3:
Is it right to split your tithe to different parishes if you don't want your parish to know how much you're earning? Will it still cumulate as tithe?

Is this a wrong or deceptive move?

It is wrong and deceptive if you do it.
Your Tithe is paid to God but the Church where you are blessed spiritually and fed is the custodian of it.

Jewessgratitud3:


You won't understand.

No lies about it.

There are churches in Nigeria that weigh you for 'potential billing' with the amount of tithe paid. And again, once you're not among those ones wey chest anything giving for church, dem fit no reason your matter but once you dey drop steady, na proper billings o.

Na mumu dey still give tithe

Malachi 3:10 tells you what you should do.
You pay your tithes to the parish or church where you are fed spiritually.

You can equally read Hebrews 7 about Abraham tithing to Melchizedek.

Saao:
please kindly check the book of Deut 14: 23 to 24, emphasis is in v 24.

Even those scriptures above totally negate everything you posted above... Aren't you confused??!

"23 And thou shalt eat before Jehovah thy God, in the place which he shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, the tithe of thy grain, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herd and of thy flock; that thou mayest learn to fear Jehovah thy God always.

24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, because the place is too far from thee, which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to set his name there, when Jehovah thy God shall bless thee;"

Besides, take a look at verses 27-29, as they throw more light on Tithing and those tithes were (Past tense) for:

"27 And the Levite that is within thy gates, thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no portion nor inheritance with thee.

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

29 and the Levite, because he hath no portion nor inheritance with thee, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates, shall come and shall eat and be satisfied; that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hand which thou doest."


Since we are on the subject of Old Testament laws... How come many of you Christians don't obey these verses in the same scripture you lifted?

"4 These are the beasts which ye may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,
5 the hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the antelope, and the chamois.
6 And every beast that parteth the hoof, and hath the hoof cloven in two, [and] cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat.
7 Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud or of them that have the hoof cloven: the camel, and the hare, and the coney; because they chew the cud but part not the hoof, they are unclean unto you.
8 And the swine, because he parteth the hoof but cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you: of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch.
9 These ye may eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales may ye eat;"

Was it not Peter who was reprimanded by the Angel when he voiced out against eating these same things?

"14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."

Stop enriching your pastors, they are All scammers, i sowed everything I had.now i beg to eat, pastor doesn't pick my calls again,