₦airaland Forum

I have been pondering over this and I think each country or race or region has It's own special God and It's special sovereign rights bestowed on it by It's worshipers.... for example the God of Israel is a jealous God and a racist (don't really like other tribes of the earth) and this gives the Israelis a pride of race...also we see how he chose for himself a city which David captured from 'pagans'... one could easily think that the God of Jesus is different from the God of Elijah and Moses in respect to attitude towards sin...what ur view on this

First of all "You err not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God". The bible presents isreal as God's wife symbolically.In other words out of all the nations he chose himself a wife and entered into covenant with Israel and made Israel his own possession.And through Israel he has reached out to the whole earth.is it easy to claim to be God but no god of any nation(actually demons) has anything to prove his deity.The God of Israel pronounced the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans centuries before it happened.He denounced the city of Tyre and it happened the way he said many years before Alexander invaded Tyre . Prophecy is his stamp on time and history.You can't beat that.

Ndjones: Are u a Christian or a Muslim? The Bible never said after 3days and 3nights. It says in 3days the Son of Man shall rise again.

I should be the one asking you that question
have you ever heard of the sign of Jonas?
Matthew 12:38-40
"38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Jesus himself said he will be buried 3 days and 3 nights just like Jonah.
So you see now that am a christian right?

PEN_MIGHT: Truth be told, Jesus wasn't crucified nor killed; it only appears to be. It's a misery of perception. In other words mirage can only be imaginary not real. Who moved the stone? Surely, not Mary Magdalene.
In reality ,we are not to assume the death of him whose life and times can only end after his descent in the second coming. Peace.

600 years after the life of Jesus a desert warrior Muhammad claims Jesus never died nor was crucified.Why would the followers claim he was crucified publicly when the society knew he was not crucified.Paul in his testimony to King Herod Agrippa said these things(the life and crucifixion of Jesus) were not done in a corner or secret place.Peter on the day of Pentecost preached and accused the Jews of killing Jesus.How could Paul and Peter be claiming what the listeners knew was false.You might argue the resurrection but it is historically ridiculous to deny that he was killed by crucifixion.Muhammad has deceived you.Read the resurrection story,an angel rolled the stone away.The bible never claimed Mary Magdalene rolled the stone away.How did the apostles know that an angel rolled the stone away?
The firsthand witness was the resurrected person himself.He told them how he got out of the grave for sure.After his resurrection,he spent 40 days with them and assuredly he must have given them inside details of his resurrection.

Havilah93: Why Good Friday is observed.

Good Friday is observed during the Holy Week on the Friday preceding the Easter Sunday. For Christians, unlike Christmas, Good Friday is a day of mourning.
According to the Canonical gospel, Jesus Christ was crucified on this Friday after much torment and sufferings which eventually lead to his death. So, they lament on the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ which they believe is of great essence as it brought salvation to the
human race.
This year, Good Friday 2013 will be observed on Friday, March 29.
People will gather at the
churches and attend mass, sing Good Friday songs, read passages from the holy Bible to
mark the significance of Good Friday. Every year on this day, devotees in black clothes assemble at the church and take out processions of Jesus’ idol. A ritual burial is also carried out.
Statues and pictures of Jesus at churches are covered in black clothes to mourn the day. At the mass prayers, priest read
Good Friday sermons from the Bible and remember Jesus. Many
people at the end of the day or procession spend sometime to meditate and chant prayers silently. Moreover, many devotional followers of Christ abstain from having meat or wine, and if possible keep a fast.
Churches also encourage people to become actively involved in philanthropic activities for the well being of the society.
Celebration of Good Friday is observed across the world including India where a majority of Christian population resides.

Sorry to burst your bubbles,Jesus did not die on Friday.How can you count 3 days and 3 nights between Friday and Sunday.use your brain for once and study the bible for yourselves.If as the bible declares, the grave was empty by Sunday morning,that means he was only dead and buried for two nights and two days.He died on Passover day,the next day after passover according to the bible was the 1st day of unleavened bread.And the first day of unleavened bread is a sabbath no matter which day it occurs.If the 1st day of unleavened bread falls on a Monday,that Monday becomes a sabbath,if it falls on a Thursday,that day becomes a sabbath.The sabbath that was mentioned in the bible was not the normal Saturday sabbath rather it was a high sabbath(1st day of unleavened bread).The bible said on the first day of the week while it was still dark(early in the morning),the women saw an empty grave,so Jesus was already resurrected by the time the women came.He died on Wednesday(Passover day) and was buried just before evening of Wednesday.And 3 days and 3 nights after will be Saturday evening.So he arose on Saturday evening not Sunday morning.

logicboy01: You're brainwashed to worship the Jewish God. Before christianity came to nigeria, you great grandfathers were worshipping pagan gods until Europeans came and now you're a slave to a Jewish Jesus that says he came for the lost sheep of Isreal. Religion is slavery of the mind.


Kai

Well,i might be talking with a teeneger.i don't know you personally.
But to answer your question.Someone who saves you from sin and gives you eternal life and provides for you and delivers you from all temptations and died for you,and he heals your diseases.Slaves are not treated like that.
That's how princes are treated.Jesus came to serve not to be served.i am his servant because he showed me the way by firsy laying down his live.
Greater Love hath no man than this,that a man should lay down his life for his freinds.You are confused about Jesus,it's clear you don't know much about his mission.But you have not escaped his love yet.
One day you might be his servant too.Yes the God of Isreal is my God,it doesn't make me inferior.just like the modern world's educational system that has been modelled after Greek philosophy and the governments modelled after the Roman system does not make the rest of the world slaves of Rome and Greece.Even the Calenders January to december are Roman calenders.We must be horrible slaves of Rome ain't we?

logicboy01: Ignorance is a disease. Like a slave, you never question why God/Jesus who is supposed to be for everyone appeared to Jews instead of Asians or West Africans or better yet, everybody in the world at the same time.

He appeared to the Jews so that through the Jews salvation will come to everyone.To Isreal in isaiah 40:10 God says "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me"
It is called Divine planning and you have no right to question God's decisions.
Again,your stance borders on arrogance.How many of your father's decisions can you question?
How many of your wives decisions can you question and you think you can question the decision of someone who created you?
It's called arrogance and maybe ignorance

Tundeiknow: Interesting how you declare someone you believe doesn't exist guilty by calling him a murderer

Exactly my point.
It takes a great deal of faith to deny the existence of God.
The problem is not on God's existence.People hate God,in d bible,God appeared before the Jews and they saw his glory and heard his voice but they still rebelled against him and hated him.
If God appears today,it won't change the stand of an atheist,it has nothing to do with empirical science,it's just pure hatred against God.
Unless God reveals himself to your spirit,you can't know him.There are many people in church today who don't know God,not much different from atheists.

Spirit of Okija: Babies..

Under developed brains

Dependent

Malleable

Needy.


This is what you want me to be to understand God?!

No thank you... Even a baby would agree that his dolly can talk to him/her..

Exactly,right on point.
Jesus said when you pray,you must realise that God is your FATHER.
"Our father who art in heaven..."
"Give us this day our daily bread..."
Adults don't depend on their parent for daily bread.This suggests a total dpence and trust in God to supply all your needs.
A father-baby relationship.
And you need to be malleable to God's word,so he can break and mould you according to the image of his son.
And you need to be needy as well.he has offered you to come and drink from the fountain of life freely.

Spirit of Okija: Meaning the word of God can only be understood by little babies who have an under developed brain hence are easily corruptible..

Nwokem drex go far!!

Exactly,Jesus said he came to seek and save the lost,to give sight to the blind.And to add to what what you said,to help those with under-developed brain like babies,yes.Since you think yours is developed,goodluck to you.
The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men.

Jesus said,Unless you turn and become like a child,you will not inherit the kingdom of God.The word babe has to do with attitude towards God.
Babies are dependent on their parents for everything,likewise God wants you to trust him and follow him like a baby.If you think he is asking too much.
You have the right to say NO.And honestly you are in good compnay.But in the end you will stand before this same God you have denied all your life.
You will lose your soul,try it and see.

Guys listen,
Jesus said you err not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.For the peeps mocking the Job story,one thing rings through all of your posts:"ARROGANCE AND HUMANISTIC IDEOLOGY".
Jesus said,"Thank you Father for hiding these things from the WISE and PRUDENT of the world and revealing it to BABES.Even so it pleased you Father".
Paul in Romans said,Considering themselves wise they became fools.
Now listen,How can you charge your Maker with murder?
Do you think GOD is a citizen of any country or a human being that you can charge him with murder?
God has the power to take away life and to give life.He alone has this right because he created all things.God is just.If God decides to destroy the children of Job,then it is Just.The problem you have is that you call them INNOCENT. Who says that they are innocent?What right do you have to declare them innocent? God's justice says "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God",including Job's children.
Innocent from what?Can you tell me? The God of all the earth is a Loving and Just God.He created you,he loves you but he will not pardon an unrepentant soul.The root of unrepentance and defiance against God is pride and arrogance.
I advise folks to always read the bible in its context.Right at the beginning of Job,The bible even gives you a clue that the ways of Job's children might not be upright before God.Job must have been worried about their lifestyle that he wakes up DAILY,early in the morning to offer sacrices to God for each of his children,asking God to pardon them if they have sinned.It should give you a clue about his children.Again,what right do you have to declare any man innocent before God?
You want to run your own life without submitting to God.Goodluck,you will LOSE big time.The Bible has been attacked for thousands of years but still stands the test of time.The story of Job is true.
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.Be humble and be wise and acknowldge that evolution is even losing credibility in the scientific world,even the big-bang theory is a joke.Matter and material has a begining and it must have been caused by an uncaused cause,someone from outside our time and space must have created matter.Simple logic.
God is not a politician,he doesn't need your votes,he reveals himself to whomsoever he wills.And i can guarantee you that God will put down every rebellion,including your arrogance against him unless you repent and accept his Son.

Hi OP,
It's so pathetic that people have refused to study the bible with an open heart.I wrote a whole article on tithe that was published by Vanguard last year.Follow the link below to read that article
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/02/re-tithes-are-required-in-the-christian-era-benedict-hart-got-it-all-wrong/

Now let me try and do justice to your question.Whenever people read Malachi they assume that the law of tithing was given by Malachi.That's what pastors try to make you believe.Malachi was sent by God to tell the Levites and priests that they were breaking his laws(law of Moses) by offering blemished animals as sacrifice to him(while they kept the good animals) and that the levites were not paying the actual tithes to priests.The curse and blessings of Malachi 3 about tithes is only a re-iteration of the curses and blessings that Moses told the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 28.Tithing was only one of them.The law of Blessings and Cursings was not restricted only to TITHES.You were cursed if you did not bring your first fruits,you were cursed if you maltreated strangers and foreigners etc.This is bible 101 that every believer should know.So Malachi was sent by God to remind them of the law of Moses that they were ashamedly breaking.

Secondly,i saw some folks in this forum saying that the poster should pay his tithe to God and if there is any left over he should help his brother.Now how many of you believe that tithing according to the scriptures is not different from helping the needy? The poor and the needy were to partake in the TITHES.The tithe were not meant for the LEVITES ALONE.Will you challenge the word of God as well if i showed you this principle from the bible? Read Deuteronomy 26:12 :" When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;"

Did you see that?
Now tithes were not paid every year.There were tithe-free years according to the word of God.Now this tithe that was mentioned here was not given to the levites alone but the poor and needy were to partake from it as well.The Jews were to send some to the levites and also keep some within there gates(compounds/houses) so that the needy could freely come and collect the food and eat.That is the principle for tithe that was laid down by God through Moses.@Poster if you share your tithe with your brother,you are doing the right thing.Don't let any one make you feel guilty.
And by the way,i am using the word tithe to literally mean ten percent.The tithe of Moses is not what churches practise today.God never required money as tithes in the old testament.So what folks do today is just VOW.Yes i call it vow.You've made up your mind to give to the church 10% of your income,you should keep your vows to God.Even though you did it because someone told you God demanded that you do it,it's still a vow because you were not forced to do it.But mercy and judgement should triumph over vows to God.Jesus suggested so.
Matthew 15:3-7: " 3 Jesus answered, "And why do you refuse to obey God's command so that you can follow your own teachings?
4 God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,'and 'Anyone who says cruel things to his father or mother must be put to death.'
5 But you say a person can tell his father or mother, 'I have something I could use to help you, but I have given it to God already.'
6 You teach that person not to honor his father or his mother. You rejected what God said for the sake of your own rules"

From this passage the pharisees taught that you should keep your vows and gifts to God even when you needed to use that money to help your parents.Just like the pharisees of old,the modern day church exalt the gift on the altar more than the altar and exalt the gold of the temple above the temple.Jesus taught that mercy and compassion should go first.You can continue paying your vows and gifts to God after that.There is a priority which is helping the NEEDY.Helping the needy(like your brother)is commanded by God.Jesus said that on the last day,people will be judged on how much they helped the needy(compassionate and voluntary giving) but not on how strict you kept the law of tithing.
Lastly,churches don't tell you the rule that Jesus gave regarding giving anything to God.
Matthew 5:23-24
"23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
@Poster God will not accept your money/tithe/offerings if you have a grudge(or someone even has something against you) against a brother.Until you reconcile with your brother,you are just making the pastor smile to the bank while he pronounces empty promises on you.

My advice is do both if you can but your priority according to Jesus should be to help the NEEDY.In this case,your brother needs your help.

Essien's knee gives way.Two months off

Cech vs Ivanovic.Referee that was an assault warranting a red card

One needs to prayerfully study his bible for you to know the truth about tithes.
As christians we struggle with some doctrines because we do not even understand Judaism in the first place.
Follow me in this exciting journey about tithe.

POINT #1::What is Tithe?
In God’s Word the Tithe was Always Only Food from Inside Israel!

The false teaching is that biblical tithes include ALL sources of income.

Use God’s Word to define “tithe” and not a secular dictionary! Using a complete Bible concordance you will discover that the definition used by tithe-advocates is wrong. In God’s Word “tithe” does not stand alone. Although money existed before tithing, the source of God's "tithe" over 1500 years was never money. It was the “tithe of food.”  True biblical tithes were always only food from the farms and herds of only Israelites who only lived inside God’s Holy Land, the national boundary of Israel. No tithes were accepted from defiled pagan lands. The “increase” was gathered from what God miraculously produced and not from man's craft or ability.If you have access to a Rabbi who knows the law more than your pastor,ask him who was qualified to pay tithe.And he will tell you that crafts men,carpenters  were not eligible to pay tithe.It was only produce of land and livestock that was accepted.I live in London and i have asked so many Rabbis and they said the same thing.

There are 16 verses from 11 chapters and 8 books from Leviticus 27 to Luke 11 which describe the contents of the tithe. And the contents never (I repeat), never included money, silver, gold or anything other than food from inside Israel! Yet the incorrect definition of "tithe" is the greatest error being preached about tithing today! (See Lev. 27:30, 32; Num. 18:27-28; Deut. 12:17; 14:22-23; 26:12; 2 Chron. 31:5-6; Neh. 10:37; 13:5; Mal. 3:10-11; Matt. 23:23; Luke 11: 42).


POINT #2: MONEY: Money Was an Essential but Non-Tithed Item

The false assumption is that food barter usually replaced money.

One argument to support non-food tithing is that money was not universally available and barter from food was used for most transactions.  This argument is neither biblical nor historical. Genesis alone contains “money” in 32 texts and the word occurs 44 times before the tithe is first mentioned in Leviticus 27. Gold is first mentioned in Genesis 2:12. The words "jewelry," "gold," "silver" and shekel also appear often from Genesis to Deuteronomy.

Many centuries before Israel entered Canaan and began tithing food from God’s Holy Land money was an essential everyday item. For example Abraham was very rich in silver and gold (Gen 13:2); money in the form of silver shekels paid for slaves (Gen 17:12+); Abimelech gave Abraham 1000 pieces of silver (Gen 20:16); Abraham paid 400 pieces of silver for land (Gen 23:9-16); Joseph was sold for silver pieces (Gen 37:28); slaves bought freedom (Ex 23:11). Court fines (Ex 21 all; 22 all), sanctuary dues (Ex 30:12+), vows (Lev 27:3-7), poll taxes (Num 3:47+), alcoholic drinks (Deu 14:26) and marriage dowries (Deu 22:29) included money.

Joseph gave Benjamin 300 pieces of silver (Gen 45:22). According to Genesis 47:15-17 food was used for barter only after money had been spent. Banking and usury laws exist in Leviticus even before tithing. Therefore the argument that money was not prevalent enough for everyday use is false. Yet the tithe contents from Leviticus to Luke never include money from non-food products and trades.


POINT #3: GENESIS 14:20: Abraham’s Tithe to Melchizedek Reflected Free will giving and not a commandment
Abraham plundered his enemies(that captured sodom including Lot his brother) and returned with spoils of war.We do not know for sure what the spoils were but it included human captors,clothes,jewelries,gold etc.This spoils did not belong to him but it belonged to the King of Sodom.He gave from the spoils a tenth to thank God when he gave to Melchisedec.Now if he tithed from his possesions he wouldnt have returned the 90% to the rightful owner(King of Sodom).Abraham even said that 'he will not take anything from the King of Sodom lest he said that he made Abram rich'.Sometimes i wonder if pastors actually read this text well.What caused this reaction from Abram was because the King of Sodom told him to give back the people to him and keep everything to himself.This was the rightful owner  trying to reward Abram for his help in rescuing his people  back.But Abram refused to accept it.Now what baffles me is that we use this as an example of tithe.Funny.So if we were to pay tithe then we should tithe from what belongs to somebody else and not our possesion.This was a one time event and it was never recorded that Abram was commanded by God to tithe.

POINT #4: NO MINIMUM PRINCIPLE: Tithing Was Not a Minimum Requirement from All Old Covenant Israelites

The false teaching is that everybody was required to begin their giving level at ten per cent.

Only those Israelites who earned a livelihood from farming and herding inside Israel were required to tithe under the Mosaic Law. Their increase came from God’s hand. Those whose increase came from their own crafts and skills were not required to tithe products and money. The poor and needy who did not tithe and received from the tithe gave freewill offerings.


POINT #5: LEVITES(Servants to the priests): First-Tithes were Received by Servants to the Priests.

The false teaching is that Old Testament priests received all of the first tithe.


The "whole" tithe, the first tithe, did not go to the priests at all. It was not even the “best” tenth (Lev 27:33). According to Numbers 18:21-24 and Nehemiah 10:37b, it went to the servants of the priests, the Levites. And according to Numbers 18:25-28 and Nehemiah 10:38, the Levites gave the “best tenth of this tithe” (1%) which they received to the priests who ministered the sin sacrifices and served inside the holy places. Priests did not tithe.

It is also important to know that, in exchange for receiving these tithes, both Levites and priests forfeited all rights to permanent land inheritance inside Israel (Num. 18:20-26; Deut. 12:12; 14:27, 29; 18:1, 2; Josh. 13:14, 33; 14:3; 18:7; Eze. 44:28). Even if tithes were New Covenant they would first go to the ordinary workers who assist the preachers and maintain the buildings.


POINT #6: HOLY AND MOST HOLY: "It is Holy to the LORD" Does Not Make Tithing an Eternal Moral Principle.

The false teaching is that Leviticus 27:30-34 proves that the tithe is an "eternal moral principle" because "it is holy to the LORD."

The phrases “it is HOLY unto the LORD” and “it is MOST HOLY unto the LORD” are very common in Leviticus. However, almost every other use of these same two phrases in Leviticus has long ago been discarded by Christians. These phrases are used to describe all of the festivals, the sacrificial offerings, the clean food, the old covenant priests and the old covenant sanctuary. Especially read verses 28 and 29 in the same chapter.

While the “tithe of the tithe” (1%) which was given to the priests was the “best” of what the Levites received, the tithe which the Levites received was only “one tenth” and not the “best” (Lev. 27:33).


POINT #7: FIRST-FRUITS: First-fruits are Not the Same as Tithes



The false assumption is that tithes are first-fruits.

The first-fruit was a very small amount of the first crop harvest and the first-born was the  first offspring of animals. First-fruits could only come from inside Israel.

The first-fruit was small enough to fit into a hand-held basket (Deut. 26:1-10; Lev. 23:17; Num. 18:13-17; Neh. 12:44; 2 Chron 31:5a).

First-fruits and first-born offerings went directly to the Temple and were required to be totally consumed by ministering priests only inside the Temple (Neh. 10:35-37a; Ex. 23:19; 34:26; Deut. 18:4).

The whole Levitical tithe went first to the Levitical cities and portions went to the Temple to feed both Levites and priests who were ministering there in rotation (Neh. 10:37b-39; 12:27-29, 44-47; Num. 18:21-28; 2 Chron 31:5b). While the Levites ate only the tithe, the priests could also eat from the first-fruits, first-born offerings and other offerings.

POINT #8: FOUR TITHES: There are Four Different Tithes Described in the Bible.

The false teaching ignores all other tithes and focuses on an incorrect interpretation of the first religious tithe.

The first religious tithe, called the "Levitical tithe," had two parts. Again, the whole first tithe was given to the Levites who were only servants to the priests (Numb. 18:21-24; Neh. 10:37b). The Levites, in turn, gave one tenth of the whole tithe to the priests (Numb. 18:25-28; Neh. 10:38). According to Deuteronomy 12 and 14, the second religious tithe, called the "feast tithe," was eaten by worshipers in the streets of Jerusalem during the three yearly festivals (Deut. 12:1-19; 14:22-26). And, according to Deuteronomy 14 and 26, a third tithe, called the "poor tithe," was kept in the towns every third year to feed the poor (Deut. 14:28, 29; 26:12, 13). Also, according to First Samuel 8:14-17, the ruler collected the first and best ten per cent for political use. During Jesus’ time Rome collected the first ten per cent (10%) of most food and twenty per cent (20%) of fruit crops as its spoils of war. It is dishonest to single out the one religious tithe and ignore the other two important religious tithes.


POINT #9:  Jesus, Peter, Paul and the Poor Did Not Tithe

The false teaching is that everybody in the Old Testament was required to begin their giving to God at the ten per cent level.

The poor were not required to tithe at all! Neither did the tithe come from the results of man’s crafts, hands and skills. Only farmers and herdsmen gathered what God produced as tithe increase. Jesus was a carpenter; Paul was a tentmaker and Peter was a fisherman. None of these occupations qualified as tithe-payers because they did not farm or herd animals for a living. It is, therefore, incorrect to teach that everybody paid a required minimum of a tithe and, therefore, that New Covenant Christians should be required to at least begin at the same minimum as Old Covenant Israelites. This common false assumption is very often repeated and completely ignores the very plain definition of tithe as food gathered from farm increase or herd increase.

The widow’s mite is an example of free-will giving and is not an example of tithing. According to Edersheim none of the Temple’s chests were for tithes. The poor received money from those chests before leaving the temple.

It is also wrong to teach that the poor in Israel were required to pay tithes. In fact, they actually received tithes! Much of the second festival tithe and all of a special third-year tithe went to the poor! Many laws exempted the poor from abuse and expensive sacrifices which they could not afford (Lev. 14:21; 25:6, 25-28, 35, 36; 27:8; Deu. 12:1-19; 14:23, 28, 29; 15:7, 8, 11; 24:12, 14, 15, 19, 20; 26:11-13; Mal. 3:5; Matt. 12:1, 2; Mark 2:23, 24; Luke 2:22-24; 6:1, 2; 2 Cor. 8:12-14; 1 Tim. 5:8; Jas. 1:27).

POINT #10: TAXES: Tithes were Often Used as Political Taxes.

The false teaching is that tithes are never comparable to taxes or taxation.

In the Hebrew economy, the tithe was used in a totally different manner than it is preached today. Once again, those Levites who received the whole tithe were not even ministers or priests -- they were only servants to the priests! Numbers chapter 3 describes the Levites as carpenters, metal workers, leather-craftsmen and artists who maintained the small sanctuary. And, according to First Chronicles, chapters 23-26, during the time of King David and King Solomon the Levites were still skilled craftsmen who inspected and approved all work in the Temple: 24, 000 worked in the Temple as builders and supervisors; 6,000 were officials and judges; 4,000 were guards and 4,000 were musicians. As political representatives of the king, Levites used their tithe income to serve as officials, judges, tax collectors, treasurers, temple guards, musicians, bakers, singers and professional soldiers (1 Chron. 12:23, 26; 23:2-5; 26:29-32; 27:5). It is obvious why these examples of using biblical tithe-income are never used as examples in the church today.


Tithes never stimulated Old Covenant Levites or priests to establish a single mission outreach or encourage a single Gentile to become an Israelite (Ex. 23:32; 34:12, 15; Deut. 7:2). Old Covenant tithing was motivated and mandated by Law, not love. In fact, during most of Israel’s history the prophets were God’s primary spokesmen – and not the tithe-receiving Levites and priests. Tithing failed! See Hebrews 7:12-19.


POINT #11: MALACHI: Malachi 3 is the Most Abused Tithing Text in the Bible. The “whole” tithe never was supposed to go to the Temple!

The false teaching about tithes from Malachi 3 ignores important Bible facts.

A.  CONTEXT: Malachi is Old Covenant and is never quoted in the New Covenant to validate tithing (Lev. 27:34; Neh. 10:28-29; Mal. 3:7; 4:4).


B.  CONTEXT: In Malachi 3:10-11 tithes are still only food 1000 years after Leviticus 27.

C. LAW: Malachi’s audience had willingly reaffirmed the Old Covenant (Neh.10:28-29). The blessings and curses of tithing are identical to and inseparable from those of the entire Mosaic Law. The rain in Deuteronomy 28:12, 23-24 and Leviticus 26:1-4 is only obtained by obedience to all 600+ commandments. Galatians 3:10 (quoting Deu 27:26) “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Trying to earn God’s blessings through tithing only brought curses for failure to keep all of the law. See also Galatians 3:19.



D. PRIEST-THIEVES: Beginning in 1:6 “you” in  Malachi always refers to the dishonest priests and not the people (also 2:1-10; 2:13 to 3:1-5): “Even this whole nation of you --priests” (3:9). In 1:13-14 the priests had stolen tithed animals vowed to God. In Nehemiah 13:5-10 priests had stolen the Levites’ portion of the tithe. God’s curses on the priests are ignored by most tithe-teachers (1:14; 2:2 and 3:2-4).



E. LEVITICAL CITIES: . The Levitical cities must be included in a correct interpretation of Malachi 3:10 and they are not. Most tithe-recipients lived outside of Jerusalem.



F.  24 Courses: The 24 courses of Levites and priests must be included in a correct interpretation of Malachi 3 and they are not. Normally only 2% of the total Levite and priest work force served at the temple one week at a time. Subtract wives, males under the age of 30 and daughters. Therefore 2% did not require all of the tithe. See 1 Chron 23-26; 28:13, 21; 2 Chron. 8:14; 23:8; 31:2, 15-19; 35:4, 5, 10; Ezra 6:18; Neh. 11:19, 30; 12:24; 13:9, 10; Luke 1:5.



G. Nehemiah 10:37b-39 is the key to understanding Malachi 3:10, The people were commanded to bring their tithes, not to the temple, but to the nearby Levitical cities. Verse 38 says that the priests were with the Levites in the Levitical cities when they received the tithes.



H.  STOREHOUSE: According to Nehemiah 13:5, 9 the “storehouse” in the Temple was only several rooms. The real “storehouses” were in the Levitical cites per Nehemiah 10:37b. Only the Levites and priests normally brought tithes to the Temple (10:38). Two rooms in the Temple were far too small to contain the tithe from the entire nation and 98% of the Levites and priests lived too far away to eat from them.



Therefore, Malachi 3:10’s “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” only makes contextual sense if it is only commanding dishonest priests to replace the tithes they had removed from it or had failed to bring to it.



While the 3:10 of the Law in Malachi is so important to tithe-teachers they ignore the 3:10 of the Gospel in Galatians and 2nd Corinthians.  Perhaps those wanting to enforce the 3:10 Law of Malachi should also enforce the 3:10 Law of Numbers. They share the same context.


POINT #12: MATTHEW 23:23: The New Covenant Does Not Teach Tithing.

The false teaching is that Jesus taught tithing in Matthew 23:23 which, they say, is clearly in the New Testament.

I always ask them this.The lepers who were healed by Jesus came to Thank him and he asked them to go and show themselves to the priests and perform some rituals  according to the law of moses.Jesus never condemned that aspect of Moses' law(Just like he never condemned tithing) but does that  mean  we should practise that because he never condemned it?

The New Covenant did not begin at the birth of Jesus, but at his death (Gal. 3:19, 24, 25; 4:4, 5). Tithing is not taught to the church after the cross! When Jesus discussed tithing in Matthew 23:23, “you” referred to “you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites” who had made the Law a burden.  Jesus endorsed and supported Old Covenant law until the cross (note “matters of the law” in 23:23). In Matthew 23:2 and 3 (the context of 23:23) Jesus told his Jewish followers to obey the scribes and Pharisees "because they sit in Moses’ seat." Yet He did not (and could not) command Gentiles whom He healed to present themselves to the priests and obey the Law of Moses (compare Matt. 5:23-24 and 8:4). And churches do not collect tithes from garden herbs as Jesus commanded.

There is not a single New Testament Bible text which teaches tithing after the cross – period! Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35 are not examples of tithing to support church leaders. According to 2:46 the Jewish Christians continued to worship in the Temple. And according to 2:44 and 4:33, 34 church leaders shared what they received equally with all church members. (This is not done today).


Finally Acts 21:20-25 proves that Jewish Christians were still zealously observing all of the Mosaic Law 30 years later –and that must include tithing—otherwise they would not have been allowed inside the Temple to worship. Therefore, any tithes collected by the early Jewish Christians were given to the Temple system and not to support the church.



POINT #13: PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS: Old Covenant Priests Were Replaced by All-Believer-Priests.

The false teaching is that New Covenant elders and pastors are continuing where the Old Covenant priests left off and are due the tithe.

Compare Exodus 19:5-6 with First Peter 2: 9-10. Before the incident of the golden calves, God had intended for every Israelite to become a priest and tithing would have never been enacted. Priests did not tithe but received one tenth of the first tithe (Num. 18:26-28; Neh. 10:37, 38).


The function and purpose of Old Covenant priests were replaced, not by elders and pastors, but by the priesthood of every believer. Like other ordinances of the Law, tithing was only a temporary shadow until Christ (Eph. 2:14-16; Col. 2:13-17; Heb. 7:18; 10:1). In the New Covenant every believer is a priest to God (1 Pet. 2:9-10; Rev. 1:6; 5:10). And, as a priest, every believer offers sacrifices to God (Heb. 4:16; 10:19-22; 13:15, 16). Therefore, every ordinance which had previously applied to the old priesthood was blotted out at the cross. Since Jesus was not from the tribe of Levi, even He was disqualified. Thus the original temporary purpose of tithing no longer exists (Heb. 7:12-19; Gal. 3:19, 24-25; 2 Cor. 3:10-18)

The average person living in Lagos earns half of that and still has to pay for food, accomodation and all that,  and still manages to send money to folks back home.

@Maxxy
When did the average nigerian start earning half of 24000 dollars?
who do you want to impress?
the average Lagosian earns far below half of that sum.Have you converted that sum to naira first?
that equates to over 260,000 naira per month(half is 130,000).
point of correction.

I am of the opinion that before you make assertions, it must be thought through. The CEO of Public Liability Companies are not chosen by the shareholders, the CEO of companies are chosen by the board. The board is initially constituted by the founder.


Zenith bank is not in anyway similar to Dangote Group.

Industries differ based on service/product, market and regulations. Regulation is a key component of what makes an industry. If you are interested in investing in an industry, it is imperative you review the regulations which is an element of the barrier to entry. The new regulation does not hinder enterprise development in Nigeria, it actually tries to safe gurads it (albeit, not perfect)

Quote from: chuckvyl on Yesterday at 04:36:04 PM
Dangote group of companies is a public company listed on the stock exchange.It is no longer solely owned by Dangote any longer.But he reamins the majority shareholder.I think in Nigeria for a company to be quoted on the stock exchange it has to sell either 49% or 51% of the company's shares to the public through an IPO.
As for trading with public funds,tell me any major company that does not trade with public funds(bank loans).As long as you borrow from a bank,you are essentially doing the same.
@ chuckvyl


This is another of your comment worth taking a shot at;

I don't really know what you are saying about the amount of shares you must sell and I dont know where you got it from.

Taking a loan from a bank is far different from collecting money from the public; the latter guarantees nothing while the formal guarantees a collateral which can be liquidated to get back your funds. Putting your money in the bank is risky; if the bank goes under, your money is as good as gone;e NDIC can only guarantee you a sum of fifty thousand naira if you have any sum above it. What this means is that if your life savings of 20 million is in an insolvent bank, you are only guaranteed fifty thousand to be paid at their own pace.

Lastly, Nigeria is not England or any other country; our cultures and attitude to things are diffferent.

The banking industry is very sensitive; I believe Sanusi is doing is best to make it sane. Let's encourage him and not just read unnecessary meaning to things. He went as far as including himself in the new rule.

I guess I am out,

Well,my friend.So because Globacom renders a different service to Arik Air they must be dis-similar right?
I understand that depositors money are in danger but that is what a bank's capital base is meant to checkmate.The policy should have been to introduced to checkmate Banks taking excessive risk more than they can bear.That was the reason why most banks in the west collapsed and the few surviving ones had to be bailed.This is the policy we need not this primary school policy from Sanusi.The policy that should curtail the fraud prevalent in the banks today is what we need.Removing a CEO because he has stayed for ten years in laughable my dear.And it will stifle dynamism.

As for your commet that the CEO is chosen by the board.Thank you for reminding me the fundamentals of representative democracy.When senators/House of Rep members pass a bill.Would you not say that the people they were representing(Nigerian masses) who are the stake-holders have been represented?
You should have known that the board represents the shareholders.The shareholders can be likened to the masses while the board can be likened to the National Assembly .That's the way it works my friend.I think i understand your lectures better.

Zenith Bank is similar to Dangote Group in many ways.So in your mind if Dangote collapses the public will not be affected?Jobs will not be lost.The economy will not be stagnated.Don't get too emotional about depositors' money.There are many ways to skin a rat.His intents are plausible but he is going about it in the most ludicrous way.I do not accept that prescribing tenure limits for private bank CEOs is legal.It is not because these are not government parastatals nor institutes.It's just simple logic.When will you get that into your head.And if you think that shareholders cannot force a CEO out of office you must be joking.The instances are numerous.

Nice move from sanusi, Why on earth will someone Sits at the helms of affair of a corporate organisation for 10 years, its doesn't make sense.

Probably you started reading news just today.Being a CEO of a company has nothing to do with a political office.You don't do zoning system with CEO of a bank.Go and start your own company from scratch and build it into a global power and then come back and answer your question.The shareholders of Microsoft Corp asked the same question sometime ago.Microsoft once had Bill Gates as both Chairman and CEO.The shareholders had to force him to resign as CEO.He is now just the Chairman.Did you read that?
Shareholders forced him out as the CEO and not the regulators in USA.
And to your un-informed question 'Why on earth will someone Sits at the helms of affair of a corporate organisation for 10 years'
Have heard of a bank called Barclays.
The CEO of the bank(Bob Diamond) has been on that position since 1997.That's almost 13 years now.And the Bank of England are not planning to remove him just because he has stayed there for long.When will you Nigerians remove nepotism and replace it with some intelligence?

you have spoken well brother, however i must disagree with you on certain issues regarding industry regulations. Firstly, the analogy you used sorts of falls out place, Dangote group of companies is not in the same industry as the banks who trade primarily with public funds, however If the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) deem Dangote to have contravened their set rules and by so doing his continued stay as CEO would not be in the best interest of the public he can be asked to leave.
The banks are of course more indebted to the public than Dangote's enterprises so ts wont the focus be on them!

Dangote group of companies is a public company listed on the stock exchange.It is no longer solely owned by Dangote any longer.But he reamins the majority shareholder.I think in Nigeria for a company to be quoted on the stock exchange it has to sell either 49% or 51% of the company's shares to the public through an IPO.
As for trading with public funds,tell me any major company that does not trade with public funds(bank loans).As long as you borrow from a bank,you are essentially doing the same.

Well,it never stops to amaze me the way Nigerians think.I think our problem could be traced to poverty and  poor education.Nigerians attach sentiments to most political and financial issues.Don't get offended guys.But i shall explain.Some people here are comparing Bank CEOs to politicians in terms of 'sitting tight'.What a shame.
Well,banks are private companies guys.It is a privately owned company hence CEOs should be determined by shareholders' votes.As a matter of fact,i expect the banks to challenge this in court.This is dictatorial in nature.CBN should not dictate to the shareholders how long they intend to keep a CEO.As a private company,Zenith bank is similar to Dangote Group PLC.Most of those guys who are CEOs are the majority shareholders in the banks.Removing them with this new CBN regulation is similar to asking Dangote to quit as Chairman of Dangote Group.Because both of them are private companies and not government run companies.Reason this critically before you comment.This new CBN law is a shame.It means that  Jim Ovia cannot be appointed  as CEO of another bank(by shareholders' vote) just because he has served 10 years at Zenith.Ovia has lots of experience in the banking industry.In developed countries people like him are well sought after.A bank that needs his experience should be free to appoint anybody as their CEO.You must not have been a staff of a bank to be appointed as CEO guys.The current CEO of Citi Group was never a staff of Citi Group.This is a draconian law from CBN.There is nothing ethically wrong with a family  run bank.We need sound bank policies and regulation Sanusi.This will have no positive effect   on the banking industry.

@Poster
You need to prayerfully study your bible for you to know the truth about tithes.
As christians we struggle with some doctrines because we do not even understand Judaism in the first place.
Follow me in this exciting journey about tithe.

POINT #1::What is Tithe?
In God’s Word the Tithe was Always Only Food from Inside Israel!

The false teaching is that biblical tithes include ALL sources of income.

Use God’s Word to define “tithe” and not a secular dictionary! Using a complete Bible concordance you will discover that the definition used by tithe-advocates is wrong. In God’s Word “tithe” does not stand alone. Although money existed before tithing, the source of God's "tithe" over 1500 years was never money. It was the “tithe of food.” True biblical tithes were always only food from the farms and herds of only Israelites who only lived inside God’s Holy Land, the national boundary of Israel. No tithes were accepted from defiled pagan lands. The “increase” was gathered from what God miraculously produced and not from man's craft or ability.If you have access to a Rabbi who knows the law more than your pastor,ask him who was qualified to pay tithe.And he will tell you that crafts men,carpenters were not eligible to p0ay tithe.It was only produce of land and livestock that was accepted.I live in London and i have asked so many Rabbis and they said the same thing.

There are 16 verses from 11 chapters and 8 books from Leviticus 27 to Luke 11 which describe the contents of the tithe. And the contents never (I repeat), never included money, silver, gold or anything other than food from inside Israel! Yet the incorrect definition of "tithe" is the greatest error being preached about tithing today! (See Lev. 27:30, 32; Num. 18:27-28; Deut. 12:17; 14:22-23; 26:12; 2 Chron. 31:5-6; Neh. 10:37; 13:5; Mal. 3:10-11; Matt. 23:23; Luke 11: 42).


POINT #2: MONEY: Money Was an Essential but Non-Tithed Item

The false assumption is that food barter usually replaced money.

One argument to support non-food tithing is that money was not universally available and barter from food was used for most transactions. This argument is neither biblical nor historical. Genesis alone contains “money” in 32 texts and the word occurs 44 times before the tithe is first mentioned in Leviticus 27. Gold is first mentioned in Genesis 2:12. The words "jewelry," "gold," "silver" and shekel also appear often from Genesis to Deuteronomy.

Many centuries before Israel entered Canaan and began tithing food from God’s Holy Land money was an essential everyday item. For example Abraham was very rich in silver and gold (Gen 13:2); money in the form of silver shekels paid for slaves (Gen 17:12+); Abimelech gave Abraham 1000 pieces of silver (Gen 20:16); Abraham paid 400 pieces of silver for land (Gen 23:9-16); Joseph was sold for silver pieces (Gen 37:28); slaves bought freedom (Ex 23:11). Court fines (Ex 21 all; 22 all), sanctuary dues (Ex 30:12+), vows (Lev 27:3-7), poll taxes (Num 3:47+), alcoholic drinks (Deu 14:26) and marriage dowries (Deu 22:29) included money.

Joseph gave Benjamin 300 pieces of silver (Gen 45:22). According to Genesis 47:15-17 food was used for barter only after money had been spent. Banking and usury laws exist in Leviticus even before tithing. Therefore the argument that money was not prevalent enough for everyday use is false. Yet the tithe contents from Leviticus to Luke never include money from non-food products and trades.


POINT #3: GENESIS 14:20: Abraham’s Tithe to Melchizedek Reflected Free will giving and not a commandment
Abraham plundered his enemies(that captured sodom including Lot his brother) and returned with spoils of war.We do not know for sure what the spoils were but it included human captors,clothes,jewelries,gold etc.This spoils did not belong to him but it belonged to the King of Sodom.He gave from the spoils a tenth to thank God when he gave to Melchisedec.Now if he tithed from his possesions he wouldnt have returned the 90% to the rightful owner(King of Sodom).Abraham even said that 'he will not take anything from the King of Sodom lest he said that he made Abram rich'.Sometimes i wonder if pastors actually read this text well.What caused this reaction from Abram was because the King of Sodom told him to give back the people to him and keep everything to himself.This was the rightful owner trying to reward Abram for his help in rescuing his people back.But Abram refused to accept it.Now what baffles me is that we use this as an example of tithe.Funny.So if we were to pay tithe then we should tithe from what belongs to somebody else and not our possesion.This was a one time event and it was never recorded that Abram was commanded by God to tithe.

POINT #4: NO MINIMUM PRINCIPLE: Tithing Was Not a Minimum Requirement from All Old Covenant Israelites

The false teaching is that everybody was required to begin their giving level at ten per cent.

Only those Israelites who earned a livelihood from farming and herding inside Israel were required to tithe under the Mosaic Law. Their increase came from God’s hand. Those whose increase came from their own crafts and skills were not required to tithe products and money. The poor and needy who did not tithe and received from the tithe gave freewill offerings.


POINT #5: LEVITES(Servants to the priests): First-Tithes were Received by Servants to the Priests.

The false teaching is that Old Testament priests received all of the first tithe.


The "whole" tithe, the first tithe, did not go to the priests at all. It was not even the “best” tenth (Lev 27:33). According to Numbers 18:21-24 and Nehemiah 10:37b, it went to the servants of the priests, the Levites. And according to Numbers 18:25-28 and Nehemiah 10:38, the Levites gave the “best tenth of this tithe” (1%) which they received to the priests who ministered the sin sacrifices and served inside the holy places. Priests did not tithe.

It is also important to know that, in exchange for receiving these tithes, both Levites and priests forfeited all rights to permanent land inheritance inside Israel (Num. 18:20-26; Deut. 12:12; 14:27, 29; 18:1, 2; Josh. 13:14, 33; 14:3; 18:7; Eze. 44:28). Even if tithes were New Covenant they would first go to the ordinary workers who assist the preachers and maintain the buildings.


POINT #6: HOLY AND MOST HOLY: "It is Holy to the LORD" Does Not Make Tithing an Eternal Moral Principle.

The false teaching is that Leviticus 27:30-34 proves that the tithe is an "eternal moral principle" because "it is holy to the LORD."

The phrases “it is HOLY unto the LORD” and “it is MOST HOLY unto the LORD” are very common in Leviticus. However, almost every other use of these same two phrases in Leviticus has long ago been discarded by Christians. These phrases are used to describe all of the festivals, the sacrificial offerings, the clean food, the old covenant priests and the old covenant sanctuary. Especially read verses 28 and 29 in the same chapter.

While the “tithe of the tithe” (1%) which was given to the priests was the “best” of what the Levites received, the tithe which the Levites received was only “one tenth” and not the “best” (Lev. 27:33).


POINT #7: FIRST-FRUITS: First-fruits are Not the Same as Tithes



The false assumption is that tithes are first-fruits.

The first-fruit was a very small amount of the first crop harvest and the first-born was the first offspring of animals. First-fruits could only come from inside Israel.

The first-fruit was small enough to fit into a hand-held basket (Deut. 26:1-10; Lev. 23:17; Num. 18:13-17; Neh. 12:44; 2 Chron 31:5a).

First-fruits and first-born offerings went directly to the Temple and were required to be totally consumed by ministering priests only inside the Temple (Neh. 10:35-37a; Ex. 23:19; 34:26; Deut. 18:4).

The whole Levitical tithe went first to the Levitical cities and portions went to the Temple to feed both Levites and priests who were ministering there in rotation (Neh. 10:37b-39; 12:27-29, 44-47; Num. 18:21-28; 2 Chron 31:5b). While the Levites ate only the tithe, the priests could also eat from the first-fruits, first-born offerings and other offerings.

POINT #8: FOUR TITHES: There are Four Different Tithes Described in the Bible.

The false teaching ignores all other tithes and focuses on an incorrect interpretation of the first religious tithe.

The first religious tithe, called the "Levitical tithe," had two parts. Again, the whole first tithe was given to the Levites who were only servants to the priests (Numb. 18:21-24; Neh. 10:37b). The Levites, in turn, gave one tenth of the whole tithe to the priests (Numb. 18:25-28; Neh. 10:38). According to Deuteronomy 12 and 14, the second religious tithe, called the "feast tithe," was eaten by worshipers in the streets of Jerusalem during the three yearly festivals (Deut. 12:1-19; 14:22-26). And, according to Deuteronomy 14 and 26, a third tithe, called the "poor tithe," was kept in the towns every third year to feed the poor (Deut. 14:28, 29; 26:12, 13). Also, according to First Samuel 8:14-17, the ruler collected the first and best ten per cent for political use. During Jesus’ time Rome collected the first ten per cent (10%) of most food and twenty per cent (20%) of fruit crops as its spoils of war. It is dishonest to single out the one religious tithe and ignore the other two important religious tithes.


POINT #9: Jesus, Peter, Paul and the Poor Did Not Tithe

The false teaching is that everybody in the Old Testament was required to begin their giving to God at the ten per cent level.

The poor were not required to tithe at all! Neither did the tithe come from the results of man’s crafts, hands and skills. Only farmers and herdsmen gathered what God produced as tithe increase. Jesus was a carpenter; Paul was a tentmaker and Peter was a fisherman. None of these occupations qualified as tithe-payers because they did not farm or herd animals for a living. It is, therefore, incorrect to teach that everybody paid a required minimum of a tithe and, therefore, that New Covenant Christians should be required to at least begin at the same minimum as Old Covenant Israelites. This common false assumption is very often repeated and completely ignores the very plain definition of tithe as food gathered from farm increase or herd increase.

The widow’s mite is an example of free-will giving and is not an example of tithing. According to Edersheim none of the Temple’s chests were for tithes. The poor received money from those chests before leaving the temple.

It is also wrong to teach that the poor in Israel were required to pay tithes. In fact, they actually received tithes! Much of the second festival tithe and all of a special third-year tithe went to the poor! Many laws exempted the poor from abuse and expensive sacrifices which they could not afford (Lev. 14:21; 25:6, 25-28, 35, 36; 27:8; Deu. 12:1-19; 14:23, 28, 29; 15:7, 8, 11; 24:12, 14, 15, 19, 20; 26:11-13; Mal. 3:5; Matt. 12:1, 2; Mark 2:23, 24; Luke 2:22-24; 6:1, 2; 2 Cor. 8:12-14; 1 Tim. 5:8; Jas. 1:27).

POINT #10: TAXES: Tithes were Often Used as Political Taxes.

The false teaching is that tithes are never comparable to taxes or taxation.

In the Hebrew economy, the tithe was used in a totally different manner than it is preached today. Once again, those Levites who received the whole tithe were not even ministers or priests -- they were only servants to the priests! Numbers chapter 3 describes the Levites as carpenters, metal workers, leather-craftsmen and artists who maintained the small sanctuary. And, according to First Chronicles, chapters 23-26, during the time of King David and King Solomon the Levites were still skilled craftsmen who inspected and approved all work in the Temple: 24, 000 worked in the Temple as builders and supervisors; 6,000 were officials and judges; 4,000 were guards and 4,000 were musicians. As political representatives of the king, Levites used their tithe income to serve as officials, judges, tax collectors, treasurers, temple guards, musicians, bakers, singers and professional soldiers (1 Chron. 12:23, 26; 23:2-5; 26:29-32; 27:5). It is obvious why these examples of using biblical tithe-income are never used as examples in the church today.


Tithes never stimulated Old Covenant Levites or priests to establish a single mission outreach or encourage a single Gentile to become an Israelite (Ex. 23:32; 34:12, 15; Deut. 7:2). Old Covenant tithing was motivated and mandated by Law, not love. In fact, during most of Israel’s history the prophets were God’s primary spokesmen – and not the tithe-receiving Levites and priests. Tithing failed! See Hebrews 7:12-19.


POINT #11: MALACHI: Malachi 3 is the Most Abused Tithing Text in the Bible. The “whole” tithe never was supposed to go to the Temple!

The false teaching about tithes from Malachi 3 ignores important Bible facts.

A. CONTEXT: Malachi is Old Covenant and is never quoted in the New Covenant to validate tithing (Lev. 27:34; Neh. 10:28-29; Mal. 3:7; 4:4).


B. CONTEXT: In Malachi 3:10-11 tithes are still only food 1000 years after Leviticus 27.

C. LAW: Malachi’s audience had willingly reaffirmed the Old Covenant (Neh.10:28-29). The blessings and curses of tithing are identical to and inseparable from those of the entire Mosaic Law. The rain in Deuteronomy 28:12, 23-24 and Leviticus 26:1-4 is only obtained by obedience to all 600+ commandments. Galatians 3:10 (quoting Deu 27:26) “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Trying to earn God’s blessings through tithing only brought curses for failure to keep all of the law. See also Galatians 3:19.



D. PRIEST-THIEVES: Beginning in 1:6 “you” in Malachi always refers to the dishonest priests and not the people (also 2:1-10; 2:13 to 3:1-5): “Even this whole nation of you --priests” (3:9). In 1:13-14 the priests had stolen tithed animals vowed to God. In Nehemiah 13:5-10 priests had stolen the Levites’ portion of the tithe. God’s curses on the priests are ignored by most tithe-teachers (1:14; 2:2 and 3:2-4).



E. LEVITICAL CITIES: . The Levitical cities must be included in a correct interpretation of Malachi 3:10 and they are not. Most tithe-recipients lived outside of Jerusalem.



F. 24 Courses: The 24 courses of Levites and priests must be included in a correct interpretation of Malachi 3 and they are not. Normally only 2% of the total Levite and priest work force served at the temple one week at a time. Subtract wives, males under the age of 30 and daughters. Therefore 2% did not require all of the tithe. See 1 Chron 23-26; 28:13, 21; 2 Chron. 8:14; 23:8; 31:2, 15-19; 35:4, 5, 10; Ezra 6:18; Neh. 11:19, 30; 12:24; 13:9, 10; Luke 1:5.



G. Nehemiah 10:37b-39 is the key to understanding Malachi 3:10, The people were commanded to bring their tithes, not to the temple, but to the nearby Levitical cities. Verse 38 says that the priests were with the Levites in the Levitical cities when they received the tithes.



H. STOREHOUSE: According to Nehemiah 13:5, 9 the “storehouse” in the Temple was only several rooms. The real “storehouses” were in the Levitical cites per Nehemiah 10:37b. Only the Levites and priests normally brought tithes to the Temple (10:38). Two rooms in the Temple were far too small to contain the tithe from the entire nation and 98% of the Levites and priests lived too far away to eat from them.



Therefore, Malachi 3:10’s “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” only makes contextual sense if it is only commanding dishonest priests to replace the tithes they had removed from it or had failed to bring to it.



While the 3:10 of the Law in Malachi is so important to tithe-teachers they ignore the 3:10 of the Gospel in Galatians and 2nd Corinthians. Perhaps those wanting to enforce the 3:10 Law of Malachi should also enforce the 3:10 Law of Numbers. They share the same context.


POINT #12: MATTHEW 23:23: The New Covenant Does Not Teach Tithing.

The false teaching is that Jesus taught tithing in Matthew 23:23 which, they say, is clearly in the New Testament.

I always ask them this.The lepers who were healed by Jesus came to Thank him and he asked them to go and show themselves to the priests and perform some rituals according to the law of moses.Jesus never condemned that aspect of Moses' law(Just like he never condemned tithing) but does that mean we should practise that because he never condemned it?

The New Covenant did not begin at the birth of Jesus, but at his death (Gal. 3:19, 24, 25; 4:4, 5). Tithing is not taught to the church after the cross! When Jesus discussed tithing in Matthew 23:23, “you” referred to “you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites” who had made the Law a burden. Jesus endorsed and supported Old Covenant law until the cross (note “matters of the law” in 23:23). In Matthew 23:2 and 3 (the context of 23:23) Jesus told his Jewish followers to obey the scribes and Pharisees "because they sit in Moses’ seat." Yet He did not (and could not) command Gentiles whom He healed to present themselves to the priests and obey the Law of Moses (compare Matt. 5:23-24 and 8:4). And churches do not collect tithes from garden herbs as Jesus commanded.

There is not a single New Testament Bible text which teaches tithing after the cross – period! Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35 are not examples of tithing to support church leaders. According to 2:46 the Jewish Christians continued to worship in the Temple. And according to 2:44 and 4:33, 34 church leaders shared what they received equally with all church members. (This is not done today).


Finally Acts 21:20-25 proves that Jewish Christians were still zealously observing all of the Mosaic Law 30 years later –and that must include tithing—otherwise they would not have been allowed inside the Temple to worship. Therefore, any tithes collected by the early Jewish Christians were given to the Temple system and not to support the church.



POINT #13: PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS: Old Covenant Priests Were Replaced by All-Believer-Priests.

The false teaching is that New Covenant elders and pastors are continuing where the Old Covenant priests left off and are due the tithe.

Compare Exodus 19:5-6 with First Peter 2: 9-10. Before the incident of the golden calves, God had intended for every Israelite to become a priest and tithing would have never been enacted. Priests did not tithe but received one tenth of the first tithe (Num. 18:26-28; Neh. 10:37, 38).


The function and purpose of Old Covenant priests were replaced, not by elders and pastors, but by the priesthood of every believer. Like other ordinances of the Law, tithing was only a temporary shadow until Christ (Eph. 2:14-16; Col. 2:13-17; Heb. 7:18; 10:1). In the New Covenant every believer is a priest to God (1 Pet. 2:9-10; Rev. 1:6; 5:10). And, as a priest, every believer offers sacrifices to God (Heb. 4:16; 10:19-22; 13:15, 16). Therefore, every ordinance which had previously applied to the old priesthood was blotted out at the cross. Since Jesus was not from the tribe of Levi, even He was disqualified. Thus the original temporary purpose of tithing no longer exists (Heb. 7:12-19; Gal. 3:19, 24-25; 2 Cor. 3:10-18)

@Poster
it depends on where you want to look for job and what you want to do.
I live in the UK and am an IT professional.I studied Computer science while in school.I can tell you that Mathematics/Statistics beats all these other courses other posters have mentioned in terms of financial rewards.With Mathematics you could go into Acturial sciences or investment banking or even become CFA(Chatered Financial analyst).These careers are way more rewarding than whatever you want to be doing in oil companies.I understand that in Nigeria,the gold mine is Oil company or telecoms.If you can afford to think big and you really want to make crazy money with ur skills.I advise you to study mathematics.Even with physics you can study and sit for CFA or acturial qualifications.The money they make is crazy.I can assure you.But if you want to think like the average Nigerian ,then study and hope you get a job in an oil company or telecom.

Hi Guys,
I suggest that everybody reads this rich article and stop and ponder a bit.
http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/global_warming.html

You call global warming a sham? Shocked
You should be ashamed of yourself for posting the above. . . . .

Mr Crackle.
have you ever bothered to know what the scientific body thinks about global warming and man's activity?
Go and research more about global; warming before you can make any statement here.

i have this link for you.The Global warming lie that asserts that man is destroying the earth thereby causing warming is a political project.Yes we are depleting the natural resources and of course we have to.Because we need them to survive.But Al Gore wears the face of a liar.He knows little or nothing about climate science.The western governments preaching this new creed have refused to listen to the body of evidence coming from the scientific community that we are not guilty of warming the earth and i guess you are one of there converts too.
read for yourself
http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/global_warming.html

omg i cant believe this topic is here,
argued through the weekend over it
im currently on a project involving it.

@topic IT IS REAL
even though the earth is self-renewing, we are damaging it
at a speed that is frightening, and it wont renew fast enough
i cant imagine how this world would be 40yrs in the future *shivers*
if we keep behaving the way we do now.

You don't form opinions based on what the Media and Al Gore and co tells you.
Global warming is real for sure.But there is no catastrophe about to happen.
The proponents of global warming as been caused by human activity rank in the same level as those who sold a lie to the world that Saddam Hussein had Weapons of mass destruction.Now we know they lied.
Maybe you do not know the depths of international politics and intrigue primarily driven by the Illuminati.
Go and study and forget all those things you are saying.Are you a climate scientist?
Do you realise that most authorities in Climate and earth scienc disagree with the notion that man is the primary cause of global warming?
infact the article below reveals that there has not been any recorded increase in the temperature of the earth since the turn of the century inspite of the so called sins of China and the rest of the industriliased world.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-557374/The-REAL-inconvenient-truth-Zealotry-global-warming-damage-Earth-far-climate-change.html

@Chuckvyl
Quote
Those banks never filed for bankruptcy and everything happening today have been orchestrated by the North.Believe it or not.Just use your mind.

You are right everything happening today even including the fact that Atiku a notherner is involved. Sorry I will use my brains no matter how insignificant they are not my mind.

Quote
It is because people like you are in that country that those people in power can do whatever they do and get away with it.Can you use your brain for just one minute?Just one minute use that brain in your head and ask questions about finance and get answers.Those banks never filed for bankruptcy


Are you serious? some of these banks were massaging their books and some Newspapers were just awarding this or that Award. Please if I am sinking and you saw me would you wait still I write a on a paper signed that I was sinking?

Yes I am using my brain sir but you are smarter than me sir.

As for the money I put there even if it is one naira I deserve to have it back. Imaigine if one million account holders loose just 500,000.

Sorry dear.
What brings Atiku into this matter.Has he done any wrong in borrowing money.In your narrow thinking all people that borrow billions must be looters.Right?
Did Atiku take his loan without collateral?Have you and your CBN governor proven that?
So what crime has Atiku commited in regards to the banks mentioned.It is not a criminal offence if your loan is performing.Get that into your head please.There are laid down rules to follow when a loan goes bad.It does not call for calling them criminals.You think they have commited a crime because you know little about finance i guess.

If you say that they cook there books.How have you proved that?
The CBN has refused to make public the report from the probe and you are there shouting that they have done wrong.
Get some sense into your head.Understand that there are courts and regulations to follow.Let CBN come clean and take them to court and prove that the books were cooked as you claim.Until they do that there is nothing different from this act to maybe Abacha forcefully taking these banks away from there owners.Rethink you make me laugh.Use your head.So you think that Nigeria does not play tribal politics?
Go and learn.I guess you are from Benin and Ghana.

@ chuckvyl :

You are muddling the issue and trvializing the seriousness of the crime committed by the CEO and the billionare loan defaulters.  You are the one that needs to use your brain for a second.  Is it the North that cause these CEOs to give loan without collateral or just give loans outrightly to themselves with a clear intention of not paying the money back?.  What does a tribe have to do with this.  They fail to follow their own policy and business practices and yet you are tribalizing and trivializing the import of thier crim.  It is the thought process of people like you that got the banking and Nigeria in a situation that they are today.  Bankers now are the worst looters of mony - bank depositors money.

For the avoidance of doubt or confusion, if the CEOs of the Banks that were bailed out in the USA gave out loans without a collateral or loans to themselves, they will end up in Jail - upward of 20-years.  Please do not be ignorant for ignorance is a disease for which there is no cure other than knowledge, hence intentionally seek knowledge to cure yourself.

@Timmy
You make me laugh.Listen.Do you know that there is something called court of law?I hope you know.I am not saying that giving out loans without collateral is acceptable.But the CBN has to prove it in the court of law.That is the way it is done.The courts have to find them guilty and culpable first before you start saying what you do not know.Why rush to take the bank from the shareholders when the case is still been challenged in the courts.That is called theft.It doesn't make any sense.
If you do not believe in the politics of tribe as it is obtained in Nigeria then i guess you must be 13 or 14 years old.Tribalism drives Nigeria's politics and you better accept that.
So bankers are looters but the likes of Ibori and Lucky igbinideion are not right?
Why is it taking donkey years to convict Ibori and all the known PDP looters in politics?
But in a matter of days those banks CEOs were arrested and charged to court and there investments taking away from them and you people are busy shouting 'thief,thief' when you know nothing about Nigerian politics.
Keep dreaming my brother.
But you did not make any comment about shareholders losing there money.The CBN governoor has no power to take banks from there owners.There are laid down procedures to folllow.The government is just stealing what belongs to you and me and are about to give it out to whom they wish and you fail to read in between the lines.
Maybe in all ur knowledge you do not know the laws of bankruptcy.How can the same man that said 2 months ago that the loans were Tier 2 capital and that the banks are not being essentially nationalised turn back to say the opposite and you guys are keeping quiet?How can you be so daft my brother?

it is either We are foolish followers or some people think we dont have sense. You can tribalize for all I care I will be happy with a man that defends me wether he speaks my language or not.

I know how much money I have in shares in banks in Nigeria I might have lost it but I dont give a damn if a man from Afghanistan catches a man stealing me I dont care If that guy was my mothers son.

If Sanusi is doing is job and people have failed in their cooperate governance and even committed crime they should be dealt with Period. I dont care if it is a Turban wearing and Knife wearing muslim from the Caliphate that solve the problem.

Which Script?

These Elite with their machinery of the media. People are going to die because of the crimes committed allegedly by these people in big suits. Some kids will die before their time. The CEO have destroyed Generations. The bank is like a country if this was yaradua or our president you will see our Elite shooting all kinds of news.

You know there was a time I sat with some one and he was telling me that he will never become minister that he was ok with the contracts he got from the government of his country. He told me that when a contract is executed the minister is held responsible.

We have a governance problem and why because some at post tend to look at their pockets first.

@Rethink
I'm very surprised to hear that from you.What do you know about corporate governance and finance?Citigroup,AIG,RBS that nearly went bankrupt and were bailed out by their separate governments never made such comments about the CEOs of the companies.And the shareholders were never pushed out.Shareholders lose the stake once a company goes bankrupt,That is the way it is done.The banks in Nigeria concerned are not bankrupt.Forget whatever CBN is telling you.It is the banks that determine how much help they need.It is because people like you are in that country that those people in power can do whatever they do and get away with it.Can you use your brain for just one minute?Just one minute use that brain in your head and ask questions about finance and get answers.Those banks never filed for bankruptcy and everything happening today have been orchestrated by the North.Believe it or not.Just use your mind.The North has used you people for years in that country.Maybe u invested 10,000 naira in stocks thats why you don't give a damn.Rethink please rethink.Until the courts determine that they have commited crime they are innocent before the law.I understand that decades of millitary rule has eroded every ounce of democratic sense we have.

Oga, Oga Chuckvyl, don't stereotype the North, they have contributed to the deterioration of the national economy like other geographical zones have. Cyril Chukwumah , G.O. Folayan, Mrs. Sola Ayodele dont sound like northern names.
As for the death penalty, he was only expressing the gravity of their offense, he is not the judge. It is the publics money involved, do u know how many citizens would suffer a set back (strokes, closed businesses etc.).
It will be nice if fraudsters lose all their money and go for 20years behind bars, and those on National assignment should go for life.

@Tobiecxs
This people you mentioned have not been convicted of any crime.Why not leave it to the courts to their jobs?A CBN governor should not be making utterances like a motor park tout.He is so unguarded in his speeches.It's a shame.The reason why this happens is because Nigeria is a lawless land.He should be educated enough to know that even if they were convicted of those crimes,that the constitution only prescribes death penalty if you took or planned to take the live of another person.The people concerned have a right to sue the governor to court for planning to assassinate them.How safe can you be when someone is wishing you death?

I am not racist.But Nigeria's problem has always been the North.Imagine a CBN governor prescribing death penalty for the CEOs.Nigerians are too daft in their thinking.All the people that were singing the praise of the governor.The whole picture was designed to take the banks from Southerners and hand them over to the North via private placements.
Nigeria is due for a revolution.That's what i am calling for.

@z-murda
I am surprised that you don't know what collateral means in various countries.
I live in Uk and just like you said have collected loans without a physical asset put down as collateral.UK runs a credit system that has sound credit history and credit rating for a every potential bank customer.Your credit history and liabilities(debts) are calculated to find out whether you will be able to pay.That is the security being used in USA,Canada and Uk.Nigeria does not have a credit risk bureau yet that maintains credit records,histories and ratings of people.So in other to lend money the banks would need an asset approved by the bank or if you are a salary earner,the bank demands to become your salary account.That is the collateral used in Nigeria dude.
Don't come here and talk rubbish that you do not know and understand please.

@ poster,
The CBN has the ultimate power to print money without recourse to the national assembly.
The guy who was saying that it took the congress of America weeks to approve  the 700 billion dollar injection into the economy;
Does America and Nigeria have the same constitution?
Anyway what the US congress approved was Obama's economic policy to borrow money from the Fed Reserve and then use it to re-engineer the economy.what they approved was the content of the economic policy which has nothing to do with Fed Reserve's ability to print money.The money will be put into creation of jobs,creating bigger rail networks,buying up toxic assets of banks,health reforms and lots of things.What the congress approved was the whole economic plan contained in Obama's proposal of re-invigorating the economy by injecting funds.The Fed Reserve never got approval to print money from the congress.The way it works is,as soon as the policy was approved by the government,the government now turned to the ultimate lender(Fed Reserve) which serves as America's central bank to print money bc America has no reserve being in debt of over 1 trillion dollars already.(mind you  they have the advantage of borrowing in their own currency)
It smacks of ignorance and financial illiteracy when somebody in this forum said that it costs 400 billion to print 400 billion.Infact the total amount of printed cash in circulation is always far lower than the total amount of liquidity in the system at any point in time.
No paper money is printed dude.The central bank will just credit the accounts of those banks with the value injected bc every commercial bank in the land maintains an account with the central bank just like every customer of a bank has an account with a bank.for example,if you apply for loan or overdraft and your bank approves it,do they really give you cash?Your account will be credited with the value of the loan electonically.
The central bank controls liquidity in the country by either recalling money by selling bills(paper debts or gilts) or by printing money(lending to banks)
infact the central bank does that whenever necessary and they don't need the approval of the senate to do that.
The problem with Nigeria is that we have illiterates running the government even though they have degrees.