IN DEBT TO TITHING

Tithing Remarks

2011-04-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

Since tithing was given as a law to Israel it certainly predated "the church." It was never given as a way to sustain "the church." There is no template for tithing in the early church. Nothing suggests that such a formula persisted into the Christian community. Instead, there was a much more inclusive and personal mechanism developed whereby members of the church had an accoutability to each other. They no longer saw their belongings as their own but pooled their resources so that all were cared for equitably.

It was much like the difference in the Sabbath given to Israel and the Sabbatismos (Heb 4) given to The Church. For Israel it was one in seven. In The Church it was "today" - seven out of seven. Every day was now a day of rest from our works toward salvation.

With respect to tithing Israel was required to tithe one in ten. In Christianity - why just one in ten? We are redeemed. We are sons and daughters in the kingdom. We no longer owe a tax - we own the business along with our older brother, Jesus. It's not one in ten as if we owed a tax. It's everything we have, everything we own, all that we are. We are joint heirs of the kingdom. We jointly own the kingdom with Christ. Everything we own is His already and everything He owns He has already given to us in the Son.

We need a renewing of the mind. We need to come up higher and give up the slave mentality of taxpayers. Jesus opened a way into the Holy of Holies by which we may come into the immediate presence of the Father and join in His councils. Until we see that one in seven and one in ten respresents the mindset of a slave we have not yet grasped the height, depth and beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

From Hazel Holland:

Amen! A number of years ago I chose "releasingcaptives" as my email address because I believe God wants to release His captive children from the mindset of slavery.

As long as we continue to keep one day in seven and give one tenth of our income to God, we still have the mindset of a slave child.

We still haven't fully understood that as God's sons and daughters we may daily enter into the "rest" that He has already provided! The only thing left for us to do is to enjoy sweet fellowship with Him through the Spirit. Then from this position of "resting" in His grace, He will show us the "work" that He has prepared in advance for us to do. But this "work" is not like what we are used to performing under the Old Covenant...

Since we have been bought with a price, everything that we own and have are already His. And we have everything when we have Christ!

Could it be that God's Spirit is confronting us with the truth that since Jesus already fulfilled the Old Covenant law, including the law of "tithing", we may now freely give of ourselves to others as we are led by the Spirit to give?

...I believe the story of the widow's mite is an example of how God desires that we give everything to Him in the new covenant reality.

From Ramone Romero:

Yes, the widow's mite is a picture of God's economy -- He doesn't want an amount of money or even money at all: He wants our hearts! God can take one penny given in faith & love and do more with that than a billion dollars given without them. God's economy is in faith & heart. These are the "currency" of the Kingdom, and are the means by which He wants us to live and spread the word of His good news.

"Posting Bail"

2011-04-11T00:25:00.000-07:00

By Ramone Romero - March 8th, 2011

Many pastors use Malachi 3:8-10 to say that we are "robbing God" if we are not tithing & giving offerings to the church. This immediately places us under guilt and accusation (and under the law) because we are told that we have not paid God, but we *should have* been paying Him all along, so in fact we have been *robbing* Him.

Our giving then is not only obligatory, but more than that it is giving to basically pay a debt that we are supposed to have been *neglecting* up to now. For the Christian, tithing is then indirectly presented as a way we are supposed to pay God back for what He has done for us.

And further, particularly in charismatic churches, if we have problems or sicknesses or financial difficulties (etc.), then it is because we have not been paying tithe. We are in prison, so to speak, and have not been paying God the money to stay out of prison.

This picture illustrates how using Malachi 3:8-10 today to teach Christian tithing is no different that traditional pagan religions. Tithe had a purpose under the Old Covenant law--to shadow and point to the coming Messiah, and also to teach the people the strictness of the law (i.e., to reveal sin). These purposes have been fulfilled in Christ. So to teach now--even indirectly--in the age of the New Covenant that God needs to be paid off with "tithe" so we can stay out of "being cursed" (in jail) proclaims that God is pagan and demands to be approached as such.

"Not Included!"

2011-04-11T00:21:00.001-07:00

Read the writing on the batteries

By Ramone Romero - February 10, 2010

Recently as I was taking a bath, God began speaking to me about the "power source" of most churches not being included in the New Covenant. We know that the gospel speaks of the freedom of the Spirit and about giving love freely. However we wonder how in the world this good news will be "financed", and have felt like it was a sort of "batteries not included" situation. The way that the church did it in the book of Acts doesn't seem secure enough or safe enough for us. So we've reached back to the Old Covenant to find the "tithe" batteries so that we can power our churches and keep them running.

For a Spirit-led study on the subject of "tithing" in Christianity, please read my spiritual mum's booklet at this blog: Transformed By Truth

When I showed this picture to Hazel, she had this to say:

While looking at your picture right now I'm getting that many church leaders see the tithe as their life insurance policy that everyone in the church must get plugged into, just in case depending on the promises of God in the new covenant gospel doesn't pan out materially speaking... Without the "tithe power" church leaders are afraid that they will cease to function as a church. They're afraid they will have to close the doors, and that their material livelihoods, and their lavish lifestyles will be at stake...

The "sheep" are the "tithe power" that pay for the shepherds lavish lifestyles, and keep the church life going. Those "batteries" are constantly needing to be replaced and recharged... so low in some churches that they can no longer function as they did before and are having to close down shop and lay-off workers.

Since many church leaders can no longer hear God's voice in these matters, they use their own voice (as the voice of God) to spiritually abuse the sheep that are under their care, fleecing them, even sacrificing some for their own selfish means. Many have not been a shepherd to the sheep under their care, but have behaved more like a ravenous wolf, devouring the weak sheep so that they can no longer walk, but have to be carried.

The sheep are being made weak by not being taught how to discern God's heart for themselves through the power of the Spirit, but are always having to depend upon someone else (a leader or anointed person) telling them what to do, and what to think, and how much to give. Pretty much like our government's welfare system. It's a "Big Brother will take care of you if you do what I say" kind of thing, instead of teaching people to rely on God's Word for themselves, and letting them know that they can each hear God's voice for themselves and don't need to come to another "anointed" leader to be told what to do in these matters.

In fact, it's God’s heart that many churches do close their doors because they are a great hindrance to the work of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. They are not plugged into God's power source, the Holy Spirit of Truth, but are relying on themselves for power. Man's power supply quickly runs low, but God's doesn't. Moreover, since the church building isn't the church, but believers in the body of Christ are, God is preparing the hearts of more and more believers to start more and more house churches. I believe that these little "islands of power" will replace more and more of the organized churches that have become dead wood, because they have fallen away from the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

I believe that even the bad economy is working to God's advantage to achieve His ultimate purposes in releasing His children from spiritual bondage to man-made doctrines and traditions in many churches. Although much has been hidden up until now, God is bringing everything out into the light... everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Only our sure foundation, Jesus Christ, will remain. As long as we are found in Him, and plugged into Him through His Spirit, we will remain also.

I was surprised to read Hazel's reply because the "dead wood" thing she said explains why I was impressed to make the church building wooden!

The "storm" with lightning striking is God's discipline coming to "knock out" the ungodly power source. His storm is not meant to hit us, but rather our dependence on flesh and the old covenant.

But, the more we try to 'protect' this power source, the more we ourselves risk getting struck by lightning! He wants to knock out the false power source, not us, and replace it with Him Himself -- the Holy Spirit of freedom and life! He's calling us to willingly repent and so detach ourselves from flesh, old covenant and feeding off the lives of our spiritual children, otherwise He will have to "strike us" (or flatten us) in order to fix things.

I need to pray:

Lord, You know all things and You know our hearts. Often we know we're stretching things when we try to find "tithe" in the New Covenant. But then we go further in to convince ourselves, and we want the congregation to be convinced, too. God, so often we've quieted that little voice in our heads that said, "Hey, this doesn't quite fit the context"... and that little voice was You, Lord.

Forgive us, Father, in Jesus' name. Forgive us for trying to extract support from the sheep when You meant them to give willingly. Forgive us also because when we have reached back to the Law for the support of its tithe command, we cut out "the poor" that You meant to benefit from tithing in ancient Israel, and we said tithe was meant to support our church institution instead of being given to the needy (ancient Israel was commanded to give a significant portion of it directly to the needy).

Forgive us, Father, because when we preach to people about "giving", it only rarely if ever means "giving to the needy". The whole topic of "giving" in church is reserved almost exclusively for giving "to the church"--to the building, pastors, leaders and ministry projects.

Lord, please enable Your children to see the truth and to take the daring leap of faith to allow Your people to provide for leaders and ministries freely without being under compulsion. Teach us the greater blessings in store for us when we live by the Spirit alone instead of by the letter of the Old Covenant Law. Please open our eyes and convict us, Holy Spirit, and please do so before it becomes time for You to discipline us, in Jesus' name, amen.

"Already Paid"

2011-04-11T00:19:00.000-07:00

By Ramone Romero - February 11, 2010

All of our debts have been paid by Christ's blood at the cross. No more offerings or tithes must be made to secure His presence, His blessings, or removal of curses from us. When Jesus said, "It is finished", the "it" included tithing. Our debt is paid in full and we are no longer "robbing God". Our flesh need not be given because His flesh has fulfilled the requirements of the Law once and for all! Our only ongoing debt is to love one another as He has loved us. And now with His arm securely around us, He longs for us to walk with Him, secure in His love and favor. His Spirit (who lives in us because our bodies are His temple) will show us who needs His love today, and in what way.

"Forgotten"

2011-04-11T00:17:00.001-07:00

By Ramone Romero - June 26, 2009

Not long ago I was watching TV and came upon a show (some kind of drama) in which a group of homeless men were having a party together, singing songs in what would otherwise be depressing circumstances. The drama seemed to be about a man doing a video documentary, who had bought drinks and food for the homeless men so that they could have the party. As I watched, I was suddenly moved deep in my heart and spirit by the sight of the homeless men enjoying the meal and singing songs.

I began to see a picture of a man sleeping on the street, forgotten. As I looked at it, wondered and focused on the picture more in my spirit (and as I began to draw it), I knew that it was Jesus.

"I was hungry... I was thirsty... I was a stranger...
I needed clothes... I was sick... I was in prison..."
Have we forgotten You, Lord? Have we rejoiced in Your salvation, Your anointing, in prosperity, in song and feast, in health and wholeness, and left You outside?

Worksheet VII - Some Final Questions For Further Reflection

2011-04-11T00:13:00.000-07:00

Can the gospel be financed just by grace, heart and Spirit alone—without the Law?

Could we simply be afraid that we might lose some of our churches and ministries if we told people the truth about tithing not being required under the New Covenant?

Is it possible that clinging to the Old Covenant law of tithing might actually be veiling our eyes to greater, more abundant blessings in the Spirit when Christians become released from the letter of the Law?

Would it be unlike God to someday discipline churches the hard way?
...so that we all could give freely from the heart alone instead of from under compulsion?
...so that we all could know our blessing is secure in Christ’s all-sufficient sacrifice alone?
...so that the poor of the earth could “reap” from free and loving Christian hearts?

Just as God challenged the people of Israel to “Test Me in this” when they were not obeying the commands of His Mosaic covenant with them, is it possible that today God is calling to us, challenging us to “Test Me in this”—to test Him in letting people be free to give without compulsion, from grace and Spirit alone without the letter of the Law? Is it possible that God is challenging us to let the tithes and offerings of the Old Covenant be fulfilled completely in Jesus Christ, and to simply spend ourselves on behalf of the poor and needy instead?

Worksheet VI - Did Abraham & Jacob Tithe?

2011-04-11T00:06:00.000-07:00

50. Does Scripture say if Abraham ever gave 10% to Melchizadek more than once in his life?
Circle answer: YES or NO

51. Did Abraham give 10% of his regular income? (Hebrews 7:14, Genesis 14:11-12, 15-20)
Circle answer: YES or NO
(If "NO", then it was 10% of _________________)

52. What did Abraham do with the other 90%? (Genesis 14:21-24)
_____________________________________________

53. So does the story of Abraham support Christians "tithing" 10% of their regular income every month to the church?
Circle answer: YES or NO

54. Was Jacob commanded or asked to give God 10% of his earnings? (Genesis 28:20-22)
Circle answer: YES or NO

55. Did God promise to give His blessings before or after Jacob promised to give 10% of his earnings to God? (Genesis 28:10-22)
Circle answer: BEFORE or AFTER

56. What conditions did Jacob demand from God when he promised to give his 10%? (Genesis 28:20-22)
_____________________________________________

57. Do you think we should put conditions on God like that today? (Matthew 4:7)
Circle answer: YES or NO

58. Jacob promised 10% to God, but who did Jacob give it to?
_____________________________________________

59. Is the story of Jacob a good model for "Christian tithing" to the church?
Circle answer: YES or NO

60. Did the blessings of Abraham or Jacob depend the "tenths" they gave?
Circle answer: YES or NO

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION - VI

Jacob promised his “tenth” immediately after God showed him a dream which pointed to Jesus Christ (John 1:51). The story of Abraham giving his “tenth” to Melchizadek was also ultimately used to point the Jewish people to Jesus Christ as our all-sufficient High Priest. Is it possible that God put tithing in the Law of Moses to remind Israel of Abraham & Jacob’s “tenths” so that He could later point to His Son Jesus as the fulfillment of Melchizadek and the fulfillment of Jacob’s dream and God’s promises to him?

The Law—including the law of tithing—came 430 years after Abraham according to Galatians 3:17. Just like the early church, both Abraham and Jacob were blessed simply because they believed in God and trusted in His promise to protect and prosper them. If they all were so abundantly blessed without a law of tithing, but only gave freely from the heart, could we also let go of tithing and yet find abundant blessings and provision? Is it possible that we don’t trust God’s grace alone to protect and prosper our churches and ministries?

Is it possible that teaching/requiring the Old Covenant tithing law is hindering Christians’ growth in living by the Spirit and learning to give from the heart?

Worksheet V - Giving in the New Testament

2011-04-10T23:59:00.000-07:00

V.a – "GIVING" IN 2 CORINTHIANS 8–9

37. Who was the money intended for in 2nd Corinthians 8-9? (8:4, 8:14, 9:1, 9:9, 9:12)
_____________________________________________

38. Did Paul say that the money was for ministers, the ministry of the word, church building maintenance or even for the church's ministries?
Circle answer: YES or NO

39. How often did Paul ask the Corinthians to "give" like this? (8:10)
_____________________________________________

40a. Is "tithe" or a required minimum percent of income mentioned in these chapters?
Circle answer: YES or NO

40b. Was there a command to give this gift? (8:8, 9:7)
Circle answer: YES or NO

40c. Was there a curse if the gift was not given?
Circle answer: YES or NO

41. Why was Paul comfortable urging them so strongly to give? (9:5)
_____________________________________________

42. The word "generously" or "bountifully" in 9:6 can literally be translated "blessing" (εύλογία). Since this gift was given to help people in need (8:14, 9:12), could it be possible that the "reaping" in 9:6 refers to the recipients (the people in need) reaping blessings from the Corinthians' gift instead of the Corinthians getting back blessings for themselves?

43. Who were the believers directed to look at as their ultimate example of "giving"? (8:9)
(And did He give "money"?) _____________________________________________

V.b – JESUS CHRIST’S TEACHING ABOUT "GIVING"

44. In His most direct teaching about "giving", who did Jesus talk about giving to? (Matthew 6:1-4)
_____________________________________________

45. What kinds of blessings did Jesus promise that we would "reap" because of our giving? (Mark 10:21)
_____________________________________________

46. Jesus promised to take care of us and meet our needs so that we could give to whom? (Luke 12:22-33)
_____________________________________________

47. Did Jesus teach that it's better to "have more" so that we can "give more"? (Luke 21:1-4)
Circle answer: YES or NO

48. What is the context of Luke 6:38 about? (Luke 6:27-37)
_____________________________________________

49a. Why did Jesus say that "it is more blessed to give than to receive" in Acts 20:35?
(Luke 6:27-36, Romans 5:6-8) _____________________________________________

49b. In Acts 20:35 what did Paul say about who we give to, and the motivation for giving?
_____________________________________________

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION - V

If Christ and the apostles meant "giving to the needy" when they preached about "giving" and when they asked for donations, could God be upset that we've changed the meaning of "giving" today to mean "giving to church buildings and staff"?

God loved the poor and needy so much that He commanded ancient Israel to give them tithes, and although the apostles did not collect "tithe" for themselves, every year they collected freewill donations for the needy and continually reminded one another to help the poor (Galatians 2:10). So who do you think God longs for us to give to more than anyone else?

Doesn’t that make you want to go and do likewise?

Worksheet IV - The Early Church

2011-04-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

32. How did the early church run its finances? (Acts 2:44-47)
_____________________________________________

33. When money was given to the apostles, what did the apostles do with it? (Acts 4:35)
_____________________________________________

34. Could Christians keep their money if they wanted to? (Acts 5:4)
Circle answer: YES or NO

35. Was the early church blessed by giving this way? (Acts 4:32-35)
Circle answer: YES or NO

36. How did the early Christians "tithe" during the first 37 years of Christianity when the literal temple was still standing in Jerusalem, when literal Levites & priests were still taking care of it and offering sacrifices there, and when many Jewish Christians continued to zealously observe the Law of Moses (Acts 21:20)?

Circle the best answer:
a. Early Christians gave 20% tithe: 10% to the Levites and another 10% to the church.
b. Early Christians gave half and half tithes: 5% to Levites and 5% to the church.
c. Early Christians (even Acts 21:20 ones) gave only to the church and nothing to the Levites.
d. Early Christians did not give any tithes to the church, but Jewish Christians may have continued to give tithes to the Levites, the priests and the poor.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION - IV

Did you know the Catholic Encyclopedia states that the early church did not tithe but gave freely instead, and that tithing became necessary later on to support the expanding institutions of the church? [5]

Did you know that when the church later re-instituted tithe, it was only then that it began to include all sources of income instead of just the Law's prescription of crops and livestock? [6]

Did you know that the earliest records of Christian "tithing" are from 567 and 585 A.D? [5]

Was the early church "robbing God" and were they "cursed" because they did not tithe?

Did God withhold overflowing blessings from the early church because they did not tithe?

If the early church did not tithe, should Christians be required to tithe today?

If the apostles did not need tithe to preach the word of God to the nations, why do we?

*******

Footnotes & References

[5] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14741b.htm (retrieved March 2, 2010)

[6] Encyclopedia Britannica 1963, volume 2, page 253, 'TITHES'

Worksheet III - In Christ and the New Covenant

2011-04-10T23:45:00.000-07:00

III.a – FULFILLMENT IN JESUS

21. What was the purpose of the Law? (Galatians 3:24-25)
_____________________________________________

22. What was the purpose of the offerings (sacrifices)? (see #13)
_____________________________________________

23. Who did the priests represent? (Hebrews 4:15, 9:11-15, 10:11-14)
_____________________________________________

24. When Christ came, what happened to the Law which necessitated priests & offerings? (Hebrews 7:18-19, Romans 10:4, Ephesians 2:14-15)
_____________________________________________

25. Without priests and offerings, what remains for us to do from the Law? (Romans 13:8-10, James 1:27, 2:5, 2:8)
_____________________________________________

26. What happened to the curse of disobeying the Law which commanded tithing? (Galatians 3:13)
_____________________________________________

III.b – THE NEW COVENANT 'PRIESTS' AND 'TEMPLE'

27. Who are 'priests' in the New Covenant? (1 Peter 2:5-9, Revelation 1:6, 5:10)
_____________________________________________

28. Who alone could approach God in the Old Covenant? (Numbers 3:10)
_____________________________________________

29. Who can approach God in the New Covenant? (Hebrews 10:19-22)
_____________________________________________

30. In the New Covenant:
a. What is God's "building"? (1 Corinthians 3:9) __________________
b. What is God's "temple"? (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) __________________
c. What is the "temple" of God the Holy Spirit? (1 Corinthians 6:19) __________________
d. What is "God's house"? (Hebrews 3:6) __________________

31. Where does God dwell now? Where can He be found?
a. (Acts 7:48-50) _____________________________________________
b. (John 14:16-17, 14:23) _____________________________________________
c. (Ephesians 3:17) _____________________________________________
d. (John 4:20-24) _____________________________________________
e. (Matthew 18:20) _____________________________________________
f. (Luke 17:20-21) _____________________________________________

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION - III

According to Scripture, do "Levites" and "priests" represent church leaders today? [3] [4]

According to Scripture, does the "Temple" represent "the church building"?

So are Christians "under a curse" if they do not give tithes to churches and pastors?

Do we miss God's blessings if we do not tithe? (See Colossians 2:9-10 and Ephesians 1:3)

*******

Footnotes & References

[3] It should be noted that the general leader of the church was called an "elder" (πρεσβύτερος) in the New Testament, a position which already existed in Judaism separately from Levites and priests (compare the existence of Jewish elders distinct from priests in Mark 15:1 & Acts 23:14 with the position of Christian elders in Acts 14:23, Acts 15 and Acts 20:17).

[4] Readers may notice that I have not addressed the passage from 1st Corinthians 9 in this study. There are several reasons for this. Firstly the passage does not mention tithe. Secondly, we are accustomed to looking at 1 Cor. 9 through the lens of our modern tradition of "Christian Tithing", but once the picture of tithing in the New Testament is investigated it becomes clear that the 1 Cor. 9 passage cannot refer to tithing, since the early church did not have "paid clergy" or "church buildings", etc. (It should also be noted that Paul was not the "pastor", regular "leader" or church "staff" in Corinth!) The way in which we utilize the 1 Cor. 9 passage to support our modern tradition thus removes Paul's words from their context and attaches meaning to them that did not exist in his day, suggesting that he advocated support for a system that did not yet exist, and would not exist for another several hundred years.

Worksheet II - "Tithes and Offerings" in the Book of Malachi

2011-04-10T23:35:00.001-07:00

8. What was the main message of Malachi to the people and priests of Israel? (Malachi 4:4) _____________________________________________

9. Was Israel obeying the Law very well? What were they doing?
a. (Malachi 1:8) ______________________________
b. (Malachi 2:9) ______________________________
c. (Malachi 2:11) ______________________________
d. (Malachi 3:5) ______________________________
e. (Malachi 3:8) ______________________________

10. In Malachi 3:8, does "offerings" mean "voluntary gifts of money"?
Circle answer: YES or NO (see Leviticus 1-7)
(If "NO", then "offerings" means _______________________)

11. In Malachi's time, what kinds of offerings were the priests & people giving? (Malachi 1:8, 1:13)
_____________________________________________

12. So what did "robbing God of offerings" mean? _______________________________________

13. What were those offerings supposed to represent to Israel and to the world? (1 Peter 1:18-19, Hebrews 7:27, 9:12-14, 23, 26, 10:11-14) _____________________________

14. What does "all of the tithes" (or "the whole tithe") mean in 3:10?
a. (Deuteronomy 14:22) _____________________________________________
b. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29 & 26:12) _____________________________________________

15. Malachi 3:10 mentions bringing all the tithes into the "storehouse", and which tithe was specifically commanded to be stored? (Deuteronomy 14:28)
Circle the correct answer:
THE YEARLY TITHE or THE THIRD YEAR TITHE

16. What was promised to Israel if they gave the third year tithe? (Deuteronomy 26:12-15, Malachi 3:10-12)
_____________________________________________

17. Who was meant to benefit from the tithe in the third year? (Deuteronomy 14:28-29, 26:12)
_____________________________________________

18. What was being done to those people in Malachi’s time? (Malachi 3:5)
_____________________________________________

19. So what could "robbing God of tithes" mean? (See #17-18 and Matthew 25:42-45)
_____________________________________________

20. So why was Israel "under a curse" (or "cursed with a curse") in Malachi’s time? (See #11-13 and #18-19)
_____________________________________________

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION - II

Tithes provided firstly for the Levites who took care of the Temple and its offerings (the sacrifices)—all of which pointed to Jesus the coming Messiah. Now that the Messiah has come and fulfilled those offerings, is it possible to "rob" God of tithes and offerings anymore?

Does Christian tithing include "all the tithes"? Do we "tithe" to the needy as the Law said to?

Worksheet I - From the Law of Moses

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1. Who was tithe for? (Numbers 18:20-21)
_____________________________________________

2. What were the Levites' jobs? (Numbers 3:5-10) _____________________________________________

3. Tithe was 10% of what? (Leviticus 27:30,32)
a. __________________
b. __________________

4. So did carpenters, craftsmen, midwives, weavers, servants & blacksmiths tithe? Circle answer: YES or NO

5. If tithe was converted to money, how much was added to it? (Leviticus 27:31)
_____________________________________________

6. How often did the Israelites practice tithing?
a. (Deuteronomy 14:22) ____________________
b. (Deuteronomy 14:28) ____________________

7. What was done with the tithe?
a. (Numbers 18:31) ______________________________
b. (Deuteronomy 14:22-26) ______________________________
c. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29) ______________________________

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION - I

Did you know that Jewish synagogues & rabbis do not receive tithes? [1]

Did you know that Orthodox Jews in Israel who choose to tithe give it only to charity? [2]

Since Orthodox Jews give their tithes only to charity and not to synagogues, does it look good if Christians use tithe primarily to support their own church buildings and staff?

Since tithe in the Law strictly commanded the Israelites to remember and support the needy, which do you think is more in the spirit of the original tithe command—Jews tithing to charity or Christians tithing to the church?

If the Jewish faith does not need to be financed by "tithe" in order to survive, does the Christian gospel need to be financed by "tithe" in order to survive?

Do you think "Christian tithing" helps to show Jews that Jesus Christ is the Messiah?

*******

Footnotes & References

[1] http://www.jewfaq.org/shul.htm, http://www.jewfaq.org/rabbi.htm (retrieved March 2, 2010)

[2] http://www.myjewishlearning.com/israel/Jewish_Thought/Biblical_and_Rabbinic/In_the_Bible/Rights_and_Obligations/Tithing.shtml (retrieved February 26, 2010)

Classical Rabbinical literature actually divides the different types of tithes into at least four categories: Maaser Rishon (the "first tithe" – yearly produce given to Levites), Teruma Gedola or Termat HaMaaser (the best 1% of the produce separated from Maaser Rishon, given to the priests), Maaser Sheni (the "second tithe" – taking 10% of produce to Jerusalem to consume there every year except the third year), Maaser Ani (the "poor tithe" in the third year). Orthodox Jews typically practice all the tithes, redeeming the produce from all of the tithes for money and discarding everything (because there is no temple) except for the poor tithe, which is usually given to charity. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org, retrieved March 9, 2010)

Essentially the Rabbinical view seems to look at each major mention of "tithe" in the Mosaic Law as if each is a separate and specific tithe apart from the others. Yet after prayerfully looking at the Scriptures, I believe that primarily God intended two tithes – one to the Levites and one to the poor. I base that view primarily on the recurring, overlapping themes and recipients in the tithe passages and on how often they were commanded to be given. However, in this study I have not focused on the obviously debatable number of tithes except to establish that (1) there was more than one tithe, (2) none of the tithes were primarily "money", and (3) that their primary purpose was to support the temple and the poor.

~ Chapter Three ~ Blessings & Cursings

2011-03-10T00:58:00.000-08:00

By Hazel Holland

I’m sure that most of us are well aware that the following verses in the book of Malachi are used as the foremost reason for supporting the doctrine of “Christian tithing” in the church today. So let’s examine these verses in the context of the whole book of Malachi in order to see if we can wrest a doctrine of Christian tithing from this passage.

• “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, 'How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty” (Malachi 3:8-12).

Notice that in Malachi 3:8, Malachi tells the people that they were robbing God of “tithes” (plural). So these tithes must refer to the three different tithes required under the Old Mosaic Law. To withhold these tithes was to become a thief.

The Storehouse

In Malachi 3:10 we see that God commands the Israelites to bring the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be “meat” in His house. God challenges them to prove His faithfulness to them by opening the windows of heaven and pouring out a blessing so great that there will not be enough room to receive it.

For some reason, many people think that whenever the word “storehouse” is mentioned it always refers to the temple in Jerusalem or to the rooms that were built on to the temple in Jerusalem to store the tithe (food). But that is not so.

Since Jerusalem was not a Levitical city it makes no sense to teach that 100% of the tithe was brought to the Temple when most Levites and priests, along with their families did not live in Jerusalem, but in Levitical cities. Furthermore, since the general practice was for one family to serve in the Temple for only one week at a time, there was absolutely no reason to send the entire tithe to the Temple when 98% of those it was designed to feed were living in the Levitical cities.[18]

• “Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals” (Numbers 35:2-3; Joshua 21:1-8; 1 Chronicles 6).

• “Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses. Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers” (1 Chronicles 27:25).

• “…Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house…” (Malachi 3:10).

Withholding of Tithes & Offerings

Malachi 3:8 states that it was not only the withholding of tithes that God objected to, but also the withholding of offerings. These offerings were the grain offering, the fellowship or peace offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering and the burnt offering, (Leviticus 2-7). Primarily these offerings were animal sacrifices. Also the Levites food supply was provided in large part through these animal sacrifices of which they were permitted to partake of in certain instances.

An important question comes to mind at this point. Why is it that in the church today we recognize animal sacrifices have been done away with under the new covenant, but tithing has not? Since God lumps them both together (tithes and animal sacrifices) and says that His people were robbing Him by withholding both of them from Him, then if we are obligated to pay tithe today, aren’t we also obligated to offer animal sacrifices? Either we must offer both tithes and animal sacrifices (offerings) or both of these requirements have been done away with because God accepted Jesus offering of Himself as the Sacrifice for our sins on the cross.

In Malachi 3:9 we are told that if Israel withheld the tithes and offerings the nation would be under a curse. This is in keeping with the Mosaic Law that Israel had agreed to enter into with God. If Israel disobeyed God's commandments and statutes their crops would fail, the rains would not come, the harvests would be small, the locusts would consume their food, the fruit of the trees would fail, to name just a few of the curses (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Earlier in this same chapter God carefully outlines the many blessings He will pour out upon them as a nation if they were obedient to His commands (Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

An interesting fact to point out at this time is that if tithing were an eternal moral command (as some teach) for all people for all time, then the whole race of mankind would be under a curse, not just the nation of Israel. But our text says that it was the whole nation of Israel in Malachi’s day who was under a curse for breaking the old covenant law—not the nations around them.

Spiritual Condition of God’s People

Let’s take a look at some of the other verses in the book of Malachi that deal more fully with the spiritual condition of God’s people at that time that led to the pronouncement of this curse in Malachi 3:9.

• “To you priests who despise My name… You offer defiled food (KJV says “polluted bread”) on my altar…when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil” (Malachi 1:6-8 NKJ)?

• “Who is there among you who would shut the doors (of the temple), so that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,” says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from your hands” (Malachi 1:10 NKJ).

Consider now what we have just read. The priests despise God’s name, they offer sacrifices that are blind, lame and sick, and God says He will not accept their offering. So actually the people of Malachi’s day were tithing. It was the quality of their tithes from which they selected the blemished sacrifices that were unacceptable to God.

Why were blind, lame and sick animal sacrifices not acceptable to God? Because the animal sacrifices were a Shadow that pointed forward to the coming Reality—to the One who would become the ultimate and perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world—Jesus Christ!

That is why God had given the Israelites explicit instructions as to how sacrificial animals must be without spot or blemish (Leviticus 6:6; Deuteronomy 15:21; 1 Peter 1:19 NKJ). By offering blemished and second-rate sacrifices to God, the priests misrepresented what God was trying to teach the people spiritually about the coming Messiah—the spotless Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world once and for all time.

However, in another very real sense it wasn’t the poor quality of their sacrifices that really angered God. It was the mind-set behind their giving. The infected and contaminated animals that they chose to sacrifice were but a symptom of their impure hearts. It was their hearts God was really after! Their tithes and offerings were totally unacceptable to God because their hearts were far from Him. They offered “blind, lame and sick sacrifices” because they themselves were spiritually blind, lame and sick, and were withholding their hearts from God.

Offering “Polluted Bread”

The word “meat” in Malachi 1:7 comes from the Hebrew word “taraph” and means, “to pluck off or pull to pieces; to supply with food as in morsels.” Interestingly enough, from this plucking off, pulling to pieces, and morsels, comes the familiar phrase “breaking bread.”[19]

We know that the only food in God’s house was a dozen loaves of bread (shewbread) that were placed upon the shewbread table in the Holy Place. We also know that the tithes and offerings were not brought into the Holy Place of the tabernacle. I’m sure the nation of Israel brought enough grain into the storehouses to make twelve loaves of bread on a regular basis for the Holy Place. Therefore, the “meat” (bread) God is addressing in verse 10 must be referring to something other than a lack of shewbread in His house that the priests were permitted to eat.

We know that all of the offerings, feasts, ceremonies and holy days associated with the temple worship and services were a type—a shadow that pointed forward to the future Reality—Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:16). Therefore, the “bread” in the Holy Place must foreshadow the true “Bread of Life—Jesus Christ.”

Let’s consider for a moment what Jesus had to say to the Jews about the “bread from heaven” which they said their fathers ate in the wilderness.

• “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:32-33).

We know that under the leadership of the prophet Moses God did feed the nation of Israel bread (manna) in the wilderness.

• “Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat” (John 6:31).

But the “bread from heaven” (manna) in the desert was not the true “bread from heaven”. Although the “bread from heaven” that the Israelites ate in the wilderness was of sufficient quantity it lacked quality because it was only a type of the “true bread from heaven.” It pointed forward to Jesus Christ—the true “bread from heaven.” That’s why Jesus told the Jews that Moses did not give their fathers bread from heaven. That’s why Jesus said; “He who comes down from heaven and gives His life to the world is the true bread of God.”

Just as the bread in the desert that fed the children of Israel was a type (shadow) of the true bread from heaven (Jesus Christ), so the “polluted bread” on the altar in Malachi’s day was supposed to be a type (shadow) of the unpolluted, fresh, pure, “true bread from heaven”—Jesus Christ!

In order to receive this “blessing from heaven” that God promised the priests and people of Malachi’s day, they were urged to turn away from their evil ways and practices that misrepresented God’s name. If they repented of their evil ways and returned to God, He promised to rebuke the devourer for them so that it would not destroy the fruits of the ground (verse 11). Undoubtedly, the “devourer” refers to locusts that God warns will come upon their crops if they fail to bring in the tithe (Deuteronomy 28:38).

Furthermore, if Israel repented and became obedient in the giving of tithes and offerings, all the nations around her would be forced to give God the glory (Malachi 1:11). Israel’s obedience to God would be recognizable because God’s promises of blessing included abundant crops, copious rains, and large increases in herds and flocks (Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

Although the blessings and cursings spoken of in Malachi 3:8-12 refer to the material blessings God promised Israel if she would obey His commandments and statutes, there is a deeper spiritual meaning that God wants His children in every generation to understand.

I believe the prophetic message of Malachi not only spoke to the hearts of God’s people in that generation who lived under the Old Covenant, but it also speaks to the hearts of people today who live under the New Covenant. We know from the author of Hebrews that God never wanted animal sacrifices in the first place. He wanted our hearts. He wants us.

• “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body you have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure” (Hebrews 10:5-6).

David also knew that His heart needed cleansing by God after His sin with Bathsheba. Animal sacrifices couldn’t do that. He knew that God delivers those who have a broken heart.

• “For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm51:16-17).

• “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Isaiah knew that God could heal the backslider’s heart.

• “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble” (Isaiah 57:15).

Samuel knew that obedience to God was more important that worship—offering sacrifices. Do we?

• “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams" (I Sam. 15:22).

If God has our hearts we will not be offering “polluted bread” upon His altar, and there will be plenty of fresh “unpolluted bread” in His house. In essence, Malachi’s prophecy not only exposed the polluted hearts of the priests and people of His day, it also causes us to humbly examine our own hearts and see if there be any wicked way within our hearts that needs to be repented of before God.

Summary

1. The storehouse as mentioned in Malachi did not necessarily refer to the Temple in Jerusalem as storehouses were also built in outlaying towns and villages to store the tithe (food).

2. Since Jerusalem was not a Levitical city, most Levites and priests, along with their families did not live in Jerusalem, but in the Levitical cities.

3. It would make no sense to send the entire tithe to the Temple in Jerusalem when 98% of the people it was designed to feed were living in the Levitical cities.

4. God lumped both tithes and offerings (animal sacrifices) that were required by the Law of Moses, together when He objected to the way the nation of Israel was robbing Him of tithes and offerings.

5. If Israel failed to bring the tithe into God’s house and failed to offer acceptable sacrifices the nation would be under a curse so that the devourer (locusts) would eat their crops and destroy the fruits on their trees.

6. If Israel tithed on her increase and offered acceptable sacrifices required by the Law of Moses the nation would be materially blessed by abundant crops, plentiful rains and large increase in herds and flocks.

7. In Malachi’s day the nation of Israel was under a curse because they brought blind, lame and sick animals to the priests to offer as sacrifices. The priests dishonored God by offering blind, lame and sick animals for sacrifices.

8. God did not require the best of the cattle and flocks for tithe, but He did require the best for sacrifices because they were a type (shadow) that pointed forward to the coming Reality—Jesus Christ.

9. By offering these blemished sacrifices, the priests misrepresented what God was trying to teach the people about the coming Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world once and for all.

10. The people of Malachi’s day were spiritually blind, lame, and sick, because they refused to repent of their evil ways, but instead withheld their hearts from God.

11. These blemished sacrifices that misrepresented God were considered by God as
defiled food (“polluted” bread) on the altar.

12. The “polluted bread” on the altar was a type (shadow) of the unpolluted, fresh and pure “true bread from heaven”—Jesus Christ.

13. If the people and priests would turn away from their evil ways, they would receive God’s blessings because He would rebuke the devourer (locusts) that would come upon their crops and destroy them.

14. God never wanted animal sacrifices in the first place. He wanted the people’s hearts in Malachi’s day, just like He wants our hearts now.

15. Malachi’s prophecy, not only exposed the polluted hearts of the priests and people in His day, but it also causes us to examine our hearts today in order to see if there is any wicked way in us that needs to be repented of before God.

Questions for Reflection (See “Christian Tithing”—A Worksheet study by Ramone Romero)[20]

1. Tithes provided firstly for the Levites and their families who took care of the Temple, and secondly for the priests who offered the sacrifices (offerings)—all of which pointed to Jesus Christ the coming Messiah. Now that the Messiah has come and fulfilled those offerings, is it possible to "rob" God of tithes and offerings anymore? Give reasons for your answer.

2. Does Christian tithing include "all the tithes" that were mandated by the Old Covenant? If not, why not? Gove reasons for your answer.

3. Why do Christians not tithe to the needy as the Law said to? Give reasons for your answer.

4. In view of the fact that the Old Covenant law became obsolete after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, shouldn’t this mean that tithing and animal sacrifices have also become obsolete in the new Covenant reality?

5. So why does the church continue to hang onto the Old Covenant tithing law as a way to finance the gospel of Jesus Christ? Give reasons for you answer.

Notes:

[18] The American Heritage College Dictionary, p. 1444. See also (1 Chronicles 24-26; 28:13, 21; 2 Chronicles 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).

[19] Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, p. 105, #2963.

[20] “Christian Tithing”—A Worksheet study by Ramone Romero: https://www.facebook.com/notes/ramone-romero/christian-tithing-a-worksheet-study/376281361126.

~ Chapter Two ~ Tithing Under the Old Covenant

2011-03-10T00:36:00.000-08:00

By Hazel Holland

While studying the subject of “Christian tithing”, I discovered that most church theologians and seminary-level textbooks omit dealing with this controversial topic. So why is it that the majority of trained biblical scholars choose to pass over this divisive issue while many churches who claim to have solid Bible-based doctrines are making tithing a requirement for church membership?[4]

Conversely, some churches do not go so far as to make a “doctrine” out of tithing, but they treat their members who don’t tithe as “second-class citizens”. Generally these brothers and sisters are not given leadership positions within the church, and are frowned upon by those in authority.

Furthermore, since the subject of tithing is a non-issue for numerous believers who have grown up in the church, people like me who question the legitimacy of “Christian tithing” are often thought to be troublemakers. It is assumed that people who question established doctrines or teachings of the church probably have hidden resentments or unresolved anger or rebellion towards those in authority in the church.

I assure you this is NOT the reason I am doing this study on law-based giving. I do not have any anger, resentment or axe to grind towards the church regarding tithing, but rather a burning desire to see the body of Christ freed to walk in a greater measure of Christ’s agape love. I believe that this liberty in Christ is being hindered by teachings, such as “Christian tithing” that continue to promote adherence to the letter of the Law in order to be accepted or blessed by God.

So as we examine the subject of tithing in the next two chapters, let’s keep in mind that our goal is to find out how we as believers who live in the New Covenant reality are supposed to understand and interpret the Old Covenant practice of tithing.

We want to determine if the giving of tithe as it is presented in the Law of Moses is the minimum biblical standard of giving for the support of the church for today. Is this law-based formula God’s method or man’s method for financing the gospel of Jesus Christ?

What was the Tithe?

Contrary to the popular practice of tithing in the church today, tithe was NOT the first tenth that belonged to God, but rather the tenth that belonged to God. It was the tenth one of a herd that belonged to God.

In other words, if a herdsman had only nine cattle or a shepherd had only nine sheep, he didn’t tithe his cattle or sheep at all. Notice as you look at the following Scripture, that God did not require the best of the cattle for tithe as He did for sacrifices. He required just the one tenth that passed under the rod even if it was the “runt of the litter.”

• “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. If a man redeems any of his tithe he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd of the flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution…” (Leviticus 27:30-33).

From these verses we have just read we learn the following.

• Tithe came from the land.

• It was the “seed” of agricultural products from the fields that were to be tithed.

• Fruit from “trees” was to be tithed.

• The “tenth” animal from a “herd or flock” that passed under the rod was holy to the Lord and was given as tithe.

To summarize, these verses identify the tithe to be 10% of the increase taken from the agricultural products of the fields, fruits from the trees, and herds and flocks. In other words the tithe was food, NOT money.[5] Nowhere in the Old Covenant will you find that tithing was the giving of money to God. Furthermore, this tithe (the giving of food) was probably given on an annual basis, not on a monthly basis as is the practice of giving money in the church today.

Who Paid Tithe?

I can hear someone say, “But what about people who lived under the Old Covenant, but were neither agricultural farmers, nor herdsmen or shepherds? Did they tithe 10% of the increase from their labor or profits? Let’s look at the facts.[6]

• Tradesmen who made baskets for harvesting did not tithe.

• Cobblers who made shoes for the servants of the field did not tithe.

• Carpenters who made wagons used for harvesting the fields did not tithe.

• Potters who made the jugs for carrying water to servants in the fields did not tithe.

• Women who made garments for field-workers did not tithe.

• Servants who worked in the fields for wages did not tithe.

• Fishermen did not tithe.

• Only landowners tithed their agricultural products, grains, fruits, herds and flocks.

We have already established that the tithe under the old covenant was food and not money. Since God doesn’t need food, and He doesn’t need us to give him a tenth of our money when He already owns everything (Psalm 24:1), then the tithe must be needed to feed and support people. In order to see who the first people were that God chose to support in this way let us take a brief look at the background of the Levites and priests.

Who were the Levites and Priests?

The Levites trace their genealogy back to “Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (also called Israel). Levi had three sons—Gershon, "Kohath" and "Merari" Genesis 46:11. Kohath's son Amram was the father of Miriam, Aaron and Moses. The descendants of Aaron: the Kohanim (“Priests”) had the special role as priests in the Tabernacle in the wilderness and also in the Temple in Jerusalem. The remaining Levites divided into three groups: the descendants of Gershon (Gershonites), the descendants of Kohath, (Kohathites), and the descendants of Merari, (Merarites) each filled different roles and had different responsibilities in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple services.”[7]

The First Tithe (Levitical Tithe)

As we read the following passage of Scripture we will learn that this tithe (called the first tithe or Levitical Tithe) did not go to the priests, as is most frequently taught today in the church, but it went to support the Levites who were the servants of the priests. They were responsible for taking care of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle in the wilderness), and later the temple in Jerusalem.

• “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance, in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting… It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting, and bear the responsibility of offenses against it… They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord…’” (Numbers 18:21-24).

This Levitical tithe was the compensation God provided for the Levites and their families for their service in the Tent of Meeting. In the Hebrew economy, this tithe was used in a totally different manner than it is preached about today. It was similar to the support that government workers receive today in America through the taxes of the common workingman.

The Levites’ work

In Number 3 we find that the Levites are described as carpenters, metal workers, leather-craftsmen and artists who maintained the small sanctuary. 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 Chronicles 23-27).[8]

Levites also served as teachers and judges, maintaining cities of refuge in Biblical times. Also the Book of Ezra reports that the Levites were responsible for the construction of the Second Temple, and also translated and explained the Torah when it was publicly read.[9]

Clearly these biblical examples of the use of tithe-income (food) are not well known about in the body of Christ today!

Levites Tithe to Priests

As we continue reading in Numbers 18 we notice that the Levites gave the best tenth of the tithe they received to the priests who ministered the sin sacrifices and served inside the sanctuary and later in the Temple.

• “The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering… From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest. You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.'” (Numbers 18:25-29; Nehemiah 10:38).

Levites and Priests forfeit land inheritance

It’s important to note in the following verses that in exchange for receiving these tithes, both Levites and priests forfeited all rights to permanent land inheritance inside Israel.[10] Unlike the rest of the tribes of Israel who were given land as their inheritance in the land of Canaan, neither the Levites nor the priests were given any land. God was their inheritance (Numbers 18:20-21). Without the tithe “inheritance” the Levites would have been forced to raise their own food that would take them away from their temple duties.

• “The LORD said to Aaron, ‘You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites. I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting… It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites'" (Numbers 18:20-24).

I found it interesting to discover that Nehemiah 13:10-13 records a time when the Levites did abandon their daily temple duties to work the farms to feed their families, because the remaining tribes failed to provide food for them. Is it possible that by failing to take care of the Levites (who in turn were supposed to tithe to the priests) by providing food for them and their families, the remaining tribes were ‘robbing God’ of ministry and worship in the temple?

Also, notice in Numbers 18:3, the Levites, who received this First Tithe, were prohibited from ministering blood sacrifices under penalty of death. There seems to be no continuation of this tithing practice in the new covenant!

In fact it seems safe to assume that during most of Israel’s history the Law of Moses never motivated tithe-receiving Levites and priests to ever encourage a single Gentile to become an Israelite. Why is this? I believe it is because the Law of Moses mandated old covenant tithing—NOT love.

Purpose of a Second Tithe (Festival Tithe)

I would venture to say that most of us have only heard of the first tithe that we have just discussed. Nevertheless, the following verses speak of a tithe being used to provide for the religious feasts and festivals of Israel. Since we already read in Numbers 18:21 that God gave all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance to the Levites, how can this tithe be used for the religious feasts and festivals of Israel? The answer must be that this is a second tithe. The first tithe was used to support the Levites (Levitical Tithe), who in turn supported the priests, but this second tithe was used to sponsor the religious festivals (Festival Tithe). This tithe (food) was eaten by worshipers in the streets of Jerusalem during their three yearly festivals.

• “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away, then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your god will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like; cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own” (Deuteronomy 14:22-27; See also 12:6-7, 11-12, 17-18).

The people of Israel were to use this second tithe to eat in the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem (the place where He chose to establish His name). If it was too burdensome for them to bring their tithe all the way to Jerusalem, they were permitted to sell it and bring the money to Jerusalem where they could purchase goods for the festivals. God expressly encourages them to spend their money on “whatever their heart desires,” including strong drink! The purpose was so that the people of Israel would learn to fear the Lord their God and rejoice before Him. Eating one’s own tithe before the Lord, and rejoicing in God’s provision was a very personal act of worship. Apparently, having a sense of the fear of the Lord and rejoicing before Him are not mutually exclusive. This tithe made it possible for the people of Israel to obtain all the food and drink necessary to enjoy the religious feasts of Israel and worship before Him.[11]

Purpose of a Third Tithe (Poor Tithe)

Although Bible commentators are divided as to whether this tithe is actually a third separate tithe, or just the second tithe used in a different way on the third year, the Jewish historian Josephus supports the view that this was a third separate tithe. Other ancient Jewish commentators have written in support of the latter view also.

• “At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands” (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; also 26:12-13).

In any event, the Israelites were commanded to give at least 20 per cent of their harvests, herds and flocks and perhaps even more. This particular tithe was not to be gathered in Jerusalem, but in their home towns. The people in the towns were to bring a tithe of their crops and herds and flocks and gather them together to take care of the poor of their towns including the aliens, orphans and widows (Poor Tithe).

It is interesting to note that the poor in Israel were not required to pay tithe at all. They received tithes! Besides this third year tithe, much of the Festival Tithe also went to help the poor. In fact, many laws protected the poor from abuse, and from being exploited by expensive sacrifices that they couldn’t afford.[12]

In many respects, it appears that the tithe required under the old covenant is similar to our governmental taxation today. Since Israel was ruled by a theocracy the people were responsible to support the government workers (priests), holidays (festivals), and poor (aliens, widows and orphans.[13]

Purpose of a Fourth Tithe

According to these verses in 1 Samuel, the King would collect the first and best 10% for political purposes.

• “He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day” (1 Samuel 8:15-18).

It is also interesting to note that during Jesus’ time Rome collected the first 10% of most food and 20% of fruit crops as its spoils of war from Israel.[14]

Tithe on the Increase Only

Notice that Israel never tithed from their poverty, but only on their increase. God never intended for people to tithe on what they didn’t have, but only on the increase of what God gave them.

• “When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and has given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled” (Deuteronomy 26:12).

Storerooms for the Tithe

After cleaning house in the cities of Judah by destroying the idols and altars to pagan gods, the people of Nehemiah’s day covenanted to turn away from these sins and pledge themselves to God by obeying and observing the duties of the law they had neglected.

Again, there is no mention of money, but only agricultural products from the fields. Only the Levites and priests could have access to these tithes and offerings.

• “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury” (Nehemiah 10:37-38).

Under King Hezekiah’s reign the order had been given to prepare storerooms in the temple to hold the overflow of tithe (verse 11). Apparently the “tithe” of grain, new wine, honey, and all that the fields produced was heaped up in the streets because there was such an abundance of blessing from the Lord. Thus, storerooms were rooms that were built on to the temple in Jerusalem.

• “As soon as the order went out (from King Hezekiah), the Israelites generously gave the first fruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. The men of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps” (2 Chronicles 31:5-6).

Tithing was Mandatory

Tithing was never voluntary under Mosaic Law. In Nehemiah's day men were appointed to gather the offerings and tithes that were required by the law into storerooms designated for that particular purpose. This giving was not voluntary as it had been in the case of Abraham and Jacob.

• “At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, first fruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites” (Nehemiah 12:44).

• “Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people…” (Hebrews 7:5).

Summary

1. Only landowners tithed. Tithe was 10% of the increase taken from agricultural products grown in the fields, along with grains, fruits, herds and flocks.

2. Tithe was food—not the giving of money.

3. The First Tithe (Levitical Tithe) was used to support the Levite priests and their families because they had no land inheritance

4. The Second Tithe (Festival Tithe) was used to provide for the religious feasts and festivals.

5. The Third Tithe (Poor Tithe) was used to take care of the poor in their towns and provide for the alien, orphan and widow.

6. Tithe under the Old Covenant was similar to our government taxation today. Since Israel was ruled by a theocracy the people were responsible to support the priests, religious festivals and the poor and needy.

7. The people never tithed from their poverty, but only on their increase.

8. Storerooms were built on to the temple in Jerusalem to hold the overflow of tithe.

9. Tithing was mandatory, never voluntary. The Law of Moses required it.

Questions for Refection (*Taken from the “Christian Tithing Worksheet Study” by Ramone Romero[15])

1. Did you know that Jewish synagogues & rabbis do not receive tithes?[16]

2. Did you know that Orthodox Jews in Israel who choose to tithe give it only to charity?[17]

3. Since Orthodox Jews give their tithes only to charity and not to synagogues, does it look good if Christians use tithe primarily to support their own church buildings and staff?

4. Since tithe in the Law strictly commanded the Israelites to remember and support the needy, which do you think is more in the spirit of the original tithe command—Jews tithing to charity or Christians tithing to the church? Give reasons for your answer.

5. If the Jewish faith does not need to be financed by "tithe" in order to survive, why do we in the church believe that the Christian gospel needs to be financed by "tithe" in order to survive? Give reasons for your answers.

6. Do you think "Christian tithing" helps to show Jews that Jesus Christ is the Messiah?

Notes

[4] Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D, “Tithing is Not a New Covenant Doctrine”, (www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com).

[5] Verses that describe the contents of tithe: Leviticus 27:30, 32; Numbers 18:27, 28; Deuteronomy 12:17; 14:22, 23; 26 12; 2 Chronicles 31:5, 6; Nehemiah 10:37; 13:5; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23; Luke 11: 42.

[6] Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D, “Should the church Teach Tithing?” A Theologian’s Conclusions About a Taboo Doctrine, p. 3. (www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com).

[7] Levi-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[8] Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D, “Should the church Teach Tithing?” A Theologian’s Conclusions about a Taboo Doctrine.

[9] Levi-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

[10] See Numbers 18:20-26; Deuteronomy 12:12; 14:27, 29; 18:1, 2; Joshua 13:14, 33; 14:3; 18:7; Ezekiel 44:28.

[11] Brian Anderson, “Are Christians Supposed to Tithe?” (www.evangelizeamerica.org/apologetics/apologeticssub/tithing1.html).

[12] See also Leviticus 14:21; 25:6, 25-28, 35, 36; 27:8; Deuteronomy 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).

[13] The Truth about Tithing: http://www.biblebb.com/files/tithing.htm.
Should the Church Teach Tithing: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/the_church_and_tithing.html.

[14] http://www.inplainsite.org/html/the_church_and_tithing.html.

[15] *https://www.facebook.com/notes/ramone-romero/christian-tithing-a-worksheet-study/376281361126.

[16] http://www.jewfaq.org/shul.htm, http://www.jewfaq.org/rabbi.htm (retrieved March 2, 2010).

[17] http://www.myjewishlearning.com/israel/Jewish_Thought/Biblical_and_Rabbinic/In_the_Bible/Rights_and_Obligations/Tithing.shtml (retrieved February 26, 2010).

Classical Rabbinical literature actually divides the different types of tithes into at least four categories: Maaser Rishon (the "first tithe" – yearly produce given to Levites), Teruma Gedola or Termat HaMaaser (the best 1% of the produce separated from Maaser Rishon, given to the priests), Maaser Sheni (the "second tithe" – taking 10% of produce to Jerusalem to consume there every year except the third year), Maaser Ani (the "poor tithe" in the third year). Orthodox Jews typically practice all the tithes, redeeming the produce from all of the tithes for money and discarding everything (because there is no temple) except for the poor tithe, which is usually given to charity. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/, retrieved March 9, 2010).

Essentially the Rabbinical view seems to look at each major mention of "tithe" in the Mosaic Law as if each is a separate and specific tithe apart from the others. Yet after prayerfully looking at the Scriptures, I believe that primarily God intended two tithes – one to the Levites and one to the poor. I base that view primarily on the recurring, overlapping themes and recipients in the tithe passages and on how often they were commanded to be given. However, in this study I have not focused on the obviously debatable number of tithes except to establish that (1) there was more than one tithe, (2) none of the tithes were primarily "money", and (3) that their primary purpose was to support the temple and the poor.

~Chapter One~ Tithing Before the Law Began

2011-03-09T12:28:00.000-08:00

By Hazel Holland

Before we begin our study on the subject of law-based giving under the Old Covenant, we will first examine the only two passages of Scripture that speak of a tithe being given before the Law was given at Mount Sinai. These two instances involve the two patriarchs, Abram (later called Abraham) and Jacob.

As we examine the following passages, let’s remember that the Law—including the law of tithing—was given 430 years after Abraham (Galatians 3:17).

Abraham and Tithing

Here in this passage of Scripture we learn that Abram had gone to war on behalf of Sodom in order to rescue his nephew Lot who had been taken captive by the four kings who had also seized the goods and food of Sodom and Gomorrah. Returning victorious from battle, Abram gave a tithe (10%) of these spoils of war to Melchizedek as an expression of gratitude to God for enabling him to rescue his nephew Lot. However it is interesting to note that in Numbers 31:25-31 God only required 1% of spoils of war.

• “When Abram heard that his relative (Lot) had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan… He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. The king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.’ But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me…’” (Genesis 14:14-24; compare the same event mentioned in Hebrews 7:1-10).

Notice that Abram told the king of Sodom that he would take none of the spoils of war for himself. He refused to take any of it, but allowed the king of Sodom to keep 90% of it. Clearly, Abram did not give a tithe from his personal possessions, but rather gave a tithe of the booty of war taken from conquered nations.

I found it interesting to discover that most commentaries on this passage agree that when the king of Sodom told Abram to give him the people, Abram could have kept all the goods for himself. Apparently this was an example of pagan Arab tradition. However, we know from the passage of Scripture that Abram refused to have anything to do with this pagan tradition.[2]

Therefore, it makes absolutely no sense to explain that Abraham’s tithing of the spoils of war to Melchizedek is an example for Christians to give 10% of their income to God. Notice that Abram also gave 90% of the spoils of war to the king of Sodom! What are Christians supposed to do with that example of Abram?

There is no evidence in this passage of Scripture that God commanded tithing. Everything in the text leads us to conclude just the opposite. The giving of this tithe from the spoils of war was completely voluntary—not mandatory. It was Abraham's decision and choice. Quite the opposite of what we shall discover later on in our study of this subject.

Furthermore, this is the only tithe ever mentioned in Scripture that Abram gave. Although Abram’s tithing of the spoils of war predated the Law of Moses, it should not be used as evidence that tithing was Abram’s general practice, or that he ever tithed on a regular basis on his own personal possessions. Also since Abram had no Levitical priesthood to support (See Chapter 2, First Tithe or Levitical Tithe), he had no place to bring tithes to during the many moves in his nomadic life.

It is very dangerous to single out one unparalleled event from the Bible, take it out of context, and use it as Scriptural proof that Christians should give 10% of their annual income to the church for the support of the ministry, and for the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. What we need to grasp from this passage of Scripture is that Abraham, the “father of the faithful,” gave willingly from his heart—not because it was mandated by law!

Jacob and Tithing

The second passage of Scripture also deals with how Jacob tithed to God before the Law was given. In these verses we learn that Jacob made a vow in response to a visitation that he had from God in a dream (Genesis 28:13-15). God promised Jacob that He would be with him, and keep him wherever he would go and bring him back to this land.

In response, Jacob vowed that if God kept His promise, he in turn would give God a tenth of all that God gave him. In other words, Jacob only planned to give a tenth to God if God blessed him first. God not only honored Jacob’s tithing proposal, He continued to honor this same tithing principle throughout Israel’s history.

• “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth’” (Genesis 28:20-22).

Let’s carefully observe what the text actually says. Nowhere are we told that God commanded Jacob to give Him a tithe. Following Abram’s example of tithing, it appears that the giving of this tithe was also completely voluntary on Jacob's part. There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever in the text to remotely suggest that tithing was the general practice of Jacob's life. Even if Jacob did begin to tithe after God fulfilled His promises to him, he still delayed tithing for the next 20 years![3]

Summary

• These two examples of Abram and Jacob giving a tithe are the only examples of tithing to be found in the Old Testament before the Law of Moses was given.

• Both are examples of voluntary giving that God did not require.

• Both Abram and Jacob were blessed because they believed in God and trusted in His promise to protect them and prosper them.

• In both instances we do not see an example of tithing as a general practice of life.

• Since neither Abram nor Jacob had a Levitical priesthood to support, they had no place to bring tithes to during their many nomadic wanderings.

• If our only evidence to obligate believers under the New Covenant to tithe rests on these two passages in Genesis, it seems to me that we are walking on very shaky ground!

Questions for Refection

1. Do the narratives of Abram and Jacob in any way support Christians "tithing" 10% of their monthly income to the church? Give reasons to support your answer.

2. Did the blessings that God poured out upon Abram and Jacob depend on the 10% that they gave or promised to give to God? Give reasons to support your answer.

3. Did God promise to bless Jacob before or after Jacob made a deal with God? Should we place conditions on God and make demands of Him like Jacob did today? Give reasons for your answer.

4. Have you ever heard Jacob being used as a good example for Christian tithing today? Why do you think this is so?

Notes:
[2]Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D, “Should the church Teach Tithing?” A Theologians Conclusions About a Taboo Doctrine, (www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com).

[3]Brian Anderson,
(www.evangelizeamerica.org/apologetics/apologeticssub/tithing1.html).

~Introduction~ Blessing Others for their Sake--Not our Own

2011-02-25T21:54:00.000-08:00

By Hazel Holland

I hadn’t known the joy of Spirit-led giving until about ten years ago when I was moved by the Spirit during a time of prayer to give money to a sister in the church who was about to lose her home. Having grown up believing that the tithe belonged to the Lord and should only be given to the local church, I was taken by surprise when I was prompted by the Spirit to give my tithe to help relieve my sister’s financial stress after the Lord showed me in a vision of how believers in the early church helped one another and gave to anyone as they had need (Acts 2: 32-35 NIV).

Immediately I began to weep as I experienced the Father’s heart of compassion for His hurting daughter who had not been able to work for a number of months because of a work-related back injury. For several months God compelled me to give to her in this way as He did several other members in the church. Eventually she was back on her feet and able to resume her job. Knowing that God had specifically prompted me to play a part in helping to bear my sister’s financial burden brought me great joy.

Thus began my journey, prompted by the Holy Spirit, to start studying the whole subject of giving, and more specifically tithing. Since God had opened the door for me to question the practice of tithing for the support of the ministry of the church, I wanted to know why the church (who teaches that we are no longer under law but grace) continues to espouse the old covenant practice of law-based giving when it comes to tithe.

God knows your Name

About four years ago I had another experience that forever changed the way I look at giving. It was the day after Thanksgiving. I was pouring a large pot of home-made chili into a couple of plastic containers to freeze for a later date. Students from the nearby college often showed up unexpectedly at my home, so it was always good to have extra food on hand.

After filling up one large container, I was suddenly struck with the idea of giving the rest of this chili to a homeless person. The prompting was so strong I knew it was from God. So I heated up the rest of the chili, poured it into a large cottage cheese container, placed several portions of warm homemade cornbread in a zip-lock bag, added several plastic spoons, and headed for my car. I knew I wouldn’t have to drive far before running into homeless people.

But as I drove down the street and saw the first homeless person, I heard God say, “Not this one!”

“Why not, God?” I questioned.

Then I noticed several more homeless people nearby. “I have enough chili and cornbread in my sack to feed all of them” I reminded God. I hadn’t expected Him to want me to pass by homeless people like this…

As I continued to drive down the street I passed by several more homeless people in the same way. Each time God would say, “Not this one!” So I obeyed, and moved on.

When I finally came up to a major intersection and asked God which way to go, He immediately prompted me to turn right. Who was the person whom God had in mind for this food? I wondered.

Then the Spirit spoke to my heart again and said, “Look down the road!”
Off in the distance I saw someone standing on the narrow divider that separates traffic. From a distance I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman, because they were bundled up in an oversized jacket with the hood pulled down over their head.

“Is that the person you want me to give this meal to?” I asked God.

“That’s the one!” He replied.

A tangible joy born of the Spirit began to rise up inside of me. I got in the left-hand lane as I neared the divider, hoping that the light would turn red so that I could stop for a moment, roll down my window, and hand this person their meal. But the light stayed green. So I drove on by planning to make a u-turn at the next green light.

The thrill of this adventure with God overwhelmed my spirit as I prepared to make a second attempt to deliver this food. This time when the light turned red I found myself opposite the stranger. As he lifted up his head I could see his unshaven face. Quickly I rolled down my window and thrust the paper sack of chili and cornbread towards Him.

“God wants you to know that He knows your name!” I called out.

Immediately he threw back the hood of his jacket and hurried towards me. His face looked worn, yet familiar.

“Remember me?” he asked as tears streamed down his face. “I’m Stephen. Two years ago you brought me and several other homeless people Thanksgiving dinner!”

“Yes…! I stammered as tears filled my eyes. I remembered how he had dropped to his knees, and with tears of gratitude raised his hands toward heaven and thanked God for the “feast” in front of him.

“This chili and cornbread is a gift from God to let you know how much He loves YOU! Hope it warms you up. It’s kind of cold outside today.”

He took the food gratefully and began thanking me profusely. “Don’t thank me I” I responded. “God had me by-pass several other homeless people before I got to you, because He wants you to know that He knows your name! Stephen, God knows your name!”

Immediately he stopped thanking me, lifted his eyes toward heaven and began to pray. He was oblivious to the people in the cars watching him. So was I. “God knows your name” I repeated softly to myself as the light turned green. “It’s written on the palm of His hand!”

I don’t remember the drive home. It’s kind of a blur. But I do remember God’s joy flooding my heart and streaming down my face. Nothing could compare with the pure joy of seeing that homeless man enjoy his unexpected blessing! I couldn’t stop thanking God for a taste of His goodness and grace.

By obeying the Spirit’s leading, I discovered that blessing someone means giving something to them for their sake, not for my own. Could it be that God has always meant for us to share in the joy of blessing one another face to face like this? I believe that the body of Christ is strengthened and edified when we personally bless one another, and are blessed by one another.

In some small way through this experience I began to catch a glimpse of the pure agape love of God who willingly poured out His life for me. That’s why Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than receive”.

Law-based Giving

On the other hand, when we give in order to receive—when we give for the sake of getting a reward, how are we any better than the hypocrites that Jesus condemned in Matthew 6 for drawing attention to their good deeds? Many churches today teach that when we faithfully give our tithe to the church we can always expect God to rebuke the devourer for our sake (Malachi 3:11).

Is that alleged promise of an old covenant blessing true for today? But even more importantly, is it biblical for those of us who live under the new covenant reality to take the words of the prophet Malachi, and use them like this? Does the Bible clearly teach that the tithing practices of the old covenant community should now be transferred over into the new covenant reality?

Furthermore, when we look at the new covenant principle of sowing generously and reaping generously, we find out that the word “generously” can also be translated “blessing”. Another way of saying this would be, “Whoever sows blessing will reap blessing… but whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly”. Paul makes it clear in his earlier use of “grudgingly” that to give grudgingly or sparingly (as many of us have done as far as tithing is concerned) is the opposite of freely blessing someone from the heart.

Tragically today it seems that the church has taken Paul’s words on the subject of giving, and bent them in order to make a platform for old covenant tithing. The worst thing about law-based giving is that it doesn’t require us to seek the Spirit in order to know how God wants us to bless others from our hearts. Since we have a law-based formula for tithing (10%), and another law-based formula for offerings (lower percentage of course), we really don’t need to ask God personally how we should give, do we? It’s already been mapped out for us… or has it?

I must admit that I’ve struggled with law-based giving for a long time, because I’ve seen too much guilt-based giving motivated by guilt-based behavior. I’ve seen too many pastors and spiritual leaders misuse and misquote Scripture on this subject. Compulsory tithing has become the norm in many churches who continue the practice of law-based giving. In fact I would go as far as to say that it has become a “sacred cow” that continues to keep the body of Christ in spiritual bondage!

Unfortunately, law-based formulas for giving not only rob us of personal intimacy with God, but also with one another. They not only make us unable to “see” the needy in our places of worship, but we are often blinded to the needs of the unreached and unloved poor down the street. Our lack of personal intimacy with God places Him at a safe distance, and the disadvantaged in far-off lands where there’s no possibility of interaction between us and them. As a result, we feel no accountability to bear one another’s burdens and bless one another from the heart. But God wants to teach us how to hear His voice so that we can be a blessing to others.

Over the past few years as I have earnestly prayed for wisdom to understand God’s heart on this matter, I’ve begun to see what someone has so succinctly stated that perhaps the “tithe” is to the modern church of today what the issue of “circumcision” was to the church in Paul’s day.1 We already know that many Jewish believers in Paul’s day had a difficult time letting go of the practice of circumcision, because it had been the entrance way into the old covenant Jewish community for centuries. For them to grapple with the truth that Jesus was now the Door into the new covenant reality and NOT circumcision was hard for many to grasp.

Perhaps in a similar way today, it is hard for many of us in the new covenant community to grasp the reality of what Jesus accomplished at the cross when He said, “It is finished!” I’m reminded of a quote from my friend, Ramone. "When Jesus said, "It is finished", the "it" included tithing! Our debt is paid in full. Our flesh need not be given because His flesh has fulfilled the requirements of the Law once and for all!"

As we examine all the Scriptural references on this subject let us do so with an open mind and a willing heart to learn what is on God’s heart. Let us have a burning desire to know truth so that we can “come out” from being manipulated and controlled by unbiblical approaches to obtaining funds for the support of the church.

I believe God wants to lovingly expose the current tithing practices of the church that have resisted change for centuries. I believe God desires that we transition out from the old covenant system of law-based giving into the new covenant understanding of blessing one another as we are led by the Spirit to give (2 Corinthians 9:7). As we continue our study of this subject let’s keep in mind that old covenant tithing was mandated by law—NOT love! Hopefully by the end of our study we will want to bless others for their sake—NOT our own. We will be motivated by love to become hilarious givers!

1Jack Helser, “To Tithe or not to Tithe” (article), p. 1.

Chapter 8: An Army in Disarray (Interpretation to Vision)

2008-03-05T02:21:00.000-08:00

by Hazel

The Background

Although ancient Rome was a metropolis where all the wealth and luxury of the world was concentrated, I discovered, much to my surprise, it was kept in perfect darkness at night! Apparently a public system of city lighting was not yet envisioned at that time. As a result of this state of things merchants were obliged for safety reasons to lock up their premises at sunset. Thus the streets, plunged in total darkness, wore a sinister look making them dangerous for the passer-by.[1]

So a police force for the city of Rome was established in order to protect it from internal predators. They were called Roman Vigiles[2]—“cohorts of the watchmen"—the firefighters and police of Ancient Rome. They were considered a military unit—the nighttime police force of Rome. These “watchmen” of the city primarily dealt with petty crimes such as apprehending thieves and robbers, and capturing runaway slaves, whereas the Roman Cohort handled the more violent crimes.[3]

The Watchmen

God is using the vivid imagery of an “army” of night “watchmen” guarding a city, dressed in full Roman armor, but behaving like grasshoppers to portray the condition of many “watchmen” in the church today. Let’ take a further look at the symbolism in order to see what God seems to be saying to us in the church at this time.

Just as one of the functions of Roman Vigiles (watchmen) was to patrol the city of Rome at night, so one of the duties of Christian soldiers (watchmen) in the body of Christ is to stand guard at our position on the “wall” and watch for any sign of the enemy. We are called to sound an alarm (a trumpet) at the first indication that the enemy is approaching in order to prepare the rest of the army (body of Christ) to resist his attack. But if no one is standing as a “watchmen” (Isaiah 62:6) the church—the corporate body of Christ (that is us) is left open to attack by the enemy who is a roaring lion seeking to devour us.

Unfortunately, many of us in the church today fail to see the spiritual application of Isaiah’s message because of our traditional understanding of the word, “church“. For most of us when we say “church” we mentally see a building that we go to in order to worship God. But that is not the New Testament understanding of “church”. The body of Christ is the church, not a building that we assemble in for worship. We don’t go to church. We are the church… and we gather together regularly, usually in a building, for corporate worship.

Although we know that God no longer dwells in a temple made with human hands because He has chosen to come and live in us by His Spirit, I believe many of us continue to follow the man-made rules of the institutionalized church as we continue to build man-made temples according to the obsolete old covenant tithing laws. We continue to try to “Christianize” tithing in order to support the financial needs of the new covenant church instead of trusting that the Spirit of the Lord will impress believers how much and where and when to give . The burden of “law-based” giving continues to be promoted, and as a result is causing many in the body of Christ to be weighed down with a burden that is not there’s to bear.

The Armor

The “watchmen” in the vision represent many of us who are wearing “armor”, but it is not the armor of the Lord, but rather the armor of our flesh. We are weighed down by wearing Saul’s heavy “armor” so that we cannot stand on our feet. The weight of Saul’s “armor” is too burdensome and oppressive for us to wear, because it represents us trusting in what we do (paying tithe) in order to receive protection and blessing from God.

Although we are buckling under its weight, making us unable to stand up and face our real enemy using the spiritual weapons God has already given us, many of us refuse to remove it, because we erroneously believe that if we get rid of our “tithe armor” we will fall out of favor with God, and come under a curse. But the truth is when Jesus said, "It is finished", the "it" included tithing! Our debt is paid in full. Our flesh need not be given, because His flesh has fulfilled the requirements of the Law once and for all!"

Let us become like David who, instead of placing his faith in Saul’s armor that he had never proved worthy of his trust (1 Samuel 17:38-39), chose to place His faith in the God of Israel whom he had proved to be worthy of his trust! God has given us His armor—a symbol of His love! It will equip us to stand up against all the devil’s schemes, so that when the day of evil comes we may be able to stand firm as we are clothed in God’s armor—the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-17).

The Covering of Darkness

In this scene the darkness of night covers many “watchmen” dressed in Roman armor, slowly moving around over the ground like grasshoppers! In fact the vivid imagery resembles a plague of crawling locusts in search of green vegetation!

Judging by the behavior of many of the “watchmen” it appears that they have begun their hunt to “devour” one another instead of love one another. It is interesting to consider the irony in this vision. Remember that in the book of Malachi, one of the promises that God gave Israel under the old covenant was that if they were obedient to the covenant He would prevent locusts from devouring their crops. In this vision we have “watchmen” who are behaving like crawling locusts as they begin to slowly “devour” one another! By holding on to the old covenant tithing law that has become like heavy armor—like a millstone around our neck, many of us have become the “curse” that we were trying to avoid.

I am reminded of the Scriptures where Paul warns the church in Galatia about the Judahizers who were infiltrating the church insisting that new believers in Christ still needed to be circumcised. They still wanted to hold on to circumcision—the old covenant teaching that was the entrance sign into the old covenant community. Many of us are like these Judahizers because we still want to hold on to the old covenant tithing laws—at least the ones we have tried to Christianize, because we claim that they are our “fire” insurance protection even in the new covenant.

Paul spoke against circumcision by telling the Galatians that by letting themselves be circumcised they were obligated to obey the whole law! He said, “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ” (Galatians 5:4). I think Paul would say a similar thing to many of us who insist on requiring members of the body of Christ to pay tithe.

The Scriptures make it very clear that Jesus fulfilled all of the law and the prophets. Therefore Jesus was the “Whole Tithe” that Malachi spoke of (Malachi 3:10). Jesus gave it all! That was why the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost. Everything we receive in Christ is through faith in His finished work—not ours!

Paul reminds us, “You, my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Galatians 5:13-15).

Of course we know that people are not our enemy. Flesh and blood is not the enemy, but spiritual powers of wickedness that have taken up residence in people’s hearts. Paul is telling us quite bluntly that if we pander to the sinful nature, and do not let the Spirit be in control we will give place to the enemy in our lives and end up destroying one another.

Peter cautions us in a similar way when he says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1Peter 5:8-9).

Through the imagery in this vision God is showing us that many of us have lost our zeal and passion for serving Him because we have allowed the enemy to use our flesh to sow seeds of jealousy, hatred, envy and strife (to name a few of the works of the flesh) within the church. As a result all we have left is a lifeless and powerless religion.

This was shown in the behavior of the “watchmen” who were more concerned with achieving their own goals that helping others to achieve theirs. Is that true of many of us also in the church? Like the “watchmen” in the vision have we also lost sight of the real goal of being “of one accord” and of being “of one mind” as we “devour” one another instead? This vision shows how the enemy has successfully obstructed our real goal—to become one mouth—one united voice in praising the God who has led us out of darkness into His marvelous light!

Enemy Steals from God’s People

I received an email from my friend, Ramone, today that brought further clarity to what the Lord is saying in this vision. The enemy has successfully hindered us (“watchmen”) from sharing the Good News of the gospel by holding us down in order that he may rob and steal from us! We are the “church”, and just as the Roman police force were called to protect the City of Rome from thieves, today's tithing system is protecting the “thieves” instead of protecting the church! It is stealing from God's people! It is allowing the thief to steal not only the finances of God's people, but more importantly their joy in God's provision.

As long as we are controlled by law in giving we cannot understand the joy of knowing the Spirit as the guide to ALL our giving. By holding on to law-based giving we are allowing the enemy to steal our blessings that come as a result of Spirit-led giving. It is truly a blessing to realize the greater blessings that come as a result of finding fullness in Him instead of in our finances—of seeing His power and hearing His Spirit for ourselves!

Furthermore, Spirit-led giving is giving from God's heart. God's heart always blesses us in order that we may bless others. Abraham is an example of how God blessed him in order to make him a blessing to the nations. But it was not Abraham’s material blessings that blessed the nations, it was Abraham’s offspring. Through Isaac, the seed, Jesus Christ, would come and He would be a blessing to the nations!

In a similar way, God's Spirit will lead us to the same kind of giving—blessing others who do not know Him with the truth of the gospel. But the "tithing system” keeps finances directed inward instead of outward—it keeps the blessings inside the church instead of going out to the people for whom the Spirit intends them to go.

The enemy has taken us captive by his lies, and is stealing the blessings that are meant to be going out to those who do not know God. As is his usual mode of operation, He is doing this under the cover of darkness. By this stealing (tithing), the enemy is causing God’s people to be weighed down, thus hindering the spreading of the gospel and the salvation of nations. The church is being plundered instead of plundering the enemy!

Grasshoppers

The enemy has succeeded in convincing many of us in the body of Christ, like he did the men who went with Caleb and Joshua to spy out the land of Canaan, that we that we are nothing more than mere “grasshoppers” who are incapable of going up against the “giants” in the land. “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them” (Numbers 13:33).

The enemy is able to do this because many of us have chosen to put our trust in man instead of in God. Consequently we feel insignificant and powerless and unable to face the strongholds of “Jericho”. Instead of plundering the enemy’s stronghold (Jericho), we, the body of Christ, continue to allow him to steal from us! The “giants” appear to be so huge, and we know that we are no match for them.

However, God doesn’t want us to see ourselves as mere grasshoppers that are just waiting to be squashed by some “giant’s” foot. But as long as we believe the enemy’s lies we will continue to wander in the wilderness and behave like “grasshoppers”, incapable of facing the “giants” in the land with the truth of who we really are in Christ—an army dressed for battle—and the battle belongs to the Lord!

“Father, when our flesh demands this weighty man-made armor, God give us the faith to shed it in favor of armor that hides us in You, and brings glory to Your name. Lord, we want to wear Your armor alone as we lift up the shield of faith and wield the sword of the Spirit. Continue to try us and test us so that we may continually learn to choose your ways instead of our own. Lord, may we become giants of faith through Your name.”

Armor seen as a “Covering”

The “armor” that the “watchmen” are wearing in the vision reminds me of the teaching in the church at large that every believer and every local church needs a “covering”. I have searched the Scriptures and can find absolutely no biblical support for this notion that every believer and every local church needs a “covering.” I believe the current usage of the church phrase “covering” is a misnomer—one of the church’s most “sacred cows.”

The whole idea in the new covenant gospel is for people to become uncovered—unveiled! “Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers (kaluma) their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil (kaluma, covering) is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (legitimate liberty, no longer a slave. Hence no need for a covering). And we, who with unveiled (anaklupto, uncovered) faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”(2 Corinthians 3:15-18).

Yes, there is governmental authority in the church. But accurate governmental authority doesn’t mean to “cover.” It is not a “covering” from the top. It is an upholding—an under-girding of support from beneath. It is our safety net built on the foundation of the apostles…and particularly the chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ (See 2 Timothy 2:9; 1 Corinthians 3:10).

The governmental authority structure in the New Testament church should not represent another hierarchical “covering.” It should not be another multi-level marketing plan where “I’m under your covering and “I’m the covering for these people over there...”

In the church we have the freedom to yield by preference to those who are veterans in the truth. We see this demonstrated in the New Testament by the apostles who didn’t isolate themselves or consider themselves as spiritual coverings “over” the churches. They had no secret need to control or dominate the churches they supported. Instead they passionately cared for their disciples and considered them as their sons. They served, they helped and they lifted them up. Among many other things, the apostles rightfully set things in order, corrected doctrine, recognized incorrect behavior and called for accountability in the body they served.

From this example in Scripture we have a clear picture of the leadership of the early church being the “support”—not the “covering.” That is righteous governing—not exploitation. Just as Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, so the Apostles who were part of the five-fold ministry of the early church were not chosen to lord it over fellow believers, but to nurture them and lend assistance to them in order to help them mature in their Christian walk.

Unfortunately, over the years we have seen excessive abuse in the misunderstanding of the position of leadership in the church. Instead of trying to control, dominate, and intimidate the body into submission, true five-fold ministry today should be the battle-axe that exposes the traditions of men, and frees people’s minds that have been held captive by unscriptural teachings.

One of these unscriptural teachings that many leaders in the church have insisted on passing on has kept the body of Christ in spiritual darkness for centuries. This false teaching keeps the body they shepherd in bondage to law, specifically in bondage to old covenant tithing laws. The body of Christ is usually expected to come under their “covering” in spite of the fact that they are not being good shepherds and feeding the Father’s sheep. If the sheep (body of Christ) is not vigilant these false shepherds will attempt to place their “armor” upon us. They will attempt to do what King Saul did to David by placing his armor upon the young boy. They will try to bind us to themselves. But David through the power of agape love was able to loose himself from this ungodly “covering”.

I believe many leaders in the church today who are walking in a fleshly anointing like Saul are espousing false teachings based on old covenant laws that have now become obsolete in Jesus Christ. Tithing is one of these old covenant laws that they continue to promote and advance in the body of Christ as though it were God’s answer to the lack of funds in the church budget. Because they are walking after the flesh they are afraid to trust God and rely on His Spirit to impress people how, when and where to give according to God’s timetable, not theirs. Although many in the church today do not pay tithe that does not mean they are free in Christ. They are still burdened down by guilt and condemnation because they put on Saul’s armor and come under his covering!

Shylock

Contrary to what some people have been taught, God is NOT like Shylock, the 400-year-old Shakespearean character in “The Merchant of Venice” who focused all of his energy on revenge, by demanding that Antonio pay him his pound of flesh for not paying his debt. God is also not like the Christian Antonio and his friends who refused to show Shylock mercy when the situation was reversed…

The irony in this literary character is that he resembles many of us in the church today. Many of us in the body of Christ fail to recognize the blessing of mercy that we have already been given in Jesus Christ. When Jesus said, "It is finished", the "it" included tithing! Our debt is paid in full! Our flesh need not be given because His flesh has fulfilled the requirements of the Law once and for all!

And yet many church leaders fail to recognize the enormity of what Christ’s finished work accomplished for us by continuing to use and abuse the old covenant laws regarding tithing in order to generate income within the church. Although God is NOT the hard taskmaster who “exacts His pound of flesh” from His children if they fail to observe the old covenant tithing laws, often spiritual shepherds are. They behave like “Shylock” towards the people in their congregations who fail to pay tithe. At times ministers of the gospel behave like “Shylock” by refusing to let people serve in leadership positions within the church unless they pay tithe. Sometimes church leadership bans people from membership or even from employment within certain denominations if they fail to pay tithe. People who do not “pass” the tithing test are often seen as second-class members of the Christian community, whereas people who do pay tithe are frequently commended and publicly praised. But Jesus warned us:

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

No. This is a picture of how the enemy has successfully hijacked the old covenant tithing laws in order to ignite fear and guilt among members of the body of Christ today, thereby forcing them to believe that God is exacting his pound of flesh in the form of tithe money. Furthermore, he continues to keep us in bondage to law by exacting a heavy toll on our freedom in Christ if we believe these lies.

God is NOT a hard taskmaster who “exacts His pound of flesh” from His children if they fail to pay tithe. For the truth is that the Law of Moses—the law of sin and death—which includes the tithing laws—ALL became obsolete in Jesus Christ. We desperately need to come to grips with Truth and tear down these ancient strongholds that loom up in front of us like the impregnable walls of Jericho. But eventually the walls of Jericho fell. As the people blew their trumpets, God brought down the walls!

But what keeps these ancient strongholds alive and well is the way many church leaders are shylocking with the gospel in Christianity today! Christ has paid the debt, and the gospel belongs to us freely. But fleshly leaders have stepped in between Christ and the church, between the Shepherd and His sheep, and have said, "No, you are still cursed with a curse if you do not give this much!" Just as the priests in Luther's day gave indulgences, today many leaders are proclaiming divine favors for those who indulge the letter of the old covenant law by paying tithe. Actually by insisting on teaching this error they are proclaiming that our blessings in the gospel are not complete unless we pay tithe.

Peddling for Profit

I have heard it spoken from the pulpit many times over the years that the root cause of lack of funds in the church today is because a large percentage of the body of Christ fails to pay tithe. We are also aware of the insincere merchandizing of the word of God that comes over international television telling people that in order to get out of debt and be blessed by God they need to send a certain amount of money—even if they have to pay it off in smaller monthly increments. This teaching is totally unscriptural even under the old covenant system! This manipulation of people’s minds and emotions is an example of soulish leaders in the church “peddling the word of God for profit.”

Listen to what Paul tells the church at Corinth. “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God” (2 Corinthians 2:17).

Notice that in this Scripture Paul says that the apostles are not like “the majority, who are peddling the word of God… (Concordant Version). The word translated “peddling” in the Concordant New Testament comes from the Greek word "kapeleuo" which means, “to sell at retail, with the insinuation of improper profit, either by overcharging or adulterating.”[4]

From God’s perspective, anyone using the old covenant law to try and coerce people into guilt-based giving is totally out of line with the new covenant gospel of Jesus Christ. The old covenant required simple percentages so that everyone knew how much was required. But under the new covenant there are no such percentages, because we have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us in our giving so that we might become hilarious givers. How that translates monetarily is to be left with us. We decide in our heart as the Spirit leads us, because Love is the motivating power behind our giving now—not Law.

Personal Reflections

My friend, Ramone, pointed out to me that in the original posting of this chapter I had not only misspelled “Shylock” by writing “Sherlock”, but I had also inadvertently given him the last name of “Holmes”. So the original post stated, “God is NOT like Sherlock Holmes, the 400-year-old Shakespearean character in The Merchant of Venice…” I corrected the first name, but still failed to “see” the error of the second name. So the “corrected” post then read, “God is not like Shylock Holmes, the 400-year-old Shakespearean character in The Merchant of Venice…” It was still wrong, and I still needed to be lovingly corrected again.

Truthfully, I know there is only one “Shylock” in the “Merchant of Venice”, and he doesn’t have the last name of “Holmes”. But Sherlock Holmes is the brilliant London-based fictional detective of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, famous for his intellectual prowess,and his skilful use of "deductive reasoning" and astute observation to solve difficult crimes.

Of course I was embarrassed by my oversight. How could I have not recognized this glaring error, especially since I am English and grew up being very familiar with these famous literary personalities? As I thought about my blunder I began to recognize that perhaps there is a connection between Shylock and Sherlock after all... Perhaps these fictionalized characters behaved more like us than we want to admit… Both men used and abused the “law” to justify their own actions in given situations. Perhaps we have also painted God in their image, giving Him the same fictional kind of "character" that they had, and the same power to abuse us by the law that has now become obsolete in Jesus Christ.

Sherlock Holmes

In Victorian England, vices such as bending the truth and breaking the law (lying to the police, concealing evidence and burglaries), were not necessarily considered vices as long as they were done by a gentleman for noble purposes such as preserving a woman's honor or a family's reputation. When it suited his purposes, the detective Sherlock Holmes had a strong sense of honor and of "doing the right thing". He became known for his ability to outwit and outsmart police inspectors (who represent the “law”) in solving crimes. He also had an ego that bordered on arrogance because he enjoyed baffling them with his superior deductions… For the most part, Holmes’s actions would in general be out of character for a "law-abiding" detective living by the standards of our day [5]

In a similar way haven’t we sometimes seen God as if He is Sherlock Holmes—carefully searching us out and scrutinizing us, looking for any hidden sign of guilt, just waiting to accuse us and expose our sins before everyone? Hasn’t this erroneous belief about God misrepresented His character of agape love? In truth, the enemy is the accuser of the brethren, not God! The enemy is always looking for ways to accuse us and to bring us down to his level, and he does this by using the law to try and produce good works in us. When we cannot measure up (and we never can), he blames us and shames us until we can barely lift our heads up off the ground—just like the scene in the vision. We are no better than grasshoppers!

So in order to survive the condemnation of the law many of us in the church have been bending the “truth” about our “gross” income by calling it our “net” income so that we wouldn’t have to pay as much tithe as we thought was required? Haven’t we been concealing evidence, and lying so as to make ourselves appear more generous than we actually are? Don’t we sometimes feel proud that we have out-witted the old tithing law system by manipulating numbers with our superior deductions? Honestly, we have been forced to resort to all kinds of creative ways of trying to preserve our sense of honor, and our family’s reputation in the church by justifying why we have not paid a tenth of our income to the church.

Although the modern tithing law promises blessing and protection (removal of the Malachi curse if I do thus and thus…) it is based on old covenant principles that keep us bound to trusting in what we must do in order to please God and get His blessings and approval. Since God Himself is the Tithe, there’s nothing more that we can give in order to get God’s attention and bend His ear to hear our cry. It has already been done in Jesus Christ.

I pray that as the Holy Spirit shines His Light of Truth into the darkness within each of our hearts we will be healed by the One who has already paid the debt of all the “Shylock’s” and all the “Sherlock’s”, for all the Saul’s and all the David’s—in full! Yes, Jesus Christ is the One who willingly gave His flesh to pay our debt! The verdict has already been decided in Him! There is no debt left to pay except the ongoing debt to love one another as He has loved us! We, as the body of Christ, are being called into the emancipation of God’s liberty as we humble ourselves before one another and consider the interests of others before ourselves.

(Scroll down to bottom of page to see a larger copy of painting.)

Notes:

[1]THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT OF ANCIENT ROME. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/Lanciani/LANARD/8*.html
[2] The word “vigilante” is of Spanish origin and means “watchman” or “guard”, but its Latin root is vigil, which means, “awake” or “observant”. When it is said that someone is taking the law into their own hands, this means that they are engaging in vigilante activity, or vigilantism. (http://faculty.ncwc.edu/tconner/300/300lect10.htm).

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigiles

[4] Greek-English Keyword Concordance, page 220

[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes.[5]

Chapter 7: An Army in Disarray (Vision)

2008-03-04T18:19:00.001-08:00

by Hazel

"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?" Jeremiah 12:5

It was five o’clock in the morning when I finished writing Chapter 5 of "Transformed by Truth". In this chapter I shared how Christian tithing crept into the church after being absent for nearly five centuries. As the church became institutionalized it became necessary to adopt the payment of tithes from the old covenant in order to insure the proper and permanent support of the clergy.

I was eager to get to sleep, but as soon as my head touched the pillow the Spirit came upon me and I began to see the following scene. This is a painting I did this afternoon that captures what I saw in the vision.

It was night. In the darkness I saw what looked like the cohort of a Roman army in total disarray. Instead of standing on their feet ready to protect and guard the city around them, the “soldiers,” dressed in full Roman armor, including the helmet, were down on all fours. Their hands and feet were spread out on the ground as if they were going to do push-ups. But instead of doing push-ups hundreds of “soldiers,” maintaining this position, were walking on all fours in every direction up and down the narrow streets of the city as if they were grasshoppers!

The fact that these “soldiers” had no Roman armor covering their backs was in keeping with the way Roman soldier’s armor was designed. Roman armor covered the front of their bodies, but not their backs. Consequently, because their backs were left unprotected, the position these “soldiers” had taken left them very vulnerable and open to attack, not only from a possible enemy outside the city walls, but more importantly from an enemy from within.

From time to time, some “soldiers” in this “army” (that looked more like “grasshoppers” than people), would climb on top of the backs of other “soldiers” as if they were trying to find a short-cut through the crowded streets. They appeared not to care about the welfare of the “soldier” whose back they were using to get to where they wanted to go. They could have waited and gone around their fellow “soldiers”, but instead they heartlessly mowed them down, using their backs as a “bridge” to get to their desired “destination”—the other side of the narrow city street.

It appeared that the “soldiers” who thoughtlessly used the backs of other “soldiers’ in this way were the ones who were calling the shots. The fearful glances that I saw on many other “soldiers'” faces was most likely because they weren't sure of what to do next, or where to go next in order to get away from being walked on and abused by their “superiors”. They would cast furtive glances behind them at times as if to make sure they were not being followed. Although moving at a snail’s pace because of the weight of the “armor”, the “soldier's” movements appeared frenzied, fearful and disorganized, making it appear as if they had no “leader”, and no purpose or goal that they were trying to achieve other than self preservation.

Furthermore, the crowded “streets” made movement very difficult and painfully slow. There was no place to go that wasn’t already occupied by some other “soldier”. So it appeared that everyone in this “army” was constantly moving. No one ever stopped to rest, not even for a moment. Like robots that had been programmed to perform certain duties, these “soldiers” seemed to roam aimlessly up and down the streets without direction and purpose.

Not once did I see any of these “soldiers” try to stand up on their own two feet in order to avoid being walked on anymore. Not once did I see any of these “soldiers” lift up their shields in order to protect themselves from further abuse. Instead, they each continued to drag their shield along the ground with them using it like a club foot. Not once was any effort made to try and protect themselves from the constant danger of the “enemy” within their walls.

(Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see a larger copy of this watercolor painting. The Interpretation is available in Chapter 8.)

Chapter 3: Tithing in Malachi's Prophecy

2008-02-26T13:29:00.000-08:00

by Hazel

We are all well aware that the following verses in the book of Malachi continue to be used as the main authority for supporting the doctrine of “Christian tithing.” In order to understand some important truths from this passage, let’s examine these verses in the context of the whole book of Malachi in order to see if we can wrest a doctrine of Christian tithing from this prophecy.

· “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, 'How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty” (Malachi 3:8-12).

We have already discovered that under the Old Covenant tithing was compulsory. Notice that verse 8 says the people were robbing God of “tithes” (plural). So these tithes must refer to the three different tithes required under the Old Mosaic Law. To withhold these tithes was to become a thief.

Withholding of Tithes & Offerings

Additionally, this verse also states that it was not only the withholding of tithes that God objected to, but also the withholding of offerings. These offerings were the grain offering, the fellowship or peace offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering and the burnt offering, (Leviticus 2-7). Primarily these offerings were animal sacrifices. Also the Levites food supply was provided in large part through these animal sacrifices of which they were permitted to partake of in certain instances.

An important question comes to mind at this point. Why is it that in the Body of Christ today we recognize animal sacrifices to be obsolete under the New Covenant, but tithing is not? Since God lumps them both together (tithes and animal sacrifices) and says that His people were robbing Him by withholding both of them, then if we are obligated to pay tithe today, then most certainly we are also obligated to offer animal sacrifices! Either we must offer both tithes and animal sacrifices (offerings) or both these requirements have been abolished by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

In verse 9 we are told that if Israel withheld the tithes and offerings the nation would be under a cursed. This is in keeping with the Mosaic Law (See Deuteronomy 28) that Israel had agreed to enter into with God. We are told that if Israel disobeyed God's commandments and statutes their crops would fail, the rains would not come, the harvests would be small, the locusts would consume their food, the fruit of the trees would fail, to name just a few of the curses. In this same chapter God also carefully outlines the many blessings He will pour out upon them as a nation if they were obedient to His commands.

An interesting fact to point out at this time is that if tithing were an eternal moral command for all people for all time, then the whole race of mankind would be under a curse, not just the nation of Israel. But our text says it is the whole nation of Israel who is under a curse for breaking the Mosaic Law.

Let’s take a look at some of the other verses in the book of Malachi that deal more fully with the spiritual condition of God’s people at that time that led to the pronouncement of this curse in verse 9.

. “To you priests who despise My name… You offer defiled food (KJV says “polluted bread”) on my altar…when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil” (1:6-8 NKJ)?

. “Who is there among you who would shut the doors (of the temple), so that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,” says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from your hands” (1:10 NKJ).

Consider what we have just read. The priests despise God’s name, their sacrifices are blind, lame and sick, and God says He will not accept their offering. So actually the people of Malachi’s day were tithing. It was the quality of their tithes from which they selected the blemished sacrifices that were unacceptable to God.

Why were blind, lame and sick animal sacrifices not acceptable to God? Because the animal sacrifices were a Shadow that pointed forward to the Substance—to the coming Reality—to the One who would become the ultimate and perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world—Jesus Christ!

That is why God had given the Israelites explicit instructions as to how sacrificial animals must be without spot or blemish (Leviticus 6:6; Deuteronomy 15:21; 1 Peter 1:19 NKJ). By offering blemished and second-rate sacrifices to God, the priests misrepresented what God was trying to teach the people spiritually about the coming Messiah—the spotless Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world once and for all time.

However, in another very literal sense it wasn’t the poor quality of their sacrifices that really angered God. It was the mind-set behind their giving. The infected and contaminated animals that they chose to sacrifice were but a symptom of their impure hearts. It was their hearts God was really after! Their tithes and offerings were totally unacceptable to God because their hearts were far from Him. They offered “blind, lame and sick sacrifices” because they themselves were spiritually blind, lame and sick, and were withholding their hearts from God.

The Storehouse

Moving on to Malachi 3:10 we see that God commands the Israelites to bring the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be “meat” in His house. God challenges them to prove His faithfulness to them by opening the windows of heaven and pouring out a blessing so great that there will not be enough room to receive it.

For some reason, many people think that whenever the word “storehouse” is mentioned it always refers to the temple in Jerusalem or to the rooms that were built on to the temple in Jerusalem to store the tithe (food). But that is not so. Since Jerusalem was not a Levitical city it makes no sense to teach that 100% of the tithe was brought to the Temple when most Levites and priests, along with their families did not live in Jerusalem, but in Levitical cities. Furthermore, since the general practice was for one family to serve in the Temple for only one week at a time, there was absolutely no reason to send the entire tithe to the Temple when 98% of those it was designed to feed were living in the Levitical cities.13

· “Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals” (Numbers 35:2-3; Joshua 21:1-8; 1 Chronicles 6).

· “Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses. Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers” (1 Chronicles 27:25).

· “…Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house…” (Malachi 3:10).

Offering “Polluted Bread”
The word “meat” in this verse comes from the Hebrew word “taraph” and means, “to pluck off or pull to pieces; to supply with food as in morsels.” Interestingly enough, from this plucking off, pulling to pieces, and morsels, comes the familiar phrase “breaking bread.”14

We know that the only food in God’s house was a dozen loaves of bread (shewbread) that were placed upon the shewbread table in the Holy Place. We also know that the tithes and offerings were not brought into the Holy Place of the tabernacle. I’m sure the nation of Israel brought enough grain into the storehouses to make twelve loaves of bread on a regular basis for the Holy Place. Therefore, the “meat” (bread) God is addressing in verse 10 must be referring to something other than a lack of shewbread in His house that the priests were permitted to eatis houseHisHis.

We know that all of the offerings, feasts, ceremonies and holy days associated with the temple worship and services were a type—a shadow that pointed forward to the future Substance—the future Reality—Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:16). Therefore, the “bread” in the Holy Place must foreshadow the true “Bread of Life—Jesus Christ.”

Let’s consider for a moment what Jesus had to say to the Jews about the “bread from heaven” which they said their fathers ate in the wilderness.

. “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:32-33).

We know that under the leadership of the prophet Moses God did feed the nation of Israel bread (manna) in the wilderness.

. “Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat” (John 6:31).

But the “bread from heaven” (manna) in the desert was not the true “bread from heaven”. Although the “bread from heaven” that the Israelites ate in the wilderness was of sufficient quantity it lacked quality because it was only a type of the “true bread from heaven.” It pointed forward to Jesus Christ—the true “bread from heaven.” That’s why Jesus told the Jews that Moses did not give their fathers bread from heaven. That’s why Jesus said; “He who comes down from heaven and gives His life to the world is the true bread of God.”

Just as the bread in the desert that fed the children of Israel was a type (shadow) of the true bread from heaven (Jesus Christ), so the “polluted bread” on the altar in Malachi’s day was a type (shadow) of the unpolluted, fresh, pure, “true bread from heaven”—Jesus Christ!

In order to receive this “blessing from heaven” that God promised the priests and people of Malachi’s day they were urged to turn away from their evil ways and practices that misrepresented God’s name. If they repented of their ways and returned to God He promised to rebuke the devourer for them, so that it would not destroy the fruits of the ground (verse 11). Undoubtedly, the “devourer” refers to locusts that God warns will come upon their crops if they fail to bring the tithe (Deuteronomy 28:38).

Furthermore, if Israel was obedient in the giving of tithes and offerings, all the nations will call her blessed (verse 12) because the promises of blessing included abundant crops, copious rains, and large increases in herds and flocks (Deuteronomy 28).

Although the blessings and cursings spoken of in Malachi 3:8-12 refer to the material blessings God promised Israel if she would obey His commandments and statutes, there is a deeper spiritual meaning that God wants His children in every generation to understand.

I believe the prophetic message of Malachi not only spoke to the hearts of God’s people in that generation who lived under the Old Covenant, but it also speaks to the hearts of people today who live under the New Covenant. We know from the author of Hebrews that God never wanted animal sacrifices in the first place. He wanted our hearts. He wants us.

. “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body you have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure” (Hebrews 10:5-6).

David also knew that His heart needed cleansing by God after His sin with Bathsheba. Animal sacrifices couldn’t do that. He knew that God delivers those who have a broken heart.

. “For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm51:16-17).

. “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Isaiah knew that God could heal the backslider’s heart.

. “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble” (Isaiah 57:15).

Samuel knew that obedience to God was more important that worship—offering sacrifices. Do we?

. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams" (I Sam. 15:22).

If God has our hearts we will not be offering “polluted bread” upon His altar, and there would be plenty of fresh “unpolluted bread” in His house. In essence, Malachi’s prophecy not only exposed the polluted hearts of the priests and people of His day, it also causes us to humbly examine our own hearts and see if there be any wicked way within us that needs to be repented of before God.

Summary:

1. Tithe was 10% of the increase taken from agricultural products grown in the fields, along with grains, fruits, herds and flocks.

2. Tithe was food, not the giving of money.

3. Only landowners tithed.

4. The First Tithe (Levitical Tithe) was used to support the Levite priests and their families because they had no land inheritance

5. The Second Tithe (Festival Tithe) was used to provide for the religious feasts and festivals.

6. The Third Tithe (Poor Tithe) was used to take care of the poor in their towns and provide for the alien, orphan and widow.

7. Tithe under the Old Covenant was similar to our government taxation today. Since Israel was ruled by a theocracy the people were responsible to support the priests, religious festivals and the poor and needy.

8. The people never tithed from their poverty, but only on their increase.

9. Storerooms were built on to the temple in Jerusalem to hold the overflow of tithe.

10. Tithing was mandatory, never voluntary. The Law of Moses required it.

11. If Israel failed to bring the tithe into God’s house and failed to offer acceptable sacrifices the nation would be under a curse so that the devourer (locusts) would eat their crops and destroy the fruits on their trees.

12. If Israel tithed on her increase and offered acceptable sacrifices required by the Law of Moses the nation would be materially blessed by abundant crops, plentiful rains and large increase in herds and flocks.

13. God did not require the best of the cattle and flocks for tithe, but He did require the best for sacrifices because they were a type (shadow) that pointed forward to the coming Reality—Jesus Christ.

14. If the people of Israel brought blind, lame and sick animals to the priests to offer as sacrifices the nation was under a curse.

15. Tithing was not an eternal moral command for people for all time, but a requirement of the Law of Moses for the nation of Israel.

16. God lumped both tithes and offerings (animal sacrifices) that were required by the Law of Moses, together when He objected to the way the nation of Israel was robbing Him of tithes and offerings.

17. If the Law of Moses (Old Covenant) became obsolete after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then tithing, along with animal sacrifices required under that Law have also been abolished.

Notes:
4.Verses that describe the contents of tithe: Leviticus 27:30, 32; Numbers 18:27, 28; Deuteronomy 12:17; 14:22, 23; 26 12; 2 Chronicles 31:5, 6; Nehemiah 10:37; 13:5; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23; Luke 11: 42.
5.Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D, “Should the church Teach Tithing?” A Theologians Conclusions About a Taboo Doctrine, p. 3. (http://www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com/).
6.Levi-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
7.Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D, “Should the church Teach Tithing?” A Theologians Conclusions About a Taboo Doctrine.
8.Levi-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
9.See Numbers 18:20-26; Deuteronomy 12:12; 14:27, 29; 18:1, 2; Joshua 13:14, 33; 14:3; 18:7; Ezekiel 44:28.
10.Brian Anderson, “Are Christians Supposed to Tithe?” (www.evangelizeamerica.org/apologetics/apologeticssub/tithing1.html). 11. The Truth about Tithing: http://www.biblebb.com/files/tithing.htm.
Should the Church Teach Tithing: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/the_church_and_tithing.html.
12. http://www.inplainsite.org/html/the_church_and_tithing.html
13.The American Heritage College Dictionary, p. 1444
14.Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, p. 105, #2963.

Chapter 6: How Tithing became a Doctrine of the Church

2008-02-18T17:58:00.000-08:00

by Hazel

Many books on Jewish social life explain how the earliest Christian assemblies patterned themselves after the Jewish synagogues which were led by rabbis who, like Paul, refused to earn income from preaching and teaching God’s Word.

Apparently for the first 200 years of church history the majority of great church leaders took self-imposed vows of poverty. They took Jesus’ words to the rich young ruler literally (Luke 18:22). A Christian leader living during that time could hardly tell a Roman census-taker that he was a full-time preacher of an “outlaw” religion!

Some early opponents of tithing were Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus and Tertullian. All opposed tithing as a strictly Jewish tradition. The Didache, a brief early Christian treatise containing instructions for Christian communities, condemned traveling apostles who stayed longer than three days and asked for money.

Around A. D. 250, Cyprian tried to impose tithing in Carthage, North Africa, but his ideas of tithing were never adopted. In A.D 585 the local church Council of Macon in France, also tried to enforce tithing on its members, but they were unsuccessful in their endeavors. It wasn’t until A.D. 777 that Charlemagne legally allowed the church to collect tithes.

Let’s look at a couple pieces of telling information from the Encyclopedia Britannica and The Catholic Encyclopedia.

. “Tithes in Christendom—The earliest authentic example of anything like a law of the State enforcing payment appears to occur in the capitularies [ecclesiasticals] of Charlemagne at the end of the 8th or beginning of the 9th century. Tithes were by that enactment to be applied to the maintenance of the bishop, clergy, the poor, and the fabric of the church. In the course of time the principle of payment of tithes was extended FAR BEYOND its original intention. Thus they became transferable to laymen and saleable like ordinary property, in spite of the injunctions of the third Lateran Council; and they became payable OUT OF SOURCES OF INCOME [not just farming and herding, but other trades and occupations and salaries paid in the form of money] NOT ORIGINALLY TITHABLE." (Encyclopedia Britannica 1963, volume 2, page 253, ‘TITHES’).

. “As the Church expanded and various institutions arose, it became necessary to make laws which would insure the proper and permanent support of the clergy. The payment of tithes was adopted from the Old Law... The earliest positive legislation on the subject seems to be contained in the letter of the bishops assembled at Tours in 567 and the [canons] of the Council of Macon in 585." (The Catholic Encyclopedia)

So we begin to see how this unscriptural law of Christian tithing crept into the church after being absent for nearly five centuries. Eventually the church "extended" their base of tithe collecting to include all forms of income.

I would venture to say that most Christian scholars and pastors today know that money was in wide use in ancient Israel, but was never used as a titheable commodity. In spite of the fact that they know this, they still insist that money be used as a tithe today.

Does God have a word for the "shepherds of the sheep" today that is the very same message that He had for the Levites in the book of Malachi? "My people have been lost sheep [Why? How did they get that way?] their SHEPHERDS have caused them to go astray" (Jer. 50:6).

Most in Israel were not consciously aware of the fact that they were being led astray by their spiritual leaders. Neither is the majority in the body of Christ today aware that they are being lead astray by their spiritual leaders.

After looking at these facts we see that it took over 700 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for tithing to become an accepted doctrine in the church. I wonder how many years it will take to reverse this old covenant mind-set that continues to remain a part of our lifestyle in the new covenant community?

We are well aware that tithing continues to be taught in many churches today as an obligatory duty for all believers. Therefore, most preachers today ignore the original instructions concerning the giving of tithes under the old covenant that we already discussed in Chapter 2. Since tithing was only required from those who either farmed the land or raised animals that meant that not everyone under the old covenant tithed. As we have already seen the biblical “tithe” was narrowly defined and limited by God Himself under the old covenant. as:

. only the “tithe of food”
. only from the farms and herds
. only Israelites who lived inside God’s Holy Land
. only under Old Covenant terms
. only the increase could be gathered from what God produced.

Therefore the following is also true under the old covenant system:

. non-food items could not be tithed
. clean wild game animals and fish could not be tithed
. non-Israelites could not tithe
. food from outside God’s holy land of Israel could not be tithed
. legitimate tithing did not occur when there was no Levitical priesthood
. tithes did not come from what man’s hands created, produced or caught by hunting and fishing.” 14

Since we are no longer under the old covenant system today the tithing rules must be “re-interpreted” by church leaders who insist that everyone today under the new covenant is still supposed to give 10% of their income to the local church. Notice that the dictionary definition of “Christian tithing” is not the biblical definition of tithing.

. “tithe (tith) n. 1a. A tenth part of one’s annual income contributed voluntarily or due as a tax, esp. for the support of the clergy or church.”15

Church leaders even encourage the poor to tithe often promising them that they can tithe their way out of their poverty. Such notions of obtaining material blessings appeal to the carnal nature, but continue to keep many members of the body of Christ in ignorance (I use to be) of what the Bible actually teaches on tithing.

Although the early church did not tithe, the apostle’s needs were met, the believer’s needs were met, and abundant resources were dispersed to the poor and needy, because the eternal principles of sacrificial giving remained. So if the early church did not tithe, and Jesus and the apostles did not advocate tithing, when are new covenant believers in the body of Christ today going to stand up for truth by resisting this old covenant teaching that continues to keep them in bondage to old covenant shadows?

Many ministers of the gospel have failed to teach the body of Christ that tithing is no longer required under the Better Covenant? Since Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross made the old covenant obsolete, then it follows that the package of laws that commanded tithes to be given to the Levites under the old covenant is also obsolete. The offering of physical sacrifices and the need for a Levitical priesthood is also obsolete. Since the Levitical priesthood has ended and has been replaced by the “priesthood of all believers” it follows that the temporary purpose of tithing has also ended. Just as God originally intended for every Israelite to become a priest before the golden calf incident, so today God intends that every new covenant believer (including the minister) become a priest who offers spiritual sacrifices to God.16

Why is this truth not clearly taught by those who know better? Most likely it is because they are afraid to trust the Holy Spirit to lead the people in voluntary and sacrificial giving. They are afraid that the finances of the church, along with their own personal incomes will suffer if people are freed from guilt-based giving.

By the lack of correct teaching regarding tithing the leadership of the church is actually saying that they believe that law-based giving works better than grace-based giving. But I wonder how many pastors would agree to obey Leviticus 25:4-7 that forbids collecting tithes every seventh year?

Insisting that believers continue to pay tithe in order to please God suggests that there is something we must do in order to gain His favor. Surely Jesus words in Matthew 23:23 where he criticized law-keeping Pharisees, should make it very clear that faithful tithing is no guarantee that we are pleasing God, and most certainly no guarantee of financial riches.

Unfortunately, the manner in which tithing is taught today reflects a failure of the leadership of the church to believe and act on the far better principles of love, grace and faith. This mandatory giving of 10% of one’s income NEVER can, NEVER has and NEVER will prosper the church more than the principles guided by love for Christ and lost souls.

By holding on to this “sacred cow” of tradition that has been handed down over the centuries (Matthew 15:3; Mark 7:8, 13) many spiritual leaders in the church are nullifying the word of God. Although religious leaders have resisted change in this area it will come because God wants His children transformed by truth. God wants His children freed from the traditions of men that cannot be substantiated by the Word of God (Mk. 7:1-13). God wants His children freed to become hilarious givers as they are led by the Spirit to give.

Perhaps we would do well to consider the author of Hebrews as he admonishes those who make of no effect the new covenant with these words:

· “Anyone who rejected the Law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think those deserve to be punished who have trampled the Son of God underfoot, who have treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who have insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:28-29).

In reality, “tithing” is the very least we can do. As redeemed believers, we are neither under the law, nor under the pressure of giving to “get” something in return. As redeemed believers we are God’s “house” in whom He chooses to dwell by His Spirit. Because Christ has already liberated us from the penalty of the law of sin and death we can be free to serve him as loving children—not slaves! We have been released to give freely as the Spirit leads us without the expectation of personal reward (Luke 14:12-14; 5:28). We are released to BE a blessing!

Notes:

14Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D. “Tithing is Not a Christian Doctrine,” (March 4, 2007 Updated), Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Americana and the Roman Catholic Encyclopedia,
(www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com).

15Greek-English Keyword Concordance, page 220.

16Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D, “Should the church Teach Tithing?” A Theologians Conclusions About a Taboo Doctrine, p.4.

Chapter 5: New Covenant Understanding of Giving

2008-02-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

by Hazel

As we have already established, tithing under the Old Covenant was required for the support of the Levitical priests and their families, for sponsoring religious feasts and festivals and for taking care of the poor and needy. Obedience to the Old Covenant Law in these matters was rewarded by physical and material blessings, but failure to obey them was punished by the removal of such blessings.

However, as New Covenant believers we have already received a far better spiritual blessing than any physical or material blessings Old Covenant believers received. Since Jesus paid the price for our sins making the cross a finished work, how can we by our actions earn further blessings from God? Aren’t we already the inheritor’s of “all things” in Christ (2 Peter 1:3)?

Although the New Testament is silent on tithing being part of any New Covenant lifestyle it is very vocal on the subject of giving. Therefore, how much more willing ought we to be to give from a heart of thankfulness for the eternal spiritual blessings we have freely received in Christ? To ever think or imagine, “If I don’t tithe, or I don’t give I’ll loose favor with God,” negates the very reason that Jesus died. The “blessing” we have already received from Him is eternal life (John 17:1-3; 1 John. 5:20). What could be greater than that?

Under the New Covenant God desires a love relationship with us, not a legal obligation from us. We are being empowered by the Spirit to give out of love for God without any minimum expectation. Because we have been freed from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2), we are released into the law of the spirit of Life! Everything we are and everything we have belongs to Him. Surely God deserve more than we could ever possibly give

Giving in the Early Church

I believe the principle of sacrificial and voluntary giving established in the early church stemmed from their clear understanding that the precious blood of Jesus had redeemed them from their futile attempts at trying to obey the Law of Moses.

· For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake” (1 Peter 1:18-20).

Let’s look at some New Testament examples of how redeemed believers gave intentionally of themselves and their possessions out of sincere love for one another, because they had “been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (I Peter 1:23).

· “Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common (a localized practice of the early church). They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” (Acts 2:43-45).

· “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need” (Acts 4:32-35).

· “During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the believers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:27-30).

· “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship” (Acts 20: 34-38).

· “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings” (Acts 24:17).

· “Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord's people there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord's people in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way” (Romans 15:25-28).

· “In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. But I have not used any of these rights” (1 Corinthians 9:14-15).

· “Nevertheless, those who receive instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:6, 10).

· “Now about the collection for the Lord's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

· “And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability… Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little” (2 Corinthians 8:1-15).

· “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion (‘anagke’ under constraint, coercion, or distress), for God loves a cheerful (hilarious, prompt, and willing) giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

. “James, Cephas and John…gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me… All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along” (Galatians 2:9-10).

. “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another. If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:16-18).

. “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:14).

. “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

Giving versus Tithing in the Church Today

After reading these New Testament examples of giving in the early church we can’t help but come to the conclusion that giving willingly and sacrificially images the character of God. Just as redeemed believers in the early church were no longer constrained by the obsolete rules and regulations of the Old Covenant in their practice of giving, neither should we be.

But many believers in the church today are constrained by the obsolete rules of the old covenant. Why is this? How did the old covenant mind-set regarding tithing become a part of the new covenant community when it was absent in the early church? Why do many church leaders teach that tithing is not only mandatory for church membership, but also that the historical church has always taught tithing. Let’s take a look at the historical facts and see how this change came about in the next chapter.

Summary:

. Old Covenant tithing has been replaced by New Covenant giving.

. Redeemed believers no longer give under the fear of being “cursed” (Galatians 3:13), because we are not under the Old Covenant law anymore—not for tithing, not for obeying Sabbath laws, not for burning sacrifices, not for any of those things the Israelites were required to do.

. Redeemed believers should never give out of guilt.

. Redeemed believers should never give to “get” a blessing from God because the blessings are already ours in Christ.

. From the way so many in the early church gave of their means to help those who were in need we can safely say that their giving far exceeded that of an Old Covenant tithe.

. No guilt tactics were ever used by Paul to coerce believers into giving.

. Although Paul waived his right to be financially supported by the church at Corinth where he ministered the gospel, ministers of the gospel today have the right to expect provision, “for workers are worth their keep” (Matthew 10:10).

. Redeemed believers share a deep love for one another

. Giving to the needs of the poor and presenting offerings for the work of ministry is done out of our love for God’s children.

. Setting a sum of aside in advance to help meet the need of helping people is being a responsible steward.

. Putting money aside for a church building fund was not mentioned in the early church!

. The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) cannot be regulated by a percentage, because against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).

. The New Testament never gives a certain percentage point as an obligatory and required standard for our giving.

. Voluntary giving from the heart is what Abram and Jacob were doing before the institution of the Law, voluntary giving from the heart is what the early church did, and voluntary giving from the heart is what all believers are to be doing today.

. Believers are free to give the amount they choose to give as the Spirit leads them.

. Christ is the standard of the believer’s giving who gave 100% of Himself—, including His very life in order to redeem sinful man.

. Believers are freed to give sacrificially.

. Anyone using the old covenant tithing laws to try and coerce people into guilt-based giving is totally out of line with the new covenant gospel of Jesus Christ.

Chapter 4: Tithing in the New Testament

2008-02-18T17:38:00.000-08:00

by Hazel

There are four different passages that mention the subject of “tithe” in the New Testament. Let’s examine each one, and see if there’s a command or even a word to suggest that Christians should tithe today.

• "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone” (Matthew 23:23).

• “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone” (Luke 11:42).

Notice that in both of these passages the tithe had to do with garden herbs, which are products of the field—not money. But even more importantly Jesus criticized these very religious, law-keeping Pharisees for treating tithing (was a law at the time Jesus spoke this) as more important than mercy, love, justice and faithfulness.

It is essential that we understand that these Pharisees lived under the Old Covenant. They lived under a different covenant than New Testament believers today. It was Christ’s death that inaugurated the New Covenant, thereby bringing about a change in the law (See Luke 22:20; Hebrews 7:12). Also notice that the tithe mentioned here was not voluntary. Jesus tells them they “ought” to have tithed, because tithing was still obligatory.
• “I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get”(Luke 18:12).

In this passage in Luke Jesus is telling the parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector. Christ is speaking about a self-righteous Pharisee who trusts in something he does (tithing) to be acceptable before God while living under the Mosaic Law, not of a Christian tithing under the New Covenant.

• “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he abides a priest perpetually. Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and blessed the one who had the promises. But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him” (Hebrews 7:1-10).

The design of the author in this rather lengthy passage of Scripture is to show the superiority of the priesthood of Jesus Christ over the Levitical priesthood. The author of Hebrews is simply restating the fact that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek from the spoils of war—a fact that we discussed earlier.

Notice that this passage of Scripture is not exhorting believers to give tithe like Abraham did, but rather instructing believers to perceive the excellence of Christ, who ministers as a Priest far superior to the Levites. Therefore, this passage cannot be used to impose mandatory tithing on Christians. It is not written to address that issue and has nothing to do with Christian giving, but everything to do with the superiority of Christ.

After checking out these four New Testament references on tithing it is clear that there is not one command or even a suggestion that New Covenant believers are supposed to tithe. Although this long held Christian tradition has survived some two thousand years after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no Scriptural support for it. Whatsmore, in my opinion, anyone teaching such a doctrine has no clear understanding of the mission of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant.

Summary:

• There are only four different passages in the entire New Testament that mention the subject of “tithe”. Tithing is not mentioned as part of any teaching in the New Testament.

• Tithing was a Law of Moses at the time Jesus denounced very religious, law-keeping scribes and Pharisees for treating tithing (garden herbs) as more important than mercy, love, justice and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42).

• The author of Hebrews simply restates the fact that Abraham voluntarily paid tithes to Melchizedek from the spoils of war before the Law of Moses was in effect

• The author of Hebrews is not exhorting believers to give tithe like Abraham did, but rather instructing believers to perceive the excellence of Christ who ministers as a Priest far superior to the Levitical priesthood.

• The passage from Hebrews cannot be used to impose mandatory tithing on Christians today because it was not written to address that issue and has nothing to do with Christian giving, but everything to do with the superiority of Christ.

• There is no command or even a word of suggestion in these New Testament verses that New Covenant believers are supposed to tithe.

• Although this Christian tradition of tithing has survived some two thousand years after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no Scriptural support for it.

• Although Jesus spoke a lot about money and giving, He did not teach the apostles, the disciples, or His followers about tithe being obligatory for believers who followed Him.

• Jesus did not receive tithes. He was supported by "gifts" (Luke 8:3, 9:1-6 10:3-16, Matthew 10:1-10; Mark. 6:7-11).

• There is no record that tithing was part of the apostles teaching.

• No New Testament believer ever tithed or gave money to “get” something from God.

Chapter 2: Tithing Under the Old Covenant Law

2008-02-18T16:36:00.000-08:00

by Hazel

In this section we will examine everything that the Bible teaches about tithing under the old covenant. We will learn what the tithe was, who paid tithe, what the purpose of the four different tithes were under the Hebrew economy, and who benefited from receiving them.

What was Tithe?

. “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. If a man redeems any of his tithe he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd of the flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution…” (Leviticus 27:30-33).

From these verses we have just read we learn the following:

. Tithe came from the “land.”
. It was the “seed” of agricultural products from the fields that were to be tithed.
. Fruit from “trees” was to be tithed.
. The “tenth” animal from a “herd or flock” that passed under the rod was holy to the Lord.

Contrary to the popular practice of tithing today, it was not the first tenth, but rather the tenth tenth that belonged to God. It was the tenth one of a herd that belonged to God. In other words if a herdsman had only nine cattle or a shepherd had only nine sheep, he didn’t tithe his cattle or sheep at all. Notice also as you look at this Scripture that God did not require the best of the cattle for tithe (as he did for sacrifices), just the tenth one to pass under the rod even if it was the “runt of the litter.”

To summarize, these verses identify the tithe to be 10% of the increase taken from agricultural products of the fields, fruits from the trees, herds and flocks. In other words the tithe was food, not money!4 Nowhere in the old covenant will you find that tithing was the giving of money to God. Furthermore, this tithe was probably given on an annual basis.

Who Paid Tithe?

But what about people who lived under the Law of Moses, but were neither agricultural farmers, nor herdsmen or shepherds? Did they tithe 10% of the increase from their labor? Here are the facts.5

· Tradesmen who made baskets for harvesting did not tithe.
· Cobblers who made shoes for the servants of the field did not tithe.
· Carpenters who made wagons used for harvesting the fields did not tithe.
· Potters who made the jugs for carrying water to servants in the fields did not tithe.
· Women who made garments for field-workers did not tithe.
· Servants who worked in the fields for wages did not tithe.
· Fishermen did not tithe.
· Only landowners tithed.

Purpose of the Tithes

We have already established that the tithe was food and not money. Since God doesn’t need food, and He doesn’t need us to give him a tenth of our money when He already owns everything (Psalm 24:1), then the tithe must be needed to feed and support people. In order to see who the first people were that God chose to support in this way let us take a brief look at the background of Levites and priests.

Who were the Levites and Priests?

The Levites trace their geneology back to “Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (also called Israel). Levi had three sons—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari (Genesis 46:11). Kohath's son Amram was the father of Miriam, Aaron and Moses. The decendants of Aaron: the Kohanim (“Priests”) had the special role as priests in the Tabernacle in the wildereness and also in the Temple in Jerusalem. The remaining Levites divided into three groups: the descendants of Gershon (Gershonites), the descendants of Kohath, (Kohathites), and the descendants of Merari, (Merarites) each filled different roles and had different responsibilies in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple services.”6

The First Tithe (Levitical Tithe)

· “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance, in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting… It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting, and bear the responsibility of offenses against it… They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord…’” (Numbers 18:21-24).

From this passage of Scripture we learn that this tithe did not go to the priests, as is most frequently taught, but it went to support the Levites who were the servants of the priests and were responsible for taking care of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle in the wilderness and later temple in Jerusalem).

This Levitical tithe was the compensation God provided for the Levites and their families for their service in the Tent of Meeting. In the Hebrew economy, this tithe was used in a totally different manner than it is preached about today. It was similar to the support that government workers receive today in America through the taxes of the common workingman.

The Levites’ work

In Number 3 we find the Levites described as carpenters, metal workers, leather-craftsmen and artists who maintained the small sanctuary. 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 Chronicles 23-27).7 Levites also served as teachers and judges, maintaining cities of refuge in Biblical times. Also the Book of Ezra reports that the Levites were responsible for the construction of the Second Temple, and also translated and explained the Torah when it was publicly read.”8

These biblical examples of the use of tithe-income (food) are not well known about in the body of Christ today!

Levites Tithe to Priests

· The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering… From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest. You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.'” (Numbers 18:25-29; Nehemiah 10:38).

In these verses in the same chapter we notice that the Levites gave the best tenth of the tithe they received to the priests who ministered the sin sacrifices and served inside the sanctuary and later in the Temple.

Levites and Priests forfeit land inheritance

· “The LORD said to Aaron, ‘You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites. I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting… It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites'" (Numbers 18:20-24).

It’s also important to note that in exchange for receiving these tithes, both Levites and priests forfeited all rights to permanent land inheritance inside Israel.9 Unlike the rest of the tribes of Israel who were given land as their inheritance in the land of Canaan, neither the Levites nor the priests were given any land. God was their inheritance (Numbers 18:20-21). Without the tithe “inheritance” the Levites would have been forced to raise their own food that would take them away from their temple duties.

In fact, Nehemiah 13:10-13 records a time when the Levites did abandon their daily temple duties to work the farms to feed their families, because the remaining tribes failed to provide food for them. Is it possible that by failing to take care of the Levites (who in turn were supposed to tithe to the priests) by providing food for them and their families, the remaining tribes were ‘robbing God’ of ministry and worship in the temple?

Also, in verse three of this same chapter (Numbers 18) notice that the Levites, who received this First Tithe, were prohibited from ministering blood sacrifices under penalty of death. There seems to be no continuation to the New Covenant here!

It seems safe to say that during most of Israel’s history the Law never motivated tithe-receiving Levites and priests to ever encourage a single Gentile to become an Israelite. Why is this? I believe it is because the Law mandated Old Covenant tithing, not love.

Purpose of a Second Tithe (Festival Tithe)

I would venture to say that most of us have only heard of the first tithe that we have already discussed. Nevertheless, the following verses speak of a tithe being used to provide for the religious feasts and festivals of Israel. Since we already read in Numbers 18:21 that God gave all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance to the Levites, how can this tithe be used for the religious feasts and festivals of Israel? The answer must be that this is a second tithe. The first tithe was used to support the Levites (Levitical Tithe), who in turn supported the priests, but this second tithe was used to sponsor the religious festivals (Festival Tithe). This tithe (food) was eaten by worshipers in the streets of Jerusalem during their three yearly festivals.

. “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away, then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your god will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like; cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own” (Deuteronomy 14:22-27; See also 12:6-7, 11-12, 17-18).

The people of Israel were to use this second tithe to eat in the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem (the place where He chose to establish His name). If it was too burdensome for them to bring their tithe all the way to Jerusalem, they were permitted to sell it and bring the money to Jerusalem where they could purchase goods for the festivals. God expressly encourages them to spend their money on “whatever their heart desires,” including strong drink! The purpose was so that the people of Israel would learn to fear the Lord their God and rejoice before Him. Eating one’s own tithe before the Lord, and rejoicing in God’s provision was a very personal act of worship. Apparently, having a sense of the fear of the Lord and rejoicing before Him are not mutually exclusive. This tithe made it possible for the people of Israel to obtain all the food and drink necessary to enjoy the religious feasts of Israel and worship before Him.10

Purpose of a Third Tithe (Poor Tithe)

Although Bible commentators are divided as to whether this tithe is actually a third separate tithe, or just the second tithe used in a different way on the third year, the Jewish historian Josephus supports the view that this was a third separate tithe. Other ancient Jewish commentators have written in support of the latter view also.

. “At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands” (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; also 26:12-13).

In any event, the Israelites were commanded to give at least 20 per cent of their harvests, herds and flocks and perhaps even more. This particular tithe was not to be gathered in Jerusalem, but in their own towns. The people in the towns were to bring a tithe of their crops and herds and flocks and gather them together to take care of the poor of their towns including the aliens, orphans and widows (Poor Tithe).

It is interesting to note that the poor in Israel were not required to pay tithe—they received tithes. Besides this third year tithe, much of the Festival Tithe also went to the poor. In fact, many laws protected the poor from abuse and expensive sacrifices that they could not afford.

In many respects, it appears that the tithe required under the Old Covenant Law is similar to our governmental taxation today. Since Israel was ruled by a theocracy the people were responsible to support the government workers (priests), holidays (festivals), and poor (aliens, widows and orphans).11

Purpose of a Fourth Tithe

According to these verses in 1 Samuel, the King would collect the first and best ten per cent for political use.

· “He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day” (1 Samuel 8:15-18).

It is also interesting to note that 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 from Israel.12

Tithe on the Increase Only

Notice that Israel never tithed from their poverty, but only on their increase. God never intended for people to tithe on what they didn’t have, but only on the increase of what God gave them.

. “When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and has given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled” (Deuteronomy 26:12).

Storerooms for the Tithe

After cleaning house in the cities of Judah by destroying the idols and altars to pagan gods, the people of Nehemiah’s day covenanted to turn away from these sins and pledge themselves to God by obeying and observing the duties of the law they had neglected.

Again, there is no mention of money, but only agricultural products from the fields. Only the Levites and priests could have access to these tithes and offerings

. “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury” (Nehemiah 10:37-38).

Under King Hezekiah’s reign the order had been given to prepare storerooms in the temple to hold the overflow of tithe (verse 11). Apparently the “tithe” of grain, new wine, honey, and all that the fields produced was heaped up in the streets because there was such an abundance of blessing from the Lord. Thus, storerooms were rooms built on to the temple in Jerusalem.
. “As soon as the order went out (from King Hezekiah), the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. The men of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps” (2 Chronicles 31:5-6).

Tithing was Mandatory

Tithing was never voluntary under Mosaic Law. In Nehemiah's day men were appointed to gather the offerings and tithes that were required by the law into storerooms designated for that particular purpose. This giving was not voluntary as it had been in the case of Abraham and Jacob.
· “At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites” (Nehemiah 12:44).

· “Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people…” (Hebrews 7:5).

Tithing in Malachi’s Prophecy

We are all well aware that the following verses in the book of Malachi continue to be used as the main authority for supporting the doctrine of “Christian tithing.” In order to understand some important truths from this passage, let’s examine these verses in the context of the whole book of Malachi in order to see if we can wrest a doctrine of Christian tithing from this prophecy.
· “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, 'How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty” (Malachi 3:8-12).

We have already discovered that under the Old Covenant tithing was compulsory. Notice that verse 8 says the people were robbing God of “tithes” (plural). So these tithes must refer to the three different tithes required under the Old Mosaic Law. To withhold these tithes was to become a thief.

Withholding of Tithes & Offerings

Additionally, this verse also states that it was not only the withholding of tithes that God objected to, but also the withholding of offerings. These offerings were the grain offering, the fellowship or peace offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering and the burnt offering, (Leviticus 2-7). Primarily these offerings were animal sacrifices. Also the Levites food supply was provided in large part through these animal sacrifices of which they were permitted to partake of in certain instances.

An important question comes to mind at this point. Why is it that in the Body of Christ today we recognize animal sacrifices to be obsolete under the New Covenant, but tithing is not? Since God lumps them both together (tithes and animal sacrifices) and says that His people were robbing Him by withholding both of them, then if we are obligated to pay tithe today, then most certainly we are also obligated to offer animal sacrifices! Either we must offer both tithes and animal sacrifices (offerings) or both these requirements have been abolished by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

In verse 9 we are told that if Israel withheld the tithes and offerings the nation would be under a cursed. This is in keeping with the Mosaic Law (See Deuteronomy 28) that Israel had agreed to enter into with God. We are told that if Israel disobeyed God's commandments and statutes their crops would fail, the rains would not come, the harvests would be small, the locusts would consume their food, the fruit of the trees would fail, to name just a few of the curses. In this same chapter God also carefully outlines the many blessings He will pour out upon them as a nation if they were obedient to His commands.

An interesting fact to point out at this time is that if tithing were an eternal moral command for all people for all time, then the whole race of mankind would be under a curse, not just the nation of Israel. But our text says it is the whole nation of Israel who is under a curse for breaking the Mosaic Law.

Let’s take a look at some of the other verses in the book of Malachi that deal more fully with the spiritual condition of God’s people at that time that led to the pronouncement of this curse in verse 9.

. “To you priests who despise My name… You offer defiled food (KJV says “polluted bread”) on my altar…when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil” (1:6-8 NKJ)?

. “Who is there among you who would shut the doors (of the temple), so that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,” says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from your hands” (1:10 NKJ).

Consider what we have just read. The priests despise God’s name, their sacrifices are blind, lame and sick, and God says He will not accept their offering. So actually the people of Malachi’s day were tithing. It was the quality of their tithes from which they selected the blemished sacrifices that were unacceptable to God.

Why were blind, lame and sick animal sacrifices not acceptable to God? Because the animal sacrifices were a Shadow that pointed forward to the Substance—to the coming Reality—to the One who would become the ultimate and perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world—Jesus Christ!

That is why God had given the Israelites explicit instructions as to how sacrificial animals must be without spot or blemish (Leviticus 6:6; Deuteronomy 15:21; 1 Peter 1:19 NKJ). By offering blemished and second-rate sacrifices to God, the priests misrepresented what God was trying to teach the people spiritually about the coming Messiah—the spotless Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world once and for all time.

However, in another very literal sense it wasn’t the poor quality of their sacrifices that really angered God. It was the mind-set behind their giving. The infected and contaminated animals that they chose to sacrifice were but a symptom of their impure hearts. It was their hearts God was really after! Their tithes and offerings were totally unacceptable to God because their hearts were far from Him. They offered “blind, lame and sick sacrifices” because they themselves were spiritually blind, lame and sick, and were withholding their hearts from God.

The Storehouse

Moving on to Malachi 3:10 we see that God commands the Israelites to bring the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be “meat” in His house. God challenges them to prove His faithfulness to them by opening the windows of heaven and pouring out a blessing so great that there will not be enough room to receive it.

For some reason, many people think that whenever the word “storehouse” is mentioned it always refers to the temple in Jerusalem or to the rooms that were built on to the temple in Jerusalem to store the tithe (food). But that is not so. Since Jerusalem was not a Levitical city it makes no sense to teach that 100% of the tithe was brought to the Temple when most Levites and priests, along with their families did not live in Jerusalem, but in Levitical cities. Furthermore, since the general practice was for one family to serve in the Temple for only one week at a time, there was absolutely no reason to send the entire tithe to the Temple when 98% of those it was designed to feed were living in the Levitical cities.13

· “Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals” (Numbers 35:2-3; Joshua 21:1-8; 1 Chronicles 6).

· “Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses. Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers” (1 Chronicles 27:25).

· “…Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house…” (Malachi 3:10).

Offering “Polluted Bread”

The word “meat” in this verse comes from the Hebrew word “taraph” and means, “to pluck off or pull to pieces; to supply with food as in morsels.” Interestingly enough, from this plucking off, pulling to pieces, and morsels, comes the familiar phrase “breaking bread.”14

We know that the only food in God’s house was a dozen loaves of bread (shewbread) that were placed upon the shewbread table in the Holy Place. We also know that the tithes and offerings were not brought into the Holy Place of the tabernacle. I’m sure the nation of Israel brought enough grain into the storehouses to make twelve loaves of bread on a regular basis for the Holy Place. Therefore, the “meat” (bread) God is addressing in verse 10 must be referring to something other than a lack of shewbread in His house that the priests were permitted to eatis houseHisHis.

We know that all of the offerings, feasts, ceremonies and holy days associated with the temple worship and services were a type—a shadow that pointed forward to the future Substance—the future Reality—Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:16). Therefore, the “bread” in the Holy Place must foreshadow the true “Bread of Life—Jesus Christ.”

Let’s consider for a moment what Jesus had to say to the Jews about the “bread from heaven” which they said their fathers ate in the wilderness.

. “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:32-33).

We know that under the leadership of the prophet Moses God did feed the nation of Israel bread (manna) in the wilderness.

. “Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat” (John 6:31).

But the “bread from heaven” (manna) in the desert was not the true “bread from heaven”. Although the “bread from heaven” that the Israelites ate in the wilderness was of sufficient quantity it lacked quality because it was only a type of the “true bread from heaven.” It pointed forward to Jesus Christ—the true “bread from heaven.” That’s why Jesus told the Jews that Moses did not give their fathers bread from heaven. That’s why Jesus said; “He who comes down from heaven and gives His life to the world is the true bread of God.”

Just as the bread in the desert that fed the children of Israel was a type (shadow) of the true bread from heaven (Jesus Christ), so the “polluted bread” on the altar in Malachi’s day was a type (shadow) of the unpolluted, fresh, pure, “true bread from heaven”—Jesus Christ!

In order to receive this “blessing from heaven” that God promised the priests and people of Malachi’s day they were urged to turn away from their evil ways and practices that misrepresented God’s name. If they repented of their ways and returned to God He promised to rebuke the devourer for them, so that it would not destroy the fruits of the ground (verse 11). Undoubtedly, the “devourer” refers to locusts that God warns will come upon their crops if they fail to bring the tithe (Deuteronomy 28:38).

Furthermore, if Israel was obedient in the giving of tithes and offerings, all the nations will call her blessed (verse 12) because the promises of blessing included abundant crops, copious rains, and large increases in herds and flocks (Deuteronomy 28).

Although the blessings and cursings spoken of in Malachi 3:8-12 refer to the material blessings God promised Israel if she would obey His commandments and statutes, there is a deeper spiritual meaning that God wants His children in every generation to understand.

I believe the prophetic message of Malachi not only spoke to the hearts of God’s people in that generation who lived under the Old Covenant, but it also speaks to the hearts of people today who live under the New Covenant. We know from the author of Hebrews that God never wanted animal sacrifices in the first place. He wanted our hearts. He wants us.

. “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body you have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure” (Hebrews 10:5-6).

David also knew that His heart needed cleansing by God after His sin with Bathsheba. Animal sacrifices couldn’t do that. He knew that God delivers those who have a broken heart.

. “For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm51:16-17).

. “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Isaiah knew that God could heal the backslider’s heart.

. “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble” (Isaiah 57:15).

Samuel knew that obedience to God was more important that worship—offering sacrifices. Do we?

. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams" (I Sam. 15:22).

If God has our hearts we will not be offering “polluted bread” upon His altar, and there would be plenty of fresh “unpolluted bread” in His house. In essence, Malachi’s prophecy not only exposed the polluted hearts of the priests and people of His day, it also causes us to humbly examine our own hearts and see if there be any wicked way within us that needs to be repented of before God.

Summary:

1. Tithe was 10% of the increase taken from agricultural products grown in the fields, along with grains, fruits, herds and flocks.

2. Tithe was food, not the giving of money.

3. Only landowners tithed.

4. The First Tithe (Levitical Tithe) was used to support the Levite priests and their families because they had no land inheritance

5. The Second Tithe (Festival Tithe) was used to provide for the religious feasts and festivals.

6. The Third Tithe (Poor Tithe) was used to take care of the poor in their towns and provide for the alien, orphan and widow.

7. Tithe under the Old Covenant was similar to our government taxation today. Since Israel was ruled by a theocracy the people were responsible to support the priests, religious festivals and the poor and needy.

8. The people never tithed from their poverty, but only on their increase.

9. Storerooms were built on to the temple in Jerusalem to hold the overflow of tithe.

10. Tithing was mandatory, never voluntary. The Law of Moses required it.

11. If Israel failed to bring the tithe into God’s house and failed to offer acceptable sacrifices the nation would be under a curse so that the devourer (locusts) would eat their crops and destroy the fruits on their trees.

12. If Israel tithed on her increase and offered acceptable sacrifices required by the Law of Moses the nation would be materially blessed by abundant crops, plentiful rains and large increase in herds and flocks.

13. God did not require the best of the cattle and flocks for tithe, but He did require the best for sacrifices because they were a type (shadow) that pointed forward to the coming Reality—Jesus Christ.

14. If the people of Israel brought blind, lame and sick animals to the priests to offer as sacrifices the nation was under a curse.

15. Tithing was not an eternal moral command for people for all time, but a requirement of the Law of Moses for the nation of Israel.

16. God lumped both tithes and offerings (animal sacrifices) that were required by the Law of Moses, together when He objected to the way the nation of Israel was robbing Him of tithes and offerings.

17. If the Law of Moses (Old Covenant) became obsolete after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then tithing, along with animal sacrifices required under that Law have also been abolished.

Notes:

4.Verses that describe the contents of tithe: Leviticus 27:30, 32; Numbers 18:27, 28; Deuteronomy 12:17; 14:22, 23; 26 12; 2 Chronicles 31:5, 6; Nehemiah 10:37; 13:5; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23; Luke 11: 42.
5.Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D, “Should the church Teach Tithing?” A Theologians Conclusions About a Taboo Doctrine, p. 3. (www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com).

6.Levi-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
7.Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D, “Should the church Teach Tithing?” A Theologians Conclusions About a Taboo Doctrine.
8.Levi-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
9.See Numbers 18:20-26; Deuteronomy 12:12; 14:27, 29; 18:1, 2; Joshua 13:14, 33; 14:3; 18:7; Ezekiel 44:28.
10.Brian Anderson, “Are Christians Supposed to Tithe?” (www.evangelizeamerica.org/apologetics/apologeticssub/tithing1.html).

11. The Truth about Tithing: http://www.biblebb.com/files/tithing.htm.
Should the Church Teach Tithing: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/the_church_and_tithing.html.

12. http://www.inplainsite.org/html/the_church_and_tithing.html

13.The American Heritage College Dictionary, p. 1444

14.Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, p. 105, #2963.

Introduction: Transformed by Truth

2008-02-18T15:05:00.000-08:00

by Hazel

I hadn’t known the joy of Spirit-led giving until several years ago when I was moved by the Spirit during a time of corporate prayer to give my tithe to a sister in the church who was about to loose her home. She hadn’t been able to work for a number of months due to a work-related back injury, and even though she had received some financial assistance she was still seriously behind in her house payments.

Having been taught all my life that the tithe belonged to the Lord, I was taken by surprise when the Lord brought a picture to my mind as we were praying of how believers in the early church helped one another and gave to anyone as they had need (Acts 2: 32-35 NIV). I began to weep as I experienced the Father’s heart for His hurting daughter, and gave her the money that I would normally have given to the church.

For several months God prompted me to give to her in this way as He did several others in the church. Soon she was back on her feet and able to resume her job. Knowing that we had been able to help bear our sister’s burden during her time of extreme financial stress brought us much joy.

Thus began my journey prompted by the Holy Spirit to start studying the subject of tithing and giving. I began to sense that God wanted to move mightily among us as He did the early church if we would only give unselfishly and generously from our hearts as we were moved by the Holy Spirit.

I must admit that I have always struggled with tithe because I have seen so much guilt-based giving and misuse of Scripture when it comes to this subject. So as I prayed for wisdom to understand God’s heart on this matter I began to see what someone has so succinctly stated that perhaps the “tithe” is to the modern church of today what the issue of “circumcision” was to the church in Paul’s day.1

Could it be that the Church’s current practice of hanging on to the old covenant system of compulsory tithing has become a “sacred cow” that continues to keep the body of Christ in spiritual bondage? As we examine all the Scriptural references on this subject let us do so with an open heart and mind and a desire to know truth so that we can “come out” from being manipulated and controlled by unbiblical and erroneous approaches to obtaining funds for the support of the church. I believe God wants to expose this current practice of the church that has resisted change for centuries so that we can transition from the old covenant system of compulsory tithing to the new covenant understanding of giving hilariously as we are led to give by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 9:7).

So let’s examine what the Bible has to say about the following:

* Tithing Before the Law was given
* Tithing Under the Old Covenant
* Tithing in the New Testament
* New Covenant Understanding of Giving

Endnotes:

1Jack Helser, “To Tithe or not to Tithe” (article), p. 1.

Chapter 1: Tithing Before The Law Began

2008-02-18T15:04:00.000-08:00

by Hazel

There are two passages of Scripture that speak of a tithe being given before the Law was instituted at Mount Sinai. They involve Abraham and Jacob.

“When Abram heard that his relative (Lot) had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan… He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. The king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.’ But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me…’” (Genesis 14:14-24; compare same event in Hebrews 7:1-10).

Here in this passage of Scripture we learn that Abram had gone to war on behalf of Sodom in order to rescue his nephew Lot who had been taken captive by the four kings who had also seized the goods and food of Sodom and Gomorrah. Returning victorious from battle, Abram gave a tithe (10%) of these spoils of war to Melchizedek as an expression of gratitude to God for enabling him to rescue his nephew Lot. An interesting observation is that in Numbers 31, God only required 1% of spoils of war.

Notice that Abram told the king of Sodom that he would take none of the spoils of war for himself. He refused to take any of it, but allowed the king of Sodom to keep 90%. Clearly, Abram did not give a tithe from his personal possessions, but rather a tithe of the booty of war taken from conquered nations. (Read the entire story in Genesis 14:8-24).

I found it interesting to discover that most commentaries on this passage agree that when the king of Sodom told Abram to give him the people and Abram could keep the goods for himself, this was an example of pagan Arab tradition. We know from the text that Abram refused to have anything to do with this pagan tradition.2

Therefore, it makes no sense to explain that Abraham’s tithing of the spoils of war to Melchizedek is an example for Christians to give 10% of their income to God. Notice that Abram also gave 90% of the spoils of war to the king of Sodom! What are Christians supposed to do with that example of Abram?

There is no evidence in this passage of Scripture that God commanded tithing. Everything in the text leads us to conclude just the opposite. The giving of this tithe from the spoils of war was completely voluntary—not mandatory. It was Abraham's decision and choice. Quite the opposite of what we shall discover later in our study of this subject.

Furthermore, this is the only tithe ever mentioned in Scripture that Abram gave. Although Abram’s tithing of the spoils of war predated the Law of Moses, it should not be used as evidence by Christian scholars that tithing was Abram’s general practice, or that he ever tithed on a regular basis on his own personal possessions. Also since Abram (later, Abraham) had no Levitical priesthood to support, he had no place to bring tithes to during the many moves in his nomadic life.

It is dangerous to single out one unparalleled event from the Bible, take it out of context and use it as Scriptural proof that Christians should give 10% of their annual income to the church for the support of the ministry and for the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. What we need to grasp from this passage of Scripture is that Abraham, the “father of the faithful,” gave willingly and not under law.

This second passage of Scripture deals with how Jacob tithed to God before the Law was given:

“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth’” (Genesis 28:20-22).

In these verses we learn that Jacob makes a vow in response to a visitation of God to him in a dream (verses 13-15). God promised Jacob that He would be with him, and keep him wherever he would go and bring him back to this land. In response, Jacob vowed that if God kept His promise, He in turn would give God a tenth. God not only honored Jacob’s tithing proposal, He continued to honor this same principle of tithing all throughout Israel’s history. Israel was not to tithe on what they did not first possess. God doesn’t expect a tithe until He blessed the tithe payer first.

Let’s carefully observe what the text actually says. Nowhere are we told that God commanded Jacob to give Him a tithe. Following Abram’s example of tithing, it appears that the giving of this tithe was also completely voluntary on Jacob's part. There is no evidence whatsoever in the text to remotely suggest that tithing was the general practice of Jacob's life. Even if Jacob did begin to tithe after God fulfilled His promises to him, he still delayed tithing for 20 years!3

Summary:

* These two examples are the only examples of tithing to be found in the Old Testament before the Law of Moses was given.

* Both are examples of voluntary giving that God did not require.

* In both instances we do not see an example of tithing as a general practice of life.

* Since neither Abraham nor Jacob had a Levitical priesthood to support, they had no place to bring tithes to during their many nomadic wanderings.

* If our only evidence to obligate believers under the new covenant to tithe rests on these two passages in Genesis, it seems to me that we are walking on very shaky ground!

Notes:

2Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D, “Should the church Teach Tithing?” A Theologians Conclusions About a Taboo Doctrine, (www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com).

3Brian Anderson, (www.evangelizeamerica.org/apologetics/apologeticssub/tithing1.html).