To Tithe or Not To Tithe: That Is The Question
Greetings From Our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ,
I am concerned that many churches are teaching their version of the bible instead of what the word of God says. Money issues continue to plague churches and people are accepting of it as if it is the new norm instead of speaking out against what they know is wrong. More often than not, long before churches split apart or send their minister packing, they have concerns about the method in which money is obtained and spent. Many don't speak up because they are afraid of being ostracized...and unfortunately by the time the church is thrown into complete mayhem, it is too late. One particular area that seems to be an easy additive to this mayhem is tithing. It appears that tithing is being used to fund different "visions." Each person has a different "vision"...more often than not, those visions require money. Small churches are becoming obsolete and many are seeking conglomeritic churches. Perhaps this is why tithing is abused as "visions" are clouded by renovations.
Money seems to be the focus. There are several different teachings on tithing today. "Tithe" simply means a tenth. The bible does not say it is the first tenth of your paycheck to help fund the "vision" of man. This teaching seems to a method of man getting your money for thier own purposes. The reality is that there is not enough money to buy God and that it's not money that is important to God. For example, When Simon tried to buy God and when Peter realized what the he said, Peter told the man that God was going to curse him (Acts 8:4-25).
Looking back in Gen. 14:20, tithing is mentioned for the first time. When Abram went to war in order to save Lot when the others were captured...when everyone was set free, Melchizeldek blessed Abram. After he blessed him, Abram gave Melchizedek a tithe from what he took from the war. In Genius 28:20-22, Jacob promised to give God a tithe of everything God blessed him with. Tithing was only mentioned twice before it was put into law and God never commanded us to tithe before the law.
The law of tithing is in Deut. 14:22-29. In this scripture, God tells us about tithing. Many think that back then they only had food to offer, but actually money was a form of paying for things and there was plenty of money. In Deut. 14:24-26, the Lord said "And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, or if it be too far from thee, which the Lord the God shall choose to se His name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee, then shalt thou turn it into money, and brod the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatever they soul lusterth after.
Some say you can't buy back your tite, but in Lev. 27:30-34. vs 31 says "And if a man will at all redeem aught of his tithes, he shall add there to the fifth part thereof." If your tithe is worth $100.00 then you give the levitical priest $120.00 in money and you can get your tithe back. How do you buy money???
When there wasn't a temple or priest in place, the people didn't have to tithe. Twice in the scriptures when the temple was rebuilt and the Levitical priest were put back into place, the people of God went back to tithing. In Neh. 10:28-39 and 2 Chron 31, tithing had to be restablished. Mal. 3 was written to the sons of Levi (vs. 3) and vs. 2-18 shows God talking to the Levidical priest and the sons of Jacob. Prior to Jesus, only the tribes of Isreal had to obey the law. After Jesus resurrected, we no longer under the law.
Consider the following:
1. Mal. vs. 8, The Levitical priest are the only ones that handled the tithe...so vs. 8 is the Levitical Priest.
2. Mal vs. 9, God cursed the nation of Israel because of the priest.
3. Mal vs. 10, the storehouse was simply a storehouse for food. In 2 Chron 31 vs 6-11, Hezekiah told the children of Israel they had to start tithing again. The people bought so much food, not money, that there were heaps in the middle of the street. As a result, Hezekiah commanded that a storehouse be added to the temple to store the food. This is the first mentioning of the storehouse. When God said "I will open up the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it," he was talking about rain...not money.It is mentioned in the old testament, not the new testament. In Gen. 7:11,12 this is the first time God used this term and it rained. It is mentioned again in Gen 8:12, when God shut the window and it stopped raining and God said that it again in Ma 3:10.
4. Mal vs 11, the devourer was insects, not the devil.
5. In Hebrews 7, God told us to stop tithing. The scripture reads that when there is a change in high priest there must be a change in the law...Melchezedek was the high priest and now Jesus is which means we are no longer under the law, but are under Grace.
I am concerned that many churches are teaching their version of the bible instead of what the word of God says. Money issues continue to plague churches and people are accepting of it as if it is the new norm instead of speaking out against what they know is wrong. More often than not, long before churches split apart or send their minister packing, they have concerns about the method in which money is obtained and spent. Many don't speak up because they are afraid of being ostracized...and unfortunately by the time the church is thrown into complete mayhem, it is too late. One particular area that seems to be an easy additive to this mayhem is tithing. It appears that tithing is being used to fund different "visions." Each person has a different "vision"...more often than not, those visions require money. Small churches are becoming obsolete and many are seeking conglomeritic churches. Perhaps this is why tithing is abused as "visions" are clouded by renovations.
Money seems to be the focus. There are several different teachings on tithing today. "Tithe" simply means a tenth. The bible does not say it is the first tenth of your paycheck to help fund the "vision" of man. This teaching seems to a method of man getting your money for thier own purposes. The reality is that there is not enough money to buy God and that it's not money that is important to God. For example, When Simon tried to buy God and when Peter realized what the he said, Peter told the man that God was going to curse him (Acts 8:4-25).
Looking back in Gen. 14:20, tithing is mentioned for the first time. When Abram went to war in order to save Lot when the others were captured...when everyone was set free, Melchizeldek blessed Abram. After he blessed him, Abram gave Melchizedek a tithe from what he took from the war. In Genius 28:20-22, Jacob promised to give God a tithe of everything God blessed him with. Tithing was only mentioned twice before it was put into law and God never commanded us to tithe before the law.
The law of tithing is in Deut. 14:22-29. In this scripture, God tells us about tithing. Many think that back then they only had food to offer, but actually money was a form of paying for things and there was plenty of money. In Deut. 14:24-26, the Lord said "And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, or if it be too far from thee, which the Lord the God shall choose to se His name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee, then shalt thou turn it into money, and brod the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatever they soul lusterth after.
Some say you can't buy back your tite, but in Lev. 27:30-34. vs 31 says "And if a man will at all redeem aught of his tithes, he shall add there to the fifth part thereof." If your tithe is worth $100.00 then you give the levitical priest $120.00 in money and you can get your tithe back. How do you buy money???
When there wasn't a temple or priest in place, the people didn't have to tithe. Twice in the scriptures when the temple was rebuilt and the Levitical priest were put back into place, the people of God went back to tithing. In Neh. 10:28-39 and 2 Chron 31, tithing had to be restablished. Mal. 3 was written to the sons of Levi (vs. 3) and vs. 2-18 shows God talking to the Levidical priest and the sons of Jacob. Prior to Jesus, only the tribes of Isreal had to obey the law. After Jesus resurrected, we no longer under the law.
Consider the following:
1. Mal. vs. 8, The Levitical priest are the only ones that handled the tithe...so vs. 8 is the Levitical Priest.
2. Mal vs. 9, God cursed the nation of Israel because of the priest.
3. Mal vs. 10, the storehouse was simply a storehouse for food. In 2 Chron 31 vs 6-11, Hezekiah told the children of Israel they had to start tithing again. The people bought so much food, not money, that there were heaps in the middle of the street. As a result, Hezekiah commanded that a storehouse be added to the temple to store the food. This is the first mentioning of the storehouse. When God said "I will open up the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it," he was talking about rain...not money.It is mentioned in the old testament, not the new testament. In Gen. 7:11,12 this is the first time God used this term and it rained. It is mentioned again in Gen 8:12, when God shut the window and it stopped raining and God said that it again in Ma 3:10.
4. Mal vs 11, the devourer was insects, not the devil.
5. In Hebrews 7, God told us to stop tithing. The scripture reads that when there is a change in high priest there must be a change in the law...Melchezedek was the high priest and now Jesus is which means we are no longer under the law, but are under Grace.
Comment
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Comment by Pastor Clarice Frazier on August 19, 2009 at 8:16pm
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Bless you! Amen! Continue to teach and stay true to Gods Word.
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Comment by PASTOR CHARLES E BELL JR on July 20, 2009 at 10:12pm
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I DISAGREE IT IS NOT IN THE BIBLE TO STOP TITHING IT FROM CLOSE HAND
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Comment by Apostle Aundrae T. Shaw on March 18, 2009 at 3:09pm
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I feel the same! The lesson that I wrote are saying simple that the tithe is a printable if you follow it the God will honor your! And that’s the whole thing about tithe from what God has showed me and from what you’re saying! It is a spiritual thing so if any one doesn’t see that then……… God Bless
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Comment by T.L. Hawkins on March 17, 2009 at 11:47am
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"IF" people want to tithe / give, it should be from the heart, not grudgingly and NOT because a Minister throws Malachi 3:8 at you at offering time.
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Comment by Eric Hancock on March 15, 2009 at 8:26pm
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I have mixed feelings about tithing ,,again I say that the key word is recycling,,I will support any church if the money is being recycled back into the church or neighborhood,,there are a few that are doing this ,buying homes ,cars ,Sr.Citizen homes,hotels,college tuitions,,shelters,,So I will tithe ,,BUT to see someone get rich or die trying and everyone else is living on a check each month and cant get help,NO I wont,,Tithe,,,listen I have heard and preach every scheme to get the money and I did not know at the time,,but I now do ,,and will not tithe ,,If see warning signs that the money is not being recycled back into the church..l get tired of everybody doing the HOKIE POKIE AND TURN YOUR SELF AROUND THATS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT,,YOUR MONEY DANCE ,,BEING FILLED WITH LIES OF THE FALSE PROPHETS AND PREACHERS, AND GO HOME BROKE AND THE FELLING LIKE SOMEONE JUST GOT ME BUT I DONT KNOW WHO OR WHAT..IS GOD HAPPY WITH THIS SETTING?? NO,,WE NEED TO PERFORM MORE SERMONS THAN PREACH THEM,,IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY,,JESUS WAS NOT SENT HERE TO COLLECT THE RENT MONEY,,I HEARD ON PREACHER SAY I LOVE MONEY THATS ALL JESUS TALKED ABOUT WHILE HE WAS HERE,,WICH IS A LIE FROM HELL ,,we need more of this teaching
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