THE BLOOD OF JESUS CLEANSES YOU FROM ALL SIN AND GUILT (1 JOHN 1:7). JESUS IS THE DELIVERER!!

 

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GOD'S TRUTH ABOUT TITHING

The next time your pastor tells you to give your TITHES, drop in some mint, rue, or herbs, or some food.

Luke 11:42, Jesus speaking - But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs...

When we came into the knowledge of DELIVERANCE, we became aware that a lot of the former teaching we received was false doctrine/teachings. One of these areas was in the giving of tithes and offerings.

Any monetary gift from you should be going to any ministry involved in the casting out of demons (DELIVERANCE) (destroying the works of the enemy) (the REAL storehouse).

First, we became aware of sympathetic demons that would cause us to give. This was not Godly sympathy, and therefore no blessing came from the Lord. Cast out the demon called SYMPATHY.

Prosperity that comes from the Lord comes from obedience to His word. Joshua 1:7-8 "Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success."

The Scripture that most preachers use is the one in Philippians 4:17 "Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account]." They use this to control and manipulate you into giving money. If you research the Scriptures in this chapter you will find that Paul was in jail. What did he need money for in jail? The things that were given were probably a coat, maybe food, but not money as is taught.

The Smith's Bible Dictionary states that the first enactment of the law in respect of tithe is the declaration that the tenth of all produce, as well as of flocks and cattle, belongs to Jehovah, and must be offered to him; that the tithe was to be paid in kind, or, if redeemed, with an addition of one fifth to its value. Leviticus 27:30-33 This tenth is ordered to be assigned to the Levites as the reward of their service, and it is ordered further that they are themselves to dedicate to the Lord a tenth of these receipts, which is to be devoted to the maintenance of the high priest.

Commands are given to the people 1) To bring their tithes, together with their votive and other offerings and first-fruits, to the chosen center of worship, the metropolis, there to be "eaten" (can you eat money?) in festive celebration in company with their children, their servants and the Levites.

Deuteronomy 12:5-18 2) All the produce of the soil was to be tithed every year, and these tithes, with the firstlings of the flock and herd, were to be "eaten" (there it is again) in the metropolis. 3) But in case of distance, permission is given to convert the produce into money, which is to be taken to the appointed place, and there laid out in the purchase of food for a festal celebration, in which the Levite is, by special command, to be included. Deuteronomy 14:22-27 4) Then follows the direction that at the end of three years all the tithe of that year is to be gathered and laid up "within the gates," and that a festival is to be held, of which the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, together with the Levite, are to partake. 5) Lastly, it is ordered that after taking the tithe in each third year, "which is the year of tithing," an exculpatory declaration is to be made by every Israelite that he has done his best to fulfill the divine command. Deuteronomy 26:12-14. (These tithes in early times took the place of our modern tax, as well as of gifts for the support of religious institutions)

Well, that puts the preachers, teachers, evangelists, prophets and apostles in a very dangerous situation. They should be feeding the poor and not taking from the poor!

Malachi 3:9 "You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation. 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the STOREHOUSE, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

The word STOREHOUSE has the same meaning as ARMORY. The food was kept in a STOREHOUSE and the weapons were kept in a STOREHOUSE or ARMORY. The weapons destroyed their enemies. JESUS came to destroy the works of the devil. If a ministry is not destroying the works of the devil with DELIVERANCE then they are NOT an ARMORY. If they are not feeding the needy, they are NOT an ARMORY. Building basketball gyms or swimming pools is not destroying the works of the devil.

Ministers taking money to have million dollar homes is not destroying the works of the devil. JESUS taught, healed the sick and CAST OUT demons. This is what must be done in this end time. JESUS is coming soon and we must be prepared for his coming, NOT A RAPTURE.

The whole message here is that many preachers harp on giving tithes to line their pockets, and not for you to get a blessing from God. Plus, they are not destroying the works of the devil.

God speaks to our heart as to who, when, and how much to give. God doesn't need a middle man by having them pass an offering plate around. OFFERINGS AND GIFTS, YES. TITHING, NO.

For an extensive Scriptural study of TITHING, and why he says it no longer applies, here is an article from

http://www.ricter.com/wordline/tithe.htm

THE CHANGING OF THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE TITHE

by Richard R. Suarez

The scriptures make a deliberate effort to show that there are distinct differences between the many covenants that existed prior to the commandments of Mount Sinai, and the statutes and ordinances that followed. They also emphasize the difference between them and the "better covenant" of the New Testament.

Briefly, the main differences between covenants are, to whom and for what purpose a particular covenant is made, and for how long it is in effect. There were so many covenants throughout biblical history that it would be too tedious to even list all of them much less explain them in the context of this writing. Therefor we will limit ourselves only to the ones that pertain to this subject.

There are only two covenants that directly address the priesthood and the tithe. The first covenant is the Abrahamic covenant (for Christians this one is ours) and the Mosaic covenant (this one was made for the Hebrews at Sinai).

The Mosaic covenant, often referred to as "the law", actually consists of several different and distinct parts. First there were the "ten commandments", then the statutes (the oral law) and finally the handwriting of ordinances. This appears to be the way the scriptures describe them. (2Ch.33:8, Ex.18:20, Ki.17:34 " 37, Eze.11:20,etc.)

Ex 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

De 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, [even] ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

De 10:4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.

Ex 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

De 9:10 And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them [was written] according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

These "ten commandments" are the same commandments God says that he will replace or rewrite on the tables of the hearts of the "New Covenant" or Christian believer.

2Co 3:3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Heb 8:10 For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Lu 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

It is no coincidence that the "ten commandments" of scripture contain no reference to the "tithe" or any other law that would apply to only a limited amount of time or dispensation.

The next part is the "oral law" or "statutes" as found in the book of Exodus chapters 20:22 through 34:28. I am referring to these as the oral law because these are the statutes God spoke to Moses but didn’t write down and are neither part of the "Ten Commandments" nor part of the "handwriting of ordinances" which were later written by Moses.

This leaves us with the third part, the "handwriting of ordinances" which are the body of the "Levitical Law" so named because it is found in the book of Leviticus. This body of work is what is referred to often as "the law", especially by the New Testament authors, and is replaced by grace.

Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Ro 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Ro 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

When it comes to the statutes and ordinances, there is definitely a limitation as to whom and for how long they apply.

Hebrews 8:13-AV In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.

Hebrews 7:18-AV For there is verily a disannulling <115> of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

Hebrews 8:7-AV For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

2Ch 33:8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.

According to the scriptures these ordinances were removed and done away with at the Cross by Jesus.

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Ephesians 2:15-16, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:"

2 Corinthians 3:13-14, "And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished<2673>: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ."

disannulling - Strong's #115 athetesis {ath-et'-ay-sis}from 114; AV - disannulling 1, to put away + 1519 1; 2
1) abolition, disannulling, put away, rejection


abolished - Strong's #2673. katargeo, kat-arg-eh'-o; from 2596 and 691; to be (render) entirely idle (useless), lit. or fig.:--abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void.

The Apostle Paul is very clear about this. Having been a Pharisee he understood quite well the difference between the law and this "better covenant" we have in Christ.

Hebrews 8:6-AV But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Hebrews 8:7-AV For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

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

Hebrews 8:9-AV Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Hebrews 10:9-AV Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

By this time there can be no doubt as to the fact that at least one portion of the "Mosaic Law" if not all of it has been pre-empted by the "New Covenant". Actually, this "New Covenant" had its start four hundred and thirty years prior to the covenant delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai. This covenant was made by God and for Abraham and his seed. The Apostle Paul says that this covenant is ours through Jesus Christ and having been confirmed by God cannot be disannuled because it has nothing to do with the "law" which not being confirmed by God has been disannuled.

Ga 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though [it be] but a man's covenant, yet [if it be] confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

Ga 3:17 And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

Hebrews 7:18-AV For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

Now that we have a correct perspective of our relationship to the law and it to our "better covenant", we can look closely at a now obsolete "priesthood" and its exclusive relationship to the "tithe".

How did the priesthood get established and what was its purpose?

The concept of a "Priest" is contained throughout the Bible.

The Bible contains many references to priestly actions by individuals as far back as Adam. We see Adam's influence on his sons Cain and Abel, in that. We know that Cain and Able were instructed to give an offering to God by someone, someone taught them to offer a lamb as a yearly sacrifice for sin. More than likely it was Adam who taught them and received the offering in God's behalf.

Certainly it was Job's role as priest that is referred to in Job chapter 42 verse 8; Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you [after your] folly, in that ye have not spoken of me [the thing which is] right, like my servant Job.

Abraham also, sacrificed a lamb as a burnt offering as worship to God. (Gen. 22:5)

Through out the scriptures we have examples like these. It isn't until the Levite priesthood (under the Mosaic law) that a priesthood becomes structured. God instructs Moses that the Levites (one of the twelve tribes) will now give service at the altar under Aaron. As the population grows the number of Levites that give attendance at the altar also grows and becomes a morning to evening never ending stream of millions of animal sacrifices along with baked goods and produce of every kind. Gods plan to support this huge number of workers and their families is the "tithe"
(For more on the origins on the priesthood and the "Law" read part II)

Nehemiah 12:44-AV And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

Is the priesthood God's ideal or was it a concession to Israel?

It is evident that even before the "law" certain individuals were already offering up burnt offerings and filling the role of priests as we discussed earlier. Now, with the law in place, God orders a structured priesthood under Aaron. God also institutes an order of sacrifices, offerings and atonements, none of which existed before as obligatory. It appears that God did not institute these for His pleasure or of his will if the New Testament author is correct:

Hebrews 10:1-AV For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect

Hebrews 10:8-AV Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law;

Hebrews 10:9-AV Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Hebrews 10:10-AV By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all].

This leaves us to wonder if it was a concession or just a temporary covenant that institutes the priesthood and the tithe. Either way one thing is certain, God’s will was to sanctify us (set us apart) from that covenant and replace it with a better covenant.

Hebrews 7:11-AV If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Hebrews 7:12-AV For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Hebrews 7:13-AV For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

Hebrews 7:14-AV For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Hebrews 7:16-AV Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Hebrews 7:18-AV For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

Hebrews 7:19-AV For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Hebrews 7:24-AV But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

Hebrews 8:13-AV In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.

The Apostle Paul uses three chapters to thoroughly explain the why the priesthood is changed (replaced). The Levitical priesthood ends and Jesus’ begins.

One of the things we must understand about the priesthood is that no matter what form it appeared in before the cross. It was only a shadow but not like what was to come to replace it.

Hebrews 10:1-AV For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed<3346>, there is made of necessity a change <3331> also of the law.

The word changed does not mean to alter slightly. It doesn’t mean to leave in place and add something to it. This word comes from the word we get metamorphosis and means to replace with something totally different. Like what happens to the caterpillar that is transformed into a butterfly, no longer a creature that is in bondage to the ground but a new creature a monarch of the sky.

3346 metatithemi {met-at-ith'-ay-mee} from 3326 and 5087; Strongs’ definition:

1) to transpose (two things, one of which is put in place of the other)

1a) to transfer

1b) to change

5746 Tense - Present See 5774

3331 metathesis {met-ath'-es-is} from 3346; AV - change 1, translation 1, removing 1 Strongs’ definition:

1) transfer: from one place to another

2) to change

2a) of things instituted or established

Here are some other scriptures where the same word #3346 appears.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning <3346> (5723) the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated <3346> (5681) that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated <3346> (5656) him: for before his translation <3331> he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

It is a drastic mistake to assume that once something is established by scripture that it cannot be changed somehow attributing everything as God’s will. If that was the case the children of Israel would still be in bondage in Egypt and we would still be heathens.

Since the priesthood and the tithe under the law have become an integral part one of another (remember the only purpose of the tithe is to support the Levites) let us take a closer look at the "tithe".

What does "tithe" mean?

The word "tithe" Strong’s number 04643 ma`aser {mah-as-ayr'} or ma`asar {mah-as-ar'} and (in pl.) fem. ma`asrah {mah-as-raw'} from # 06240; literally means a tenth part. The word does not mean offering, gift or sacrifice as it has come to be known.

Where did the "tithe" come from?

We have no known usage of the word biblically prior its use in Genesis chapter 14 verse 20 where Abram returned from a battle against several kings who had kidnapped his nephew Lot along with many of the inhabitants and possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram was greeted by the king of Sodom and a man named Melchisedec king of Salem, a priest of the Most High God. Abram gave Melchisedec a tenth part of the spoils of the battle (tithe), and then gave all the rest of the spoils (the possessions of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah) back to the king of Sodom along with the inhabitants who had been liberated.

Genesis 14:20-AV And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Hebrews 7:4-AV Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

This gift or offering that Abram makes to Melchisedec is a one time event. It cannot be misconstrued as a mandated, ceremonial or traditional (as under the law) form of giving. It is however curiously similar to the type of giving described in the New Testament. Abram was blessed by Melchisedec so he blessed him back by giving him some of the loot.

The tithe is not a part of and is not mentioned as one of the commandments that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. It only appears as part of the "Levitical law" the handwriting of ordinances penned by the hand of Moses which was abolished at the cross.

It is only in Leviticus that the word "tithe" takes on an entirely new meaning. According to the Levitical law, it was ordained by God to collect tithes of the people to support the priests that served in the temple, and their families. The reason for this was because the Levites unlike the other tribes were not given lands and herds, what God calls an inheritance.

Numbers 18:24-AV But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer [as] an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

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

Here in Nehemiah we have a clear statement that the tithe is for the Levites and preists, and it is the tithe on that tithe they have received that is for the "storehouse" or "treasure house".

Nehemiah 10:37 And [that] we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner o f trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. Nehemiah 10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

At this point the "tithe" becomes a doctrine of the law and no longer just another word like "tenth", "fifth", "quarter" or "half". It becomes an obligatory act along with hundreds of other acts required by the law that until Liviticus had no such connotation. Acts like picking up sticks, lighting fires, leading animals, etc. now become a sin and punishable even by death if performed on the Sabbath. Hundreds of normal acts that people did or didn’t do before the law now are not allowed or become mandatory under it.

Just because there is a pre-law use of the word tithe, It doesn’t establish it as a doctrine of mandatory giving any more than the pre law use of the word circumcision establishes it as a mandatory practice. In fact according to the Apostle Paul, the fact that something like circumcision which was practiced before the Mosaic Law, once becoming part of the body of the law, now is contrary to grace and not to be observed by the Christian believer. Paul goes on to say that if you observe one law you are a debtor to do the whole law and are fallen from grace.

Ga 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Ga 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

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

Ga 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace

Ga 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Ga 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

No other New Testament author deals with or mentions the tithe except Paul. He treats the tithe with the same disdain as he treats circumcision. In reference to any command of tithing Paul says he never told anyone to do it and never wrote them to tell them to. The reason he gives is that it hinders the gospel of Christ.

1Co 9:12 If others be partakers of [this] power over you, [are] not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

1Co 9:15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for [it were] better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

1Co 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me.

1Co 9:18 What is my reward then? [Verily] that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

Again there is no mention of a Christian observance of the tithe by Paul even when he is referring to the support of those that preach the gospel. This is consistent with all the other New Testament scriptures regarding giving and receiving. At the same time Paul reinforces that mandatory giving is not part of our covenant.

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

Lu 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

What does the New Testament say about giving and the support of the ministry?

All the new covenant scriptures uphold one basic principal. This principal is called "free will" and is in harmony with every other principal of our covenant. "Free will" is the cornerstone of faith. We are saved by a free will act of faith. Nowhere in our covenant does it say that we are obligated to perform any act to fulfill our part of the covenant. In fact it says that Jesus fulfilled everything, he is the "author and finisher of our faith".

Therefore, the type of giving in this better covenant must be "free will giving". The strongest reference on giving in the support of a minister or particular ministry is to that of the teacher.

Ga 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Ga 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

One of the biggest mistakes made by Christian leadership today is to go outside of our covenant and embrace doctrines of the law, or any other covenant. It seems impossible that we did not know that to do so is abusing our power in the gospel. That Paul’s words of warning went unheard is beyond reason. Nevertheless ministers, whether knowingly or not are leading their congregations into bondage and condemnation.

We frustrate grace and hinder the very gospel we swore to preach.

I can’t tell you how many times my wife and I have invited a guest to church, usually someone we are trying to witness salvation to, just to have some pastor hammer the congregation with Malachi chapter three. No wonder the guest never returned. The gospel they heard preached was quenched along with the Spirit and untill this study I didn’t understand why even though in my spirit I knew there was something wrong.

Malachi should never be used against a New Testament believer. The entire book was given to the prophet to rebuke the priests and religious leaders that were under the Levitical Law. There is nothing to gain in using it unless the intent is to intimidate and condemn. Let us look for a moment at these all too familiar scriptures.

Malachi 3:8-AV Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:9-AV Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.

Malachi 3:10-AV Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].

Malachi 3:11-AV And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

Let us take one verse at a time.

Malachi 3:8-AV Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

According to the New Covenant it is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom. Is the payment for sin paid by the blood of Christ or not?

Hebrews 7:27-AV Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Hebrews 9:12-AV Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].

Malachi 3:9-AV Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.

There is no curse for the New Covenant believer. Which nation is being referred to?

Ga 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:

Ro 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, ...

Malachi 3:10-AV Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].

The word meat in this scripture is the word prey. The word for sacrificial animals, live animals to kill.

Hebrews 7:27-AV Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Malachi 3:11-AV And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

God gives us the power to rebuke the devourer. Those of the "Law" did not have this authority.

Lu 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

These scriptures in Malachi obviously have nothing to do with Christianity. Yes, they are in the Bible. But not everything in the Bible applies to everyone. The big defense by proponents of the tithe is that it is a biblical concept. If that is the real reason how come they are not also pushing circumcision, Kosher dietary laws, animal sacrifice, burnt offerings, Sabbath observance, etc. I tell you, I believe it is a smoke screen for the real reason. The real reason is they just won’t trust God. Yes, they have no faith that God will really supply all their needs like the scriptures say. Like Abraham when he went into his wife’s handmaiden. Just giving God a hand. Sure he promised, but! The end result, children of bondage!

There are plenty of wonderful scriptures in our Christian covenant about giving and receiving. One of the truly exciting concepts that the scriptures have is that of giving. A true opportunity to bless and be blessed. When we do give, God is glorified, because he knows we don’t have to. We do it because we want to and God truly loves a cheerful giver.

Post script:

This book was written approximately two years after I had asked God to reveal to me why a certain ministry my wife and I cared very much about was steadily growing smaller. They were also steadily growing poorer. God showed me why by the many infallible proofs of scripture and compelled me to share this with the Body of Christ. It has never been my intent to offend anyone or prove myself better than anyone else. But by the grace of God I would still be believing something else. I truly believe that this study will break the financial bondage that many Churches are under and that the "Good News" of the liberty we have in Christ will be released. God bless you as you read and study these scriptures and thank you for your patience with me.

Also look at http://www.ricter.com/wordline/Jethro.htm - Part II Jethro, the priest of Midian - The real story behind the origin of the Law


Here's another article from

www.theholynation.org

"Recently we came across an article that both presents Bible Truths and challenges the Body of Christ on to maturity. Perhaps one of the most misunderstood subjects in the church today is giving to God. Some say, to the extreme, that if you don't tithe (give the church group 10%) God cannot and will not bless you. Others, just as extreme at the other end of the spectrum, say you shouldn't give to the church (group) at all. What does the Word have to say concerning the subject? That's what we are about to find out. Keep an open heart and allow the Holy Spirit to Reveal His Truths to you. Remember, it's the Holy Spirit's Ministry to lead us into all Truth.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To Tithe Or Not To Tithe

by Jack Helser

(The $earch For Truth)

Though I’ve always struggled with the tithe, I still shook my head in disgust when I heard about the preacher who’s congregation quietly left the church during the prayer following a long sermon on tithing. He said "Amen", looked up and cried out "half my church is gone!" I laughed saying "they must have fled the conviction of the Holy Spirit".

What the Lord said took me completely by surprise: "They fled from error and guilt-based giving". "What?!?" - I’ve heard more sermons on the tithe than on any other topic except perhaps our need of Jesus for eternal life! After I picked up my jaw from the floor, the Lord prompted me to study tithing and giving. Throughout the Bible study I prayed for His guidance and in the end I reached the inescapable conclusion that the "tithe" is to the modern church what the issue of "circumcision" was to the church in Paul’s time.

NOTE: Nothing in this article is intended as an excuse to stop giving as the Lord leads you to give.

The verse most often cited in support of the tithe is from the Old Testament, found in Malachi 3:8-10:

8. "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, `How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9. You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. 10. 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 room enough for it.

Many preachers shorten Malachi 3:8-10 to just "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse", and almost always with the inference that their church is the "storehouse". For purposes of this paper, the Lord had me concentrate on the passage: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house". From that passage, the Lord had me research several questions:

1) What is the tithe?
2) What was the tithe for?
3) What is the storehouse?

1) What is the tithe? The tithe is 10% of the increase, established in Leviticus 27:30-33 as an offering Holy to the Lord. The scripture identifies the tithe as grain and fruit, herd and flock. The tithe is food! An example of the tithe can be seen in a shepherd with a flock of 100 sheep who is blessed with the birth of 50 lambs in the spring. Five of the lambs must be offered to the Lord as a tithe. The tithe was brought to the temple in Jerusalem in acknowledgement and appreciation of God’s provision for His people.

2) What was the tithe for? God doesn’t need the food – God doesn’t eat. God doesn’t desire sacrifices or offerings ( Psalm 40:6 and Hosea 6:6 ) – He desires mercy. God doesn’t need us to give Him a 10th of everything – when He already owns everything ( Psalm 24:1 and Job 41:11b ). The tithe was used to feed the Levite priests (and their families) who were required to work in the temple day and night ministering to God on behalf of God’s people ( 1 Chronicles 9:33 ). Without the tithe, the Levite priests would have needed to raise their own food, thereby taking them away from ministering before God. Hence the reference in Malachi 3:10 "…that there may be food in my house". Nehemiah 13:10-13 records a time when the Levite priests were not receiving the tithe wherein they abandoned their daily temple responsibilities to work the farms to feed their families. The reference to ‘robbing God’ in Malachi 3:8 is in fact robbing God of ministry and worship by failing to take care of God’s priests through the tithe of food items. Unlike the other tribes of Israel who were given land as their inheritance, the Levites were not given any land – only a few cities in which to live. God was their inheritance ( Numbers 18:20-21 ). Thus, the remaining tribes were obligated to provide the Levites with food since they had no land on which to grow their own.

3) What is the storehouse? 2 Chronicles 31 teaches that the storehouse is the Temple in Jerusalem. When the tithe was re-instituted under King Hezekiah, the king gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple to hold the tithe. Apparently the grain "tithe" was heaped up in the streets, which caused a traffic jam of sorts. King Hezekiah had the storehouse built to relieve a bad case of urban congestion in ancient Jerusalem.

Having established the original purpose of the tithe, the Lord prompted me with several more questions.

Q: "What happened to the temple (storehouse)?"
A: It was destroyed in 70AD and has not been rebuilt.

Q: "Why?"
A: The old covenant system of animal sacrifice to atone for sin is finished. The new covenant is in the blood of Christ who is the final and everlasting sin sacrifice.

Q: "Where is the temple now?"
A: 1 Corinthians 6:19 says WE are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God no longer resides in a stone temple, but in the hearts of his children through the Holy Spirit.

Q: "What happened to the Levite priests?"
A: The Levite priesthood is no longer necessary as the old covenant system of animal sacrifice in the temple was superceded by the everlasting covenant of Christ’s blood.

Q: "Who is the priesthood now?"
A: 1 Peter 2:5 and 9 says those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior are the priesthood.

Come On Laity, Let’s Do The Twist

Burdening the Body of Christ with the Tithe requires several twists and reinterpretations of scripture.

1) The tithe must be imported from the OT law of Moses to the new covenant of grace by Christ’s blood.
2) The tithe must be redefined from "flocks, herds, fruit and grain" to "money" and often "time".
3) The storehouse must be redefined from the temple in Jerusalem to the local church building.
4) The Body of Christ must buy into the ordained clergy as the new priesthood, thereby replacing the Levite priesthood as the rightful recipient of the tithe.
5) The Body of Christ must forfeit their own priesthood and buy into the notion that they are the "laity".

The tithe has been introduced to the Body of Christ using 2 tactics of the enemy.

1) Sowing guilt and shame into the Body of Christ by quoting Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, `How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings." What devoted Christian wants to rob God? The net effect of sowing guilt has been to extort money from the Body of Christ, thereby robbing the Body of the joy and blessing of giving as God leads. The practice ignores Paul’s instructions to the church at Corinth: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver ( 2 Corinthians 9:7 )."

2) Blaming the "laity" for the financial troubles in the Body of Christ , by telling the Body they are not blessed by God because they do not tithe. Often Malachi 3:10 is emphasized "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 room enough for it." In so doing, believers are challenged to tithe, with the promise that God will bless them if they do. Such giving is not out of love for God, but out of selfishness. It implies a reward for works, which contradicts Ephesians 2:8-9 , and completely ignores our status as sons of God by faith in Christ ( Galatians 3:26 ) and joint heirs of God with Christ ( Romans 8:17 ). The practice also ignores Christ’s words in Matthew 4:7 "Do not put the Lord your God to the test".

The Apostles Did Not Teach Gentiles To Tithe

Acts 15:1-31 records a dispute over circumcision that arose in the Gentile church at Antioch. Several false brothers had attempted to require Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians to be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas sharply opposed the false brothers and traveled to Jerusalem to discuss the issue of circumcision with the other apostles. In Jerusalem, they reported the miracles and conversions among the Gentiles. The apostles were filled with joy over God’s work there, and they agreed that circumcision was not a requirement for salvation. Following the meeting, the apostles and elders in the church at Jerusalem sent Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with a letter of welcome to the Gentile Christians. The essential text of the letter is found in Acts 15:28-29. It reads: "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell."

The apostles did not want to burden the Gentiles with Old Testament practices! The proof is in their letter to the Gentiles and the fact that the apostles did not impose the tithe on them.

Come, Let Us Reason Together ( Isaiah 1:18 )

Let’s suppose for the sake of argument that Jesus had commanded us to continue tithing. It would be appropriate then to use the tithe to feed the priesthood as originally purposed. Who then is the priesthood? The apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:5 and 9 that every believer is a priest ! Hebrews 5-8 also teaches us that Jesus is the only priest that we need . However the institutional church has borrowed from the Old Testament model of the Levitical Priesthood, thereby establishing a new priesthood (ordained clergy) that is separate from the rest of the Body of Christ. The division between the clergy, and the so-called "laity" is not Biblical (Is this the doctrine of the Nicolaitan’s that Jesus says He hates in Revelation 2:6 ) ?In fact, Jesus did not establish the ordained clergy – He chose fishermen and tax collectors to preach His gospel. Neither did He establish division in His church, He desires unity ( John 17:20-23 ). The apostles did not set up an ordained clergy – they chose men full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to serve the Body ( Acts 6:3, 1 Timothy 3 ). This man-made division between "clergy" and "laity" has effectively served to divert the offerings of the Body of Christ away from the people it is intended to bless and the offerings are most often used in ways contrary to the will of God. The net result has been starvation and financial bondage for many believers, and the real priesthood – the whole Body of Christ – has not been prepared to carry out Christ’s command to preach the gospel to all nations!

Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh ( John 1:14 ). He knew that Malachi 3:10 says "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse" when He instructed the rich man to sell everything and give the proceeds to the poor ( Matthew 19:21 ). I imagine the Scribes and Pharisees about choked on what Jesus said as they were in the habit of devouring widow’s houses for profit ( Luke 20:47 ) and the rich man’s possessions would have been a real feast for them. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus reiterated His desire to help the poor in the parable of separating the sheep from goats, wherein at judgement Jesus will reward those who feed the hungry and clothe the poor. Since Jesus judges us for our care of the poor and hungry, and since He commands us to preach the gospel throughout the world, why is most of our giving used for church buildings and salaries with only a small percentage devoted to the poor, missions and evangelism?

Is the church making goats out of us by not feeding the hungry and clothing the poor with our offerings?

Let’s not wait until the Judgement of Christ to find out!

Sins of the Church Against the Needy

The Lord has been trying to bring me to the truth about giving for years. On many occasions, He prompted me to take what I would have normally put in the offering plate at church and give it directly to someone in need. I love giving like that! Still, in the absence of specific giving instructions from the Lord, I never questioned the common practice of giving everything to the church, whereupon I trusted the church to administer my gifts. That is until the day the Lord had me witness an abomination that left me nauseous.

In the main office of a church I attended years ago, I was fixing a computer one Friday morning. Two young black women, with 3 adorable children dressed in their Sunday best, came into the office to ask for a food donation. The 3 secretaries of our all white upper middle class church stared at them, and finally one said nervously "our deacon of benevolence is in the office on Thursday afternoons – can I make an appointment for you next Thursday?" One of the women pleaded "We can’t wait a week, we need food now". The secretary repeated her offer, and I became sick to my stomach. I left quickly and drove a mile up the road to a cash machine and came directly back to the church only to find that the 2 women and 3 children had left empty handed. The staff did not know where they had gone, and I returned to my car and wept. I felt as if I had failed but the Lord said "you did not fail son, the church failed".

Since that first eye-opening experience, the Lord has shown me many more sins of the church against the poor that have left me ill. One church considered installing an air conditioning system for which several members had pledged $35,000 while another member of the church who was wheelchair bound from advanced multiple sclerosis didn’t have enough money to buy food at the end of the month with what little state aid she received. Often she was forced to chose between food, medicine or heat in winter. For many months my wife and I gave to her anonymously and when she went to be with the Lord last winter, she was at peace – the kind of peace that only acts of love can bring ( 1 John 3:18, James 1:22 ). As she was relieved of her financial stress, she blessed everyone around her with unquenchable joy. Most importantly, she taught us about right giving.

More recently, I attended a conference where the host appealed to the audience to give "an offering for the poor". I heard the Lord say "the poor are among you" ( Mark 14:7 ) and immediately I thought of a dear friend in attendance who is experiencing financial difficulties and had recently lost her home. The next day I began a letter to the host saying "Last night you took an offering from the poor" . I groaned at the error and started to rip the page from my notebook when the Lord said "that is not an error – last night’s offering was taken from the poor".

The Lord then brought to mind the parable of the sheep and goats, specifically Matthew 25:40 where it says "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine , you did for me". The words "these brothers of mine" had not made an impression on me before, and the Lord brought me to the understanding that our first obligation to the poor is to the poor within the Body of Christ. The Lord then brought Matthew 15:26 to mind wherein Jesus said "It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs".

The early church had a much better understanding of Christ’s intent to care for the needs of the Body of Christ than we do today. The proof of their caring for each other can be seen in Acts 2:44-47 and Acts 4:32-37 where the Body of Christ shared everything, and through their giving, they eliminated poverty and indebtedness. In fact, Acts 4:34 says "there were no needy persons among them!" Taking up offerings to feed the Body of Christ was common in the early church. In Acts 11:27-30, the Gentile church at Antioch took up an offering for the believers in Judea who were experiencing a time of famine. Can you imagine a church today taking up an offering for a cross-town rival?

How did the church get so far off course?

Giving as Christ Intends

Though the tithe is not a requirement for the Body of Christ, we are still instructed to give. What changed from the Old Testament to the New is our motivation for giving. In the Old Testament, giving was compulsory – a tenth (tithe). In the New Testament we are to give with joy as we are led to give ( 2 Corinthians 9:7 ), not by compulsion.

Our attitude about giving should be like that of the poor widow who Jesus esteemed in Mark 12:41-44. She put 2 small copper coins, worth a penny, into the temple treasury. They were all the widow had to live on. She understood that God owns everything and was willing to give all that she had with cheer as God had prompted her to do.

It is time to invest cheerfully in what is eternal, specifically in God’s children for the completion of Kingdom work ( Matthew 6:19-21 ). The children must be fed, clothed and equipped to carry Christ’s gospel throughout the whole world and to make the Bride of Christ ready for her soon returning Savior. Imagine what it could be like if we resumed giving and sharing as Jesus intends. Surely we would rediscover the same abundant and powerful living as the early church enjoyed!

On the topic of giving, John 8:36 might seem like a strange scripture to cite: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed". While it is true that Jesus set us free from the curse of the law ( Galatians 3:10-13 ), sin and death ( Romans 8:2 ), our failure to give as Jesus taught us has kept the Church in financial bondage, and has prevented the Church from completing the work of Christ on earth. How many children of God fail to reach their full potential as ministers of the Gospel because they lack provision? It is through our giving and sharing that we equip the Church for service, eliminate hunger and poverty, and realize the fullness of our freedom in Christ.

We can no longer afford to misuse our offerings for church buildings, parsonages, conference centers, multi-purpose buildings, air conditioning, padded pews, pipe organs, and the like, all of which will soon be forgotten, while God's children go hungry, poor and ill equipped to minister the Gospel. Instead, like Abel, we should give our best gifts to the true Church – the people – because we love God and want to see God's work accomplished on the earth.

On concluding my study, the Lord asked one final question: What building ever won a person to Christ?

Ask the Lord to show you what to give and to whom, and remember that His words "Feed my sheep" (John 21:17) go much deeper than a pastor's sermon on a Sunday morning. His words are spiritual, and they are literal.

Jack Helser"

Yet another study on NOT tithing.

Tithing and striving. Winding and grinding ... turning over the religious machinery that is! Mundane systems and routine! Liturgy plus the proceeds of the mechanism to make the thing work! But here's good news to quote when the religious Mafia come knocking on your door ...

Acts 15: 5-10:


"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?"

Which means being under a better covenant is living by faith not compulsion. Nor living under condemnation and obligation. Tithing being one of the biggies in the obligation trap. Like using the old 'out of context' Malachi Chapter Three as emotional blackmail or a great fear tactic ...

"You'll be under a nasty curse if you fail to come up with the cash this Sunday morning. Remember that's at lease 10% your net income because it does not include your required offerings on top!!"

Tithing ... "what doth the LORD require of thee?" Mic. 6: 6-8!

Tithing is first mentioned in scripture with Abraham when he gave a tenth to the Lord (just the one occasion may I add!). Later it was incorporated into the law system of Israel as there became different tithes for different things. The main tithe was given to the Levites, the priesthood (not to a special figure-head by the way), whereas they in turn were to give a tenth of the peoples tenth (gets quite involved eh!) as an offering to.the.Lord. Num. 18:26.

Tithing was to do with produce, not money . Today it is taught by many churches as a New Testament requirement, and is always to do with loot (the $$$s and (non) cents stuff!) as it is used for paying the minister's wages, even though there is no scriptural back-up whatsoever for tithing in the New Testament, or 'rules and methods' for giving money. Even as there is no New Testament backing whatsoever for a "one" Pastor show. Even though Paul mentioned five times that elders were to feed the flock not by constraint, but willingly; and not for filthy lucre (financial revenue/proceeds, that is!). Look 'em up ... 1 Tim. 3:3 " 8, Titus 1:7 " 11, and 1 Pet. 5:2!!

Yes, Jesus tithed before going to the cross as he was fulfilling the Old before He ushered in the New (Heb. 10:9). Yes, in regards to Abraham, along with Israel, tithing is mentioned in Hebrews. But Abraham also circumcised. Which by the way, was also practised before the ceremonial law was introduced. Therefore, is circumcision a requirement today (Gal. 5:6)? No !! Abraham was our father according to the Promise, not.circumcision (Rom. 4:14-16)! Just the same way, Abraham is also our father according to the Promise, not tithing!

Also, when the letter was written by the Jewish Apostles for the Gentile Believers in Acts 15: 20, 29, as a recantation (Gal. 2: 11- 3:1) for yielding to the demands of the religious Mafia (the concision - Phil. 3:2), was this letter to do with not placing heavy burdens on them (much of Jewish custom by then was add-ons and inventions of men, and not scriptural anyway). This letter was an outright reversal and written public declaration against bringing new converts back under the yoke of the Old or under any new form of Judaism. It was also, by the way, their big moment when tithing could have been doctrinized by the apostles. It was also their great opportunity when they could have chosen the heavy push for centralization of power and wielded the big stick for "apostolic elitism". When tithing, circumcision, Sabbath or Sunday keeping, submission to clergy, and so forth, could have been reinforced if they were still valid or had become valid.

However, only four things were required for these new converts to abstain from (and it was nothing to do with cranking along ceremony or routine, or propagating religious hierarchy):

"Gidday Folk! Please abstain from the following ..."

meats offered to idols ("which direction is the abattoirs facing ... east or west? Mecca or the bank?" - "You mean I don't have to be a vegetarian?"),
and from blood (goodbye black pudding and rear, dripping, juicy red steak),
and from things strangled (pushing home the point and problem with raw blood),
and from fornication (tough on the New Wave trend and Bible traitors).
"Taking our advise, you'll do well. Have a nice day!!"

Signed: The (humbled) Twelve.

When it comes to the New Covenant the Lord requires all, just like the illustration of a certain poor widow giving up the only couple of coppers to her name in Luke 21: 2-3 (ever tried tithing 10% of two pennies?). However, when it comes to giving, the balls in our court. The freedom of choice can be exercised. Dad does not want us to respond like a robot, or give out of compulsion, for God loveth a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7).

Which basically means the LORD does not demand a "spiritual" tax (in the manner of rebellious Cain and apostate King Saul) but a whole heart.

Yip, all means all under the New Cove! Without excuses. Without spiritual mumbo jumbo and doctrinal hiccups. Without religious side issues and clerical red tape.

How does the Sunday morning song go?

"I want to worship the Lord with all of my heart, give Him my all and not just a part"?

Next verse, similar as the first ... and added without censorship (please feel free to sing-a-long!):

" I want to worship the Lord with all of my life, give Him my all and not just a tithe"!

The Radical Pilgrim
http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/tlamb/TheTithe.htm

For even more info, go to http://tithingstudy.wordpress.com

JESUS IS THE DELIVERER

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