The Tithe is Not for Today – Part II

Happy Thanksgiving!
One of the arguments I get supporting the Tithe is this: The tithe existed before the law and they give Abram (Abraham) giving 10% to Melchizedek in Genesis 14. The problem here is that Abram gave Melchizedek 10% and the other 90% to the King of Sodom.
Gen 14 : 22-23 “22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, 'I have made Abram rich.' NIV
It was also the spoils of war that this addresses. So the next time I capture war booty I’ll be sure to give 10% to the church and 90% to Uncle Sam. 

The other example they give is Cain and Abel. The problem here is that no amount or percentage is mentioned. The only thing I draw from this account is that Abel’s offering was given in such a manner as to be acceptable to God as he gave the best of the firstborn of his flocks, while Cain’s was given grudgingly. Sounds like a good place to reference
2 Corinthians 9: 6-8
. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. NIV
Cain gave what he decided in his heart to give and did so cheerfully. Cain gave grudgingly.
The tithe was part of the law, a set of laws with multiple tithes amounting to somewhere around 30%. The purpose was to run the government(sound familiar?) and support the temple. Exodus 25 : 1-2 further supports the concept of 2 Corinthians 9: 7. In some Bibles this comes under the heading of the Tabernacle Offering.
Exodus 25: 1-2
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelite's to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. NIV
For those who argue about consistency of biblical concepts, I think this one is as clear as can be. Give what you have decided in your heart to give and give cheerfully. If you decide to tithe, go for it. If not, and you give cheerfully, it’s all good, you are not robbing God.
I reiterate my point form last week, Malachi was written to the Israelites and they were still under the law, we are under grace. Malachi 3 : 8-12, which is used like a sledge hammer by some, erroneously in my humble opinion, does not apply to us today. The law was fulfilled when Christ died on the cross.
Praise be to God for his mercy.

Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.

Tithing Is Not for Today

This one will rankle some feathers but I feel compelled to write this just the same.
I could write a book on this subject but that has been done by many on both sides of this argument. Instead I'll use just one example.

Here is an often used scripture many in the church use to justify tithing.
Malachi 3:8-12
8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—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 there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty. NIV

Malachi was written to whom? Israel.
Malachi 1:1 An oracle: The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi. NIV

So, who was robbing God of Tithes and offerings? Israel! More specifically tithes to the storehouse of the Levites for the Temple, neither of which exist today.
While we can extract lessons from the Old Testment, none of the laws God gave to Israel apply to us today for we have a New Covenant, (New Testament) through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ fulfilled the requirements of the law, because NO ONE is capable of keeping the law.
The tithe(s) were part of the law, but we are no longer under the law but under grace. If you select bits and pieces of the law to follow you deny grace you are in a world of hurt.
Also,in this case many churches focus on one tithe, the Temple tithe, so the selectivity is even more egregious. Some argue that the principle still applies but I disagree with this assertion.

James 2:8-11
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. NIV

You cannot choose to follow one part of the law, for if you do you are subject to the all of the law. If you break one one aspect of the law, you are guilty of all of it.

While true believers will not suffer loss of their salvation over this secondary issue, they have, in my humble opinion, none the less been led astray.

I implore everybody to stay alert, read your Bible, and test everything you hear against the scriptures.

Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.