Tithing and the New Testament Church

Knowing God, Uncategorized, Wealth and the Kingdom of God

Dubois Park and Jupiter Inlet14″ 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….” Colossians 2:14

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?” Acts 15:10

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.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

I strongly believe that generous giving is an essential element of New Testament Christianity. We are to give to the poor (if coupled with gospel evangelism), and to those who labor in the word, in evangelism and in doctrine. I also believe we are to care for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to the extent that they have physical needs, such as food, clothing and shelter. The scriptures are clear – we are to give joyfully, freely and without any type of man-made limit. We are told time and time again by Jesus and Paul, that we are not to live for the treasures of this dying world but instead are to build up treasure in heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy and where thieves cannot break in and steal. Therefore, generosity should be second nature to any true believer, redeemed from the lies of this world by the precious blood of the lamb.

What I wholly reject, based on the clear mandate of scripture, is the teaching that the Old Testament law of tithing (Hebrews 7:5) is still somehow in effect. Jesus abolished the law (ALL OF IT) in his body on the cross. (Ephesians 2:15, Colossians 2:14-17, Hebrews chaps.7-10, Galatians chaps. 2-5, etc.). In the western church, many pastors have greedily and fearfully resurrected a dead doctrine, thereby spitting on the very cross they preach. Tithing perished on calvary, yet is taught as law by tens of thousands of pastors either out of willful ignorance, or in order to manipulate their congregations into giving. If God is truly for their ministries, then HE will provide, with no wresting of the scriptures required.

There are a multitude of sound biblical arguments, which prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that tithing is dead. As a starting point, believers are never, ever told to tithe in the New Testament. Furthermore, there are enormous portions of scripture (in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews, to name a few), which torturously lay out the fact that the entire body of Old Testament law died with Jesus on the cross. Yet many pastors still, somehow, gleefully and forcefully proclaim it as the law of the Christian land, without teaching that any other part of the Jewish law (such as animal sacrifices) survived the cross. Why do they cling so tightly to the only law that gives them money? I think we all know the answer, and in America at least, that answer is green.

When I am out evangelizing on the streets, a substantial number of the church goers I meet, especially those from lower income areas,  have been brainwashed into believing that they MUST sow their seed to their pastor by, at a minimum, tithing. They are so indoctrinated by their “church” that they often become angry when anyone suggests the contrary, even when using scriptures. Many are so deceived by this false and legalistic rule, that they ignore the fact that their pastor has a Mercedes and a nice house while they have a bike and share a small, filthy apartment with six other family members. It is disgusting, but just like everywhere else where serious doctrinal error exists, the problem is due to the fact that they haven’t studied the Bible for themselves, but simply trust whatever the well-dressed, charismatic preacher on stage tells them…yet may God be true, and every man a liar. (Romans 3:4).

Paul addresses New Testament giving clearly and directly in 2 Corinthians 9:

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.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.”8 Not only does Paul make it clear that we are not to give with a bad attitude or because we feel we must (ahem…guilt over tithing), but he also makes it resoundingly clear that a generous heart will lead to bountiful reaping. While I do not know what that means exactly, I do know from 1 Timothy 6:4-6, that we are not to equate godliness with financial gain. What I have seen in my own life is that when I am hoarding my money and placing my trust in material blessings, I never seem to have enough, but when I am free with the things the Lord has provided for me, I always seem to be at peace with where I am financially. That…can only be from the Lord.

Another key point in the case against tithing is the fact that, when the Jerusalem Council  met (see, Acts 15) to discuss what elements of the Old Testament Law should survive for the protection and edification of the church (as legalism had begun to leach into the body), money was not even mentioned one time. While many of the converted Jews were trying to reinstitute elements of the OT law (such as circumcision), the concept of creating a new, legal framework for believers was resoundingly rejected by the apostles. Instead, a few simple guidelines were laid out to help protect the young church from slipping into sin. Here is a brief summary of why the Council met, and what was said by the apostles:

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, Thatit was needful to circumcise them (the Gentiles), and to command them to keep the law of Moses.6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe…9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith10 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?  Acts 15:5-10

After discussing the fact that the church should not be placed in the unbearable fetters of the law, the Council declared:

28″ For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well….”  Acts 15:28-29

Even the way the above passage is phrased makes it clear that no Old Testament laws were put back in place for the church. Instead, the church was simply given guidelines in order to help believers walk in the holiness to which we are all called…and money wasn’t mentioned at all.

The question I have for everyone who considers tithing mandatory or even highly advisable (versus giving freely and generously through the spirit), is: why would you lay a yoke of slavery on either yourself or others that our forefathers in the Judeo-Christian faith couldn’t bear, and one which the actual apostles refused to place on their own disciples?

It has been argued by some that, since tithing preceded the Law of Moses (Abraham tithed to Melchizedek), then it should survive the death of the law as well. My answer to that is simple. Besides the fact that not even one New Testament scripture supports this belief, animal sacrifices also predated the law (Abel, Abraham, etc.), and, like tithing(and circumcision) were merged into the law – yet no one teaches that they somehow survived the cross (not Paul, not Peter, and not even Benny Hinn or Creflo Dollar!). All of the law perished via the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that includes the practices which predated Mosaic Law but were merged into it. I have never heard even one sound argument(or scripture) explaining why tithing survived the cross but circumcision and animal sacrifices did not.  More importantly, there is not even a single letter to a church from an apostle that tells us that tithing is still in effect. Thus, there is no biblical justification for teaching it today. Fortunately, we now have a better testament, a living hope, and the yoke of slavery…is gone.

EPILOGUE

It is often said that biblical doctrine can not be gleaned from one or even two verses on a subject. In the case of tithing, as noted above, there are exactly zero verses where Paul, Peter, James or John tell the church to tithe. In fact, the most direct verse on giving (2 Cor. 9:7, quoted twice in this article) says the very opposite – do not give out of necessity but give what you want to give from your heart. That exhortation is consistent with everything the blood of Jesus Christ did to the law. It was destroyed in the body of his flesh so that a new, better testament, written in blood, might prevail. Thus, in my estimation, those who push this false doctrine, are in deep danger…wresting the scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).

Caring for the needs of the poor, and providing for our Christian brothers and sisters, are most certainly acceptable acts of financial stewardship in the eyes of our holy God. Giving directly to a sound teacher, author or evangelist is also in perfect accord with the scriptures – whether or not they are part of a building with the word “church” on it. Sadly, the corporate “church” has falsely corralled believers into thinking that a 10% tithe must first go to them, and then and only then can one give “offerings” to anyone else. That teaching is self-serving, false, and will not stand at the judgement seat of Christ. The very reason Jesus came to earth to live and then die brutally on a cold, hard cross, was to set us free from the bondage of the law of sin and death (Romans 8). Yet out of ignorance, greed and fear many pastors are quick to place that yoke of slavery right back on our necks…exactly where it was prior to the blood of our great God being spilled to wash away our sin. Pastors and teachers are informed by James that they are under a higher standard of judgment than the average believer (James 3:1). If I were one of them, I wouldn’t want to have anything to do with placing even a small part of that unbearable yoke on the necks of God’s precious little flock.

I would love to see pastors, worldwide, reject the false doctrine of tithing, and to publicly repent for the bondage under which they have placed their congregations.  I would love to see them trust the God of heaven and earth to provide for their church no matter the cost, even if they, like Paul (a tentmaker), have to occasionally work to meet all of their needs. If their ministry is truly of Jesus Christ, instead of simply being a means to have a nice middle class lifestyle on the backs of God’s children, then He WILL provide. It may be a struggle, and the pastor’s life might not look like it did when the yoke of slavery was on his congregation, but it just might look a lot more like the life of the greatest apostle to ever preach the gospel….Paul, and great will their reward be in heaven.

Galatians 5:1

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

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32 thoughts on “Tithing and the New Testament Church”

  1. Amen, brother! We were set free from this horrible yoke a few years ago. We couldn’t pay our bills after tithing, month after month. Finally a brother pointed us in the right direction of giving when we’ve prospered beyond our monthly living bills (and we are frugal). Immediately the chains were broken and we felt as if we got saved anew. Then we began to question other areas of our life that we felt in bondage, realizing that they too were a yoke put in us by others. Things like having perfect kids, being at every church event and service no matter what, never question your pastor’s teaching, among others. Oh to have Liberty is a wonderful thing! Praise God the truth will make us free.

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    1. I am just now learning that I dont Have To Tithe. Wowww. I almost feel relieved. Hope thats not bad. I love to give and help needy people too. Even if I dont have alot. I thought I HAD TO TITHE though. Sometimes its really hard to do. I taught my family to tithe too. Now they do. I better tell them about being Set Free from HAVING TO TITHE. Are you Possitive about this? It sounds like The Truth. I read a whole lot of this writing today. I think youre right. Thank you very much. Sometimes I would buy food with my tithe for The Hungry. I would pray that it was ok to do. Im amazed about this. But I sure dont want to TAKE GOD’s money. I must convince myself now that Im no longer in bondage to Having to Tithe 10% and give offering. It was tough sometime. Hallelujah 🙌🙌🙌 Glory to GOD. And Thank you very much. God Bless you all.

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      1. Yes. It’s 100% true. 😀We are free, and that freedom should lead us to give where its actually needed vs. some giant, corporate “church” institution. If you have a decent church feel free to give what you want but also give it to a poor family, along with a Bible…but only give what you want to give from your heart. Bless you sister for the kind words.

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  2. Thanks! We too tend to constantly put ourselves under bondage, usually to please other people. The perfect kid thing is another huge area of slavery – and sadly, it puts our precious little ones who are just trying to figure life out, under bondage as well. We have learned our lessons the hard way on many things, but one thing I do know…in all we do God wants our hearts, rather than blindly following man made rules.

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    1. Thank you so very much, as I have believed this way for many years I too tried to Tithe and got into debt…I cringe when my Pastor gets on the Tithing subject…I dont think there are any Churches that tell this truth?
      And I am not good debating this issue…I just know they want money and because I love the people there, I go…But I will never be a member because I wont commit to the lies…May God Richly Bless Your Ministry..”We shall know the truth and the truth will set us free” Thank You…

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      1. Thank you! A quick and easy point is that the law is gone….all of it. If we don’t have to be circumcised or do animal sacrifices then why are we still under the law of tithing??? God, in ALL things, wants our heart.

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  4. Reblogged this on Let's Get It Right! and commented:
    Here is a great article on the subject of tithing. It is NOT a requirement for New Testament believers. Those who promote tithing are placing folks back under the bondage Jesus gave his life to free us from. We are to be led by the Spirit in ALL we do; and not by the requirements of the Law that was done away with. Great job Brother! P.B.

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  5. Hi Brother!
    I fully believe that this ungodly teaching of a requirement to tithe is a very dangerous one. Paul told the Galatians they had fallen from grace by returning to the practice of Law keeping. Very serious matter. Thanks for this effort. Rebloggged it to my site.

    Blessings;
    Paul Benson

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  6. While I agree wholeheartedly with the authors’ scriptural denounciation of prosperity now preachers, and their shamefully lavicious lifestyles, it sure seems to me that scripture puts validation of some sort on the guideline of tithing ( into God’s storehouse, not a specific church exclusively) as an eternal principle when Melchisodeck, who was an eternal priest forever, (an OT appearance of Christ)instructed Abraham…?
    Christ nailed the myriad of handwritten ordinances (600+) added to the eternal moral laws of God, predating, but encapsulated by the 10 commandments God wrote w/his own fingers! He didn’t do away w/that eternal moral law, but He fulfilled it!
    Else, western laws, that reflect those commandments, would be invalid…and yet, when embraced by a majority in any given society, they insure that society’s well being and peaceful continuation. Conversely, as we are now witnessing in post Christian America, when that society abandons those laws it begins crumbling & rotting within! We are painfully in our death throes even now!!
    What other wonderful OT admonishments are done away with by using that difficult to understand teaching of Paul’s that nails ALL (some seem to say) of God’s laws/principles to the cross…?? I so enjoy reading most all other of your spirit-inspired teachings Bro Paul, because, among other things, they cause me to “search the scriptures to see if they be so”. God bless you!!

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    1. Thanks for you comment.
      I did address the Melchizedek issue in the last paragraph. Animal sacrifice, like tithing, was practiced by Abraham and was merged into the law – yet no one suggests that we still do it today.
      My brother, we are not under law but under grace. God wants our hearts and not legalistic rules following – that extends to every area of our lives.
      …At the same time it is very clear that, if we love Jesus Christ and truly understand what he did on the cross to pay for our sins then we WILL seek to honor him and obey him. Grace is not a license to sell and without holiness no one will see God. John 16:21-26 and 1 John 2:1-4 make it clear that if we love him then we obey him….but our obedience isn’t legalistic. It’s from our hearts where we are free with all of our money and give and care for the needs of our brothers and sisters with no limit. WE are called to be good stewards. We are not called to give to a building and hope that they are a good steward. We are accountable as individuals, and that requires trust, generosity and freedom with giving.
      Thanks again and I hope all that makes sense.
      “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
      ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:2-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬
      http://bible.com/1/rom.8.2-4.kjv

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      1. Jesus at no point abolished the Law . He fulfilled it . The Law is still here but we are no longer under it’s effects as we have freedom in Christ.

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      2. The law…is gone, fulfilled…nailed to the cross:
        “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; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
        ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:14-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬
        http://bible.com/1/col.2.14-17.kjv

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  11. Amen to that. I was saved six years ago and quickly saw a contradiction in much of the lording over of others by those in churches asking for 10 percent. Strange concept if you believe the law of Moses is done away with. Are we under a different new covenant or not? If you are tithing then that is not in line with the new covenant. We belong to Jesus now. Everything we have is his. 100%. You get to give as much as God leads you to give joyfully. That makes it even better to give. Tithing is an old covenant requirement. Our requirement is to believe and when you believe things happen very unique to each believer. Praise God!

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    1. Well said my friend: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

      For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
      ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:1, 3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬
      http://bible.com/1/gal.5.1,3-4.kjv

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  13. Some months ago, I came across a contender for the faith on youtube. I think you will be blessed by these videos:

    Be blessed!

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  14. I have been visiting your website, because I read your testimony, on the website of Brother David Cluod, and I was surprised how you have a study on Tithing that does not fit the healthy teachings of the Word of God. I am the son of a Cuban Baptist pastor, who was pastor for 55 years in Cuba. I am also a pastor, and I live here in Florida. And I frequently visit Brother Cluod’s website, since I have seen that this brother has a very good teaching, his studies have helped me a lot for me and my ministry. I believe that this brother has a good doctrinal passion regarding Tithing, that is the same teaching, which I received from my father and that I firmly believe that it is the correct Biblical doctrinal position, regarding Tithing in the Scriptures. I believe that Tithe is a principle, which was practiced, long before the law. And that is how the word of God presents it, in the Bible KJV and the RVG. I have taught a discipleship about Tithing that exposes this truth clearly. I perfectly agree with the following study on Tithing, of the one-year discipleship of Brother David Cluod, because I believe it is biblically correct. Here I leave you the Bible study, on the Tithe of Brother David Cluod, I hope you study it carefully. Without more for the moment, and in the love of Christ, Otniel Hernandez Jiménez.

    https://www.wayoflife.org/reports/tithing_and_the_christian.html

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    1. I don’t think you read my whole article because I address your concerns directly at the end. Tithing, like circumcision and animal sacrifice, preceded the law, was merged into the law…and perished with the law. If you hang the Old Testament yoke of tithing on the necks of believers, than you are a judaizer and must keep all of the law. You must also teach and practice animal sacrifice, and avoid shellfish. etc.
      We are not under law but under grace. That grace applies to EVERY area. Tithing is still taught as law because churches do not trust God to provide…so they (very wickedly) hang tithing around the neck of the beloved flock. 2 Corinthians 9:7 covers giving in the New Testament clearly and directly. God wants HEARTS not cash. To teach tithing is to misunderstand the cross and the blood of Jesus Christ. It is no small thing. I’d reconsider your position ASAP and please read my entire article.

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  15. I totally agree with this posting, I learned tithing is not the Lord’s command for the true believer over 20 years ago. Especially when they desired 10% of the net income, not gross income…..wow!

    However due to 98.5 % percent of churches that are IRS Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) government regulated agencies, they are the ones most guilty of this false teaching and practice.

    However let’s face it, all churches that have large properties, and buildings to maintain, along with Christian Schools, Youth ministries, Sunday schools, social gatherings which they also may charge for, are truly NOT following the mandate as taught by the Lord and His Apostles. Most of these churches also support various Bible College’s, Universities, Seminaries which are copied from and after the pattern of the Roman Catholic Church, therefore make any justification of asking for money totally unscriptural, and therefore of the flesh, and anything followed after the flesh leads to death. Actually it is following the Anti-Christ spirit, which does not have the Lord as their sole authority, but the government is it’s authority.

    Very sad indeed. There is no blessing while living in total disobedience to the standard as set out from the Lord’s Word which is our final authority, not man’s.

    Thank you for speaking upon this truth!
    Lord bless you.

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  16. Right on, brother! I have thought about blogging about tithing myself at some point. A pastor of a church my family and I used to be a part of said that tithing was like using training wheels: In other words, use it to get started with giving financially, but move beyond it. While I don’t totally agree with that statement, my wife and I thought that it might be helpful to those who have never given at all or who have never given in any kind of systematic way. What we decided to do many years ago is to tithe to our local church and then give beyond it to other organizations whose missions we agree with–and who don’t spend too much on fund-raising and administration needs. I’m not saying this is the only, or even the best, way to give financially, but we are in agreement with each other and with the Lord about it.

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