I belong to this yahoo group fellowship born out of my former teenage fellowship from where we grew up way back in Benin City, Nigeria. Its called Youth Vessels of Christ Fellowship (YVC). At the moment though, we are all in diaspora, so we started what we call "YVC online" We currently have had fresh converts join our group, and also have welcomed believers join our group so we are growing. I invite you to join if you can. Its interesting, we all write in about any issue and trash them together as a family. For a couple of days now, we have been dealing with the issue of tithe, and one of our online cordinators insists that tithe is an old testament ordinance that should not be in practice today. There were many other opinions, and I think because of his influence in the group most members were starting to waiver between to tithe, or not to tithe.
Down below was my personal contribution and the last point standing as we speak. I was responding to a brother that said; he believes in the benefit of tithing, but does not believe that you're cursed if you dont tithe! I need your personal opinion as well. Please feel free to say what you believe about tithing after going through this post. Together, let us find the truth about this ancient ordinance, and stay with it!!!
MY CONTRIBUTION
Well...my two brothers! If one doesnt get the benefits of tithe, which is open heavens, and an overflow...what does one get? I believe that if you dont tithe, you are a robber, period! Remember, a thief is better than a robber, cos a thief steals to eat, the bible says he's punished only if he's caught! But a robber is dangerously armed...and many people are robbing God as we speak..at gun point...how rude can that be? Verry.
So pls lets not just look at our comfort, lets look at scripture... Melchizedek King of Salem has no beginning, and no end, just like Jesus. He is Christ himself...no beginning no ending, and so is the ordinance of tithe.
Thank you.
My passion is to promote personal development, national development and social responsibility, especially among youths.
Part 1
ReplyDeleteThe first time tithe is mentioned in the Bible is Abraham's tithe of pagan spoils of war, and Abraham kept NOTHING for himself. This was NOT an act of worship. The goods that Abraham gave the tenth from didn’t even belong to Abraham:
Genesis 14:21 (NIV) - The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
Notice in verse 21 the king of Sodom didn’t ask Abraham if he would give back to him the people, but rather said GIVE ME the people and keep the goods for yourself. The way that is worded indicates that the king of Sodom was claiming that the people and the goods belonged to him and those he represented.
Genesis 14:22-24 (NIV) - 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”
Notice in verses 23 and 24 Abraham also acknowledges that the goods belonged to the king of Sodom and those he represented.
Therefore, it is clear that both the king of Sodom and Abraham acknowledged that the spoils of war did NOT belong to Abraham, yet he gave a tenth of the spoils to King Melchizedek. This would seem that Abraham did something wrong, if not even illegal, but Biblical historians agree that it was custom in Abraham's day to give the king a tenth of the war spoils. Had Abraham not given the tenth, he would have gone against custom.
Conclusion: Abraham did NOT give a tenth of his income, or his wealth. Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of war that didn’t belong to him. That is NOT an example for Christians to follow today.
The next mention of a tithe is Jacob's VOW to tithe. Jacob set the conditions, not God. Nowhere in The Word does it tell us that Jacob actually tithed. Genesis 28:10-22
Next is The Lord's Tithe. God gave His definition as a tenth of crops and animals which came from God's hand, not man's income. God NEVER commanded anyone to tithe on anything that man made or earned. Leviticus 27:30-33.
The ordinances (instructions, or laws) for The Lord's Tithe are in Numbers 18. God gave strict orders to take His tithe to the Levites. God NEVER changed that command. Anyone who takes God's tithe to anyone other than the Levites is being disobedient to God's Word.
Church leaders ignore God's definition of His tithe, and ignore God's ordinances for His tithe. They change the words to fit their pocket book. This is nothing but manipulation of God's Word. They are false teachers.
The Bible CLEARLY SHOWS that the tithe ENDED at the cross in the Book of Hebrews. In the first nine verses of Hebrews 7 the words tenth or tithes appears SEVEN TIMES. The ONLY place in the Bible, after Calvary, that tithing appears is in Hebrews 7.
In Hebrews 7:5 we are told that Levi (the Levites) took the tithes under the law. In Hebrews 7:12 we are told that when the priesthood changes, the law will change. Hebrews 7:18 is telling us that Numbers 18 was disannulled. Numbers 18 established the Levitical priesthood, and part of that establishing included tithing. When the Levitical priesthood ended (at Calvary, or at least in the year 70AD when the temple was destroyed), all laws that established that priesthood were canceled. If Numbers 18 wasn't canceled, we would still be under the Levitical priesthood.
Those who argue they didn't have money or income then really need to study the scriptures. They had money and wages, even in Genesis. The farmers had income from barter exchanges, and they had markets to buy and sell as proven in Deuteronomy 14:24-26.
Part 2
ReplyDeleteThe Bible CLEARLY SHOWS that the tithe ENDED at the cross in the Book of Hebrews. In the first nine verses of Hebrews 7 the words tenth or tithes appears SEVEN TIMES. The ONLY place in the Bible, after Calvary, that tithing appears is in Hebrews 7.
In Hebrews 7:5 we are told that Levi (the Levites) took the tithes under the law. In Hebrews 7:12 we are told that when the priesthood changes, the law will change. Hebrews 7:18 is telling us that Numbers 18 was disannulled. Numbers 18 established the Levitical priesthood, and part of that establishing included tithing. When the Levitical priesthood ended (at Calvary, or at least in the year 70AD when the temple was destroyed), all laws that established that priesthood were canceled. If Numbers 18 wasn't canceled, we would still be under the Levitical priesthood.
Those who argue they didn't have money or income then really need to study the scriptures. They had money and wages, even in Genesis. The farmers had income from barter exchanges, and they had markets to buy and sell as proven in Deuteronomy 14:24-26.
Those who argue Malachi 3:8, robbing God, need to start with verse 7. God is talking about His ordinances in Numbers 18 which we learned were disannulled according to Hebrews 7:18. Also, if you start with Malachi 1, you will see that God is speaking to the priests, not the people. The priests robbed God of the tithe (Nehemiah 13) and the priests robbed God of the offerings (Malachi 1).
Part 3
ReplyDeleteHere is how the definition of the word tithe has changed over the years.
DEFINITION OF THE WORD TITHE – from Strongs Hebrew Dictionary
A tenth, tenth part
That’s it. The word tithe is a mathematical term and nothing else. The word has nothing to do with God, giving to God, paying to God. Therefore, when reading Genesis regarding Abraham and Jacob, the word tithe is a mathematical term only.
DEFINITION OF THE LORD’S TITHE – Leviticus 27:30-33
God, Himself, defined His tithe. This is the ONLY tithe that God claimed “is the Lord’s.”
30And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.
32And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
In other words, God defined His tithe as coming from ONLY crops and animals.
DEFINITION OF THE FESTIVAL TITHE – Deuteronomy 14:22-27
22Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
In verse 23 The Word adds, “the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks,” but notice, NOT a tenth of thy herds and flocks.
DEFINITION OF THE THREE-YEAR TITHE aka THE POOR TITHE – Deuteronomy 14:28-29
28At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates
MAN’S DEFINITION OF THE TITHE – from made-made dictionaries
MacMillan's Modern Dictionary - 1938 edition: Tithe - tenth part, or any small part, of produce, profits, or the like paid as a tax or as a voluntary contribution, esp. for religion or charitable use.
The American Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition - 1994: Tithe - A tenth part of one's annual income contributed voluntarily or due as a tax, especially for the support of the clergy or church.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary - latest edition: Tithe - a tenth part of something paid as a voluntary contribution or as a tax especially for the support of a religious establishment.
As you can see, just since 1938 the definition has changed from a tenth part of produce or profits, to a tenth part of one's annual income, to a tenth part of something and all three definitions include something to do with the support of the church or a religious establishment.
Part 4
ReplyDeletePRO-TITHERS BEWARE
In Numbers 18 God commanded that His tithe be taken to the Levites. The Levites were the servants to the priests. They were the singers, the musicians, the janitors, the carpenters, the workers at the Temple. The Levites were to take a tenth of the tithe to the priests. Is that how your church follows God’s law? Do you take The Lord’s Tithe to the singers, musicians, etc. and let them give a tenth to the pastor?
Numbers 18:27 proves that neither wages nor income could be tithed on for The Lord’s Tithe. Without this interpretation, Numbers 18:27 has no meaning and is only taking up space.
The definition of The Lord’s Tithe is NOT ten percent. It is a TENTH. Here is the difference. Since God said to tithe every TENTH animal, if there were only 9 new born animals that year, NOTHING was tithed. They were not instructed to tithe ten percent of the value of the animals.
The tithe was NEVER on man’s increase. God defined His tithe to be a tenth of His increase. That is why it is HOLY!
1 Timothy 5:8 tells us that if we give first and then don’t have enough left to take care of our family, we are worse than a non-believer.
Tithers – you are SINNING against God when you ignore His command and take His tithe to the church.
Pro-tithers – you must think that God didn’t know the future and therefore didn’t provide for the future in His Word. You must think that God expects YOU to change His definition and commands to fit your needs. I BELIEVE THAT GOD GAVE US HIS WORD TO FOLLOW, NOT TAMPER WITH.
Matthew 5:18 tells you that if you change even one dot or one tittle and teach it to man, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.
In Malachi 3:5 God threatened to come near you for judgment for those who defraud laborers of their wages.
Pro-tithers – show me one verse where God ever told anyone to tithe on anything that man made or earned (wages or income). Show me one verse where God ever gave the Christian Church permission to receive His tithe. You, my friends, are REBELLING AGAINST GOD by ignoring His Word and doing what you believe is better.
Part 5
ReplyDeletePreacher: You tithe on the first ten percent of your income.
God’s Word: You tithe on crops, and every tenth animal that passes under the rod. NOT the first, but the tenth. See Leviticus 27:30-33. Preachers are mixing firstfruits with the tithe and they are NOT the same. In Nehemiah 10:37-38 we learn that the firstfruits were taken to the temple for the priests, and the tithe was taken to the Levites to go into their cities.
Preacher: The Levites worked full-time at The Temple.
God’s Word: The Levities and priests were divided into “24 courses” and they rotated working at The Temple one week out of every 24 weeks. Therefore, the priests and Levites actually worked at The Temple about two weeks a year. The rest of the time they had regular jobs. See First Chronicles 24 for the priests and chapters 25 and 26 for the Levites.
Preacher: You tithe the BEST to God.
God’s Word: You tithe every tenth animal whether that animal be good OR BAD. See Leviticus 27:30-33.
Preacher: The firstfruits of your income belong to God.
God’s Word: In the Old Testament, every time a firstfruits offering is mentioned it is referring to the first of the crop, assets that came from God’s hand, not man’s labor. Firstfruits offerings has nothing to do with income.
Preacher: The tithe was taken to The Temple.
God’s Word: The tithe was taken to the Levites to go into their cities. See Nehemiah 10:37-38.
Preacher: Malachi 3:10 Take all the tithes to the storehouse.
God’s Word: The Levites received the tithe, and they were required to take a tenth of the tithe to the priests. ONLY that tithe went to the storehouse, NOT the tithe from the people. Again, see Nehemiah 10:37-38.
Preacher: You are robbing God if you don’t bring your tithe to the church. Malachi 3:8-10.
God’s Word: The priests were robbing God, not the people. The priests robbed God of the tithe by stealing the Levites portion (Nehemiah 13). The priests robbed God of the offerings by giving the worst and keeping the best (Malachi 1).
God defined His tithe in Leviticus 27:30-33 as HOLY. How can anyone change God’s definition and then call a tenth of their income a HOLY tithe!
Chichi! Whatsup! I wouldn't say I agree with your take on the tithe though. The tithe is not at all binding on today's church. The tithe was always A TENTH of food produce from within the land of Israel and never money. What we call tithing in today's church is in fact just giving 10% of one's earnings.
ReplyDeleteThe early church never demanded tithes from its members instaed people gave what they had decided to give be it 1%, 5%, 10% or a 100%.
How are you doing though? We haven't spoken in a while. I will try and call you when I get the chance.
Regards to everyone and God bless.
Onas
Well done my lady and fellow blogger.
ReplyDeleteJohn.