A true minister is called to serve the Lord's people in spirit and in truth. Are you a true minister of God, or are you one of the false teachers, pastors, prophets, bishops and archbishops out there? Examine your heart and your motive why you are in the ministry? Is it your love for money or is it your greed, or has the Lord called you to serve Him and His people? If so, do you teach and preach the truth, rightly dividing the word of truth in your application of the Scriptures? Or do you twist the words of the Lord, using sophistry and marketing skills to bludgeon the Lord's people into parting away with their money and peddling the word of God and making merchandise of the gospel (2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Peter 2:1-3)?
Let me begin this discussion by saying with authority from the word of God that Christians are not commanded to tithe and are under no obligation to do so. Unlike the Jews who were commanded to tithe (Numbers 18:21; Leviticus 27:30-34), the Lord did not give us any such commands, nor did the apostles. They neither collected nor received tithes, but freewill giving. As Christians, we have received freely and are to give freely (Matthew 10:8). Certainly, we're to support ministers and ministries, the poor, the needy and even the stranger, but we're to do so out of good conscience, freely, willingly and cheerfully, according to how the Lord has blessed us (1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 9:7), and not by manipulation, intimidation, coercion and threatening the Lord's people with curses if they don't "tithe." As a matter of fact, "tithing" today is a tradition of men and a far departure from the biblical way of tithing. Why should anyone collect "tithes" when Jesus and the disciples did not do so? Are we not supposed to follow the example of the Lord and the apostles who are the foundation of the church? Saying that the "tithe" is the minimum amount to give is not biblical, for believers have no minimum or maximum, and may give more or less according to their ability, out of a pure heart to glorify God.
Today, some preachers have come up with a thousand and one "reasons" for "tithing" which are not based on Scriptures, but on personal opinions. They teach for doctrines the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9). Many misapply Scriptures to suit their purposes, as for example, in Matthew 23:23. This was part of the condemnation of the Pharisees, and Jesus was not telling believers to tithe. Further, the Lord spoke to people who were still under the law and were commanded to tithe, and was by no means addressing Christians to tithe. The new covenant under which Christians operate, came into effect after the crucifixion (Hebrews 9:14-16), and under it, Christians are to give freely and cheerfully, without being lied to or out of fear of being cursed for not "tithing."
The idea that "tithing" was before the law does not hold water. Tithing did not start in the Garden of Eden, as some pastors teach erroneously, and Abraham's tithe was a different kind of tithe, from the spoils of war, was voluntary and not a command of God. Abraham was already blessed long before he gave tithes to Melchizedek and so was Jacob, who was blessed right from the womb, and their blessing had nothing to do with tithing, but with God's promises.
The Malachi verses by which many preachers threaten believers with "tithing" have been grossly misconstrued and misapplied. We need to understand that Malachi is first and foremost addressed to corrupt preachers, who were cursed by the Lord Himself (Malachi 1:6; 2:1-4), after which the Lord cursed the people in general for their sins (Malachi 3:7-9). Christians cannot rob God, because we're joint-heirs with our Lord and King, and He has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). How do we rob Him when we own everything with Him (Romans 8:17)?
The book of Hebrews makes a comparison between the ministries of the old and new covenants and shows the superiority of the new covenant we have in Jesus, and by no means does it teach believers to pay tithes. Do you remember the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9-14)? Here was a Pharisee who was a "tither," who paid tithes of all he possessed, yet was not justified before God. It is not what we do, but what He has done for us (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Due to lack of space, let me conclude by saying that if you're a tithe(tax) collector, the Lord is warning you to cease and desist forthwith. We are to encourage believers in sound doctrine to give to the Lord's work freely, cheerfully and generously, without lying to them and giving them false promises, or threatening them with curses to pay "tithes." The Lord is warning you to cease and desist from harassing and intimidating His people to pay "tithes." The Lord is warning you to cease and desist from cursing His people if they don't "tithe."
I was taught tithing by my teachers, who have all passed on to glory. I used to teach and preach it out of my ignorance then, threatening believers with curses if they didn't pay, but ever since I read Acts 17:10-11, I have learnt to "search the Scriptures to see if these things were so," and I have also repented from teaching and collecting "tithes." Now I teach the godly way of giving, the kind of giving that glorifies and is acceptable to God. Would you take the time to study to show yourself approved to God (2 Timothy 2:15)? Would you be like the Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily, to verify what they were taught, to see if the teaching they received was in accordance with the Scriptures?
Let us encourage believers to give out of love, out of a pure heart, cheerfully and willingly, without the coercion, the lies, the deceit, the manipulation, the intimidation and worst of all, the cursing upon the Lord's people. Let us remember that God loves the cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7) and is more interested in our obedience than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).
In reply to this conversation, please don't tell us your opinion or what you feel, or have experienced, or what others have experienced, but give us the word of God, chapter and verse, and prove all things by the word. If you can't prove that tithing is for today(and you know it is not, or don't you know?), please just hold your peace!
