There is no New Testament command to pay tithes

The verses about laying aside a collection on the first day of the week are about giving donations to Jerusalem, not a general commandment to the church to pay tithes or support the salary of the head preacher.

If we are to actually follow the Biblical example then most congregations have been doing it wrong for a long time. These collections were to send back to Jerusalem at the time these letters were wrote.

1 Corinthians 16:1-4
1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 3And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. 4And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

Churches have expenses and bills. If they need money then ask the congregation to prayerfully decide if they can financially support the ministry with a cheerful heart.

Under no circumstances should church leadership start quoting the law of Moses about paying tithes. Nor give examples of people who made large donations to the church while ignoring the stories of people who went bankrupt believing God owed them a blessing for giving their life savings away.

Rather, God loves a cheerful giver who gives as he purposes in his heart. God loves that we do things from a place of love and cheerfullness.

2 Corinthians 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.

I agree! Any Christian leader who preaches "tithing" is mangling Scripture and manipulating the people. I've seen it several times in different churches.

I'm sure that it won't be long until someone comes along and accuses us of being cheap, or greedy, or both.

Y'all are cheap and greedy!!! Just kidding.

I agree that preaching the tithe from the law and telling people they are robbing from God or going to be cursed is not what Paul or anyone taught the New Testament believers.

However I do see a principle in the scriptures quoted " 2Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, "

When each member of the local church understands that God will meet needs in the church, (whether it is local needs or needs in another groups of Christians down the road somewhere,) through each member of the church, they will realize that a sudden unexpected "prosperity" came to them so that they will give a portion of it to the needs and as each member does this the collection will meet those needs. This portion should be according to their faith and with a cheerful heart.

I see in this scripture a guiding principle of a portion each week by each individual as God has prospered him. There is no reason to think that it should be only a once a year special offering for poor saints in Jerusalem. Why limit it to that? It is an example that is given that can be used to draw a conclusion that:
1) It is not relative to the wealth of the giver (every one of you)
2) the first day of the week (a routine, a habit, a consistent method)
3) As God hath prospered him, (it is through the daily transactions of or lives that income will be earned each week that maybe we did not even expect and we should think "I know why that came to me, so that I can give a portion to the church) and if everyone else is aware of this and bringing a portion as God has prospered them, then the needs of the church will be met.

If one decides to give 10% of all income that comes their way in a week, because they think it is a good method of being consistent in given a portion as God has prospered them, and they are not using the OT law to make that decision but simply thinking that it will work if all members followed that example then they should not be criticized for doing it. They are giving according to what they believe to be a biblical principle using 1 Cor 16 as their guide.

There is a way to follow these principles from scripture that is of faith and not of the law. Each must give according as to how they have determined in their heart.

What I do not agree with is any form or philosophy that results in the member of a local church not giving, or tossing an occasional few dollars in out of guilt, while spending hundreds of dollars a month on coffee, fast food, and so many other things that do nothing for them but make them fat. Some would say that salvation is not based on your giving and I agree but I propose that those who are having the mind of Christ are going to feel much better about giving some of that fast food budget to help meet the needs of their local church that they claim is so important to them.

I am not going to teach it as a law. I am not going to try and make someone feel like they are sinning if they don't give 10%. People should not give with that kind of legalistic pressure. They should give in faith. It is theirs to do with as they wish. They can give it or not give it and still be saved. Their own heart of love and interest in the things of God and meeting needs will cause them to give to meet those needs.

That being said, I believe MOST Christians involved in a local church should have given a portion from their stimulus checks to their local church. I think 10% of income is a good guide for making financial budgets. It also helps the church plan theirs. It is probably 10% to 20% of a congregation that are consistent in giving a 10% offering. Imagine the stress relieve of a church if everyone in the congregation gave 10%?

These esoterical ideas about giving what and when you feel moved upon by the Spirit to give and having no plan and no consistent amount or percentage results in a few dollars in the plate and a once or twice a year $20. So since most people don't give much without a plan, 10% would work for the church if everyone did it. They would be able to give to support poor saints in Jerusalem as well as meet their own local needs.

I strongly agree with most of what you shared. However, because so many people are confused about tithing, I would remove all mention of 10% from the discussion. Sadly, it just seems to lead to bondage.

Fine then. How about "a percentage of your choosing?"

When it comes to the topic of tithing, there seem to be two polar extreme points of view, and, in my estimation, the truth lies somewhere between these two polar extremes.

At the one extreme, there is no shortage of charlatans parading around in what professes to be the Christian church who regularly fleece the flock of their monies while promising them huge financial returns in exchange for their tithes. To hear them speak, one would think that God intended the tithe to be some sort of surefire stock market investment that is guaranteed to yield a thirty, sixty, or hundredfold return.

This is definitely not God’s intent for the tithe, and I would never condone anyone giving even one red cent of their money to any of these charlatans. Their “gospel”, when examined in the light of rightly-divided scripture, is “another gospel” (II Cor. 11:4) which in no way reflects the true gospel of Christ, and to financially support them is to financially support Satan and his ministers (II Cor. 11:13-15).

At the other extreme, there is no shortage of those in what professes to be the Christian church who insist that the tithe was done away with when the new testament replaced the old testament. In other words, they claim that the tithe only pertained to the Israelites/Jews and the Levitical priesthood which accompanied the Mosaic law.

According to their beliefs, seeing how the Levitical priesthood has long been replaced by the priesthood of Jesus Christ, Christians are allegedly no longer obligated to pay their tithes. Their beliefs, when examined in the light of rightly-divided scripture, are not only found to be as equally false as the first extreme, but also detrimental to true ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As I stated earlier, I believe that the truth lies somewhere between these two extremes, and I’ll now give three scriptural reasons why I believe this to be so.

1. The tithe PRECEDED the Levitical priesthood.

If we actually take the time to read our Bibles, then we will come to understand that saints of God tithed LONG BEFORE the Levitical priesthood ever came into effect.

For example, we read:

“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which has delivered your enemies into your hand. AND HE GAVE HIM TITHES OF ALL.” (Gen. 14:18-20)

“And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: AND OF ALL THAT YOU SHALL GIVE ME I WILL SURELY GIVE THE TENTH UNTO YOU.” (Gen. 28:20-22)

Both Abram/Abraham and Jacob paid tithes BEFORE there was ever a Levite, a Jew, or an Israelite upon the face of this earth and LONG BEFORE the Mosaic law was ever given at Mt. Sinai.

Jacob vowed to “give the tenth” (Gen. 28:22) or to give the tithe BEFORE Levi was born (Gen. 29:34), and the Levitical priesthood sprang forth from the tribe of Levi HUNDREDS OF YEARS LATER.

Furthermore, Jacob vowed to “give the tenth” (Gen. 28:22) or to give the tithe BEFORE Judah was born (Gen. 29:35), and it is from the name Judah that we derive the word “Jew":

https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=Jew

Further still, Jacob vowed to “give the tenth” (Gen. 28:22) or to give the tithe BEFORE God changed his name to Israel (Gen. 32:28) and BEFORE his twelve sons became known as “the twelve tribes of Israel” (Gen. 49:28), so there was no such thing as an Israelite in existence at that time.

Additionally, a simple reading of scripture will clearly show that Abram/Abraham (Gen. 25:7) and Jacob (Gen. 49:33) both died HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE the Mosaic law was ever given (Exod. chapter 19 and beyond), so the tithe PRECEDED the Mosaic law as well.

This is reality, and we’d be wise to embrace the same because the only other embraceable option is DELUSION.

2. Although the Levitical priesthood truly has been replaced by the priesthood of Jesus Christ, the Bible teaches that Christ still receives tithes as our high priest.

We’ve already seen that Abram/Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek who was “the priest of the most high God” (Genesis 14:18) LONG BEFORE there was ever a Levite, a Jew, an Israelite, or the Mosaic law upon the face of this earth. Now, we need to consider that the Melchizedekian priesthood not only PRECEDED the Levitical priesthood, but that God also swore that he would raise up another priest forever after the order of Melchizedek AFTER the Levitical priesthood had come into effect.

We read:

“The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4)

This "priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” of whom God swore is none other than Jesus Christ.

We read:

“For this MELCHIZEDEK, king of Salem, PRIEST OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; TO WHOM ALSO ABRAHAM GAVE A TENTH PART OF ALL; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, UNTO WHOM EVEN THE PATRIARCH ABRAHAM GAVE THE TENTH OF THE SPOILS. And verily they that are of THE SONS OF LEVI, WHO RECEIVE THE OFFICE OF THE PRIESTHOOD, HAVE A COMMANDMENT TO TAKE TITHES OF THE PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE LAW, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: but HE WHOSE DESCENT IS NOT COUNTED FROM THEM RECEIVED TITHES OF ABRAHAM, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. AND HERE MEN THAT DIE RECEIVE TITHES; BUT THERE HE RECEIVES THEM, OF WHOM IT IS WITNESSED THAT HE LIVES. And as I may so say, LEVI ALSO, WHO RECEIVED TITHES, PAYED TITHES IN ABRAHAM. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. 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 Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that AFTER THE SIMILITUDE OF MELCHIZEDEK THERE ARISES ANOTHER PRIEST, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. FOR HE TESTIFIED, YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.” (Heb. 7:1-17)

Here’s a breakdown of what we just read:

A. Melchizedek was a priest of the most high God LONG BEFORE there was ever a Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:1) in that his descent was not from the sons of Levi who came many years later (Heb. 7:5-6).
B. Melchizedek was made like unto the Son of God or made like unto Jesus in that he was without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life (Heb. 7:3). In other words, seeing how neither his birth nor his death is recorded in scripture, his priesthood foreshadowed Christ’s priesthood in that, figuratively speaking, he abides a priest continually (Heb. 7:3).
C. Abram/Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Heb. 7:2, 4, 6, 9) whose priesthood foreshadowed Christ's priesthood LONG BEFORE the Levitical priesthood ever came into effect.
D. Levi, from whom the Levitical priesthood later came, was also accounted to have paid tithes to Melchizedek who foreshadowed Christ because he was in Abram’s/Abraham’s loins when he paid tithes to Melchizedek (Heb. 7:9-10).
E. Not only did the Melchizedekian priesthood under which tithes were received PRECEDE the Levitical priesthood, but the sons of Levi or the Levitical priests who later received the office of the priesthood also had a commandment to receive tithes of the people according to the Mosaic law (Heb. 7:5).
F. After the Levitical priesthood had gone into effect, God swore (Psalm 110:4) that he would raise up another priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7:15-17).
G. Jesus Christ is now a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, and he descended from the tribe of Judah, not Levi (Heb. 7:13-14).
Here is the pertinent point that cannot be missed:
H. Here men that die receive tithes, BUT THERE HE RECEIVES THEM, OF WHOM IT IS WITNESSED THAT HE LIVES (Heb. 7:8).

We must remember that at the time that this epistle was written the Jewish temple was still standing, and there were still Levitical priests (“men that die”) receiving tithes.

At the same time, however, he of whom it is witnessed that he lives or the risen Christ who now has an everlasting priesthood in heaven RECEIVES TITHES THERE.

Who is our high priest, Jesus Christ, receiving tithes from if not FROM CHRISTIANS?

He’s obviously not receiving them from those who deny his priesthood while still looking to the Levites, and, again, that priesthood is no longer in effect anyway.

In the same exact manner that Melchizedek received tithes of the faithful during his priesthood, Jesus Christ, whom Melchizedek foreshadowed, receives tithes from the faithful TODAY.

(Continued in my next post)

(Continued from my previous post)

3. The New Testament plainly teaches that God has ordained that those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel or be financed by it.

We read:

“My answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goes to warfare any time at his own charges? Who plants a vineyard and eats not of the fruit thereof? Or who feeds a flock and eats not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man or says not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn. Does God take care for oxen or says he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that plows should plow in hope; and that he that threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 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. Do you not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple, and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? EVEN SO HAS THE LORD ORDAINED THAT THEY WHICH PREACH THE GOSPEL SHOULD LIVE OF THE GOSPEL. 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.” (I Cor. 9:3-15)

When Paul asked his examiners if he ONLY and Barnabas had not power to forbear or refrain from working (I Cor. 9:6), was he not implying that the other apostles and the brethren of the Lord whom he had previously mentioned had already done the same?

When he asked who goes to warfare at his own expense (I Cor. 9:7), what would you have answered?

Would any of you go to warfare while paying your own way?

Are there any Veterans reading this?

Did you pay your own way while enlisted in the military or did others pay your way for you?

If you didn’t pay your own way, then why should a Christian minister who is regularly engaged in spiritual warfare finance himself?

When Paul asked who plants a vineyard and then doesn’t eat of the fruits thereof (I Cor. 9:7), what would you have answered?

Is it wrong for a Christian minister who has been called to labor for others in God’s vineyard (Matt. 20:1, 21:28) to be sustained by the fruits thereof?

When Paul asked if someone who is shepherding a flock, as Christian ministers do, should be able to partake of the milk thereof for their own sustenance (I Cor. 9:7), what would you have answered?

Paul didn’t need any of our answers because he answered these questions himself when he quoted the following from the law of Moses (I Cor. 9:9)...

“You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn.” (Deut. 25:4)



If any of us had oxen who were helping to plow our fields, would we put muzzles upon their mouths in order to prevent them from eating?

What happens to an ox that doesn’t eat?
]
IT DIES, and it is obviously no longer able to assist in plowing the field.

Why then should we, figuratively speaking, muzzle the mouths of God’s ministers who regularly plow in our fields?

Do we wish them death?

Many seemingly do.

Paul again quoted from Deuteronomy 25:4 while writing to Timothy.

We read:

“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. For the scripture says, You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.” (I Tim. 5:17-18)

Here, Paul added a second proof text to support his teaching that God’s laborers ought to be sustained by the gospel, and this second proof text is a direct quote from Luke’s gospel.

We read:

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. CARRY NEITHER PURSE, NOR SCRIP, NOR SHOES: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. AND IN THE SAME HOUSE REMAIN, EATING AND DRINKING SUCH THINGS AS THEY GIVE: FOR THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS HIRE. Go not from house to house.” (Luke 10:1-7)

When Jesus Christ sent out his laborers, he sent them out empty-handed BECAUSE THEY WERE TO BE SUSTAINED BY WHAT OTHERS GAVE THEM. This is precisely what he meant when he said “for the laborer is WORTHY of his hire”.

When did God’s LABORERS become UNWORTHY of their hire?

The correct answer is “NEVER!”, but many who profess to be Christians regularly cheat them out of what they are due while selfishly being served by them.

Turning back to what Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he rightfully asked:

“If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” (I Cor. 9:11)

Again, Paul didn’t need anyone’s reply to his question because he answered it himself when he rightly noted “that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple, and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar” (I Cor. 9:13). In other words, Paul gave us the true reason why God commanded the Levites to receive tithes of their brethren, and that true reason was to have their natural provisions met while they did their service unto the Lord and his people.

Paul then capped off his teaching by plainly declaring:

“Even so has the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” (I Cor. 9:14)

Seeing how this truly is what the Lord ordained, why do so many professing Christians errantly insist that the tithe has been done away with?

I can hear somebody object and say:

“Wait a minute, brother! Didn’t you read the next verse…I Corinthians 9:15?!?”

Yeah, I read it.

Here it is, again:

“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.” (I Cor. 9:15)

Again, I can hear somebody object and say:

“Doesn’t this mean that Paul refused tithes in his own ministry?!?”

No, it does not, and such is easily proven.

For example, Paul later wrote to these same exact Corinthians and said:

“Have I committed an offense in abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.” (II Cor. 11:7-9)

Of course, Paul didn’t literally “rob other churches”, but he said the same as a REBUKE towards these tight-fisted Corinthians. In other words, he informed them how other churches supplied those things which he lacked…some of which ought to have been supplied by these Corinthians.

Again, I’m not advocating anyone giving even one red cent of their money to the charlatans that I mentioned early on in this post. However, if you can’t find a church that actually preaches the truth (I can’t), then you can still help to financially support a minister or ministry that actually does preach the truth.

Well, I could say much more on this topic, but this ought to suffice.

I would stay away from giving people percentages.

Truth be told, EVERYTHING that we own belongs to the LORD, and we're just stewards of it.

If we're truly Christians, then we should spend whatever money we have in the manner in which the LORD himself leads us to.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matthew 23:23

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Luke 11:42

Where Are Those Actions Seen Today?

Acts 4;31-37KJV
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

It was always more than a tenth, and it was never money, that was only if you wanted to give an offering, over and above the tithe
It was primarily for the benefit of the levites who served in the temple, and the poor.

However we have no need of any priest now, the dividing curtain has been torn in two, and we can all enter into the Holy of Holys, and our great hight priest, Jesus Christ, has made an eternal offering and sacrifice on our behalf.

The poor we have with us always, and we can and should be generous to them ourselves in daily life if we have enough to do so. These days with the internet and things like PayPal etc. we can easily donate without having to involve anyone else in the matter. We can give to food banks, we can pass a sandwich or a jumper to a homeless person and no one need know anything about it. (Do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing etc.)

It is not wrong to pay a fulltime minister a wage, however it may be argued his wage should not exceed that of the poorest person in the congregation. This would make sense according to the equality attitude of wealth distribution the New Testament church.

But whatever we think, Paul makes it clear that we still don't muzzle the ox, that as the priests in the temple should still be provided for, a minister of the gospel is entitled to live by the work he does for God. (That doesn't mean we have to finance his jet and mansion and luxury holidays... but it means the congregation make sure he has the basics, emotional, spiritual and mental support, basic health or medical costs met, clothes on his back, food on the table and a roof over his head, electric money in the meter and water in the tap. )

A fabulous and inspirational example of living by faith is George Müller. His testimony certainly challenged me in that area. If you like to know more, there is plenty about him online . Needless to say, a church should never have to beg, try to manipulate, convince or coerce people to give for any reason. To do so is a violation of scripture. Let the Spirit lead, let the Lord provide and use whomsoever HE will, if it be his will to finance something.

There is no New Testament command to pay tithes

This is because we are to lay our all on the altar of sacrifice. When there is true love amongst the brethren, sharing does not need to be legislated by Church laws. We are under Christian Liberty now. Love makes one want to share. By their fruits you shall know them.

People do it all the time. I hear stories of extraordinary giving from members of the church. People give money, give homes, give cars, give properties.

I agree, I know of people who have given very generously in one way or another, to other believers in the congregation. I really think there are those who do, but sadly I have not experienced this as the norm in any church I have been to in the last 28 years, ( in quite a few different denominations and counties in the uk.)

These are extraordinary examples I have witnessed or heard of, and not at all ordinary occurrences I would have said. Occasionally such a thing is done, but I have found it to be rare and much is made of it when it happens for that reason, rather than it being commonplace behaviour as it sees it seems it once was.

But then maybe you have been to some very generous churches and it is the normal behaviour there and there is financial equality etc. It would be lovely to find such a church that truly had all things in common in a practical way.

There's no commandment anywhere in the Bible for wage earners to pay tithes to anyone. Almost all of us here are wage earners, and not even the hired men who worked the fields were required to hand over one red cent of their wages to the Levites.

That's what's so amazing about modern and historic tithe teachers. They have all taught falsehoods when demanding a portion of wages for a tithe while pointing at Malachi and Genesis with Abraham. It's all lies and deception.

Guess, what? Not even the carpenters (knock on wood) were required to hand over every tenth chair or every tenth table, or anything else to the Levites. Fishermen didn't have to hand over every tenth fish to the Levites. Clothiers didn't hand over every tenth yard of material, cobblers didn't hand over every tenth pair of shoes. The lies and deception, which includes the lies by omission, they call stand as testimonies of false teachings from many a pulpit.

Ah, but the average congregant member has rarely ever cracked their Bibles open. That's why so many false teachers behind pulpits have gotten away with all this for so long, some of them famous radio personalities, and book writers most of us have seen and heard before.

Oh, well. Nothing will ever really change until the end of this world finally arrives and it all burns up to make way for the new.

MM

The tithe was for the purpose of financing the ruler of the people of a Nation.
And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a God to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Ex 7:1
Egyptians tithed 1/5 to their God which is about 20%, except for the priests whose land was exempt.[See Gen 47:26]
All businesses have overhead, the 501(c) Corporations are no different.
Well, if the people won't buy the truth then they should not be surprised when they are getting sold a lie.
Nothing pleases the LORD more than to hear his children walking in truth.

Totally agree!

"Make sure you plant that seed money ,to reap a harvest , its that 1000 dollar flow "

Many churches teach that Christians are commanded to give a minimum of 10% of our income to our church. Others teach that preachers of these churches are turning the 10% tithe under the old covenant for Israel into a monetary legalistic prescription for Christians under the new covenant. I even heard a Pastor make a challenge to his congregation to give 10% of their income for 90 days and if God does not bless them then he will give them their money back.

In 2 Corinthians 9:5-7 we read: Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

I don't see a "specific percentage" given anywhere for Christians to give under the new covenant, but I certainly believe in giving and not just to our church. I also believe that everything we own belongs to God and we certainly can't out give God.