Goshen360:

Okay sir. Burnt offering also pre-existed the law, do you still practice it? Animal sacrifices also pre-existed the law and it was also a principles of God, do you still practice it? Idolatry and worship of astrological also pre-existed the law, which of these do you practice? Why do you hold unto tithe alone without holding unto these other practices that also pre-existed the law?

Do you understand what it means to derive spiritual principles? What morals do you deduct from the types and shadows of the OT? Offerings didn't start with the Mosaic Law, it started long before that or else why would Abel give the right offering if he didn't know otherwise? Offering is still practised today if you offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2).

Goshen360:

Okay, if you're saying it was ONLY the priesthood of LEVI that was nullified, please answer these questions:

1. Was the tithe also nullified with the priesthood of Levi or priesthood gone but tithe stands?
2. Does the church today have priesthood of Levi or ministry gifts?
3. Is every Christian a body of priesthood that replaced the OT priesthood or NOT?

The ONLY thing that God did not nullify that pre-existed the law was God's covenant in the SEED OF ABRAHAM which was fulfilled in Christ and I didn't see tithe inclusive in that covenant.

The shadows and types of the OT that we see in ceremonial laws and ordinances have been fulfilled in Christ's perfect sacrifice but the Moral Law of God has not been abolished, Jesus rather gave us the proper interpretation of them and the freedom to choose not to sin which is by the grace He brought and this can only be obtained by faith.

christemmbassey:

@joagbaje, concerning pre-law tithes, where, when did God institute tithe, who did God command to pay tithe, how often were they paying/gving the tithe and with what? Was it with money or agricultural products? Pls take ur time and answer. God bless.

The OT is Christ concealed while the NT is Christ revealed. The moment you start reading a complete Bible that consists of the OT is the time you will get the answers to your questions.

OLAADEGBU:

You might as well summarise your points here.

You asked for a summary. Here it is

To Tithe or Not to Tithe: The $earch For Truth
Though I’ve always struggled with the tithe, I still shook my head in disgust when I heard about the preacher who’s congregation quietly left the church during the prayer following a long sermon on tithing. He said "Amen", looked up and cried out "half my church is gone!" I laughed saying "they must have fled the conviction of the Holy Spirit".

What the Lord said took me completely by surprise: "They fled from error and guilt-based giving". "What?!?" - I’ve heard more sermons on the tithe than on any other topic except perhaps our need of Jesus for eternal life! After I picked up my jaw from the floor, the Lord prompted me to study tithing and giving. Throughout the Bible study I prayed for His guidance and in the end I reached the inescapable conclusion that the "tithe" is to the modern church what the issue of "circumcision" was to the church in Paul’s time.

NOTE: Nothing in this article is intended as an excuse to stop giving as the Lord leads you to give.

The verse most often cited in support of the tithe is from the Old Testament, found in Malachi 3:8-10:

8. ""Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, `How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9. You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--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 you will not have room enough for it.
Many preachers shorten Malachi 3:8-10 to just "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse", and almost always with the inference that their church is the "storehouse". For purposes of this paper, the Lord had me concentrate on the passage: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house". From that passage, the Lord had me research several questions:
1) What is the tithe?
2) What was the tithe for?
3) What is the storehouse?
1) What is the tithe? The tithe is 10% of the increase, established in Leviticus 27:30-33 as an offering Holy to the Lord. The scripture identifies the tithe as grain and fruit, herd and flock. The tithe is food! An example of the tithe can be seen in a shepherd with a flock of 100 sheep who is blessed with the birth of 50 lambs in the spring. Five of the lambs must be offered to the Lord as a tithe. The tithe was brought to the temple in Jerusalem in acknowledgement and appreciation of God’s provision for His people.
2) What was the tithe for? God doesn’t need the food – God doesn’t eat. God doesn’t desire sacrifices or offerings ( Psalm 40:6 and Hosea 6:6 ) – He desires mercy. God doesn’t need us to give Him a 10th of everything – when He already owns everything ( Psalm 24:1 and Job 41:11b ). The tithe was used to feed the Levite priests (and their families) who were required to work in the temple day and night ministering to God on behalf of God’s people ( 1 Chronicles 9:33 ). Without the tithe, the Levite priests would have needed to raise their own food, thereby taking them away from ministering before God. Hence the reference in Malachi 3:10 "…that there may be food in my house". Nehemiah 13:10-13 records a time when the Levite priests were not receiving the tithe wherein they abandoned their daily temple responsibilities to work the farms to feed their families. The reference to ‘robbing God’ in Malachi 3:8 is in fact robbing God of ministry and worship by failing to take care of God’s priests through the tithe of food items. Unlike the other tribes of Israel who were given land as their inheritance, the Levites were not given any land – only a few cities in which to live. God was their inheritance ( Numbers 18:20-21 ). Thus, the remaining tribes were obligated to provide the Levites with food since they had no land on which to grow their own.

3) What is the storehouse? 2 Chronicles 31 teaches that the storehouse is the Temple in Jerusalem. When the tithe was re-instituted under King Hezekiah, the king gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple to hold the tithe. Apparently the grain "tithe" was heaped up in the streets, which caused a traffic jam of sorts. King Hezekiah had the storehouse built to relieve a bad case of urban congestion in ancient Jerusalem.

Having established the original purpose of the tithe, the Lord prompted me with several more questions.

Q: "What happened to the temple (storehouse)?"
A: It was destroyed in 70AD and has not been rebuilt.

Q: "Why?"
A: The old covenant system of animal sacrifice to atone for sin is finished. The new covenant is in the blood of Christ who is the final and everlasting sin sacrifice.

Q: "Where is the temple now?"
A: 1 Corinthians 6:19 says WE are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God no longer resides in a stone temple, but in the hearts of his children through the Holy Spirit.

Q: "What happened to the Levite priests?"
A: The Levite priesthood is no longer necessary as the old covenant system of animal sacrifice in the temple was superceded by the everlasting covenant of Christ’s blood.

Q: "Who is the priesthood now?"
A: 1 Peter 2:5 and 9 says those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior are the priesthood.

Come On Laity, Let’s Do The Twist

Burdening the Body of Christ with the Tithe requires several twists and reinterpretations of scripture.

1) The tithe must be imported from the OT law of Moses to the new covenant of grace by Christ’s blood.
2) The tithe must be redefined from "flocks, herds, fruit and grain" to "money" and often "time".
3) The storehouse must be redefined from the temple in Jerusalem to the local church building.
4) The Body of Christ must buy into the ordained clergy as the new priesthood, thereby replacing the Levite priesthood as the rightful recipient of the tithe.
5) The Body of Christ must forfeit their own priesthood and buy into the notion that they are the "laity".
The tithe has been introduced to the Body of Christ using 2 tactics of the enemy.
1) Sowing guilt and shame into the Body of Christ by quoting Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, `How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings." What devoted Christian wants to rob God? The net effect of sowing guilt has been to extort money from the Body of Christ, thereby robbing the Body of the joy and blessing of giving as God leads. The practice ignores Paul’s instructions to the church at Corinth: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver ( 2 Corinthians 9:7 )."
2) Blaming the "laity" for the financial troubles in the Body of Christ , by telling the Body they are not blessed by God because they do not tithe. Often Malachi 3:10 is emphasized "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 you will not have room enough for it." In so doing, believers are challenged to tithe, with the promise that God will bless them if they do. Such giving is not out of love for God, but out of selfishness. It implies a reward for works, which contradicts Ephesians 2:8-9 , and completely ignores our status as sons of God by faith in Christ ( Galatians 3:26 ) and joint heirs of God with Christ ( Romans 8:17 ). The practice also ignores Christ’s words in Matthew 4:7 "Do not put the Lord your God to the test".

The Apostles Did Not Teach Gentiles To Tithe
Acts 15:1-31 records a dispute over circumcision that arose in the Gentile church at Antioch. Several false brothers had attempted to require Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians to be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas sharply opposed the false brothers and traveled to Jerusalem to discuss the issue of circumcision with the other apostles. In Jerusalem, they reported the miracles and conversions among the Gentiles. The apostles were filled with joy over God’s work there, and they agreed that circumcision was not a requirement for salvation. Following the meeting, the apostles and elders in the church at Jerusalem sent Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with a letter of welcome to the Gentile Christians. The essential text of the letter is found in Acts 15:28-29. It reads: "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell."

The apostles did not want to burden the Gentiles with Old Testament practices! The proof is in their letter to the Gentiles and the fact that the apostles did not impose the tithe on them.

Come, Let Us Reason Together ( Isaiah 1:18 )

Let’s suppose for the sake of argument that Jesus had commanded us to continue tithing. It would be appropriate then to use the tithe to feed the priesthood as originally purposed. Who then is the priesthood? The apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:5 and 9 that every believer is a priest ! Hebrews 5-8 also teaches us that Jesus is the only priest that we need . However the institutional church has borrowed from the Old Testament model of the Levitical Priesthood, thereby establishing a new priesthood (ordained clergy) that is separate from the rest of the Body of Christ. The division between the clergy, and the so-called "laity" is not Biblical (Is this the doctrine of the Nicolaitan’s that Jesus says He hates in Revelation 2:6 ) ?In fact, Jesus did not establish the ordained clergy – He chose fishermen and tax collectors to preach His gospel. Neither did He establish division in His church, He desires unity ( John 17:20-23 ). The apostles did not set up an ordained clergy – they chose men full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to serve the Body ( Acts 6:3, 1 Timothy 3 ). This man-made division between "clergy" and "laity" has effectively served to divert the offerings of the Body of Christ away from the people it is intended to bless and the offerings are most often used in ways contrary to the will of God. The net result has been starvation and financial bondage for many believers, and the real priesthood – the whole Body of Christ – has not been prepared to carry out Christ’s command to preach the gospel to all nations!

Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh ( John 1:14 ). He knew that Malachi 3:10 says "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse" when He instructed the rich man to sell everything and give the proceeds to the poor ( Matthew 19:21 ). I imagine the Scribes and Pharisees about choked on what Jesus said as they were in the habit of devouring widow’s houses for profit ( Luke 20:47 ) and the rich man’s possessions would have been a real feast for them. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus reiterated His desire to help the poor in the parable of separating the sheep from goats, wherein at judgement Jesus will reward those who feed the hungry and clothe the poor. Since Jesus judges us for our care of the poor and hungry, and since He commands us to preach the gospel throughout the world, why is most of our giving used for church buildings and salaries with only a small percentage devoted to the poor, missions and evangelism?

Is the church making goats out of us by not feeding the hungry and clothing the poor with our offerings?

Let’s not wait until the Judgement of Christ to find out!

Sins of the Church Against the Needy

The Lord has been trying to bring me to the truth about giving for years. On many occasions, He prompted me to take what I would have normally put in the offering plate at church and give it directly to someone in need. I love giving like that! Still, in the absence of specific giving instructions from the Lord, I never questioned the common practice of giving everything to the church, whereupon I trusted the church to administer my gifts. That is until the day the Lord had me witness an abomination that left me nauseous.

In the main office of a church I attended years ago, I was fixing a computer one Friday morning. Two young black women, with 3 adorable children dressed in their Sunday best, came into the office to ask for a food donation. The 3 secretaries of our all white upper middle class church stared at them, and finally one said nervously "our deacon of benevolence is in the office on Thursday afternoons – can I make an appointment for you next Thursday?" One of the women pleaded "We can’t wait a week, we need food now". The secretary repeated her offer, and I became sick to my stomach. I left quickly and drove a mile up the road to a cash machine and came directly back to the church only to find that the 2 women and 3 children had left empty handed. The staff did not know where they had gone, and I returned to my car and wept. I felt as if I had failed but the Lord said "you did not fail son, the church failed".

Since that first eye-opening experience, the Lord has shown me many more sins of the church against the poor that have left me ill. One church considered installing an air conditioning system for which several members had pledged $35,000 while another member of the church who was wheelchair bound from advanced multiple sclerosis didn’t have enough money to buy food at the end of the month with what little state aid she received. Often she was forced to chose between food, medicine or heat in winter. For many months my wife and I gave to her anonymously and when she went to be with the Lord last winter, she was at peace – the kind of peace that only acts of love can bring ( 1 John 3:18, James 1:22 ). As she was relieved of her financial stress, she blessed everyone around her with unquenchable joy. Most importantly, she taught us about right giving.

More recently, I attended a conference where the host appealed to the audience to give "an offering for the poor". I heard the Lord say "the poor are among you" ( Mark 14:7 ) and immediately I thought of a dear friend in attendance who is experiencing financial difficulties and had recently lost her home. The next day I began a letter to the host saying "Last night you took an offering from the poor" . I groaned at the error and started to rip the page from my notebook when the Lord said "that is not an error – last night’s offering was taken from the poor".

The Lord then brought to mind the parable of the sheep and goats, specifically Matthew 25:40 where it says "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me". The words "these brothers of mine" had not made an impression on me before, and the Lord brought me to the understanding that our first obligation to the poor is to the poor within the Body of Christ. The Lord then brought Matthew 15:26 to mind wherein Jesus said "It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs".

The early church had a much better understanding of Christ’s intent to care for the needs of the Body of Christ than we do today. The proof of their caring for each other can be seen in Acts 2:44-47 and Acts 4:32-37 where the Body of Christ shared everything, and through their giving, they eliminated poverty and indebtedness. In fact, Acts 4:34 says "there were no needy persons among them!" Taking up offerings to feed the Body of Christ was common in the early church. In Acts 11:27-30, the Gentile church at Antioch took up an offering for the believers in Judea who were experiencing a time of famine. Can you imagine a church today taking up an offering for a cross-town rival?

How did the church get so far off course?

Giving as Christ Intends

Though the tithe is not a requirement for the Body of Christ, we are still instructed to give. What changed from the Old Testament to the New is our motivation for giving. In the Old Testament, giving was compulsory – a tenth (tithe). In the New Testament we are to give with joy as we are led to give ( 2 Corinthians 9:7 ), not by compulsion.

Our attitude about giving should be like that of the poor widow who Jesus esteemed in Mark 12:41-44. She put 2 small copper coins, worth a penny, into the temple treasury. They were all the widow had to live on. She understood that God owns everything and was willing to give all that she had with cheer as God had prompted her to do.

It is time to invest cheerfully in what is eternal, specifically in God’s children for the completion of Kingdom work ( Matthew 6:19-21 ). The children must be fed, clothed and equipped to carry Christ’s gospel throughout the whole world and to make the Bride of Christ ready for her soon returning Savior. Imagine what it could be like if we resumed giving and sharing as Jesus intends. Surely we would rediscover the same abundant and powerful living as the early church enjoyed!

On the topic of giving, John 8:36 might seem like a strange scripture to cite: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed". While it is true that Jesus set us free from the curse of the law ( Galatians 3:10-13 ), sin and death ( Romans 8:2 ), our failure to give as Jesus taught us has kept the Church in financial bondage, and has prevented the Church from completing the work of Christ on earth. How many children of God fail to reach their full potential as ministers of the Gospel because they lack provision? It is through our giving and sharing that we equip the Church for service, eliminate hunger and poverty, and realize the fullness of our freedom in Christ.

We can no longer afford to misuse our offerings for church buildings, parsonages, conference centers, multi-purpose buildings, air conditioning, padded pews, pipe organs, and the like, all of which will soon be forgotten, while God's children go hungry, poor and ill equipped to minister the Gospel. Instead, like Abel, we should give our best gifts to the true Church – the people – because we love God and want to see God's work accomplished on the earth.

On concluding my study, the Lord asked one final question: What building ever won a person to Christ?

Ask the Lord to show you what to give and to whom, and remember that His words "Feed my sheep" (John 21:17) go much deeper than a pastor's sermon on a Sunday morning. His words are spiritual, and they are literal.

OLAADEGBU:

The OT is Christ concealed while the NT is Christ revealed. The moment you start reading a complete Bible that consists of the OT is the time you will get the answers to your questions.

The more I read the thrash rodents like Olaadegbu, image123 and Joagbaje write about tithes given their evasive tactics and deliberately manipulative posts, the more I am convinced that deep down in their corrupt minds they know that tithing is not applicable to christians. However for reasons other than standing for biblical truth and also their love for filthy lucre they would rather tear the bible to shreds than admit this simple truth just because it doesn't assuage with their greedy interest. The amazing thing is these guys claim to be christians yet they have no qualms with twistong the very word of God they claim to serve.

OLAADEGBU:

The OT is Christ concealed while the NT is Christ revealed. The moment you start reading a complete Bible that consists of the OT is the time you will get the answers to your questions.

You're 100% right with the above but how does it answer the questions asked? Is Jesus also tithe concealed in the OT?

Goshen360:

King James 2000 Bible
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 are descendants of Abraham: - Hebrews 7:5.....................For here is verily an annulment of the previous commandment because of the weakness and uselessness thereof. - Hebrews 7:18

From the above scriptures, verse 5 says the Levites have COMMANDMENT to RECEIVE TITHE. Verse 18 says, there is an ANNULMENT of the previous COMMANDMENT.

Here is my question: Will the COMMANDMENT THAT IS ANNULLED (or SET ASIDE, CANCELLATION and ABROGATED) in verse 18 ALSO INCLUDE the COMMANDMENT to RECEIVE TITHE in verse 5 OR NOT

Brother Ola, I still need you to answer the above question please.

Pastor Kun:


The more I read the thrash rodents like Olaadegbu, image123 and Joagbaje write about tithes given their evasive tactics and deliberately manipulative posts, the more I am convinced that deep down in their corrupt minds they know that tithing is not applicable to christians. However for reasons other than standing for biblical truth and also their love for filthy lucre they would rather tear the bible to shreds than admit this simple truth just because it doesn't assuage with their greedy interest. The amazing thing is these guys claim to be christians yet they have no qualms with twistong the very word of God they claim to serve.

The truth may be bitter but it must be told.

Goshen360:

Why are you making it sound like we that don't teach tithe for NT Christians don't teach giving. Giving is what is applicable to the NT Christians. You guys are even the ones teaching the 'fixed or fixated' giving of tithe which is not according to Grace or as a man purposes in his heart but according to the law. Take away the legalistic 10% percentage according to the law, then it becomes GIVING as it is taught in the NT.

Besides, you're yet to answer my question up there sir.

Are tithes and offerings not forms of giving? why do you take one and leave the other? Your question has been answered by joagbaje I don't need to say more.

OLAADEGBU:

The OT is Christ concealed while the NT is Christ revealed. The moment you start reading a complete Bible that consists of the OT is the time you will get the answers to your questions.

You have not answered my question, you guys claimed that tithe predate the law, abi? The question is tell me -when did God command Abraham , Isaac or Jacob or Isreal to pay tithes, how many times did Abraham et al paid tithes and to whom? Remain blessed

OLAADEGBU:

Are tithes and offerings not forms of giving? why do you take one and leave the other? Your question has been answered by joagbaje I don't need to say more.

Tithe is NOT offering. They's different. Let's address tithe first. In the OT, tithing was instituted to TRAIN the children of Israel giving. So, tithing is a way or form of giving. What makes it legalistic is the 10% attached to it. Remember the law was given UNTIL Christ should come. Now, that Christ has come and revealed, scriptures CLEARLY SAYS, we DO NOT NEED THE LAW ANYMORE TO GUIDE US. Galatians 3:23-25.

So, the law of tithing was to lead or train the Children of Israel how to practice giving. Now, Christ has come being revealed, our giving is not guided by 10% anymore. It's guided by PURPOSE in your heart in keeping with your expenses. God doesn't CURSE any Christian as it regards tithing because God had already blessed us, under Grace.

Joagbaje didn't answer my question, he dodged it! He said it was the priesthood of Levi that was abolished. How don't see how priesthood of Levi = COMMANDMENT that was annulled. Can you explain how 'PRIESTHOOD OF LEVI = COMMANDMENTS' please?

Pastor Kun:


The more I read the thrash rodents like Olaadegbu, image123 and Joagbaje write about tithes given their evasive tactics and deliberately manipulative posts, the more I am convinced that deep down in their corrupt minds they know that tithing is not applicable to christians. However for reasons other than standing for biblical truth and also their love for filthy lucre they would rather tear the bible to shreds than admit this simple truth just because it doesn't assuage with their greedy interest. The amazing thing is these guys claim to be christians yet they have no qualms with twistong the very word of God they claim to serve.

my brother, the thing that amazes me the most is the ferocity at which they demand and collect their loots(tithes) like the conventional dare-devil robber, they will scream, your money or ur life, one actually told me that if one does not pay tithe, you will not go to heaven. With all the display of their loot they still behave as if they never see N1, greed is bad.

Pastor Kun:


The more I read the thrash rodents like Olaadegbu, image123 and Joagbaje write about tithes given their evasive tactics and deliberately manipulative posts, the more I am convinced that deep down in their corrupt minds they know that tithing is not applicable to christians. However for reasons other than standing for biblical truth and also their love for filthy lucre they would rather tear the bible to shreds than admit this simple truth just because it doesn't assuage with their greedy interest. The amazing thing is these guys claim to be christians yet they have no qualms with twistong the very word of God they claim to serve.

my brother, the thing that amazes me the most is the ferocity at which they demand and collect their loots(tithes) like the conventional dare-devil robber, they will scream, your money or ur life, one actually told me that if one does not pay tithe, you will not go to heaven. With all the display of their loot they still behave as if they never see N1, greed is bad.

Goshen360:

The above is TRUTH MIXED WITH ERROR. As much as agree that God owns everything under Grace and with are joint-heir with Him. God doesn't demand us to give 100%. The Grace that was given to us unlike the legalistic OT is that, we should PURPOSE our giving in our hearts and in accordance with keeping with our other expenses of living.

Do you understand the term Christian stewardship or Money stewardship at all?

Goshen360:

If truly you believe Jesus came with GRACE and TRUTH, why don't you allow the truth to reign in you as per this tithe issues. Why don't you allow God's people to give ACCORDING TO GRACE of what God has blessed them with. Why are you still teaching LEGALISTIC tithing that contradicts GRACE giving? Yes, the God of the OT is NOT different from the God of the NT. The same God by the Holy Spirit wrote in Hebrews that you refused to answer the question posed to you. The same God, same "a new commandment I give unto you...". The same God fulfilled the Law in Christ. The same God NEVER placed the Gentile Christians under the law at anytime.

Who is stopping people from giving "according to grace of what God has blessed them with"? I anything at all I'll rather discourage church goers from giving their gift especially when it comes out of an unclean heart. What you should be teaching is that non Christians should give their lives to Christ and repent from their sins instead of this anti tithing campaign.

When Christ said "a new commandment" what does that mean? The new commandment doesn't mean that you are free to commit sin as many of you have been suggesting on this section. It means the summary of the decalogue, which is to love God and to love our neighbour, and if we are to condense it in one it can be said Love. The love of God is what will make us keep the Moral Law, and it is the faith which works by love.

"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor circumcision; but faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6)

JIL:

You asked for a summary. Here it is

Is this how you learnt how to summarise? I'm sorry for our students back at home.

Pastor Kun:

The more I read the thrash rodents like Olaadegbu, image123 and Joagbaje write about tithes given their evasive tactics and deliberately manipulative posts, the more I am convinced that deep down in their corrupt minds they know that tithing is not applicable to christians. However for reasons other than standing for biblical truth and also their love for filthy lucre they would rather tear the bible to shreds than admit this simple truth just because it doesn't assuage with their greedy interest. The amazing thing is these guys claim to be christians yet they have no qualms with twistong the very word of God they claim to serve.

My advise to you is not to give tithes until you give your life to Christ.

"The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?"(Proverbs 21:27).

You can see here that when the ungodly pay their tithes it's an abomination to God, so keep your coins and don't get take panadol for another man's headache.

Goshen360:

You're 100% right with the above but how does it answer the questions asked? Is Jesus also tithe concealed in the OT?

When you discover Christ then you will understand the application of the OT in the NT. Paul understood the spiritual principles in the OT and applied them.

Goshen360:

Brother Ola, I still need you to answer the above question please.

And again I say that you should refer to the answer Joagbaje gave.

christemmbassey:

You have not answered my question, you guys claimed that tithe predate the law, abi? The question is tell me -when did God command Abraham , Isaac or Jacob or Isreal to pay tithes, how many times did Abraham et al paid tithes and to whom? Remain blessed

Abraham obeyed all the commandments, statues and laws God gave him and if you want to know when God commanded him then tell me when commanded Abel to offer an appropriate sacrifice. The fact that it is not written when God commanded Adam or his children to make blood offering does not mean that it was not commanded. Jacob vowed to pay his tithes but I don't think you can find that part is in your bibles.

OLAADEGBU:

If 10% of your income is too much of a burden for you, how about 100%?



Jesus said something along this line when He reprimanded the scribes and Pharisees:

"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).

Jesus here didn't encourage them to break the law He rather gave them the proper interpretation of it. Jesus emphasised here that judgment, mercy and faith were more important than tithing but that all should be done nevertheless. Under grace Christian stewardship demands your 100% and not just 10.



Now you're talking here. Those who still argue about giving their 10% in my opinion have to learn from the Macedonian Christians:

"Praying with us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God"(2 Corinthians 8:4-5).

You need grace to give and share of your means just as these Macedonians who gave out of their deep poverty.

Bro, I dont seem to understand what you're trying to say here, are you saying it is the duty of christians to give 10% of thier income or are you saying they are supposed to give their all to God and the needy?

Are you saying the author and the finisher of our faith commanded us to give 10% of our income?

Did Jesus ever paid tithes (though He paid tax)?

With all the instruction that the Holy Spirit gave on how to run the church of God through Paul, Peter, John, Luku etc, was there a place christians were instructed to pay 10% of their income?

Please enlighten me.

OLAADEGBU:

And again I say that you should refer to the answer Joagbaje gave.

I knew you cannot answer my question. Joagbaje said it was the 'priesthood of Levi' that was cancelled. Hebrews 7:5 says, "the COMMANDMENT is to take tithes" NOT commandment to "PRIESTHOOD OF LEVI"

I now asked, when verse 18 cancels the 'COMMANDMENT', will this commandment that is cancelled ALSO include "to take tithes" or NOT? Just answer simple YES or NO....if you want with explanation.

Goshen360:

I knew you cannot answer my question. Joagbaje said it was the 'priesthood of Levi' that was cancelled. Hebrews 7:5 says, "the COMMANDMENT is to take tithes" NOT commandment to "PRIESTHOOD OF LEVI"

I now asked, when verse 18 cancels the 'COMMANDMENT', will this commandment that is cancelled ALSO include "to take tithes" or NOT? Just answer simple YES or NO....if you want with explanation.

I think my response hereshould clarifies that

OLAADEGBU:

Is this how you learnt how to summarise? I'm sorry for our students back at home.

you mean after reading JIL's post, you still have what to say? Bro uy conscience is dead! With a very big apology. @Goshen, Frosbel and Kun, i told you guys that the work inside the church is overwhelming. Bro JIL God bless you, pls join us in this figt against stomach-inspired gospel and greed, dont ever ignore their errornous posts . Peace to all.

OLAADEGBU:

Is this how you learnt how to summarise? I'm sorry for our students back at home.

you mean after reading JIL's post, you still have what to say? Bro ur conscience is dead! With a very big apology. @Goshen, Frosbel and Kun, i told you guys that the work inside the church is overwhelming. Bro JIL God bless you, pls join us in this figt against stomach-inspired gospel and greed, dont ever ignore their errornous posts . Peace to all.

potentpraise:

I think my response here should clarifies that: https://www.nairaland.com/1193734/god-accept-tithes-offerings-looters

We're still expounding on that thread!

@ Emmabassey,

I told you also, our brother Ola and other tithe teachers will keep going in circles. They will never answer the questions posed to them.

OLAADEGBU:

Abraham obeyed all the commandments, statues and laws God gave him and if you want to know when God commanded him then tell me when commanded Abel to offer an appropriate sacrifice. The fact that it is not written when God commanded Adam or his children to make blood offering does not mean that it was not commanded. Jacob vowed to pay his tithes but I don't think you can find that part is in your bibles.

bro Abraham never paid tithe, he gave a tenth of the spoils to melchizedeck as a 'gift' for coming to congratulate and bless him once and for all, if some one come to my house to congratulate me and i give him 1k out of my 10k as trans in appreciation is that a tithe? One can decide to give a dozen, a score or a tenth as a gift, but it is not meant for us to use and rob the guilibles. Bless u.

Goshen360: @ Emmabassey,

I told you also, our brother Ola and other tithe teachers will keep going in circles. They will never answer the questions posed to them.

habits die hard, especially bad habits, imagine some one who is reaping millions every sunday by doing nothing but intimidating ppl with twistet bible verses, do you thhnk it is easy for them to just close their eyes and walk away? No sir, it takes grace, so lets pray for GRACE to our brothers .they know the truth now but they need grace to walk away from this bondage.

christemmbassey: bro [size=20pt]Abraham never paid tithe, he gave a tenth[/size] of the spoils to melchizedeck as a 'gift' for coming to congratulate and bless him once and for all, if some one come to my house to congratulate me and i give him 1k out of my 10k as trans in appreciation is that a tithe? One can decide to give a dozen, a score or a tenth as a gift, but it is not meant for us to use and rob the guilibles. Bless u.

You see, these people that argues FOR tithe don't even know the difference between 'tenth' and 'tithe'. Yet, they just wanna argue,

Goshen360:

Tithe is NOT offering. They's different. Let's address tithe first. In the OT, tithing was instituted to TRAIN the children of Israel giving. So, tithing is a way or form of giving. What makes it legalistic is the 10% attached to it. Remember the law was given UNTIL Christ should come. Now, that Christ has come and revealed, scriptures CLEARLY SAYS, we DO NOT NEED THE LAW ANYMORE TO GUIDE US. Galatians 3:23-25.

Who said tithes is offering? If you can twist what I said to something else how much more of twisting what God has said. What I said was that Tithes and Offerings are forms of giving. Let me break it down further, tithes is a form of giving, offering is also a form of giving and my question was why do you choose offering and reject tithes since both are forms of giving? Since you do not seem to understand the applications of spiritual principles that Christians use let me refer you to how Apostle Paul who is a real Apostle (unlike some today who like to think that they are apostles and let us see how he applied the OT to the NT:

"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." (Deuteronomy 25:4)

Goshen360:

So, the law of tithing was to lead or train the Children of Israel how to practice giving. Now, Christ has come being revealed, our giving is not guided by 10% anymore. It's guided by PURPOSE in your heart in keeping with your expenses. God doesn't CURSE any Christian as it regards tithing because God had already blessed us, under Grace.

Your are still fixated on the law of tithing, why don't you learn the principles behind it and then apply it to your christian life and service.

Goshen360:

Joagbaje didn't answer my question, he dodged it! He said it was the priesthood of Levi that was abolished. How don't see how priesthood of Levi = COMMANDMENT that was annulled. Can you explain how 'PRIESTHOOD OF LEVI = COMMANDMENTS' please?

If the priesthood of Levi wasn't abolished what was? the Moral Law? This is what Christ said to the contrary:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy , but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).

All of you that are teaching men to break these commandments by saying that it is abolished thinking it is a licence to sin would be accountable according to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eben 2:


Bro, I dont seem to understand what you're trying to say here, are you saying it is the duty of christians to give 10% of thier income or are you saying they are supposed to give their all to God and the needy?

Are you saying the author and the finisher of our faith commanded us to give 10% of our income?

Did Jesus ever paid tithes (though He paid tax)?

With all the instruction that the Holy Spirit gave on how to run the church of God through Paul, Peter, John, Luku etc, was there a place christians were instructed to pay 10% of their income?

Please enlighten me.

I perceive that you are willing and open to the gospel truth unlike the blind leading the blind. Let's see how Apostle Paul applied the OT in compensating the NT ministers in the article below:

The Unmuzzled Ox

"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." (Deuteronomy 25:4)

This Mosaic regulation would seem rather insignificant, except that it is quoted twice in the New Testament. "For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?" (1 Corinthians 9:9-10). Yes, but that is not the main purpose behind this law. "Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope." This application is drawn in verse 14: "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." That is, supporting financially those who devote full time to God's work is not "charitable giving," but compensation for services, with the pay to be provided by those who receive the benefit of their labours.

This is even more clear in the second reference: "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:17-18 ), the latter part quoting words of Christ (Luke 10:7). Incidentally, note that both New Testament and Old Testament Scriptures are considered divinely inspired and authoritative on any subject with which they deal.

The subject here is just compensation for those who devote their time, training, and abilities to the work of the Word, under the call and leading of God, as recognised by the people of God. This seemingly insignificant principle, if faithfully obeyed, would greatly enlarge the effectiveness and outreach of the Christian witness in the world. HMM

For more . . . .

OLAADEGBU:


Who said tithes is offering? If you can twist what I said to something else how much more of twisting what God has said. What I said was that Tithes and Offerings are forms of giving. Let me break it down further, tithes is a form of giving, offering is also a form of giving and my question was why do you choose offering and reject tithes since both are forms of giving? Since you do not seem to understand the applications of spiritual principles that Christians use let me refer you to how Apostle Paul who is a real Apostle (unlike some today who like to think that they are apostles and let us see how he applied the OT to the NT:

"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." (Deuteronomy 25:4)

I have said it before and will say it again. What we give in worship places today when we come together is NEVER offering. It is religion that calls it offering. The NT simple teaches we should set aside 'certain portion' of our money for God when we come together. That's where our giving to our worship places comes in. If I'm talking out of scripture, then will you mind to show us where OFFERING = MONEY DONATIONS in worship places other than this scriptures.

New Living Translation (©2007)
On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don't wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. - 1 Corinthians 16:2

OLAADEGBU:

Your are still fixated on the law of tithing, why don't you learn the principles behind it and then apply it to your christian life and service.

The principle behind tithe is that we should support those who minister and labour in the word. That is supported in the NT BUT did Paul mentioned it MUST be by tithing to them? Supporting them could be in whatever form. That's the principle behind it, not by the means of legalistic tithing.

OLAADEGBU:

If the priesthood of Levi wasn't abolished what was? the Moral Law? This is what Christ said to the contrary:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy , but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).

All of you that are teaching men to break these commandments by saying that it is abolished thinking it is a licence to sin would be accountable according to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you now agree that the Levitical priesthood is abolished? If you agree, then does the tithe ascribed to the Levitical priesthood still stand or remained unabolished? The Levitical priesthood + offering sacrifice + burnt offering + interceding + tithe are ALL inseparable. When you talk of Levitical Priesthood, you talk of the above. All others are gone but only tithe remains right?

Besides, What is Moral Law? And lemme me show you that the whole law is gone!

OLAADEGBU:

Is this how you learnt how to summarise? I'm sorry for our students back at home.

Of all the evidence that is there for you to read and consider, your major concern is about summarization.

You never had the intention to read the text or even accept if it was summarized to you in a few words.

People like you don't see anything wrong in telling people who have come to church to worship God that they are cursed with a curse because they fail to pay 10% of their income to you. Money that you feel by divine right belongs to you.

Like someone rightly said, your conscience is dead. The apostles gave their all for the gospel. They went around from village to village, country to country preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone and did not ask converts to pay them tithes. You sit down in your local church continuously preaching the same message to those who should be reaching out to the lost in the first place and believe that for all your efforts you deserve 10% of their income. Money indeed is the root of all evil.