"Your life is transformed to the degree that your mind is renewed. Cornel's book goes a long way to removing the hindrances to that renewal."
-Curry R. Blake, John G. Lake Ministries
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Many proponents of tithing for believers use Abraham as their reason. Their main argument is that since Abraham tithed before the law, that tithing supersedes the law and is therefore still a required practice for believers. Here are my own reasons why I don’t consider Abraham to be good reason for arguing that believers should still tithe. (Apart from the fact that there is not one single New Testament verse that instructs us to do so…)
1. Abraham never tithed.
If you read Gen 14 where this original instance of tithing occurs, you will see that it was ABRAM who tithed, not Abraham. What is the difference? Well, God did not make the covenant with Abram yet. A covenant is not in effect without blood (Heb 9:16-22). The covenant was only made in Gen 15, and then Abram changed to Abraham. (There is a lot to say about that name change. I might write about that sometime in the future.)
2. The Abrahamic covenant was not cut with Abraham.
We refer to the covenant as Abrahamic but the covenant was not with Abraham. God made Abraham sleep deeply and Jesus walked through the split-in-half animal. That means Abraham had no requirements to keep but that Jesus kept all the requirements on Abraham’s behalf.
3. He didn’t tithe with his own money.
Abram tithed with the spoils of war he took from killing 7 kings and their armies. He didn’t tithe a single coin, animal or grain from his own possessions. If you want to follow this example, you should go fight, kill and take 7 unbeliever’s money and give 10% of that away as your tithe.
4. He gave the other 90% away too.
Abram gave 90% to the King of Sodom. If you want to use this as your example, you have to keep this part too, or else you aren’t following Abram’s example anyway. To keep with Abram’s example you should find a local drug dealer or adult video store and give them the other 90% of your money.
5. He did it only once.
There is no scriptural evidence that Abraham practiced tithing, did it often, or that he did it ever again. There is evidence that he tithed only once. Not every month. Preaching monthly tithing is no longer keeping with this example.
6. Promise vs. Conditional Benefit.
God gave Abram a promise to bless him. He didn’t give a conditional which Abram needed to meet in order to qualify and benefit. Faith alone. Tithing doesn’t qualify you for a thing. Jesus qualifies you.
7. Animal sacrifices also predated the law.
If people use the pre-law argument to justify the religious practice of tithing, then why don’t those same people preach animal sacrifices? They predated the law too. You could then also justify polygamy…
8. Melchizedek was a shadow of Jesus.
Some say that since Melchizedek was a shadow of Jesus that it shows Abram tithing to Jesus. Well, if he was a shadow, then Abram tithed to a shadow, not the real Jesus. The law was also a shadow and tithing is required under that shadow. So to me this is closer to tithing under law than tithing to Jesus.
In closing, I do not for one second think tithing is a requirement for any believer. But if you do, go study it out for yourself. I do not need a rule or obligation to govern my giving or my generosity. I am generous because I see My Father being generous. Generosity is just another fruit of the Spirit. I was created to be generous. It is contrary to my nature to not be generous. If a person needs a rule, obligation or law in order to give, it shows they are still immature in regards to this characteristic of Christ. Immature people also tend to not give when they find out there aren’t any rules because they still think God relates to us based on rules and regulations. Go read Galatians 3 and 4 again.
If you want to read more about this topic, click here.
Yours in grace,
Cornel
Looks like the writing bug has finally bit Simon! This his first article and I hope to see many more from him!
Enjoy!
Cornel
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Here are five spiritual time and money wasters that will help shift your thinking into a New Covenant way of life faster!
1. Giving Money To Receive Blessings
Stop wasting your money by trying to receive blessings through giving. In this tradition you are not only trying to manipulate God but you are literally using money to receive something you already have. You have been blessed already. No matter which blessing you are trying to receive, it has been obtain through the cross. “Why haven’t I received, the blessings that you say i already have? I don’t feel blessed!” The reason you don’t “feel” blessed or haven’t received in the natural, is because you are always trying to obtain the blessing through your own efforts, when it’s always been yours through Christ’s efforts. You need to believe and receive instead of trying to earn. Start living out of what you already have! Instead of wasting your money to earn something you have already received, give out of the love of giving, Give Because you have received, not in order to receive.
(See Eph 1:3, Eph 2:7, 2 Cor 8:9, Gal 3:14, Acts 8:20)
2. Running After Different Anointings/Powers/Mantles
Why would people run after Elijah’s anointing, John G Lake’s anointing, David’s anointing or anybody else’s for that matter when they already have Christ’s anointing, baffles my mind. Stop seeking and just look in the mirror. Yes, as a believer you are already anointed with Christ’s anointing and that anointing will never leave you! You may not “feel” anointed but you are anointed 24hrs a day 365 days a year. It’s not an existential mystical thing that comes upon you when you do things just right; it’s been in you since you were placed in Christ Jesus. What greater anointing is there then Jesus’ anointing? Stop wasting your time trying to get other peoples’ anointing when you could live out the source of all anointings: Christ in you!
(See 2 Cor 1:20-23, Eph 1:13, Rom 8:11, Gal 3:26-27, Heb 1:9, 1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:27)
3. Digging Up Your Past Looking For Generational Curses
The next time someone tells you that in order to be set free you have to go in to your past and dig up old family sins, you can say, “No thank you, I don’t need to waste my time, I was set free by Jesus on the Cross and my generation goes back to God the Father and you can’t curse what He has blessed.
Num 23:20 Behold, I received a command to bless: He (God) has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
Since we are blessed, and anointed Children of God seated with Christ on the right hand of the throne, how can we be cursed? The only way you can become cursed is if Jesus becomes cursed. And if the devil is trying to curse you, tell him to get lost!
(See Gal 3:12-14, 2 Cor 5:17, 1 Tim 1:4, Ez 18, Deut 24:16, Tit 3:9)
4. Trying To Constantly Defeat The Devil
Are you spending time in prayer trying to defeat the devil? How much time have you spent trying to ‘bombard the heavenlies’ to defeat the devil and the principalities? The devil is already defeated! Jesus has done it all, “Wait what about Eph 6:12” I hear you say. “Don’t we wrestle against principalities and powers?” I tell you, you cannot interpret Ephesians 6 without reading Ephesians 1:17-23 or Colossians 2:13-15! You don’t have to waste time trying to defeat him, Jesus defeated the Devil like David defeated Goliath. Now you can spend a lot more of your time praising God and setting people free from a defeated enemy!
(See Acts 10:38, Phl 2:10, Col 2:10, Rom 8:37-39, Matt 16:18-19, Luke 9:1-2, Mark 16:17-20)
5. Spending Time At The Cross, Repenting For The Forgiveness Of Sins
You don’t have to spend your time seeking forgiveness for every little sin that you have done. Jesus forgave you on the cross. You are not forgiven because you ask for it; you are forgiven because of what Jesus did on the Cross. If forgiveness were based on you asking for it every night, you better hope you didn’t forget one somewhere incase you kick it before you get the chance to confess. All your sins have been completely forgiven, removed as far as the east is from the west. They are gone. Before you were saved your sins were already forgiven, when you were saved you entered into that forgiveness. Repentance, when you were unsaved is entering in from law into His grace. Repentance after you are saved is simply to change your thinking regarding how God relates to you. As you change your think your mind becomes renewed and your life is transformed. You are in a NEW Covenant! Ours sins never even made us sinners in the first place. We were sinners because we were born of Adam. Now we are righteous not by our actions but because we are born of Jesus! Just read Rom 5:12-20!
(See 1 Cor 15:22, Col 2:13-15, Heb 8:12, 1 John 2:12, Rom 3:23-24, Jer 31:34, Isa 43:25, Psa 103:3, Heb 10:17, Psa 103:10)
Blessings
Simon Wilson
This is the final article in the tithing series and I want to answer some questions that might have been raised through the previous three. I suggest you read those first before reading this one. (Read Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3) If you have any questions, please write to us at contact@charismaministries.org
1. So does this mean I don’t have to tithe?
Yes. You do not have to tithe. Tithing was a practice demanded under the law to celebrate the increase God already gave you, by holding a feast with other people. Only animals and produce were to be tithed. The act of tithing was done by holding a feast with 10% of the increase of your livestock and produce and by inviting the Levites, orphans, widows, strangers and other people in your city to join you in a celebration of God’s goodness.
2. So does this mean I can stop giving to the church?
Giving and tithing are not the same thing. You do not have to tithe, and technically, you do not have to give either. But if you have the nature of God, the new nature of a born-again believer, you will exhibit the characteristics of God’s nature. His nature is to give. If you have a desire to give, then give. That is God’s nature and Spirit in you seeking expression through you. If you lift the law of tithing off of people and giving decreases as a result, it shows the people’s hearts were never expressing the desires of God anyway. If you remove the law of tithing and giving remains the same or increases, then you know the desires of the people are in tune with God’s will, they were just inhibited and strangled by religiosity. God is not under law, yet He gives. You are not under any laws or obligations to give either, but like God, you can’t help it because it is your nature.
3. Why then do we give to the church?
Eph 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (NKJV)
If your church is serving and equipping you, then support them. If they are not serving and equipping you, why do you go there? Or more importantly, if they are not equipping you, why are they there? Find a place or ministry that is actually serving the body and support them. The more support they have, the more time they can spend serving you. (Also see 1 Cor 16:2-3)
4. Why do we support them financially?
Though we are not FROM this world, we do live IN this world. If you like going to a big flashy building with good sound and effects, then remember that all those things cost money. If you go there and you enjoy it and are being served, then support them. They have bills to pay. If you meet in somebody’s home, often times they are footing the bill for drinks and snacks. Help them by offering to buy some stuff, washing the dishes, bringing stuff from home. Help one another by serving one another. (Also see Rom 12:13)
5. Why doesn’t the church just trust God for the money?
They are. But you are God’s answer to most of the prayers prayed in this world. When you pray for revival, God is going to send on-fire believers. If you ask for provision, He will send somebody with money to bring that provision. God sends people to DO His will. So if you can help meet the needs of your church by giving finances, then that is a good thing. If you can’t give financially, find out where they might need volunteers and give yourself as a living sacrifice. Giving is God’s nature. Giving is your nature too.
6. So are there any do’s and don’t for giving?
Do’s and don’ts are tricky. They tend to come off as laws. Yet there is a practicality that is good to adhere to. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is all about this. He wrote to them telling them how to use the gifts and how not to use the gifts. Was he giving them laws? No, he was just being practical and wise. He never told them they needed to start using the gifts because they were using the gifts more than any other church at that time. Yet they were using the gifts wrongly. You can use your gifts wrongly too. How do you use or do something good in a wrong and improper way? By doing it without love. (1 Cor 13). Giving without love is useless. You can accomplish a lot without love, but nothing that is eternal. Below are a few do’s and don’ts I personally stick to when it comes to giving:
When To Give:
- When you can meet a need. (Matt 25:34-45; )
- When you are happy to. (2 Cor 9:7)
- When you are being equipped, served and edified by somebody. (2 Cor 9:10-11, 1 Cor 16:2-3)
When NOT to Give:
- When you feel guilty or condemned for not giving. (2 Cor 3:4-9)
- When you are told you have to give before God will bless you. (Acts 8:20-21)
- When you are afraid God will curse you if you don’t give. (Gal 3:13-14)
- Anytime really where giving is commanded as a law and that not giving would result in a negative effect.
7. What did Jesus say about giving?
Mark 12:41-44 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” (NKJV)
- Jesus doesn’t look at how much you give. He looks at why you give. Your motives far outweigh the amount you give. Always has, always will.
Luke 11:41-42 But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. 42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. (NKJV)
- Justice, mercy and love is more important than what is given. Give to let justice reign. Give to show mercy. Give as an act of love.
8. What did Paul say about giving?
2 Cor 9:7-8 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (NKJV)
- You can decide how much of something you want to give. You can give 10%, you can give 100%. You can even give 0%.
- Give cheerfully. NEVER give out of obligation, necessity, stipulation, duty or requirement.
- Give with thanksgiving.
1 Cor 16:2-3 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. (NIV)
- Support those people who are in ministry and on mission trips.
- Note Paul said you need to chose who you approve of, and then support them.
- Also note how he says that he DOESN’T want to be going around collecting money, but that he expects believers to take responsibility to make sure those people get the support they need.
Rom 12:13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (NIV)
- Share means to partake together. If you want to share food, go eat with the person you are sharing with. Otherwise they might think you are only showing them pity.
- PRACTICE hospitality, kindness, and generosity. That means if it doesn’t come naturally, do it until it does!
Don’t worry so much about what to give, instead, let God’s generous giving nature be expressed through you in the way that you give, the way that you serve and the way that you meet needs with what you’ve been entrusted with.
Bless you all!
Cornel
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