Abram gave ten percent one time in all Scripture and that was ten percent of the pagan spoils of war he had won. He also refused to keep the other 90%. Wait a minute preacher, didn't Jesus Himself teach tithing? Absolutely not:
"But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. - Luke 11: 42 (ESV)
If you read this verse and the context of everything Jesus criticized the Pharisees for and come away with the lesson that we must tithe I would say you missed the points, all of them. This has nothing to do with tithing. It has to do with where our hearts are as believers. In some ways, this speaks to the point I made earlier. We have created Christians who are more than happy to pay ten percent so they can look past the harder obediences that God requires. Neglecting the love and justice of God while paying ten percent means nothing. Moreover, look at what they were tithing! It was not money it was agricultural produce because that was the system that was still in existence then. The only reason Jesus eve says they ought to tithe is because He had not gone to the cross yet!
The truth is that as the church has seen more and more leaven infiltrating its walls we have seen carnal thinking explode exponentially. Chasing secular leadership principles. Employing non-biblical growth theories. But underlying all of them is the centuries old backdrop of tithing. It is founded and defended by a patchwork of Scriptures taken out of context and cobbled together by well trained speakers to sell compulsory giving. Listen, not everyone involved is even aware. I have seen otherwise solid biblical preachers jump off the theological cliff for the tithing principle. James McDonald, who I usually like, had a sermon on tithing where he abused Scripture constantly to arrive at his pre determined point. I know people who otherwise are completely sold out for Christ yet this malformed tithing deception has been so deeply ingrained for them that just this writing alone will be anathema.
I think if you taught accurate New Testament giving and truly left it up to the people of God who are indewlt with the Holy Spirit, we would be amazed at the results. I think it would far exceed the ten percent that only 3% of the people tithe today. At least at those churches truly serving God. In carnal churches devoid of the Spirit of God, we will see compulsory giving continue to be taught and wielded like a ruthless hammer. The truth will continue to be tithed.
Reverend Anthony Wade - August 25, 2013
