Opening Readings
"Men, what must I do to be saved?" They said, "Trust in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved- you and your household!" Acts 16:30-31
"Grace to you and peace from God and the Lord Jesus the Savior." Romans 1:7
Introduction
I desire to share with you scriptures and remarks on the topic of money in the Church. Know most certainly that teachings about "money" as well as giving to the ministry is one of the hotly contested teachings in the body of Christ today. My purpose here is to push out relevant scriptures from both the Jewish or Old Testament as well as the New Testament, comment minimally, and just share with you what the teachings are. Comparing and contrasting what the preceding Jewish or Old Testament and the succeeding New Testament says would be a good way to present this, I think.
Message
So much of the teaching on money in a number of Christian meetings today revolve around the popular, or is it infamous, Tithe (10%). There are claims that to be financially prosperous, you must "pay" the Tithe. Depending on where you worship, this message is trumpeted every time the saints meet. Malachi 3:9 is usually quoted to back up claims and to openly threaten curses.
No Christian should be afraid of such messaging. Firstly, the Jews are the people to whom God gave the Jewish or Old Testament: "Adonai our God made a covenant with us- the JEWS, at Horeb" (Deuteronomy 5:2-5). It was not with the Gentiles or non-Jews. Secondly, Jesus, by his death and resurrection, abolished the Jewish or Old Testament: "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes" (Romans 10:4). Even the Jews are also now free from this testament, if they believe in Jesus. Thirdly, note the words of the apostle Peter: "So why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have had the strength to bear? No. It is through the love and kindness of the Lord Jesus that we trust and are delivered- and it's the same with them." (Acts 15: 10- 11).
The people to whom the law was given, the Jews, were not able to keep it, which is why God substituted GRACE for LAW. Tithe is Law. If the Jews to whom the Law came, and for whom it was meant, found it impossible to obey said Law, why is anyone going around today to impose the same impossible to keep Law? If Christ abolished the Law, why is anyone trying to bring it back?
While the New Testament encourages giving, it is never mandatory; no one earns curses in the New Testament for not giving. Jesus said, "Give and it shall be given to you (Luke 6:38). The apostle Peter said, "Whiles it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own power to retain or give out?" (Acts 5:4). As well, the New Testament does not prescribe the amount or percentage or fraction one should give.
A quick look at the scriptures regarding Tithe shows the following: 1. It was decreed in the Law of Moses (Numbers 18:24), meaning, it was mandated in the Old Testament. This, however, is not the case in the New Testament. There is not a scripture in the New Testament recommending, requiring, or mandating Tithe. 2. The family of the Levites were the designated collectors (Numbers 18:24), meaning, no one today can receive Tithe as they are not of the bloodline or genealogy or ancestry of the Levites. 3. There was one, single, designated payment location: the Tabernacle, and, later, the Temple. Meaning, there is not a place to present the Tithe today as we no longer have the one, single, designated location to take it to, such as the Temple (Deuteronomy 12:11). 4. The Tithe could be converted to money for safe storage but was always converted back to "food" when presenting it (Deuteronomy 14:24-27). Meaning, Tithe was never "money", rather, it was food: agricultural produce and animals. 5. It was always eaten- by the Levites, the poor and the strangers, and always eaten in the Temple premises (Deuteronomy 26:12). Meaning, the Tithe was food, not money. It was food for the welfare of the needy worshippers and the priests (Deuteronomy 14: 24-27, 26:12, Malachi 3:10, Mathew 23:23).
In summary, there is no instruction, explicit or implied, from Jesus or the apostles to christians to pay Tithe. There is no Tithe in the New Testament. In case somebody wants to argue this point, let him or her show where Jesus and/or the Apostles paid or received Tithes. Tithe is NOT a New Testament doctrine. That said, please be generous in supporting ministers who faithfully bring you the Word of Jesus Christ.
Invitation
While the New Testament encourages giving, it is never mandatory; no one earns curses in the New Testament for not giving. Jesus said, "Give and it shall be given to you (Luke 6:38). The apostle Peter said, "Whiles it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own power to retain or give out?" (Acts 5:4). As well, the New Testament does not prescribe the amount or percentage or fraction one should give.
A quick look at the scriptures regarding Tithe shows the following: 1. It was decreed in the Law of Moses (Numbers 18:24), meaning, it was mandated in the Old Testament. This, however, is not the case in the New Testament. There is not a scripture in the New Testament recommending, requiring, or mandating Tithe. 2. The family of the Levites were the designated collectors (Numbers 18:24), meaning, no one today can receive Tithe as they are not of the bloodline or genealogy or ancestry of the Levites. 3. There was one, single, designated payment location: the Tabernacle, and, later, the Temple. Meaning, there is not a place to present the Tithe today as we no longer have the one, single, designated location to take it to, such as the Temple (Deuteronomy 12:11). 4. The Tithe could be converted to money for safe storage but was always converted back to "food" when presenting it (Deuteronomy 14:24-27). Meaning, Tithe was never "money", rather, it was food: agricultural produce and animals. 5. It was always eaten- by the Levites, the poor and the strangers, and always eaten in the Temple premises (Deuteronomy 26:12). Meaning, the Tithe was food, not money. It was food for the welfare of the needy worshippers and the priests (Deuteronomy 14: 24-27, 26:12, Malachi 3:10, Mathew 23:23).
In summary, there is no instruction, explicit or implied, from Jesus or the apostles to christians to pay Tithe. There is no Tithe in the New Testament. In case somebody wants to argue this point, let him or her show where Jesus and/or the Apostles paid or received Tithes. Tithe is NOT a New Testament doctrine. That said, please be generous in supporting ministers who faithfully bring you the Word of Jesus Christ.
Invitation
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:37-39
Closing Blessing
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. Revelations 22:21
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