Should I tithe before or after taxes? Should I tithe on my gross  or net income? Is giving to the poor the same as tithing? Will God curse me if I don't tithe?

The truth is, "You don't have to tithe". The favorite scriptures the preachers like to "threaten" you with, are from, or refer to the "old" covenant. Under the laws of Moses. We are now living under a new covenant.

Jesus said not one letter of the law would be done away with until all was fulfilled.

Matthew 5:18 - "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Galatians 3:13 - But by becoming a curse for us Christ has redeemed us from the curse that the Law brings; for the scripture says, "Anyone who is hanged on a tree is under God's curse."

Guess what? Jesus fulfilled it. The laws of Moses are now done away with. The last words Jesus spoke were "It is finished".

John 19:30 - Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

At that very moment, Jesus set us "free". We are now "free" to give whatever our hearts compel us to give. Not out of obligation or guilt, or even the false promises we hear all too often, that God will set us above the non tithers and make us rich beyond our dreams.

Only good, old fashioned, persistent prayer can accomplish that, not tithing. From the moment Jesus said: "It is finished", we are no longer required to make animal sacrifices. Neither are we under obligation to the other laws of Moses. We are Free! Free to give what we want and where we want.

PASTORS - PREACHERS - ALL OR NOTHING!

I would say, if a preacher is going to insist that you give 10% of all your earnings, he should also insist on obeying "all" of the "old Covenant" law, and laws of Moses. For starters, this would mean excluding from your diet:

• Cows and pigs or any other animal that chews their cud or has a split hoof. (Don't even touch their carcasses) Deuteronomy 14:7
• Lobster, shrimp, scallops, oysters, clams or any other sea life that does not have scales or fins. Deuteronomy 14:10
• Chicken, turkey, duck, goose, cornish hen, quail, pheasant or anything else with wings! (I'm assuming this includes their eggs also) Deuteronomy 14:19

This kind of narrows the menu down a bit after we have raced each other to the buffet after Church, doesn't it? (Yes - I'm Guilty!)

Have you been totally respectful to your father and mother?

Ladies and gentlemen, If you have had any form of sex with your spouse and it resulted in seminal emission, (the man climaxed) you must both bath in water, then you are both considered "unclean" until evening! Leviticus 15:18

This means, If you have had sex Saturday evening, even one minute after midnight, you should tell your pastor Sunday morning so he can warn the rest of the congregation to stay away from you! If anyone even shakes hands with you, they will be unclean also.

Ladies: During "that time of the month" you are considered unclean according to the Old Covenant laws of Moses, and anyone who touches you is "unclean" also. Leviticus 15:19

Everything you lie on and everything you sit on is considered unclean also! Leviticus 15:20

If anyone even touches the bed you laid on or the place in which you sat, he will also be unclean until evening. Leviticus 15:23

I realize these are extreme examples, but my point is, these laws were "real". The law about tithing was real also. If we are going to live by even one of the old covenant and laws, then lets live by "all" of the old covenant and laws, not just the ones that profit us preachers.

If you are going to be made to feel guilty because you didn't give a full 10%, then you should also feel guilty because you didn't tell the pastor that you had relations with your spouse the night before or that it is that time of the month.

By all means, if it makes you feel good to live by these laws, do so, but you will "not" gain brownie points with God! No one on earth could live up to these laws except one man, and God had to send him to do it. He indeed "did" live up to these laws, then he did away with them. Thank God!! "IT IS FINISHED!".

SHOULD I GIVE MONEY?

YES!!! That's the beauty of it! You are free to give. As much as you want or as little as you want. Whatever your heart tells you to do. Don't expect some great reward if you do, but know that you will not be punished if you don't!

2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

I can tell you that it does please God when you are generous and give to the poor and support Gods true work. Jesus said: If you give to the poor, you are doing it for "him".

Matthew 25:40 - The King will reply, 'I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!'

WHY SHOULD I TITHE & WHAT IS IT FOR?

Unless your heart tells you to and you can afford it, You Shouldn't! But, In the old testament, the "tithe" was given to support Gods workers, and so there would be food in the store house for Gods people.

The tithes and offerings were distributed from the priests down. In today's world, In a church that seats 1000 people, the pastors salary is roughly $65,000.00 a year. There are usually secretaries and cleaning people and such that have to be paid also.

In a church that size, they are usually compelled to pay a music director. However, the musicians and choir people are expected to perform weekly, only out of the goodness of their hearts and just be "good Christians". The same applies to all the people who teach "special groups". Ladies groups, children's functions etc...

I can tell you, In the old testament, when the musicians and singers were not paid, they walked! That's right. They went home!

Nehemiah 13:10 - I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field.

Maybe you will look at the musicians and choir people a little differently next Sunday when you go to church. Back then, the king was told that he was not to even charge tax's to to these people.

Ezra 7:24 - "We also inform you that it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim or servants of this house of God.

So priorities seem to be a little twisted today. You are expected (by those who receive it) to pay tithes of everything you bring in, but where is your tithe going? At what point did the singers, musicians, doorkeepers, and servants of the house of God get left out, but new wings are being added, busses are being purchased and television airtime is being paid for?

Malachi 3:10 - "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE

In those days, under the old covenant, it was food and crops. Today it is money! Let me ask you a question. Back then, if a man gave 10% of his income (livestock and/or crops) to the church, then fell on hard times, would he go to the church for help?

Would the church help him? If the church helped him, how would they do it? What would they give him to survive? It would probably be livestock and/or crops!

If you on the other hand, give 10% of all your earnings (money) to the church, then fall on hard times, will the church help you? If the church helps you, how will they do it?

It was money you tithed with. If you get served an eviction notice, will your church give you money? If the Repo man is in your driveway, will the church be there with a check? Hmmm

If you are truly down and out, your church will probably send you some groceries. And granted, some churches are very generous with the groceries, but try handing your landlord or the repo guy a bag of groceries and see what you get.

Too bad for you, but, the new wing will still be built, the new bus will still be bought, the new carpet will still get laid and a lot of people will offer to pray for you - God Bless Ya!.

Form your own opinion and judge for yourself. Is the Church of today in trouble? Is this the way Christ intended his body to be? Is what you see on television (for the most part) really the body of Christ?

What happened? Gods house was originally set up to take care of it's own. Compared to the congregation, the musicians, choir, doorkeepers and other helpers are just a hand full of people.

If structured the way God intended it, musicians and singers would be hired and paid by the house of God as "Full time" employees. Surely, the thousands and millions of dollars generated by some ministries could afford to even set up medical and retirement plans.

Instead, an exuberant salary is paid to the Preacher and only the most needed secretarial, maintenance and  janitorial positions are worth paying for and only then, at the going rate per hour. (Minimum wage) Token amounts are distributed for the poor and charity.

People were meant to take care of Gods house and Gods house to take care of it's people if needed, then the poor. What went wrong? Does your tithe support Gods workers? (all of them) Does it feed and help the poor? Where does it go? Do you care?

I don't have a problem with preachers getting filthy rich, living in mansions, wearing $2,000.00 suits, 400.00 haircuts and riding around in limousines. However, I do have a problem with them getting that way by selling Gods word and extorting money from the poor and those on fixed incomes.

LINKS - Some Very Informative and Factual Articles and Blogs About Tithing

God Bless You

Dan Douglass

Your gift is needed and appreciated

Make checks or money orders payable to:
Dan Douglass
P.O. Box 320611
Flint, Michigan
48532

Last Updated 09/01/2008

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