Debunking Tithing

Debunking TithingEating Sacred Cows by Grame Carle

http://www.tithingdebate.com/EatingSacredCowsDownload.pdf



Truth is more liberating than traditionsNow these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:11)

Tithing

What is the will of God concerning tithing?Evangelical and Pentecostal denomination churches teach on setting aside 10% of all income received and give it to the Lord’s work.

Romans 14 approach is giving according to own conviction

Tithing

What is the will of God concerning tithing?Encyclopedia Judaica mentions two uses of the one tithe:

1st was to the Levites and the 2nd was to be consumed in Jerusalem

Tithing was not practised in the early Christian church but was made obligatory by civil law in the Carolingian empire in 765 and in England in the 10th century…

However the eastern Orthodox churches never accepted the idea of tithes

Tithing A Closer Look at Tithing

Scriptures & Tithing

Why Our Desire for One Rule?And he [Abraham] gave him [Melchizedek] a tenth of all (Gen 14:20)

Jacob gave one tenth to God (Gen 28:22)

Zaccheus gave away HALF of his possessions (Luke 19:1-10)

A certain ruler was to distribute ALL his possessions to the poor (Luke 18:18-25)

1st mention of tithing in the Old Testament

1st Mention Of Tithing In The Old Testament

Before the Law – Abraham’s Tithe

And he [Abraham] gave him [Melchizedek] a tenth of all (Gen 14:20)

Serious flaws:Abraham predated Moses by 400+ years so tithing was established before the Law of Moses and therefore not under the Law

Christians are not under the Law of Moses but are still to follow Abraham’s example in tithing?


Other Practices Of Abraham

Why are Christians not following ALL other practices of Abraham?

Most important practice: Circumcision “in the flesh of your foreskin” Gen 17:11

Animal sacrifices before the Law [Gen 12:8, 22:7]

Abraham had concubines [Gen 25:6]


Other Practices Of Abraham

Why are Christians not following ALL other practices of Abraham?

Of the 66 New Testament reference to Abraham, the ONLY practice of his we are told to follow is having faith [Rom 4:11 &16, Gal 3:6-10]

Abraham only tithed once, from the spoils of a battle and Melchizedek, being priest, blessed him on that occasion:

There is no mention of it being a regular occurrence


Tithe To The Priest

Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior to that of Abraham’s son, Levi [Hebrews 7]

Christians today belong to “the royal priesthood” [1 Peter 2:9]

Being in Christ who “forever is of the order of Melchizedek” [Heb 5:6]

Every Christian should therefore be RECEIVING tithes!

Why are Christians not following Melchizedek’s example of receiving tithes?


Tithe To The Priest

Abraham was offering “first fruits” which was always given to the priests, and

He CHOSE a 10th of his recent gain to show his thankfulness to God

A one-off event, as there is no mention of the other tithes in the Old Testament


2nd Mention Of Tithing In The Old Testament

2nd Mention Of Tithing In The Old Testament

Abraham’s grandson, Jacob vowed: “of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee” [Gen 28:22]

Evidence of a system of tithing rather than a one-off event

Voluntary thanksgiving offeringTithe is conditional on God’s helping him [Gen 28:20-21]

Law of Moses400 years later

Mandatory Tithing

The main purpose of the tithe was not to support the Levites, as is taught at present, but

To provide the Israelites themselves with the feast for the Feast of Tabernacles [Exodus 23:16 and 34:22]

Modern term = Holiday Pay

Law of Moses

Mandatory Tithing

Year 1• Eaten by the tither and not given away

Year 2• Eaten by the tither and not given away

Year 3• Sacred portion to be given away

Law of Moses

1st Purpose of Mandatory TithingLaw of Moses

Feast of TabernaclesDeuteronomy 12:5-19: The tithes along with the votive, free-will, first-fruits and heave offerings, were to be brought to Jerusalem and there EATEN BY THE TITHER, and shared with others:

“… you shall eat them before the Lord your God… you and your son and daughter, and… your servants, and the Levite” [v.18]


Feast of TabernaclesDeuteronomy 14:22-27

“You shall surely tithe… and you shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God… the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil and the first-born of your herd and of the flock…” [v.22-23]


Feast of TabernaclesDeuteronomy 14:22-27 If you lived too far away to transport your tithe to Jerusalem , you are to SELL your offerings (grain, wine, oil and flock), and

BUY “whatever your heart desires”, and

“Eat in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household (children, servants, Levites, widows, orphans and strangers)” [v.26]


Feast of TabernaclesFeast is 7 days of celebration, in the 7th month, at the end of the agricultural year and harvest.

To remind all succeeding generations that God “had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt” [Lev 23:40 &43]

Families travel to Jerusalem and there live in temporary shelters made of the foliage of beautiful trees

It was a Camping holiday!


Feast of TabernaclesFeast was to relax and celebrate the goodness of God with the first-fruits of their labour:

“…you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widows who are in your towns (ie. your neighbours). Seven days you shall celebrate…(in Jerusalem), because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you shall be altogether joyful” Deut 16:14-15

All were to partake and enjoy in the tithes and celebrate His goodnessTithes of 1st and 2nd years

2nd Purpose of Mandatory TithingLaw of Moses

Sacred portion of the Lord’s

where the whole tithe was given away


Sacred PortionEvery 3rd year the Levite, the alien, orphan and widow, received the whole tithe,…

Not in Jerusalem at the Feast, but locally in the towns where they were living [Deut 26]:

When you have finished tithing all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, the you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow that they may eat in your towns and be

satisfied.


Sacred Portion

And you shall say before the Lord your God, “I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and also have given it to the Levite and the alien, the orphan and the widow, according to all Thy commandments which Thou has commanded me”… Deut 26:12-13


Sacred PortionEvery 3rd year is called the Year of Tithing, the only year the whole tithe was given away.

This sacred portion is significant since it provided for the physical means by which God would provide for those with no income (Num 18:20). In Psalm 146:9,

“The Lord protects the stranger, He supports the

fatherless and the widow”


Sacred PortionLet’s understand the commonly cited verse

“I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance” (Num 18:21-28),

The tithe to the Levites here is described as

“the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to

the Lord”

ie the Sacred Portion 3rd year tithe

Differences of the 2 uses of tithe

Year 1 & 2•10% Tithe is taken to Jerusalem•Eaten by the tither and his household and shared with those with no income (harvest)•An abundant provision to celebrate the harvest festival, camping in temporary shelters during the 7-day Feast

Year 3•10% Tithe is placed in the gates of the cities, towns and villages•Given away completely to those without an inheritance•A normal provision for their daily sustenance

Summary

Abrahamic practicesTithing was a one-off

voluntary action

Primary purpose was thanksgiving of God’s

goodness

Secondary purpose was to provide for the

priest and poor

Law of Moses

Even under the Law, tithing was not

automatic giving away of 1

/10 of all increase

Primary purpose was thanksgiving of God’s

goodness

Secondary purpose was to provide for the

Levites and poor

Every Christian needs to know which portion is for them and which is not, lest he takes someone else’s.

Christians are not blessed or cursed on the basis of tithing or not.Placing ourselves under the Law, even the law of tithing, will bring us under a curse (Galatians 3:10 & 3:2-3)

How will this affect the priests, widows, orphans and aliens?To be Continued…

Study on Amos’ Rebuke and Malachi & the CurseTo be Continued…

Debunking Tithing

Spiritual

Transcript of Debunking Tithing