Tithe Is Abolished

To demand Tithe Today Is Robbery

Followers of God are not suppose to demand money from their listeners when they preach the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:18, "What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make  the gospel of Christ without charge"

Matthew 10:8, "...Freely ye have received, freely give"

Proverbs 23:23, "Buy the truth, and sell it not"

Isaiah 55:1, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

Revelation 22:17, "...And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

As a matter of fact, the apostle Paul considered in robbery to take wages from people in the "church" when he preached the gospel to them!

2 Corinthians 11:7-8, "Did I commit a sin in humbling myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, having received wages for service towards you."

At one point, the Corinthians were insinuating that Paul was making gain from them, but Paul refuted them by asking them, "Did any man I ever sent to preach the Gospel to you, ever get any thing from you for me? Produce the proof if you can":

2 Corinthians 12:17-18, "Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you?"

The apostle Paul did not make any gain from preaching the gospel; he was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3) and laboured night and day in his trade so that he would not have to charge people a price when he preached the gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:9). Likewise, Jesus laboured as a carpenter (Mark 6:3). Neither one of them ever demanded that his listeners pay tithes to them.

We're not supposed to make a living from the Gospel. Paul made tents! That calling was used to get him across from place to place to preach the gospel. Paul did not run up to people and say, "Hey! Give me 5 bucks and I'll tell you what it's all about." Today's pastor basically does that. When you walk into a church today, the church passes around a collection plate and basically compells you to give them money to hear what they have to say. And if you don't give any money, you are looked down upon by others. Churches have even told its congregation that it is a sin if you do not give them money (tithe). What you hear from modern pulpits is nothing more than what's called a sophist, which means "one who preaches ethics for payment."

Paul was given an administration, a dispensation, a commission, or stewardship to preach (1 Corinthians 9:17). A steward receives no pay. He was merely a willing slave doing his assigned task faithfully.

However, at the same time, scripture says, "...so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). Therefore, when someone hears another preaching God's Word, and that listener feels moved to give money to him to support his needs, then it would be okay for the preacher to accept this money. As Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 9:11-12, a minister of God imparts to people spiritual things; would it then be improper if he should expect remuneration to sustain the body? No, it would not. But there is a big difference between accepting money from people who willingly give after they hear you preach, and demanding money from them before you preach.

A Church is a Business

If a church is incorporated by the State, they are legally defined as a business. And they are doing business on the so-called "Lord's day," which is prohibited by God. One of the evidences to show that they are truly a business, even if they are not incorporated, is that they want the money up front. In other words, they pass the plate before they even preach the Word of God. That's limited liability on their part, that's business, that's commercial activity, that's selling the word of God.

In other words, "I have the money up front, and if you don't like what I have to say, too bad. Even if I don't preach the Word of God, too bad. It doesn't matter, I already got my money. Besides, you won't know any different because I'm going to throw "Jesus Christ" in there now and then to make it 'sound' good. It'll look just like the Pharisees looked. I'll tickle your ears (2 Timothy 4:3-4)."

One of the original reasons for incorporating back in 1810 were things like, "I'm a pastor and I need a salary. I don't want to be paid by fee anymore. I want my guarantee of making a living at this." Which is directly against scripture. We're not supposed to make a living from the Gospel. Paul made tents! That calling was used to get him across from place to place to preach the gospel. Paul did not run up to people and say, "Hey! Give me 5 bucks and I'll tell you what it's all about." Today's pastor basically does that. What you hear from modern pulpits is nothing more than what's called a sophist, which means "one who preaches ethics for payment." The Gospel is a life (1 Corinthians 9:14). If you are living the gospel, how do you make money off it? If you're living something you can't charge for it, because people see the witness that you bear, because you see and do things differently.

Why the Church is not the Temple of God

Scripture says our body is now the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells within us (Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Revelation 21:3). Scripture says God does not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48; 17:24). This is why, when Jesus died, and confirmed the New Testament, the physical temple was rent in half (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:34). In the New Testament, the temple is used figuratively of Christ's human body (John 2:19,21). Believers are now "God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9), and "as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood" (1 Peter 2:5). We are to glorify God in our body with "spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). Paul says Christ's body is His assembly in Colossians 1:24.

Years after Jesus was crucified, Saul (who later became the apostle Paul) was slaughtering the disciples of the Lord (Acts 9:1-2). Jesus spoke to Saul and asked him, "why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 9:4). When Saul asked him who he was, Jesus responded, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." So, in other words, Jesus looked at his disciples as being himself. His disciples are the body of Christ. His disciples are his assembly (church). We are not to worship God in some building, we are to worship Him in "spirit and truth" (John 4:24). And by "truth", it is meant the keeping of the Law of God (Psalm 119:142, Daniel 9:13, Malachi 2:6, Romans 2:20).

We should not localize God:

Acts 7:49, "Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?"

1 Kings 8:27, "…behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?"

Tithe was a Sacrificial Law, a Carnal Commandment

The only New Testament passages that mention tithes are Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42; 18:12, and Hebrews 7. Hebrews, chapter 7, is worth taking a look at. In verses 4 through 9, it talks in some detail about tithe. For example, how "...even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoil," (verse 4), and how "the sons of Levi...have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law" (verse 5), and how "Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham" (verse 9). Now, look at verse 12! Hebrew 12:12 says there was a change of the priesthood laws, tithes being one of these "carnal commandments" (verse 16) that were changed!!! What can be more clearer than this chapter to show that tithe was abolished?

To Tithe is to sacrifice. To obey is better than sacrifice. Even in the Old Testament, at 1 Samuel 15:22, it is said that "...to obey is better than sacrifice..." The main teaching of Jesus Christ was to obey his Commandments. Tithe is another form of sacrificing to the Lord. But Jesus Christ has given himself as our sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2). Christians don't make sacrifices and offerings anymore, because Jesus fulfilled that obligation.

We no longer own ourselves, Christians are bought with a price. "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20). We are not to glorify God in buildings and in money. God does not only own a tenth of us, he owns ALL of us. We are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). It is still our duty to give to the poor and needy, because we are to have a "free will" giving from the heart, because "...God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). But, there is no longer a need for a tenth sacrifice or an animal sacrifice. If you feel someone is spreading the Word of God, then give to him from your heart if you feel he is in need of money to spread God's Word, but give cheerfully like God says, don't give grudgingly. Be weary of preachers who say you will burn in hell for not paying him money. True followers of Christ are based upon spiritual things, not material things.

Most churches use tithe as a scare tactic to its members, and try to make them feel guilty if they don't give money to their Church. It is not our duty to give to Churches so that priests can use that money to buy new houses and cars and material things for themselves and the individuals in that Church. Or to give money to a Church that makes millions of dollars every year and is so obvious that they are in no more need of money. In the Old Testament, people were giving money to build the House of God, and the priests had to eventually REFUSE any more money, because they said they had enough money!!! How many Churches today will do that? I doubt any of them would refuse money because they had "enough".

Comparing Then and Now

 

·  In the Old Testament, the tithe was given to support the spreading of God's Word, by giving livestock and money. Tithe was given to the priests of God, in the house of God (Neh.10: 35-38).

·  In the New Testament, there is not a single command given to Christians to tithe.

 

 

·  In the Old Testament, the only way to worship God was to physically go to the house of God in Jerusalem.

·  In the New Testament, our bodies are the house of God (Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:9,16,17; 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Revelation 21:3), and no longer is a physical church required for worship (Acts 7:48; 17:24).

 

 

·  In the Old Testament, only certain men could become priests.

·  In the New Testament, all Christians are ordained priests of God (1Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10; Isaiah 61:6).

The apostles went house to house, and were fed with food by the people living in those houses. The Apostles also worked to support themselves (Paul was a tentmaker, Jesus was a carpenter, etc.). They did not depend on tithes to spread God's Word, but depended on the Holy Spirit working through their bodies. They also went door to door and took donations to help the poor, but they never took donations to help any physical church. Since physical Churches are not ordained in the New Testament, and since they contradict the Bible, giving tithes to churches are not giving tithes to God.

Your Questions Answered

Question: But isn't 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 an example of tithe?

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 is frequently used as a precedent for tithing at church, but it indicates quite the contrary. Paul's use of the phrase "lay by him in store" indicates this was a private inventory activity, not a public religious activity. Whatever was to be done, it was to be done at home - not at a gathering (1 Corinthians 16:2).

Apparently Paul wanted them to set aside something for the poor saints at Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-26; Galatians 2:10) - so they didn't need to do so when he arrived. This money was to be laid aside privately at home, not at a church. A famine was raging in Judea (Acts 11:28), and Paul was writing to ask the churches in Asia Minor to assist their famine-stricken brethren (Acts 11:29). Notice that this collection was not given in church as tithe by followers, but this collection was sent as relief to the elders by only 2 disciples! (Acts 11:30).

Did Paul say anything about "tithe" in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2? No, as we read on, we discover that this was just a donation for poor Christians in Jerusalem, not "tithe." Notice that "tithe" is something completely different. Malachi 3:10 talks about taking the "tithe into the storehouse" (the temple).

Question: Is there anything in scripture that commands us to tithe (give) on Sunday’s?

No. If you want to say “Yes” and point out 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, look at the above answer. In context the text talks about a specific purpose for that offering. We are to offer our bodies, not our monies, as a living sacrifice, daily. Romans 12:1 Monies that is collected today in “churches” are used to pay insurance, utilities, salaries, taxes, paper work and maybe one or two missionaries. Note that when offerings are down and money is tight, the first thing to go is missionaries.

Comment RKM: How true it is. See the article called: Chapter 21-  Servants That Became Rulers

 

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