The True Legacy of Tithes and Offerings

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The True Legacy of Tithes and Offerings

Author: Rick Wynn | Total views: 25 | Word Count: 7553 | Category: Christianity | Date: Sep 18th 2007

Search for: Church, Tithes, Offerings, Truth, Giving, Cheerfully, Condemnation, Guilt, Pharisees, Moses, Law, Old Testament, Melachi, Truth, Levite, Modern

Beware of teachers and preachers who would tell you that a ministry is impossible to run unless you have lots of cash. They themselves have forgotten their humble beginnings in their own ministry. How much money did they have when they started Many ministries started right in living rooms and yet God anointed them then as he still does today. In fact, perhaps many of those ministries should have stayed in the living rooms. Maybe, they would have been better off there.

Consider the evangelist who comes to your church and delivers an awesomely anointed sermon packed with breakthrough power. Then toward the end of the sermon, he begins to give a rather lengthy spiel on giving an offeringto him. Of course, there is nothing wrong with giving an offering. Remember, the Philippians gave Paul an offering. The only difference was that Paul did not seek to receive the offering. He maintained himself with God always looking toward Him to take care of all his needs. However, the evangelist says,

You know people of God, I didnt have to be here today. My ministry spans the globe and I travel all around the world. I actually could have been in any country I wanted to be in because Im that booked. But the Holy Spirit led me to come here today because He wanted to speak some things into your hearts. However, in order for me to come here or travel around the world preaching the Word of God, I need you to give me a decent offering. Ministry cost money and without it, nothing is possible in this line of work for God. So I want you to ask the Holy Spirit to tell you what to give. I want you to reach down deep into your spirit and listen to what He says because you dont want to send the man of God out the door with nothing. The Word says, when you take care of the prophet, you shall receive a prophets reward. So, understand that God wants you to give your best because He gives you His best. Now some of you will probably come up here with five, ten, or even twenty dollars, but really . . . is that your best I hear the Holy Spirit right now and Hes telling someone in this congregation to give a thousand dollars. He is telling another to give five hundred. Another He says, give five thousand. Some of you, Hes even saying sacrifice your paychecks because He wants to get something to you much greater. I know Hes moving today and He wants all of you to give your best. Some of you are believing God for a house, and some of you are believing Him for a car, even some of you are praying for that bill to get paid, but youve got to trust God that He can do these things for you. All Hes asking is for your best. Dont bother coming up here with your little five, ten, or twenty dollar bills thinking God is going to pay that bill off or put you in that new house because that just isnt going to cut it my friend. If you really want God to move in your life, you are going to have to give in a major way.

Have you ever heard a minister of God talk this way Then to wrap it all up he says, Now for everyone who has given I want you to stand because God wants to recognize you. So a good portion of the church stands leaving all those who have not given exposed for everyone to see and judge. And if thats not enough, the evangelist then says,

Okay, the Holy Spirit is speaking to me right now and Hes saying everyone who gaveand those of you who didnt you still have the opportunity to come down and give, our God is a forgiving God. But those of you who gave, come down front and Im going to lay hands on you because you are the ones who truly received the Word tonight and God wants to bless you. So if you gave, come on down and get your blessing.

Can you imagine the condemnation and embarrassment resulting in those remaining in their seats Where in the Word of God does it say, God only blesses those who give Him a monetary offering A true offering to God is your faithin God, not in the dollars you may give in hopes of a harvest return. Many leaders in ministry today utilize this kind of delivery speech on giving. The religious legalism behind it aims to bring guilt and condemnation upon the people in order to force them to give a love offering. Have you ever heard a ministry head tell the congregation to wave their offering in the air, for instance, as if it was a million dollars Perhaps excitedly, he says something to the tune of, Just imagine if this was a million dollar offering, think about how much that would be in a returned harvest Those who give are filled with wonder and excitement (at least for that moment). Those who have nothing to give are filled with a sense of loss, guilt, and condemnation. I have seen these tactics performed many times in churches; perhaps you have too. I fell for these speeches myself more times than I care to count, and thus gave for the wrong reason. Each time, I paid a devastating price for that tithe or love offering. I was even convinced at one time that when you gave to God if it didnt devastate you in some kind of way, your giving was not enough to suffice God. Therefore, I sacrificed whole paychecks believing that God would bless me with financial increase. I had a need, so I was sowing a seed. The fact is that I did not have the faith to back what I was doing, so when I gave it was not out of a pure heart toward God. I gave out of guilt, condemnation, and fear, because I listened to the man. I gave because I didnt want to be one of those exposed persons left sitting in the seat.

Church leaders, who speak to congregations such as the example above bring upon the church guilt and condemnation. They are getting richer, and Christians are increasingly becoming financially devastated. The Word of God says, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1). If you should leave a church service feeling guilty, fearful, sick in the pit of your stomach, or condemned in anyway something is wrong. Having been in the presence of God will never cause you to be in this kind of state. God does not retract His spoken message given to you in a sermon because you did not give an offering to the man of God. He does not spot light you in the presence of everyone else because you did not give the man an offering, yet some leaders will actually have you believe this. They dont necessarily come out and say it, they just bless everyone around you who openly gave and expose all the rest who didnt. Jesus was the ultimate offering and sacrifice to God. What is your pathetic dollar or million dollars to God Jesus said freely we have received, so freely give (Matthew 10:8). He did not mention any contingencies such as love offerings that the people had to meet before they could receive His Word. A willingness to have a listening ear and an open heart is all that is required of us to receive the Word of God in order to gain understanding of His sacrifice and our redemption. God does not endorse any person to say that God only blesses those who gives the offering to the man or woman of God and ignores or curses all the rest. This is a tactic used to pressure you into giving so the greedy may feed their greed. The Word of God warns us about those who speak clever lies in order to get hold of your money (2 Peter 2:3).

Should we give Absolutely. The Word of God tells us to give. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7). The Word expresses that we are not to give reluctantly or in response to pressure, yet many leaders utilize pressure tactics to get people to give. Thus, people give reluctantly and in response to pressure. How can you give in this fashion and be a cheerful giver at the same time And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others (vs. 8). Why are so many Christians giving, yet are barely making ends meet Why do they have little to nothing left over to share with others Perhaps the answer could be lack of faith, or perhaps most Christians who give are doing so reluctantly and in response to the pressures placed upon them by the church. Leaders tend to teach about tithes, offerings, and all the dark things that will come upon a Christian if he should neglect to do them, but they neglect to teach in the area of faith that must accompany the giving. They neglect to teach that Gods love for his people is unconditional. God loves you rather you give or not. They neglect to teach that God generously provides all you need to enable you to give freely and cheerfully. Faith cannot come if you have not heard and understood the Word. If the church does not teach 2 Corinthians 9:8, if Christians do not know to study and meditate upon what God says, then how can they possess the necessary faith to receive generous provisions from God, which enables them to give cheerfully Most leaders way of teaching on giving does not promote Gods terms on giving nor does it cause one to give with a cheerful heart. Their way of teaching pressures people to give out of an anguished, guilty, and condemned heart. A person is able to give cheerfully when he is operating in faith. He in essence understands his relationship with God and is able to express freely his love toward God, yet he understands that God does not measure his love or relationship according to the amount of money he gives in tithes or offerings.

Many leaders justify their position of demanding monetary tribute and offerings based on the Law of Moses, but they tend to ignore a significant thing Paul said. For the law of Moses says, Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain (1 Corinthians 9:9, NLT). Of course, God was speaking of the messenger when He spoke this through Moses. Paul addressed the issue about the Shepherd rights to receive from the congregation. He justifiably said, What soldier has to pay his own expenses And have you ever heard of a farmer who harvests his crop and doesn't have the right to eat some of it What shepherd takes care of a flock of sheep and isn't allowed to drink some of the milk (1 Corinthians 9:7, NLT). Obviously, every Shepherd called of God should be taken care of by the flock, and should have the right to share in what his ministry produces. Paul even said that those who benefit from the seed of the Word planted by the Christian workers should pay the Christian workers because they have planted good spiritual seed among the people. Therefore, is it too much to ask in return for mere food and clothing (1 Corinthians 9:10-11). In the same way, the Lord gave orders that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it (1 Corinthians 9:14, NLT). Though God spoke these things through Moses and Paul, He also used Paul as an example to follow. Consider carefully what Paul ultimately said concerning his position on the welfare of the Shepherd or leader according to God. . . . Yet we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than put an obstacle in the way of the Good News about Christ (1 Corinthians 9:12). Paul was saying that even though he was deserving of payment, the salvation God wanted for his people was greater than his payment. In other words, Paul did not construe his payment more important than Gods mission. He was not about to cause stumbling blocks in the people, which could hinder their ability to hear and follow God.

What are the obstacles or stumbling blocks in the church today Only one seems to cause more devastation in the lives of Christians than any other obstacle; it is the issue of tithes and offerings. The obstacle today is the mechanics behind how tithes and offerings are taught in the church. Jesus was angered when He saw how the Pharisees scrutinized the people over their tithes instead of treating them with love, justice, and mercy. How are people affected in their relationship with God when they dont necessarily do what their leaders tell them to do, which is give us your money or be cursed by God Paul continues, saying, In fact, I would rather die than lose my distinction of preaching without charge. For preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't do it! If I were doing this of my own free will, then I would deserve payment. But God has chosen me and given me this sacred trust, and I have no choice. What then is my pay It is the satisfaction I get from preaching the Good News without expense to anyone, never demanding my rights as a preacher (1 Corinthians 9:15-18, NLT). This is Scripture that you generally do not hear preached in church; perhaps the reason is that Paul makes a distinction between those who God specifically called to preach the Gospel and those who elected upon themselves to preach the Gospel. Some people who were called to preach the gospel however, have also turned away from Gods truth and endeavored to preach a gospel of religion, legalism, pride and condemnation all for the benefit of serving mammon.

Leaders in churches across the nation today are merchandising the anointing and bringing multitudes of lives to financial ruin. Paul said, If I were doing this of my own free will, then I would deserve payment. Those belonging to the five-fold ministry and even those who run ministry schools who believe they deserve payment undermine what Paul said: What then is my pay It is the satisfaction I get from preaching the Good News without expense to anyone, never demanding my rights as a preacher. What Paul says here qualifies and personifies what he said to the Philippians (Philippians 4:17, 19). He was always interested in what the Lord accrued to the peoples account, not his own. Paul said that His God would supply all their needs according to His riches and glory through Christ Jesus. Paul was speaking to them also from His own experience. He only looked toward God for all his needs to be met, and God met them all. How did God do this He did it through people such as the Philippians who obeyed Him. Because God took care of Paul in this manner, Paul was able to concentrate on preaching the good news and the significance of faith in Christ to the peoplewithout charge. Perhaps people tend to disregard this fact because Paul didnt live in a multimillion-dollar mansion. He didnt wear a different Armani suit everyday of the week, or drive a Rolls Royce. Like every follower of Christ, he too had struggles and hardships. But wait a-minute; did not Jesus warn the believer about counting the cost of following Him because of the great suffering he would endure Are the icon ministry leaders today enduring such suffering for the sake of Christ or does even the world embrace them Perhaps some of us honestly need to examine the leaders we are following today, rather great or small. We should examine whether their speech and actions line up with the Word of God or are we simply enthralled because of their dynamic speaking ability and/or celebrity status in the ministry. As we study the scriptures in conjunction to what they say and do, then we are able to discern perhaps their angle. Are ministry leaders today actually interested in what God accrues to the peoples account or are they more interested in what the people can accrue to their account

It is much easier to give a gift to someone you love as opposed to someone you do not know or feel threatened by. If a congregation knows little to nothing about faith, how can they ever become cheerful givers If they are struggling in their finances, chances are the last thing they will want to do is give away anything. Instead of pressuring people by teaching condemnation and guilt, which are major obstacles in the church, why not educate them on faith and help them build faith by teaching what the Word says about Gods unconditional love. Understanding Gods love induces within us a desire to give. When we give freely with a pure heart of love, we are giving to Jesus. Jesus says that what you have done unto the least is what you have done unto Him. Therefore, God wants us to understand that giving is all about having a relationship with Him. He wants us to understand that to give is an awesome thing because in that giving, He can make repairs in the hearts and adjustments in the lives of those whom we have given an offering. God then does the same to the giver, but He does it multiplied. What the church neglects to inform the congregation is that God will only ask of you what He has given you. Your giving should always come out of your overflow, not out of your necessity (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Some Christians are literally torn between having to decide if they will feed their family and pay their bills on a given day or week, or tithe. I know this happens to be true, as I personally know such people. In fact, I was one of them. Peoples assumption is that God will cause perhaps your child to go without food or essentials in His demand that you tithe or give Him a financial offering. Our God is not a tyrant. Our God is an unconditional loving God. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others (2 Corinthians 9:8, NLT). Ministries will guilt you into giving them what you literally do not have and call it your sacrifice unto God. Your heavenly Father does not charge His own children a fee or tribute in order for them to be classified His children. There exist no monetary payment plan that you or anyone must fulfill in order to maintain or maximize your citizenship status in the kingdom of God, yet this is the message that churches are speaking today. Salvation is a free gift from God. If we never get to the place where we can understand giving, God still loves us unconditionally. When we sow out of love toward others, this is how God can get more to us. He takes that fertile soil and causes the seed to grow and as it does, He multiplies the harvest. Religion, legalism, and false ministers repudiating the Word of God with their own doctrine do not teach Gods truth behind our giving in offerings.

I was speaking about tithes on the air at a local cable station in my hometown during an interview once and after the taping, a camera operator in the studio approached me and asked if it were true that God sends people to hell when they dont tithe. I asked him where he had received such information and he said that he had learned this in his church. How could such a law ever induce a cheerful heart toward giving The accomplishment of such a law would perhaps result in people giving, but only for the sake of staying out condemnation or in this persons case, hell. In other words, such a law would only induce fear, which God does not give us nor does He bless. God does not pressure us to do anything. He abides in His truth and order. No person in any congregation should ever feel pressured to give in tithes or offerings. Giving is a matter of love, faith, submission and obedience to God. His desire is that we would all eventually grow into becoming doers of His Word in relation to what He speaks in our hearts. Gods love and mercy are even upon us as we learn this. Never does He pressure us. Jesus addressed this issue with the Pharisees who, by the way, were religious and political defenders of the law. Their extremist position concerning the law led them to esteeming the letter as opposed to the spirit of the law. They so esteemed the written letter that they developed very strict applications for the people in their everyday life. As they developed these applications, they implemented traditions into the law. One of these traditions was to tithe the mint (money). In other words, through their tradition they had moved away from what God had instructed them to do concerning the tithe. Thus, their tradition of tithing did not affect the people according to Gods intent. Instead, it crushed them. According to their belief, such traditions and good works justified their righteousness in the eyes of God. Jesus said, But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. Yes, said Jesus, how terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you crush people beneath impossible religious demands, and you never lift a finger to help ease the burden (Luke 11:42, 46, NLT). When Jesus told them that they should tithe, He was speaking of two things. One, he was talking about the tithe as God intended according to the book of Deuteronomy chapter fourteen. Two, Jesus was speaking of tithing according to the law concerning the Levites who were the only ones commanded by God to collect the tithe.

All tithes were performed under the covering of the Levite Priests. When Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice, the Levite Priests were no longer commanded to collect the tithe. God put a new Priest in place and that new Priest is Jesus. Jesus never collected the tithe nor taught His followers about the tithe for two reasons. First, He was not of the Levitical priestly line and therefore as a Jew, was not obligated to collect the tithe. Second, was that Jesus represented the New Covenant that would replace the old. This replacement was complete when Jesus said, It is finished the moment before His death on the cross (Luke 19:30). The Pharisees despised Jesus because they wanted to continue defending the law. Jesus however, radically tore down the old law in addition to their traditions. The law under Moses could not bring one into righteousness with Christ; it could only point toward ones sin. When has tithing (as we know it today) ever brought anyone into righteousness with Christ Yet, what happens when people dont tithe; it causes one to walk in guilt and condemnation. Guilt and condemnation is sin in the eyes of God. Because of our new Priest, by faith through repentance, the peoples sins could now be blotted out forever by the blood of Jesus.

Ministries not called of God or in disobedience to God, pressure their congregations to give in tithes and offerings. Jesus said, You crush people beneath impossible religious demands, and you never lift a finger to help ease the burden. Multitudes of Christians are burdened today trying to obey and keep up with the religious demands of tithes and offerings placed upon them by the church. When todays Christian leaders expound upon the purpose of the tithe, they do not teach on the significance or origination behind the tithe. They completely omit what the Law of Moses actually said about the tithe. In fact, if we were actually to compare our understanding of the tithe today to Scripture, we would find that the subject of tithing is virtually one of the most artificially twisted and perverted doctrines in the church today. If we consider the book of Acts for example, in chapter 15 the tithe was not even mentioned in the Jerusalem Council rulings as Paul addressed them to the people. Paul did not address the issue of tithes because he clearly understood that the tithe was under the Mosaic Law. It may be interesting to note what God said about those who choose to operate under the law. And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the Scriptures, Cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and commands written in the Book of the Law and to practice them (Galatians 3:10, TAB). "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith (Verse 11, KJV). Are churches operating by faith in God today or are they depending upon the tithe from its congregational members in order to stay financially afloat Tithing is under the law and God calls those who follow this law cursed. From this, we can gather that embracing the tithe is in fact a dangerous thing indeed, yet tithing is very popular in the modern church.

It is interesting that across the board the majority of people who tithe in the church see little to no results from their tithing. In fact, for years many have faced considerable financial dilemmas in the midst of their tithing. Could such people be cursed in their finances as Galatians 3:10 stipulates If we were to take Gods word from a literal standpoint, then it would certainly seem so. Yet, believers adhere to the popular teaching of tithes regardless of the fact that such teachings stand in opposition to what God said. Ministry leaders receiving the tithe say, Just keep right on doing what youre doing, the hardships youre facing only means that your prize is right around the corner. This of course fuels the people with emotional excitement and as a result, they continue tithing. Yet, the prize never seems to arrive and even when it finally does, it never seems to last. Clearly, such works are not by the hands of God. He intends all His blessings to be permanent. He is so adamant about His blessings that He even transfers them into heaven so that you may enjoy them throughout eternity there (Matthew 6:19-20).
Remember, the majority of people do not follow the Word of God; they follow the personality speaking behind the pulpit. Most personalities behind the pulpit today are intermixing Gods Word with church trends, paradigms, and popular religious doctrine promulgated through celebrity-authored books, personally opinionated theologians, and larger than life leaders of icon ministries across the nation.

Because of the tithe brought into the church, many church heads and ministries today have an excess of financial abundance, yet according to the book of Revelation, Jesus told the last church generation that He would spit it out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16). Would it be prudent to say that unless the church is willing to change, Jesus considers this church generation cursed Why else would He speak of such a severe warning So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and dont get tied up again in slavery to the law (Galatians 5:1, NLT). Are not the majority of those who tithe in slavery to the law of tithing in the church What happens when people dont tithe The church blasts them with guilt and condemnation. Clearly, this is not indicative of God.

Lets backtrack a bit to get a clear understanding of Gods purpose for the tithe in the first place. What function did the tithe serve under the Law of Moses Why did God make mention about bringing in the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in His house, according to Malachi 3:10 An ardent studier of the Word of God who reads Acts 4:34-35 would probably be inclined to correlate these passages back to Deuteronomy 14:22-28. Perhaps many will be surprised at what they would find once the reality of these scriptures hit home. In the scriptures, the law required the people to set aside a tenth of their crops harvested each year. They were then instructed to bring their tithe to the designated place of worship in honor of Gods name. Once there, they were to then eat it in His presence. According to the Word, this included their tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of their flocks and herds. Honoring Gods commandment to do this would teach them to reverence God (Deuteronomy 14:22-23). Notice that the law required the people to set aside a tenth of their crops each year where they would honor God with their tithe. In honor of the tithe as it is practiced today, somehow the law requiring the annual tithe turned into the weekly tithe. What Sunday church service, or any service, do you ever remember attending where the church did not collect the tithe This certainly never happened in my experience. The modern church correlates the tithe to money. Therefore, they say you must tithe from the gross amount of every paycheck you receive in addition to any increase you incur. I have heard ministers say that if someone were to sow a car into your life, you are even to tithe from that, a shirt, and even shoes. Can you imagine a person financially broke receiving a car, then finding the worth of the car (if that is the way it is to be worked out), and then tithing a tenth of that amount Does this not totally defeat the purpose of receiving the car Such a blessing would become a curse. I received a car twice in my span of ministry. Considering my financial state, it would have been impossible for me to tithe a tenth of what they were worth, especially the second one, which was a Cadillac. Some even demand that you also tithe a tenth of your tax refund, which was already included in the tithe of your gross from your paycheck. Did God actually speak specifically about money in His commandment about the tithe Lets see what the rest of the scriptures have to say concerning money relative to the tithe.

God took into consideration that some of the peoples size of harvest or distance to travel with their tithe would be too great, thus He allowed them to sell the tenth portion of their crops and herds. He then commanded that they take the money, go to their place of the Lords choosing and upon arrival use the money to buy any kind of food they desired. The King James Version Bible says verbatim: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household (Deuteronomy 14:26) [Emphasis mine]. In addition, God commanded that the people not exclude the Levite Priests from such feast because God did not appoint them a harvest inheritance of their own. And do not neglect the Levites in your town, for they will receive no allotment of land among you (Verse 27, NLT). The Levite Priest could not tithe because they had no land or cattle from which to gain a harvest from God. Therefore, God saw to it that they were taken care of by the people. God did not command the people to bring money to the Priest, but to make sure that they were fed. Money was not ever used as collateral for the tithe. If the tithe was too great to carry to the destination established by God or if the distance was too far, the tithe was to be turned into money, but only for the purpose of purchasing items of drink, livestock, and food in that town for the tithe. All of it was to be
consumed in the site of God. Money is not edible. In addition, God's commandment of the tithe was a Jewish custom under the Law of Moses. God never commanded the Gentiles to tithe. You will not find such a commandment from God in the Old Testament nor will you find it anywhere in the Epistles throughout the New Testament.

In contrast to the book of Acts chapter four and Deuteronomy chapter fourteen, the majority of todays priest (Pastors, Evangelist, etc.) no longer has to depend upon the tithes brought in by the congregation, though they demand the tithe. In general, many far exceed their congregations in riches and wealth. How did the church go from Gods commandment of taking care of the priest concerning the feast of tithes to the priest being able to feast without the contribution of the congregation Following the law, when did God ever establish the Ministers with an inheritance of their own We should note that according to Deuteronomy and Acts, the priest were not materially wealthy nor did God intend for them to be, which is why God commanded the people not to forget about them in their celebration of tithes. God could have blessed the priests with riches if He wanted to, but perhaps He never intended them to be wealthy (from the peoples point of view) because of the burden of responsibility placed upon them. Perhaps they would be tempted to turn away from God and follow their riches. It is much more devastating when a minister of God creates obstacles in the church as opposed to one who is not a leader. That single man has the power to lead multitudes of people into the gates of hell. The Bible even says that the priests punishment for leading others astray would be much worse. Because God understands the heart of man, it seems very pragmatic that God would protect such servants by providing all their needs according to His riches and Glory. If anyone should think that a man of God is incapable of falling into such a trap of loving money above God, consider what the majority of ministers behind pulpits around the world are preaching and teaching today. They are preaching and teaching about the concepts of wealth and riches, even to the extent that multitudes of Christians are financially drowning right in the midst of their doctrines. Preachers today are collecting tithes in the form of dollars, which God never commanded.

I think it is rather interesting, yet ironic that the modern church desiring to cling to the old law concerning tithesfor obvious reasons, tends to dismiss the responsibility of obeying the entire law, which requires that the priest have no allotment of land and cattle. In other words, God did not appoint them a harvest because they were servants of God, yet many of the priests of God today who abide in the old law concerning tithes abounds in riches and wealth. Some have even ascended to a financial class known by the social elite as having liquidable assets. In other words, they are so rich that their wealth flows like an endless river. Such people own multiple multimillion-dollar homes; they own luxury jets, fabulous businesses, and hundred thousand-dollar vehiclesplural, just to name of few. These priests of God rent out luxury ocean liners for week excursions to conduct spiritual retreats, conventions, and speaking engagements. Of course, in their defense they may argue that they are entitled to their wealth and riches because they are no longer servants, but the sons and daughters of God. They would also be correct in their argument if their riches came from God as opposed to the world. However, being the children of God signifies our new covenant in Christ. How can we be under the new covenant, yet continue to abide in the old law

We should also note that according to the Mosaic Law, only God blesses the people with the good harvest, which He orders them to bring into His house (Deuteronomy 14:24). In other words, God established the tithe that He commanded the people to give back to Him. They were not expected to give what they did not have. Lastly, God said that At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that years harvest and store it in the nearest town. Give it to the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all your work (Deuteronomy 14:28-29, NLT). The foreigners, by the way, are the Gentiles, who were not the children of Israel nor did they receive any commandment from God to tithe. This would explain God commanding the Jews to include them in their tithing feast before God. Those who obeyed God prospered in His blessings.

From the viewpoint of Scripture, we can clearly see how Gods intent concerning the tithe is an entirely different event from what we see in the traditions of the modern church. The Jewish custom of the tithe was actually a party or a big feast where the foods brought therein was to be consumed in the sight of God. The tithe was never given exclusively to the head of the church nor ministry so that the leaders could prosper in it. The tithe was for the benefit of the people, even foreigners who were not the children of Israel. Thus, God blessed the tithe. Properly understanding the tithe makes for a joyful heart of giving. This is Gods condition upon our giving. From Gods perspective, we can now see the joyous times of throwing a great feast among families and inviting the Levite Priests, aliens, widows, orphans, and the poor. Understanding the tithe from the correct perspective according to the Word of God gives us a better clarity of the Scriptures of Malachi 3:7-10. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return Will a man rob God Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Jesus clearly said that what we do unto the least of our brethren is what we have done unto Him (Matthew 25:40). Disobeying Gods commandment to tithe was to rob the people what the Lord had intended them. In robbing the people, they robbed God. God said that they robbed the whole nation because He intended that the tithing event would be throughout all Israel. When they no longer kept the tithe, they had therefore robbed the entire nation. Malachi 3:7 is strongly connected to Jesus rebuke of the Pharisees in Luke 11:42 when He criticized them about their tithing tradition. They had moved away from Gods ordinances concerning the tithe and did not keep them. Instead of tithing in the fashion God had commanded, they substituted His instruction by their implementation of tithing the mint (money).

Who would have thought that God actually meant for His people to eat the tithe in His presence Simply taking time to study scripture diligently, which is seeking God for His answers, can open up an entirely different world of understanding as compared to traditional religious doctrine. Today as it stands according to the Word of God, the tithe is no longer necessary because the tithe as it is understood in the Old Testament, has been replaced by faith (Galatians 3:11). Ministries today have no business pressuring their congregations to give the tenth of their increase, for God has commanded us to live by faith. Though ministries tend to assume that His commandment does not apply to them, God makes it very clear that it does. His commandment also applies to ministry schools. God has predicated every facet of Christianity upon faith. Without faith, one cannot please God. How do we acquire faith We obtain faith by hearing and understanding the Word of God (Romans 10:17). This scripture speaks the significance of having a relationship with God. Without hearing the Word of God, it is impossible to obtain faith. Without the relationship, it is impossible to grow in faith. If the majority of believers do not study Scripture or have an intimate relationship with God, how can they obtain the faith necessary to receive from God I believe that such people are inclined to revert to the old law of tithing or sowing seed for the benefit of their need, yet neither delivers everlasting fruit. According to the old law, people received blessing from God when they tithed the tenth. The New Covenant establishes that we shall receive blessing from God through faith, for faith is the only thing that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). Tithing will always fall short of faith and thus cannot and will not ever please God.

End.

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Read more from Rick D. Wynn in his book: It's Not About You A Study of the Last Church Generation_What Every Christian Should Know (Tate Publishing and Enterprises). Throughout the pages of Rick D Wynn's entrancing book "It's Not About You," some of the most thought provoking questions in the hearts of people around the world are addressed. Published in March of 2007, and now available at E-stores on Websites and Bookstores.

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Beware of teachers and preachers who would tell you that a ministry is impossible to run unless you have lots of cash. They themselves have forgotten their humble beginnings in their own ministry. How much money did they have when they started Many ministries started right in living rooms and yet God anointed them then as he still does today. In fact, perhaps many of those ministries should have stayed in the living rooms. Maybe, they would have been better off there. 
 
Consider the evangelist who comes to your church and delivers an awesomely anointed sermon packed with breakthrough power. Then toward the end of the sermon, he begins to give a rather lengthy spiel on giving an offeringto him. Of course, there is nothing wrong with giving an offering. Remember, the Philippians gave Paul an offering. The only difference was that Paul did not seek to receive the offering. He maintained himself with God always looking toward Him to take care of all his needs. However, the evangelist says, 
 
You know people of God, I didnt have to be here today. My ministry spans the globe and I travel all around the world. I actually could have been in any country I wanted to be in because Im that booked. But the Holy Spirit led me to come here today because He wanted to speak some things into your hearts. However, in order for me to come here or travel around the world preaching the Word of God, I need you to give me a decent offering. Ministry cost money and without it, nothing is possible in this line of work for God. So I want you to ask the Holy Spirit to tell you what to give. I want you to reach down deep into your spirit and listen to what He says because you dont want to send the man of God out the door with nothing. The Word says, when you take care of the prophet, you shall receive a prophets reward. So, understand that God wants you to give your best because He gives you His best. Now some of you will probably come up here with five, ten, or even twenty dollars, but really . . . is that your best I hear the Holy Spirit right now and Hes telling someone in this congregation to give a thousand dollars. He is telling another to give five hundred. Another He says, give five thousand. Some of you, Hes even saying sacrifice your paychecks because He wants to get something to you much greater. I know Hes moving today and He wants all of you to give your best. Some of you are believing God for a house, and some of you are believing Him for a car, even some of you are praying for that bill to get paid, but youve got to trust God that He can do these things for you. All Hes asking is for your best. Dont bother coming up here with your little five, ten, or twenty dollar bills thinking God is going to pay that bill off or put you in that new house because that just isnt going to cut it my friend. If you really want God to move in your life, you are going to have to give in a major way. 
 
Have you ever heard a minister of God talk this way Then to wrap it all up he says, Now for everyone who has given I want you to stand because God wants to recognize you. So a good portion of the church stands leaving all those who have not given exposed for everyone to see and judge. And if thats not enough, the evangelist then says, 
 
Okay, the Holy Spirit is speaking to me right now and Hes saying everyone who gaveand those of you who didnt you still have the opportunity to come down and give, our God is a forgiving God. But those of you who gave, come down front and Im going to lay hands on you because you are the ones who truly received the Word tonight and God wants to bless you. So if you gave, come on down and get your blessing. 
 
Can you imagine the condemnation and embarrassment resulting in those remaining in their seats Where in the Word of God does it say, God only blesses those who give Him a monetary offering A true offering to God is your faithin God, not in the dollars you may give in hopes of a harvest return. Many leaders in ministry today utilize this kind of delivery speech on giving. The religious legalism behind it aims to bring guilt and condemnation upon the people in order to force them to give a love offering. Have you ever heard a ministry head tell the congregation to wave their offering in the air, for instance, as if it was a million dollars Perhaps excitedly, he says something to the tune of, Just imagine if this was a million dollar offering, think about how much that would be in a returned harvest Those who give are filled with wonder and excitement (at least for that moment). Those who have nothing to give are filled with a sense of loss, guilt, and condemnation. I have seen these tactics performed many times in churches; perhaps you have too. I fell for these speeches myself more times than I care to count, and thus gave for the wrong reason. Each time, I paid a devastating price for that tithe or love offering. I was even convinced at one time that when you gave to God if it didnt devastate you in some kind of way, your giving was not enough to suffice God. Therefore, I sacrificed whole paychecks believing that God would bless me with financial increase. I had a need, so I was sowing a seed. The fact is that I did not have the faith to back what I was doing, so when I gave it was not out of a pure heart toward God. I gave out of guilt, condemnation, and fear, because I listened to the man. I gave because I didnt want to be one of those exposed persons left sitting in the seat. 
 
Church leaders, who speak to congregations such as the example above bring upon the church guilt and condemnation. They are getting richer, and Christians are increasingly becoming financially devastated. The Word of God says, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1). If you should leave a church service feeling guilty, fearful, sick in the pit of your stomach, or condemned in anyway something is wrong. Having been in the presence of God will never cause you to be in this kind of state. God does not retract His spoken message given to you in a sermon because you did not give an offering to the man of God. He does not spot light you in the presence of everyone else because you did not give the man an offering, yet some leaders will actually have you believe this. They dont necessarily come out and say it, they just bless everyone around you who openly gave and expose all the rest who didnt. Jesus was the ultimate offering and sacrifice to God. What is your pathetic dollar or million dollars to God Jesus said freely we have received, so freely give (Matthew 10:8). He did not mention any contingencies such as love offerings that the people had to meet before they could receive His Word. A willingness to have a listening ear and an open heart is all that is required of us to receive the Word of God in order to gain understanding of His sacrifice and our redemption. God does not endorse any person to say that God only blesses those who gives the offering to the man or woman of God and ignores or curses all the rest. This is a tactic used to pressure you into giving so the greedy may feed their greed. The Word of God warns us about those who speak clever lies in order to get hold of your money (2 Peter 2:3). 
 
Should we give Absolutely. The Word of God tells us to give. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7). The Word expresses that we are not to give reluctantly or in response to pressure, yet many leaders utilize pressure tactics to get people to give. Thus, people give reluctantly and in response to pressure. How can you give in this fashion and be a cheerful giver at the same time And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others (vs. 8). Why are so many Christians giving, yet are barely making ends meet Why do they have little to nothing left over to share with others Perhaps the answer could be lack of faith, or perhaps most Christians who give are doing so reluctantly and in response to the pressures placed upon them by the church. Leaders tend to teach about tithes, offerings, and all the dark things that will come upon a Christian if he should neglect to do them, but they neglect to teach in the area of faith that must accompany the giving. They neglect to teach that Gods love for his people is unconditional. God loves you rather you give or not. They neglect to teach that God generously provides all you need to enable you to give freely and cheerfully. Faith cannot come if you have not heard and understood the Word. If the church does not teach 2 Corinthians 9:8, if Christians do not know to study and meditate upon what God says, then how can they possess the necessary faith to receive generous provisions from God, which enables them to give cheerfully Most leaders way of teaching on giving does not promote Gods terms on giving nor does it cause one to give with a cheerful heart. Their way of teaching pressures people to give out of an anguished, guilty, and condemned heart. A person is able to give cheerfully when he is operating in faith. He in essence understands his relationship with God and is able to express freely his love toward God, yet he understands that God does not measure his love or relationship according to the amount of money he gives in tithes or offerings. 
 
Many leaders justify their position of demanding monetary tribute and offerings based on the Law of Moses, but they tend to ignore a significant thing Paul said. For the law of Moses says, Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain (1 Corinthians 9:9, NLT). Of course, God was speaking of the messenger when He spoke this through Moses. Paul addressed the issue about the Shepherd rights to receive from the congregation. He justifiably said, What soldier has to pay his own expenses And have you ever heard of a farmer who harvests his crop and doesn't have the right to eat some of it What shepherd takes care of a flock of sheep and isn't allowed to drink some of the milk (1 Corinthians 9:7, NLT). Obviously, every Shepherd called of God should be taken care of by the flock, and should have the right to share in what his ministry produces. Paul even said that those who benefit from the seed of the Word planted by the Christian workers should pay the Christian workers because they have planted good spiritual seed among the people. Therefore, is it too much to ask in return for mere food and clothing (1 Corinthians 9:10-11). In the same way, the Lord gave orders that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it (1 Corinthians 9:14, NLT). Though God spoke these things through Moses and Paul, He also used Paul as an example to follow. Consider carefully what Paul ultimately said concerning his position on the welfare of the Shepherd or leader according to God. . . . Yet we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than put an obstacle in the way of the Good News about Christ (1 Corinthians 9:12). Paul was saying that even though he was deserving of payment, the salvation God wanted for his people was greater than his payment. In other words, Paul did not construe his payment more important than Gods mission. He was not about to cause stumbling blocks in the people, which could hinder their ability to hear and follow God. 
 
What are the obstacles or stumbling blocks in the church today Only one seems to cause more devastation in the lives of Christians than any other obstacle; it is the issue of tithes and offerings. The obstacle today is the mechanics behind how tithes and offerings are taught in the church. Jesus was angered when He saw how the Pharisees scrutinized the people over their tithes instead of treating them with love, justice, and mercy. How are people affected in their relationship with God when they dont necessarily do what their leaders tell them to do, which is give us your money or be cursed by God Paul continues, saying, In fact, I would rather die than lose my distinction of preaching without charge. For preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't do it! If I were doing this of my own free will, then I would deserve payment. But God has chosen me and given me this sacred trust, and I have no choice. What then is my pay It is the satisfaction I get from preaching the Good News without expense to anyone, never demanding my rights as a preacher (1 Corinthians 9:15-18, NLT). This is Scripture that you generally do not hear preached in church; perhaps the reason is that Paul makes a distinction between those who God specifically called to preach the Gospel and those who elected upon themselves to preach the Gospel. Some people who were called to preach the gospel however, have also turned away from Gods truth and endeavored to preach a gospel of religion, legalism, pride and condemnation all for the benefit of serving mammon. 
 
Leaders in churches across the nation today are merchandising the anointing and bringing multitudes of lives to financial ruin. Paul said, If I were doing this of my own free will, then I would deserve payment. Those belonging to the five-fold ministry and even those who run ministry schools who believe they deserve payment undermine what Paul said: What then is my pay It is the satisfaction I get from preaching the Good News without expense to anyone, never demanding my rights as a preacher. What Paul says here qualifies and personifies what he said to the Philippians (Philippians 4:17, 19). He was always interested in what the Lord accrued to the peoples account, not his own. Paul said that His God would supply all their needs according to His riches and glory through Christ Jesus. Paul was speaking to them also from His own experience. He only looked toward God for all his needs to be met, and God met them all. How did God do this He did it through people such as the Philippians who obeyed Him. Because God took care of Paul in this manner, Paul was able to concentrate on preaching the good news and the significance of faith in Christ to the peoplewithout charge. Perhaps people tend to disregard this fact because Paul didnt live in a multimillion-dollar mansion. He didnt wear a different Armani suit everyday of the week, or drive a Rolls Royce. Like every follower of Christ, he too had struggles and hardships. But wait a-minute; did not Jesus warn the believer about counting the cost of following Him because of the great suffering he would endure Are the icon ministry leaders today enduring such suffering for the sake of Christ or does even the world embrace them Perhaps some of us honestly need to examine the leaders we are following today, rather great or small. We should examine whether their speech and actions line up with the Word of God or are we simply enthralled because of their dynamic speaking ability and/or celebrity status in the ministry. As we study the scriptures in conjunction to what they say and do, then we are able to discern perhaps their angle. Are ministry leaders today actually interested in what God accrues to the peoples account or are they more interested in what the people can accrue to their account 
 
It is much easier to give a gift to someone you love as opposed to someone you do not know or feel threatened by. If a congregation knows little to nothing about faith, how can they ever become cheerful givers If they are struggling in their finances, chances are the last thing they will want to do is give away anything. Instead of pressuring people by teaching condemnation and guilt, which are major obstacles in the church, why not educate them on faith and help them build faith by teaching what the Word says about Gods unconditional love. Understanding Gods love induces within us a desire to give. When we give freely with a pure heart of love, we are giving to Jesus. Jesus says that what you have done unto the least is what you have done unto Him. Therefore, God wants us to understand that giving is all about having a relationship with Him. He wants us to understand that to give is an awesome thing because in that giving, He can make repairs in the hearts and adjustments in the lives of those whom we have given an offering. God then does the same to the giver, but He does it multiplied. What the church neglects to inform the congregation is that God will only ask of you what He has given you. Your giving should always come out of your overflow, not out of your necessity (2 Corinthians 9:7). 
 
Some Christians are literally torn between having to decide if they will feed their family and pay their bills on a given day or week, or tithe. I know this happens to be true, as I personally know such people. In fact, I was one of them. Peoples assumption is that God will cause perhaps your child to go without food or essentials in His demand that you tithe or give Him a financial offering. Our God is not a tyrant. Our God is an unconditional loving God. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others (2 Corinthians 9:8, NLT). Ministries will guilt you into giving them what you literally do not have and call it your sacrifice unto God. Your heavenly Father does not charge His own children a fee or tribute in order for them to be classified His children. There exist no monetary payment plan that you or anyone must fulfill in order to maintain or maximize your citizenship status in the kingdom of God, yet this is the message that churches are speaking today. Salvation is a free gift from God. If we never get to the place where we can understand giving, God still loves us unconditionally. When we sow out of love toward others, this is how God can get more to us. He takes that fertile soil and causes the seed to grow and as it does, He multiplies the harvest. Religion, legalism, and false ministers repudiating the Word of God with their own doctrine do not teach Gods truth behind our giving in offerings. 
 
I was speaking about tithes on the air at a local cable station in my hometown during an interview once and after the taping, a camera operator in the studio approached me and asked if it were true that God sends people to hell when they dont tithe. I asked him where he had received such information and he said that he had learned this in his church. How could such a law ever induce a cheerful heart toward giving The accomplishment of such a law would perhaps result in people giving, but only for the sake of staying out condemnation or in this persons case, hell. In other words, such a law would only induce fear, which God does not give us nor does He bless. God does not pressure us to do anything. He abides in His truth and order. No person in any congregation should ever feel pressured to give in tithes or offerings. Giving is a matter of love, faith, submission and obedience to God. His desire is that we would all eventually grow into becoming doers of His Word in relation to what He speaks in our hearts. Gods love and mercy are even upon us as we learn this. Never does He pressure us. Jesus addressed this issue with the Pharisees who, by the way, were religious and political defenders of the law. Their extremist position concerning the law led them to esteeming the letter as opposed to the spirit of the law. They so esteemed the written letter that they developed very strict applications for the people in their everyday life. As they developed these applications, they implemented traditions into the law. One of these traditions was to tithe the mint (money). In other words, through their tradition they had moved away from what God had instructed them to do concerning the tithe. Thus, their tradition of tithing did not affect the people according to Gods intent. Instead, it crushed them. According to their belief, such traditions and good works justified their righteousness in the eyes of God. Jesus said, But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. Yes, said Jesus, how terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you crush people beneath impossible religious demands, and you never lift a finger to help ease the burden (Luke 11:42, 46, NLT). When Jesus told them that they should tithe, He was speaking of two things. One, he was talking about the tithe as God intended according to the book of Deuteronomy chapter fourteen. Two, Jesus was speaking of tithing according to the law concerning the Levites who were the only ones commanded by God to collect the tithe. 
 
All tithes were performed under the covering of the Levite Priests. When Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice, the Levite Priests were no longer commanded to collect the tithe. God put a new Priest in place and that new Priest is Jesus. Jesus never collected the tithe nor taught His followers about the tithe for two reasons. First, He was not of the Levitical priestly line and therefore as a Jew, was not obligated to collect the tithe. Second, was that Jesus represented the New Covenant that would replace the old. This replacement was complete when Jesus said, It is finished the moment before His death on the cross (Luke 19:30). The Pharisees despised Jesus because they wanted to continue defending the law. Jesus however, radically tore down the old law in addition to their traditions. The law under Moses could not bring one into righteousness with Christ; it could only point toward ones sin. When has tithing (as we know it today) ever brought anyone into righteousness with Christ Yet, what happens when people dont tithe; it causes one to walk in guilt and condemnation. Guilt and condemnation is sin in the eyes of God. Because of our new Priest, by faith through repentance, the peoples sins could now be blotted out forever by the blood of Jesus. 
 
Ministries not called of God or in disobedience to God, pressure their congregations to give in tithes and offerings. Jesus said, You crush people beneath impossible religious demands, and you never lift a finger to help ease the burden. Multitudes of Christians are burdened today trying to obey and keep up with the religious demands of tithes and offerings placed upon them by the church. When todays Christian leaders expound upon the purpose of the tithe, they do not teach on the significance or origination behind the tithe. They completely omit what the Law of Moses actually said about the tithe. In fact, if we were actually to compare our understanding of the tithe today to Scripture, we would find that the subject of tithing is virtually one of the most artificially twisted and perverted doctrines in the church today. If we consider the book of Acts for example, in chapter 15 the tithe was not even mentioned in the Jerusalem Council rulings as Paul addressed them to the people. Paul did not address the issue of tithes because he clearly understood that the tithe was under the Mosaic Law. It may be interesting to note what God said about those who choose to operate under the law. And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the Scriptures, Cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and commands written in the Book of the Law and to practice them (Galatians 3:10, TAB). "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith (Verse 11, KJV). Are churches operating by faith in God today or are they depending upon the tithe from its congregational members in order to stay financially afloat Tithing is under the law and God calls those who follow this law cursed. From this, we can gather that embracing the tithe is in fact a dangerous thing indeed, yet tithing is very popular in the modern church. 
 
It is interesting that across the board the majority of people who tithe in the church see little to no results from their tithing. In fact, for years many have faced considerable financial dilemmas in the midst of their tithing. Could such people be cursed in their finances as Galatians 3:10 stipulates If we were to take Gods word from a literal standpoint, then it would certainly seem so. Yet, believers adhere to the popular teaching of tithes regardless of the fact that such teachings stand in opposition to what God said. Ministry leaders receiving the tithe say, Just keep right on doing what youre doing, the hardships youre facing only means that your prize is right around the corner. This of course fuels the people with emotional excitement and as a result, they continue tithing. Yet, the prize never seems to arrive and even when it finally does, it never seems to last. Clearly, such works are not by the hands of God. He intends all His blessings to be permanent. He is so adamant about His blessings that He even transfers them into heaven so that you may enjoy them throughout eternity there (Matthew 6:19-20). 
Remember, the majority of people do not follow the Word of God; they follow the personality speaking behind the pulpit. Most personalities behind the pulpit today are intermixing Gods Word with church trends, paradigms, and popular religious doctrine promulgated through celebrity-authored books, personally opinionated theologians, and larger than life leaders of icon ministries across the nation. 
 
Because of the tithe brought into the church, many church heads and ministries today have an excess of financial abundance, yet according to the book of Revelation, Jesus told the last church generation that He would spit it out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16). Would it be prudent to say that unless the church is willing to change, Jesus considers this church generation cursed Why else would He speak of such a severe warning So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and dont get tied up again in slavery to the law (Galatians 5:1, NLT). Are not the majority of those who tithe in slavery to the law of tithing in the church What happens when people dont tithe The church blasts them with guilt and condemnation. Clearly, this is not indicative of God. 
 
Lets backtrack a bit to get a clear understanding of Gods purpose for the tithe in the first place. What function did the tithe serve under the Law of Moses Why did God make mention about bringing in the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in His house, according to Malachi 3:10 An ardent studier of the Word of God who reads Acts 4:34-35 would probably be inclined to correlate these passages back to Deuteronomy 14:22-28. Perhaps many will be surprised at what they would find once the reality of these scriptures hit home. In the scriptures, the law required the people to set aside a tenth of their crops harvested each year. They were then instructed to bring their tithe to the designated place of worship in honor of Gods name. Once there, they were to then eat it in His presence. According to the Word, this included their tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of their flocks and herds. Honoring Gods commandment to do this would teach them to reverence God (Deuteronomy 14:22-23). Notice that the law required the people to set aside a tenth of their crops each year where they would honor God with their tithe. In honor of the tithe as it is practiced today, somehow the law requiring the annual tithe turned into the weekly tithe. What Sunday church service, or any service, do you ever remember attending where the church did not collect the tithe This certainly never happened in my experience. The modern church correlates the tithe to money. Therefore, they say you must tithe from the gross amount of every paycheck you receive in addition to any increase you incur. I have heard ministers say that if someone were to sow a car into your life, you are even to tithe from that, a shirt, and even shoes. Can you imagine a person financially broke receiving a car, then finding the worth of the car (if that is the way it is to be worked out), and then tithing a tenth of that amount Does this not totally defeat the purpose of receiving the car Such a blessing would become a curse. I received a car twice in my span of ministry. Considering my financial state, it would have been impossible for me to tithe a tenth of what they were worth, especially the second one, which was a Cadillac. Some even demand that you also tithe a tenth of your tax refund, which was already included in the tithe of your gross from your paycheck. Did God actually speak specifically about money in His commandment about the tithe Lets see what the rest of the scriptures have to say concerning money relative to the tithe. 
 
God took into consideration that some of the peoples size of harvest or distance to travel with their tithe would be too great, thus He allowed them to sell the tenth portion of their crops and herds. He then commanded that they take the money, go to their place of the Lords choosing and upon arrival use the money to buy any kind of food they desired. The King James Version Bible says verbatim: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household (Deuteronomy 14:26) [Emphasis mine]. In addition, God commanded that the people not exclude the Levite Priests from such feast because God did not appoint them a harvest inheritance of their own. And do not neglect the Levites in your town, for they will receive no allotment of land among you (Verse 27, NLT). The Levite Priest could not tithe because they had no land or cattle from which to gain a harvest from God. Therefore, God saw to it that they were taken care of by the people. God did not command the people to bring money to the Priest, but to make sure that they were fed. Money was not ever used as collateral for the tithe. If the tithe was too great to carry to the destination established by God or if the distance was too far, the tithe was to be turned into money, but only for the purpose of purchasing items of drink, livestock, and food in that town for the tithe. All of it was to be 
consumed in the site of God. Money is not edible. In addition, God's commandment of the tithe was a Jewish custom under the Law of Moses. God never commanded the Gentiles to tithe. You will not find such a commandment from God in the Old Testament nor will you find it anywhere in the Epistles throughout the New Testament. 
 
In contrast to the book of Acts chapter four and Deuteronomy chapter fourteen, the majority of todays priest (Pastors, Evangelist, etc.) no longer has to depend upon the tithes brought in by the congregation, though they demand the tithe. In general, many far exceed their congregations in riches and wealth. How did the church go from Gods commandment of taking care of the priest concerning the feast of tithes to the priest being able to feast without the contribution of the congregation Following the law, when did God ever establish the Ministers with an inheritance of their own We should note that according to Deuteronomy and Acts, the priest were not materially wealthy nor did God intend for them to be, which is why God commanded the people not to forget about them in their celebration of tithes. God could have blessed the priests with riches if He wanted to, but perhaps He never intended them to be wealthy (from the peoples point of view) because of the burden of responsibility placed upon them. Perhaps they would be tempted to turn away from God and follow their riches. It is much more devastating when a minister of God creates obstacles in the church as opposed to one who is not a leader. That single man has the power to lead multitudes of people into the gates of hell. The Bible even says that the priests punishment for leading others astray would be much worse. Because God understands the heart of man, it seems very pragmatic that God would protect such servants by providing all their needs according to His riches and Glory. If anyone should think that a man of God is incapable of falling into such a trap of loving money above God, consider what the majority of ministers behind pulpits around the world are preaching and teaching today. They are preaching and teaching about the concepts of wealth and riches, even to the extent that multitudes of Christians are financially drowning right in the midst of their doctrines. Preachers today are collecting tithes in the form of dollars, which God never commanded. 
 
I think it is rather interesting, yet ironic that the modern church desiring to cling to the old law concerning tithesfor obvious reasons, tends to dismiss the responsibility of obeying the entire law, which requires that the priest have no allotment of land and cattle. In other words, God did not appoint them a harvest because they were servants of God, yet many of the priests of God today who abide in the old law concerning tithes abounds in riches and wealth. Some have even ascended to a financial class known by the social elite as having liquidable assets. In other words, they are so rich that their wealth flows like an endless river. Such people own multiple multimillion-dollar homes; they own luxury jets, fabulous businesses, and hundred thousand-dollar vehiclesplural, just to name of few. These priests of God rent out luxury ocean liners for week excursions to conduct spiritual retreats, conventions, and speaking engagements. Of course, in their defense they may argue that they are entitled to their wealth and riches because they are no longer servants, but the sons and daughters of God. They would also be correct in their argument if their riches came from God as opposed to the world. However, being the children of God signifies our new covenant in Christ. How can we be under the new covenant, yet continue to abide in the old law 
 
We should also note that according to the Mosaic Law, only God blesses the people with the good harvest, which He orders them to bring into His house (Deuteronomy 14:24). In other words, God established the tithe that He commanded the people to give back to Him. They were not expected to give what they did not have. Lastly, God said that At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that years harvest and store it in the nearest town. Give it to the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all your work (Deuteronomy 14:28-29, NLT). The foreigners, by the way, are the Gentiles, who were not the children of Israel nor did they receive any commandment from God to tithe. This would explain God commanding the Jews to include them in their tithing feast before God. Those who obeyed God prospered in His blessings. 
 
From the viewpoint of Scripture, we can clearly see how Gods intent concerning the tithe is an entirely different event from what we see in the traditions of the modern church. The Jewish custom of the tithe was actually a party or a big feast where the foods brought therein was to be consumed in the sight of God. The tithe was never given exclusively to the head of the church nor ministry so that the leaders could prosper in it. The tithe was for the benefit of the people, even foreigners who were not the children of Israel. Thus, God blessed the tithe. Properly understanding the tithe makes for a joyful heart of giving. This is Gods condition upon our giving. From Gods perspective, we can now see the joyous times of throwing a great feast among families and inviting the Levite Priests, aliens, widows, orphans, and the poor. Understanding the tithe from the correct perspective according to the Word of God gives us a better clarity of the Scriptures of Malachi 3:7-10. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return Will a man rob God Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Jesus clearly said that what we do unto the least of our brethren is what we have done unto Him (Matthew 25:40). Disobeying Gods commandment to tithe was to rob the people what the Lord had intended them. In robbing the people, they robbed God. God said that they robbed the whole nation because He intended that the tithing event would be throughout all Israel. When they no longer kept the tithe, they had therefore robbed the entire nation. Malachi 3:7 is strongly connected to Jesus rebuke of the Pharisees in Luke 11:42 when He criticized them about their tithing tradition. They had moved away from Gods ordinances concerning the tithe and did not keep them. Instead of tithing in the fashion God had commanded, they substituted His instruction by their implementation of tithing the mint (money). 
 
Who would have thought that God actually meant for His people to eat the tithe in His presence Simply taking time to study scripture diligently, which is seeking God for His answers, can open up an entirely different world of understanding as compared to traditional religious doctrine. Today as it stands according to the Word of God, the tithe is no longer necessary because the tithe as it is understood in the Old Testament, has been replaced by faith (Galatians 3:11). Ministries today have no business pressuring their congregations to give the tenth of their increase, for God has commanded us to live by faith. Though ministries tend to assume that His commandment does not apply to them, God makes it very clear that it does. His commandment also applies to ministry schools. God has predicated every facet of Christianity upon faith. Without faith, one cannot please God. How do we acquire faith We obtain faith by hearing and understanding the Word of God (Romans 10:17). This scripture speaks the significance of having a relationship with God. Without hearing the Word of God, it is impossible to obtain faith. Without the relationship, it is impossible to grow in faith. If the majority of believers do not study Scripture or have an intimate relationship with God, how can they obtain the faith necessary to receive from God I believe that such people are inclined to revert to the old law of tithing or sowing seed for the benefit of their need, yet neither delivers everlasting fruit. According to the old law, people received blessing from God when they tithed the tenth. The New Covenant establishes that we shall receive blessing from God through faith, for faith is the only thing that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). Tithing will always fall short of faith and thus cannot and will not ever please God. 
 
End. Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesoft.com" target="_blank">ArticleSoft.com</a> About the Author: Read more from Rick D. Wynn in his book: It's Not About You A Study of the Last Church Generation_What Every Christian Should Know (Tate Publishing and Enterprises). Throughout the pages of Rick D Wynn's entrancing book "It's Not About You," some of the most thought provoking questions in the hearts of people around the world are addressed. Published in March of 2007, and now available at E-stores on Websites and Bookstores.