"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3: 8-10)
Yesterday, while setting in church with my wife, listening to the pastor preach on "Stewardship", I had this strong urge to find me a private room and pray. Every year, about this time our church congregation sets through a "guilt-trip" sermon on how we are "Robbing God", when we don't fork over 10% of our income to the church (Storehouse).
Well, after a few minutes, I did get up quietly and walked out. I went into a private room and started to read out of my Bible all of the scriptures that were being used in the pastor's sermon. While reading each OT and NT scriptures, I prayed to our Lord to give me the insight that I must be missing to understand why I must believe in the OT Tithe.
The more I studied God's Word, the more I became convinced that NT giving was all that was required of me. I even checked the internet and read hundreds of different writings regarding "Tithing". Here is a "website" that I feel gave the most complete study of the OT and NT Scriptures that apply to Tithing and Christian giving.
Now my wife and I do not oppose giving generously to our church and other ministries that we are lead by the Lord to give too, but we place our faith 100% in Jesus Christ and God's Word (Bible), and feel that teaching OT tithing to Christians is not Biblical.
Well, after a few minutes, I did get up quietly and walked out. I went into a private room and started to read out of my Bible all of the scriptures that were being used in the pastor's sermon. While reading each OT and NT scriptures, I prayed to our Lord to give me the insight that I must be missing to understand why I must believe in the OT Tithe.
The more I studied God's Word, the more I became convinced that NT giving was all that was required of me. I even checked the internet and read hundreds of different writings regarding "Tithing". Here is a "website" that I feel gave the most complete study of the OT and NT Scriptures that apply to Tithing and Christian giving.
Now my wife and I do not oppose giving generously to our church and other ministries that we are lead by the Lord to give too, but we place our faith 100% in Jesus Christ and God's Word (Bible), and feel that teaching OT tithing to Christians is not Biblical.
I have studied OT and NT scriptures for years, praying over them and asking God to give me the wisdom to understand what He is wanting me to do. Please help me Lord and have mercy on my soul because I can not understand how the Christian Churches of this day and age can justify teaching OT Tithe requirements that were given to the Israelites to support the Levites and the Temple.
Thank you Heavenly Father for my free gift of Salvation and the Holy Spirit that You gave me the moment that I put my trust and faith in Your Son Jesus Christ.
3 comments:
I am having to sit through a month long series of "giving" sermons. You are 101% right. The tithe was nailed to the cross with the rest of the law. We are to give as we feel God has prospered us...not as the church treasurer and preacher dictate. It is to given gladly and generously. Very good article.
Thank you... Not all Christians agree with me, but after a lot of praying and studing God's Word, I just can not see where the OT tithe fits into the picture after the Cross. God's blessings. Lloyd
LAst time I sat in church the preacher went to MAlachi 3 too. The Lord drew my eyes to vs 7, and the word "ordinances". He asked me "What ordinances". I saw it. The ordinances and statutes of Moses Law that has been "abolished" in Christ Eph 2:15, and Colossians 2:14 having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross;
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