C-12. Is TITHING TAUGHT in the New Testament? DOWNLOAD to SAVE as a PDF Doc to read OFFLINE. C-12. Is TITHING TAUGHT in the New Testament? The main purpose of this study is to give a sound Biblical answer to the question “Is tithing TAUGHT under the New Covenant written in the New Testament of the Holy Bible?” But we will also be talking about some of the ABUSES and misuse of poor stewardship of the offerings given to church denominations. And there is one church organization that I specifically want to address at the end of this study on whether or not tithing is taught in the New Testament under the New Covenant. And that church is the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. Now, there are some church denominations that dogmatically teach that tithing is REQUIRED by all Christians. Some church denominations demand that their members tithe 10% of the gross income before taxes and other deductions are withheld by government agencies. One such church denomination that requires their members to tithe 10% of their gross income is the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. Now, this is NOT to say that other church denominations do not teach tithing and strongly encourage their members to tithe 10% as well. There are some Catholic Churches in some areas that actually take their member's tithe as an automatic deduction from their paycheck. And it is not always an OPTION in some church denominations as to whether their members pay tithes or not. I would go as far to say that in MOST church denominations Christians are made to feel that they are being PRESSURED to tithe either by being made to feel ashamed if they do not tithe or by hearing misleading teaching that it is a SIN if they do not tithe. But is any of this teaching by church denominations that Christians must tithe 10% of either their gross income or 10% of their net income after taxes Biblical? And by Biblical, I am referring to the NEW COVENANT written in the New Testament. In other words, does the New Testament teach that Christians must tithe 10% of their income as being REQUIRED, according to the New Covenant taught in the New Testament of the Bible? Let us begin by reading the words of Jesus himself in Matthew 12:41-44. Matthew 12:41-44. “And Jesus sat over against the treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which makes a farthing. 43. And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow has cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44. For all they did cast in of their ABUNDANCE; but she of her want did cast in ALL that she HAD, even ALL her LIVING.” Now, the widow woman did NOT have to give anything. She had no ABUNDANCE. She had no INCREASE above and beyond her LIVING expenses. But she DESIRED to give whatever SHE thought that she could spare out of her LIVING expenses. She wanted to give. And SHE decided the amount to give that she could give cheerfully and NOT grudgingly. And SHE decided to give ALL she had to buy food and pay her LIVING expenses. And I am sure that God blessed her because it was a gift of love from her heart. But IF she was pressured to give all that she had and if she gave it grudgingly, then I do not believe God honors those kinds of gifts as being genuine gifts from a heart of love. Please read 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. “But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7. Every man ACCORDING as HE PURPOSES in his heart, so let him give; NOT grudgingly, or OF NECESSITY : for God loves a cheerful giver. 8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” So then, under the New Covenant, giving is NOT a mandatory requirement of giving a full 10% of a Christian’s income lest a Christian be sinning for NOT giving 10% of either their gross income or their net income after taxes. The true Gospel of Jesus Christ does indeed teach Christians to have a GIVING heart out of love to esteem others more than themselves. But we are not to lay burden and guilt upon Christians to give until it hurts so to speak. We are not to teach giving as a commandment, ordinance, or as a NECESSITY lest we are DISPLEASING God by not giving. Please read 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 which is speaking about a WHOLE congregation of Christians that were a POOR congregation as a JOINT effort to give from their poverty. But it was LOVE for others that was their MOTIVE to give. They WANTED to help the ministry of the Apostle Paul with a financial GIFT which Paul knew that they could not afford such a gift. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15. “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2. How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their JOY and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were WILLING of THEMSELVES; 4. Praying us with much entreaty (Meaning that they were begging Paul to take their love offering and they were not going to take a no from Paul. They INSISTED) that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (Notice that the gift was DESIGNATED for Paul to use FOR the ministering to the saints and NOT to spend upon himself) 5. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 7. Therefore, as you abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that you abound in this grace also. (Paul is teaching them and us to grow in this same GRACE of God that fills us with love. And God's love abiding in us will lead us to esteem others more than ourselves to GIVE of ourselves and of our finances with the ABUNDANCE of JOY that he witnessed in the Macedonian church fellowship) 8. I speak NOT by COMMANDMENT, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, (Meaning that Paul was so BLESSED with the JOY of the Lord by the LOVE of the Macedonian church to give of their LIVING that he desired to see this same kind of LOVE in the Corinthians church) and to prove the SINCERITY of your love. (The Greek word translated as “prove” can mean test to discern but it can also mean to approve the sincerity of their love. In other words, Paul desired to be blessed by the JOY of the Lord by the giving of the Corinthians church from a heart of LOVE so that he could pronounce a blessing on them to another church fellowship to encourage them to be givers as well) 9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich. (Paul is teaching us to have the MIND of Jesus to esteem others above ourselves in all areas of our life. I believe that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were well off financially. So to me, giving MONEY alone would not show the sincerity of love with the same magnitude of laying down his life for the sins of the world. Almighty God the Father gave Jesus the freedom to choose of his own free will to lay down his life with a PROMISE of a REWARD if he chose to do the Father’s WILL) 10. And herein I give my ADVICE: (Or I give my opinion base upon my discernment from watching God BLESS those who give from a sincere heart of LOVE) for this is expedient (Or something GOOD) for you (As it will benefit you), who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. (Evidently, this church started something a year ago. They seemed determined to do it but then did not finish what they set out to do) 11. Now, therefore, perform the doing of it; (Or now finish what you started to do a year ago) that as there WAS a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which you have. (In other words, step out in FAITH and finish what you were more than willing to do a year ago. Follow the example of the Macedonian church that gave from their POVERTY to give cheerfully so that you can finish the work you started last year out of what you HAVE. Notice that Paul did NOT say to borrow the money from a bank to get into debt over your head and then have faith that God will pay off that DEBT. Paul is teaching us that AT TIMES God will ask us to give out of our LIVING to see if we will TRUST him to meet our NEEDS) 12. For if there BE FIRST a WILLING mind, (Or if we FIRST have a right ATTITUDE and a right MOTIVE) it is ACCEPTED according to that a man HAS, and NOT according to that he has not. (In other words, do NOT BORROW from the money that you NEED to pay your bills. But rather, tighten your belt so to speak and use the money that you HAVE for other things that you can SACRIFICE to do WITHOUT temporarily so that you can FINISH what is already in your heart to complete) 13. For I mean NOT that other men be eased, and you burdened: (Or please do not misunderstand what I, Paul, am saying. I am not saying that you should give to make yourselves poor by giving more than you have to cause yourselves to have financial NEEDS just so that the needs of others can be met solely by you) 14. But by an equality, that now at this time YOUR ABUNDANCE may be a supply for THEIR want (Or their NEED), that THEIR ABUNDANCE also may be a supply for YOUR want: (Or your NEED) that there may be equality: (In other words, when God blesses YOU do not spend it on your self all the time. But rather, use those blessing to BLESS those in NEED so that this CYCLE of SOWING and REAPING will continue and that there will always be EQUALITY among the brethren in the churches. Now in this context, Paul is talking about churches giving and receiving from other churches. But the same principle also applies within a church congregation) 15. As it is written, He that had gathered MUCH had nothing OVER; (Because he GAVE that ABUNDANCE to the POOR) and he that had gathered little had NO LACK.” But keep in mind that this is NOT the WHOLE word of Go on this subject. For you see, The Bible also teaches that he who does NOT WORK does NOT EAT. In other words, if a brother or sister in the Lord is taking ADVANTAGE of the church’s love and generosity they are to be cut off from those blessings until they learn EQUALITY and to esteem others more than themselves. Christians do not OWE anyone a living. Please read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15. “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, (Speaking of MOOCHING off other Christians for their living expenses to become a FREELOADER not working to make their own living) and not after the TRADITION which he received of us. (Speaking of that EQUALITY of giving and receiving) 7. For yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8. Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: (Or in DEBT to any of you) 9. Not because we have not the power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us. (Or we worked to feed ourselves as an EXAMPLE for you to follow as opposed to allowing you to feed us because we feed you the word of God and a laborer is worthy of his hire. We could have requested that you feed us but we chose what was better for YOU. And that was to see our example of working to supply our own needs so as to NOT be a burden to you) 10. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would NOT work, NEITHER should he EAT. 11. FOR (Or BECAUSE) we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working NOT at all, but are busybodies. (So then, taking advantage of others is walking DISORDERLY. So when you take advantage of a friend or a relative to USE them to SAVE yourself a buck when you HAVE the money to PAY someone else their wage but you know that your friend has a soft heart and they will do it CHEAPER, then you are walking DISORDERLY. Your attitude should be to pay them MORE because they are your FRIEND and or relative. You are NOT esteeming your brothers and sisters in the Lord more than yourself. You are not having the MIND of Jesus Christ. You are taking advantage of THEIR goodness and love) 12. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13. But you, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 14. And if any man obeys not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” In other words, do NOT EVER SHUN a brother or sister in the Lord. But rather, treat them as you would a SINNER by reaching out to them with the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ. Shunning is NOT Biblical. Please read the study Z-9. Is SHUNNING BIBLICAL? Let us now read Philippians 4:9-20. “Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 10. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care OF me has flourished again; wherein you were also careful, but you lacked opportunity. (Meaning that there was also the time when you WANTED to bless me but I would not allow you to do so because I was setting for you an example to not be a burden to others. For you see, that is ANOTHER way of GIVING. By not having to RECEIVE you are passing that GIFT that you WOULD have needed on to OTHERS) 11. NOT that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Sometimes it is nice to enjoy a steak at the expense of others as their treat, but we should never expect it as being OWED to us. Rather, we should be content to eat a peanut butter sandwich or just a slice of bread rather than sponging off of others. Now, this is NOT to say that IF we have a genuine NEED that we are never to ask for HELP. Hopefully, the brethren will be attentive enough to discern your need before you are placed in a situation so that you have to ask for help. That is not being nosey and a busybody to care for your fellow brothers and sisters enough to enquire if everything is alright when you perceive that something is wrong) 12. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Or I already know that God will always supply all my need) 14. Notwithstanding you have done well, that you did communicate with my affliction. (Because that was the answer to my prayer of FAITH always believing that God will supply all my needs. And you were obeying that “unction” from the Holy Spirit to perceive my need. And through your obedience to God you have supplied my need) 15. Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me, as concerning giving and receiving, but you only. (So evidently, the Philippian church was the first fellowship that Paul taught the principle of sowing and reaping or the principle of giving and being blessed by others that you did not give to. We are never to give with the attitude of expecting to receive back FROM the people that we have blessed. But rather, we are to believe God that HE will supply our NEED when we have a need by way of someone else. Now, at times, God does bless some with a great abundance so that they can be a BLESSING to others. In other words, we are to never have the MOTIVE of getting RICH by using the principle of sowing and reaping to consume that wealth upon ourselves. Now if you WORK for those riches then that wealth is yours to do with whatever you choose. But if that money was an offering from your congregation to go to the MINISTRY of the church then that money does NOT belong to you. It belongs to God and you will answer to God on how you use that blessing. And I do not think God will take too kindly to you for using HIS money for YOUR PLEASURE) 16. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again unto my NECESSITY. (And your own personal jet, or a mansion, or a shopping mall as an investment is NOT a NECESSITY) 17. Not because I DESIRE a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. (In other words, seeing that I did indeed NEED your gift before I went ahead and received your gift so that God would BLESS you in return) 18. But (Or but NOW) I have all and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. 19. But (Or now know that because you have blessed me in my hour of NEED also KNOW that) my God shall supply all YOUR NEED according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (For you see, he is able to nudge your boss to give you a raise. He is also able to stir the hearts of people all over the world to meet your NEEDS whenever you have a NEED. And you do not even have to ask him or others to supply your needs. Simply BELIEVE that He will supply all your needs by having a THANKFUL heart in His PROMISES to do so) 20. Now unto God and our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Even in the Old Testament, the TITHE was to be tithed from the ABUNDANCE of all your INCREASE. If a farmer had a bad crop he would not give his SEED away that he NEEDS to plant another crop. That would be financial suicide. Rather he would wait for an ABUNDANT crop that produces MORE than he himself could eat and then he would tithe from that ABUNDANCE 10% of all his INCREASE above his own living expenses. Please read Proverbs 3:9,10. “Honor the LORD with your substance (Which also means your WEALTH or your ABUNDANCE), and with the first fruits of all your INCREASE: (Which also means GAIN, as in, capital gains or PROFITS above your expenses. And the reason that God does not want us to consume all 100% of our NET income after taxes and living expense on ourselves is that he wants us to build a storehouse of blessing for others to always have more than enough to continually bless others BETWEEN our paydays) 10. So shall your barns be filled with PLENTY, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.” But again, NOT so that we can be rich to consume that storehouse of wealth on ourselves. But rather, God blesses us with abundance so that we can bless others anytime and every time a brother or sister in the Lord has a need. And that does not mean that we are not to bless those in need who are not saved. God wants the storehouse of the church to be able to bless everyone in need who is SEEKING him for help. The Bible clearly teaches that the POOR will be with us in this present world until Jesus returns. And then ALL the riches of the world will be controlled by Jesus himself who will be fair and just to meet everyone's needs on the earth in their mortal bodies. So then, even under the Old Testament tithing God never intended his words to be interpreted as the POOR giving 10% of all their LIVING expenses. Now, at the beginning of this study, I mentioned that there were ABUSES in the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. I do not mean that the Mormon Christian members are abusing anything. But rather, I mean that the leaders of the Mormon Church organization are abusing the spending of the tithes that the Mormon Christians are required to give to the Mormon Church. According to other sources, the Mormon Church has INVESTMENTS amounting to BILLIONS of dollars that they claim are for FUTURE needs. Do your OWN research. Please view the following videos: Mormons are TAUGHT to tithe 10% of their income Mormon Church has BILLIONS in INVESTMENTS Senior Mormon Apostle KNOW the Mormon Church is a FRAUD What a HUGE WASTE of your tithe money Millions, if not billions of YOUR tithe money is spent on a VAULT to guard and preserve genealogy records. Know you NOT that prayers and baptisms for the DEAD are in vain? The Mormon Church has become a corporation The Mormon Church WEALTH and ASSETS And they acquired all the money and ASSETS that YOU gave to support the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ. So STOP paying TITHES. First, because the Mormon Church is not using ALL of you tithe money for CHURCH related ministries. And secondly, because tithing is NOT taught under the NEW COVENANT written in the New Testament. This study will end the series of 7 Part series that began with the study Y-11. A LETTER TO MORMON CHRISTIANS Now if you are a Mormon and you sincerely desire the TRUTH, the WHOLE truth, and NOTHING but the TRUTH then I implore you to read all the studies under the heading >>>Y-0. MORMONISM<<< And if you are an EX-Mormon, or if you are a Mormon that is thinking about leaving but you want to share the truth with your family and friends before you leave the Mormon Church, or if you are a non-Mormon Christian who wants to know HOW to witness to Mormons, then I encourage you to read all the studies under the heading >>>Y-0. MORMONISM<<< as well. Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. So, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading >>>D-0. THE BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of JESUS!<<< And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading >>>C-0. THE TRUE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH!<<< This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
To learn more TRUTH, then please return to
VERSES USED TO TEACH THAT JESUS PREEXISTED!
To me, the best way to know the ONE true God in ONE person is to know who Jesus TRULY is according to the WHOLE word of Almighty God. So please read ALL of the studies under the heading >>>N-0. WHO is JESUS ACCORDING to the BIBLE?<<< and you will see that the Bible itself teaches us that Jesus was CREATED by his God and Father. And if you have any questions related to the correct meaning of certain verses of Scripture on this subject of who Jesus is please read all the studies under the two headings >>>U-0. VERSES used for THE TRINITY!<<< and >>>V-0. VERSES used to TEACH that Jesus PRE-EXISTED!<<< These two headings have ALL of the studies that I have on who Jesus truly is according to what the Bible itself teaches us in simplicity. I compiled these three headings to make it easy for my readers to send just one, two, or three links to those you desire to help understand what the Bible itself teaches concerning who Jesus is in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me. My contact email is MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail .com. Thanks again for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.
Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
RETURN to HOMEPAGE at
The end. Please pause or turn off the reading aloud feature on Microsoft Edge browser. Click here to learn HOW to use the Microsoft Edge reading aloud feature.
Always be faithful to share, to preach, and to teach the whole gospel of Jesus Christ! |