Saturday, December 19, 2009

Why Are We Still Tithing?

Many Christians tithe faithfully. It is taught in churches to do so. Yet, it does not make any sense why tithing is still being taught when it is a part of the old covenant, a part of the law, and when Jesus has set us free from these things. Please allow us at A Voice in the Wilderness to show you some scriptures about tithing.



In the Book of Daniel, God tells Daniel that He will give the people seventy weeks to bring His people back unto Him. Because of their transgressions and iniquity, man was separate from God. Jesus was the one who was sent to put an end to our transgressions, to bring reconciliation between man and God, and to bring in everlasting righteousness (Read Daniel 9:25, 26).

In verse 27, it was foretold that Jesus would also cause the sacrifice and oblations to cease:

"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Daniel 9:27

Jesus caused the sacrifices to cease. There was no longer a need to have blood sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus became the sacrificial lamb and His blood forgives our sins.

And before, I had always wondered what oblation meant. Finally, my eyes opened and I realized it was the same as tithes. Oblation means tribute, firstfruits, and offering unto God. Our tithe is the same thing. It is an offering to God of our firstfruits. Whenever we give God our first fruits, that means we give it to Him first before we use it or spend it. Oblations and tithes are freewill gift offerings to God.

Jesus caused the oblation to cease. We no longer need to give God anything or pay Him.

(examples of oblation in the old testament is: Leviticus 2:4, 2:12, Numbers 31:50, Ezekiel 44:30, Ezekiel 45:1, 48:12, and we see that God wanted their offerings, firstfruit, meat or land, same as tithes. People never paid tithes in money back then)



In Matthew 17:24-26, Jesus explains to Peter that the King's children are free from paying tribute to the King! God is our King, and we are His children.

"And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?


He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children or of strangers?


Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, then are the children free!"

In the New Testament, Jesus never said once that we were required to pay tithes. Not once was that imputed upon the believers. The only time it was mentioned in the NT was as an insult to the Pharisees and the Pharisees are men of the law.

In the New Testament, the believers would provide for their family FIRST, then meet on the first day of the week to divide the money so that they all would have the equal amount. God told them if they received anything above their needs, to give unto the poor.

*Provide for your family first: "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 1 Timothy 5:8

*The New Way: "Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need."Acts 4:34, 35



"For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased and ye burdened; But by an equality, that now at this time, your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be equality: As it is written, He that hath gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack." 2 Corinthians 8:12-15

(God may give some people a lot of riches, but he wants them to give above their needs to help their brothers and sisters in Christ who have needs. Those who are rich will not have riches above their needs, and those who are poor will not run out. No one lacked anything)



*Another example: "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2

(Paul wrote to the church of Corinthians to meet on the first day of the week and put in storage what God has given them to put away. Those in storage were usually given unto the needy saints: Romans 12:13, 1 Corinthians 16:1)

*And another example: "And sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men, as every man had need." Acts 3:45

We see the believers in the NT taking care of each other, which is a beautiful sign of charity, instead of duty by the law. The tithe was a part of the old law and Jesus has fulfilled the law. Tithes are works, and Jesus' blood covers it ALL, so our works are now dead unto Him, they mean nothing!

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrew 9:14

And we don't owe ANY debt to God, because Jesus has PAID the debt! Whew! If we work, it is like we owe Him something which we don't!


"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Romans 4:4, 5

God just wants us to give from our hearts, and not from requirements.



"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


Beware of false ministers who tell you that you must give tithes as a requirement of the law (for we know we are under grace and not the law) and that paying tithe will add unto our righteousness. It is a LIE! Do not fall for it.

Ye are the children of the King and you have been made free. 






A Voice in the Wilderness



4 comments:

Beth in NC said...

Thanks for sharing this post. I was aware of this, but I still tithe. I consider it sowing seeds. I always name the seed I'm sowing each Sunday.

The money was given to us by God anyway, and I consider it His.

Blessings!
Beth

homeschool101 said...

Thanks for sharing this, I to also tithe. I also beleive that by faithful tithing not only are we sowing a seed, we are advancing the kingdom. Tithing goes to many areas of the church and ministry. Where would most of our churchs and ministries be without sowing a seed.

Tithing is more then just a seed sower it is a faith grower. Great words brought forth, I do believe it is still important for us to tithe. Blessings! :)

PMM said...

Whenever we put great focus on a method or formula we are in danger of nullifying grace and the cross, and serious flags should go up. The point is not to find the "correct" method of giving, or even what the "new testament" method is. Whether it is tithing or having "all things in common" the point is those methods served a purpose, time and place. All the methods in the scripture are perfect for their purpose time and place. Simple put giving joins a fruit to a purpose. The perfect example is John 3:16.
For God so loved (fruit->)
the world that He gave
His only begotten Son (method)
That whosover should believe in Him should not perish..(purpose)
I am glad God did not "tithe" His Son, but did what was necessary to save me and you.

Anonymous said...

Great posts, especially this one – thank you! :-)

 

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