By Dan Ok
I do not really like writing on religious topics because I am
always very careful when it has to do with the things of God. But, the recent
issue of tithe/ tithing that has generated issues on social media due to a
statement made by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God,
Pastor E.A. Adeboye, has left me with an option of airing my views on the issue
of tithe/tithing.
I have taught myself over the years never to do something in
life because it is what every one is doing, I have also grown to believe that
even if every person in the world is doing something, I should always stop to
ask the question 'is it the right thing to do?' before I join them in doing. I
do not at all believe that I should do something because it is what my parents,
uncles, aunties, brothers, sisters, pastor, church and everyone is doing. I
taught myself to ask the question, 'are they doing the right thing?', and I
have never wanted to and will never commit the fallacy of appeal to authority,
that is; because someone bigger, more matured, more intelligent and more
experienced than I am or someone in authority, be it religious, political,
social, cultural or educational authority is doing it, therefore it is the
right thing to do.
It is God who gives understanding and so I believe that since
Jesus came to die for us, He sealed the long time gap that existed between man
and God, so we can always ask God the Father for anything we do not have and
anything we do not know and He will give to us what we do not have and deeper
understanding to what we do not understand. Many believers today rely only on
their pastors or spiritual fathers for the understanding of the way the
scripture works and the way God Himself operates. Many pastors today have
taught their congregation to depend on them in all areas to receive something
or ask something from God. These christians see the pastor as the only way
through which God could be reached and the only means by which the scriptures
could be understood. This is very wrong because they are making their
congregation forget the fact that they have Christ in them who connects them
easily to the Father and are simply taking them back to the old covenant. In
the old covenant, only the prophet or one set over God's people could only go
up to God to intercede for the people, get information from God to the people
or communicate on any matter to God for the people, but this practise was
brought to an end with the arrival of our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ and
was confirmed during the transfiguration on the high mountain as recorded in
Matthew 17:1-8,
"17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and
John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 17:2 And
was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his
raiment was white as the light. 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them
Moses and Elias talking with him. 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto
Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three
tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 17:5 While he
yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of
the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear
ye him. 17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were
sore afraid. 17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not
afraid. 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save
Jesus only."
The above verses mean that as Elijah and Moses (the prophet and
the law respectively) disappeared, we no longer needed a prophet to intercede
for us or talk to God on our behalf, and that we are no longer under the law as
Paul has rightly said in the book of Galatians 3:1-27; 4:1-31. The
transfiguration came so we could know that we have been brought closer to God
by the sacrifice of and through His Son Jesus the Christ and so we can go to
Him at anytime for anything. So if a christian still relies on his/her pastor
to reach unto God, then, such a christian is still living under the law.
Pastors should teach their congregation how to rely on God and on Him alone for
anything they need and should teach them how to draw closer to Him and depend
ultimately on Him. In fact, the work of a pastor is to bring men to God and
allow them to depend on Him and Him alone. I discovered this early enough that
is why I started bringing whatever the pastor says on the pulpit under intensive
scriptural scrutiny to know whether it is the truth or not the truth.
Christians should learn how to find out the truth about the things in the
scripture by themselves and for themselves so as to be free from living in
bondage of the law and under a curse, for Paul has rightly said that, one who
still lives under the law is living under a curse "Galatians 3:10a For as
many as are of the works of the law are under the curse..." . But this
does not in any way mean you should not respect your pastors and follow their
leadership in obedience, but the ultimate thing is following the instructions
of God as directed and given by the scriptures and as the spirit of God leads
you. Let me also say that, I am not attacking any pastor or pastors but I am
here to respond to the issue of tithe and tithing.
As a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, I was
forced to study about tithe and the principles of tithing when I heard the
Pastor in my local parish say that Daddy G.O. (Pastor E.A. Adeboye) said that
if one does not pay tithe, one will not go to heaven. This statement sounded
strange and improper to me, it annoyed my spirit and gave me a reason to go
back to my scriptures to check how true the above statement might be. At this
time I used to pay tithe but during my search, I discovered the truth and the
truth was able to set me free. Today, the same man of God is on the news on the
same issue of tithe but this time he said, one who does not pay tithe is
bringing Divine cause upon one's self. Now let's take a deep study about tithe
and tithing.
What is Tithe/Tithing
The word translated tithe in Scripture means “tenth.” So tithing
is the giving of one's 10%. The biblical definition of a tithe is “giving 10
percent of one’s increase from crops grown in the land of Israel or cattle that
feed off the land of Israel.” This definition is evidenced in the books of Lev.
27:30–33; Num. 18:21–24; Deut. 14:22–29.
We first hear of tithing in the Bible in Genesis 14:1-24, when
God enables Abram to overtake and defeat the enemies of Sodom who wiped out
Sodom’s army, plundered their city and take them captives as slaves including
Lot, Abram's nephew and his family. So God helped Abram recover the captives
and plunder. As a sign of gratitude, the King of Sodom offered the loots to
Abram but he rejects and instead, takes only food for his men to eat, a share
for his allies, and gives a tenth of all the goods to Melchizedek, who is
described as the king of Salem and priest of God Most High.
From the above, it should be noted that:
1. Abram was not giving a tithe of his own goods but of the
plundered recovered from the enemies of Sodom which rightly belonged to Sodom.
2. Abram paid this tithe voluntarily and not in response to a certain command
from God as it is seen in the passage above.
3. We have not been told if Abram continued in this principle after this one
time.
The second example of tithing is seen in the book of Genesis
28:1-22, as Jacob was journeying back to his mother's people to take a wife. In
a dream, while sleeping in the night, Jacob sees a stairway going up to heaven
with angels ascending and descending, he also sees God. In the morning, he made
a vow that if God will be with him, protect him on his journey, provide him
with food and clothing and take him safely back to his father's house, then, he
will give God a tenth of everything God gives to him.
From this second example, we could see that:
1. Jacob made a vow and was fulfilling that vow but did not give
a tenth (tithe) because he was under any kind of law or command.
2. before this time, Jacob had not been tithing as also seen in the case of
Abram.
3. We have not been told that he continued in this act after this first time as
in the case of Abram.
A lot of people in order to defend their stand on tithing, have
said that the above two examples came before the Mosaic law, yes, it's very
correct but it is also very correct that these were not done under a certain
kind of command but voluntarily. There is no direct instruction given to the
people of God to pay tithe as seen in the above scriptures. It is not at all
right to base a command or instruction on unclear examples of narrative
accounts. Many churches and preachers have given the above as examples of
people who paid tithe but let me also say this, a Christian can deicide to
emulate Abram and Jacob on voluntary giving of a tenth and this should be a
personal choice, not because of any outstanding biblical command or not because
he/she has been made to believe that he/she is under a any kind of law or curse
if he/she does not pay tithe and the consequences might range from not going to
heaven to being under a divine curse and so on.
Exploring Tithing Under the Old Covenant
A lot of churches and christians today have been taught to
believe that the people of Israel only gave 10% of their income regularly to
God but this isn't very correct. According to the bible, there are three kinds
of tithes which were paid by the people of Israel:
1. The Levitical Tithe (Num. 18:20-21, Deut. 14:29)
"Numbers 18:20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt
have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them:
I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. 18:21 And,
behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an
inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the
tabernacle of the congregation. 18:22 Neither must the children of Israel
henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and
die."
Deuteronomy 14:29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with
thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within
thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God
may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
Before I explain this, let me point out that often, people
believe the Levites to be the priest or pastor but this isn't true on the issue
of tithing as the Levites here are members of the tribe of Levi, one of the
tribes in Israel. As seen in the above passage, God gave all the tenth (tithe)
in Israel to the Levites for their dedication in serving the Lord and the
temple of God (tabernacle). They were not given any other land among the tribes
of Israel and so instead of being given land, the other tribes of Israel were
instructed to bring a tithe of what the land produced for the Levites. This
includes everything mentioned in Leviticus 27:30-33. This had nothing to do
with money but only what the land produced.
2. Celebration Tithe (Deut. 14:22-27)
"Deuteronomy 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase
of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. 14:23 And thou shalt
eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name
there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings
of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God
always. 14:24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to
carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall
choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: 14:25
Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and
shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: 14:26 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, 14:27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt
not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
Now there was a sacred obligation in Israel which was a form of
worship unto the LORD. The people were asked to set aside another tithe of all
their crops, grains, olive oil, wine, and the firstborn males of all their
flocks and herds, bring this tithe to a designated place of worship, and then
feast there in the presence of the Lord their God that they may learn to fear
the LORD. This tithe was set aside for a great feast of eating, drinking and
celebrating as a form of worship to God. This is the only time money is
mentioned on the issue of tithe but how? If you read the above passage of the scripture
again, you will see that they are told by God, if they cannot take all the
things mentioned there to the house of God, they should turn it into money and
take it to that designated place of worship or house of God and buy anything
they like and eat, drink and enjoy themselves. This clearly shows that tithe is
not in anyway suppose to be money. But have these pastors ever told us about
this kind of tithe?
Charity Tithe (Deut. 14:28-29)
Deuteronomy 14:28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring
forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within
thy gates: 14:29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with
thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within
thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God
may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
According to the above passage, the people of Israel were to
bring their tithe every third year and it would be used to take care of the Levite,
strangers, orphans and widows. This was another form of tithe to be paid by the
people of Israel. And again, it was not money. But again, have we also been
told about this form of tithe by our pastors?
So considering the above three kinds of tithes and the
principles of tithing them, it is seen that if at all one must to pay tithes,
one must pay all of the above kinds of tithes and in that same manners. And it
is also seen that adding the percentages of the three above, one has to pay
more than 10% and not just 10% as the present day preachers and churches have
said.
Now if you or christians are so concerned about the words
written in the book of Malachi 3:8-10 which are usually used by all preachers
to talk their members into paying tithes and offerings in church and you really
want to escape the curse therein, then you need to begin observing the above
principles of tithing and the kinds of tithes mentioned. Malachi 3:8-10 refers
to the people in the old covenant and not in the new covenant. Christians
living under the new covenant have their own standard of giving, this standard
is different from the old one.
At this point, I would continue with what the exploring the
faith article has to say in continuation of the above issue of tithing that I
have pointed out.
"Some who are reading this right now are thinking of ways
to apply these ideas to the church, but be careful. We can’t change the Law
that God gave to the people of Israel. It is very specific about the nature of
these tithes, what was to be set aside and how it was to be distributed. We
don’t have the right to alter these commands. But are these commands given to
us?
To whom was this law given? To the nation of Israel. Are we part
of the nation of Israel? No, we’re not. We still study the Old Covenant because
it teaches us about God, how he interacted with his people, and how his grand
plan developed in the Old Testament period. But the Old Covenant isn’t our
covenant. We are part of the New Covenant people of God. Christ accomplished
the purpose of the Old Covenant law (Matthew 5:17) and superseded it (Galatians
3:19-25; Hebrews 7-10). We are no longer under the Old Covenant Law of Moses,
but the New Covenant Law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:19-21; Matthew 22:34-40).
In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles affirm the
unchanging moral requirements of God (not worshiping other gods, not murdering,
not committing adultery, etc.). But the legal requirements that were peculiar
to the nation of Israel are now obsolete (keeping the Sabbath, dietary laws,
etc.).
The life of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels is a time of transition, when the
Old Covenant is coming to an end and the people are being prepared for the New
Covenant. The New Covenant isn’t actually established until Jesus’ death on the
cross (Luke 22:20). This is why, though Jesus seems to go out of his way to
flaunt the traditions of the Jewish leaders, he never violates the Old Covenant
law itself during his earthly ministry. We have to understand that his teaching
to the Jewish people is still in an Old Covenant context. If we don’t realize
this, we’ll misinterpret many passages.
This explains why Jesus would give instruction on offering one’s
sacrifice at the Temple altar (Matthew 5:23-24), why he would tell those whom
he had healed of leprosy to go show themselves to the priests (Luke 17:14), and
why he would tell the people to listen to the Pharisees because they ‘sit in
the seat of Moses’ (Matthew 23:1-4). This also sheds light on Jesus’ comment to
the Pharisees that it was good for them to carefully tithe, but that they
should be more focused on the weightier matters of justice and loving God. We
have to remember he was speaking to people still under the Law of Moses.
But beginning with Acts and throughout the letters to the
churches, we don’t find even a hint of tithing as a practice of the New
Testament churches. It seems clear that mandatory tithing was an Old Testament
requirement for the nation of Israel that is not affirmed as a requirement for
the New Testament church. Instead, the principle seems to be, as expressed by
Paul in
2 Corinthians 9:7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And
don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who
gives cheerfully.”
So is Tithing wrong?
There’s nothing at all wrong with setting aside 10% of your
income to give back to God. But it’s simply not biblical for us to teach that
Christians must meet this requirement. Our monetary-based system is very
different from the agrarian society of the Old Testament. Some believers today
are not able to contribute 10%, and many others could be giving much more.
Giving is a scriptural mandate, but it’s between the individual believer and
God how much they should give. If we try to suggest a standard that all
Christians must meet, we’re reestablishing the law for our brothers and
sisters, and this is something we are not to do.
What of the common instruction to give to God first, before
anything else, whether you’re in debt or not? I know many of you have amazing
stories of how you committed to give a certain amount or percentage of your
income to God and how he blessed you by meeting your needs. I’ve also heard
stories from some of you how you honored your commitment to God, took money
that was needed to pay bills and gave it to the church, and suffered serious
consequences when the funds you needed didn’t miraculously appear. We need to
be careful not to base our practices or our urging of others to follow these
practices on anecdotes or even our own experiences, but on the clear teaching
of the Word.
As a general principle, I would suggest that if you’re past due
on money owed to someone else, then this is no longer your money to freely
offer to God. It already legitimately belongs to someone else. Is God honored
if we steal money from our landlord to give to him? Of course, if God has
somehow, clearly directed you to contribute the money anyway, then he will
provide the funds needed to pay your debts.".
I want to take it to an end by saying that: giving must be done
voluntarily and not as a result of any kind of law because we are no longer
under the law. It is absolutely wrong for anyone to say that you are under a
curse or will not make heaven if you do not pay tithe. 2 Corinthians 9:7
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
Giving must be proportionately. We should give according to what
we have and not what we do not have. "Give in proportion to what you have.
Whatever you give is acceptable, if you give it eagerly. And give according to
what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving
should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that
there that, should be some equality. Right now you have plenty and can help
those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when
you need it. In this way, things will be equal " Corinthians 8:11-14.
We must also at times give sacrificially even as God gave His
only begotten Son and this should be done voluntarily not because we are told
to do so by anyone, John 3:16. And also in the following portion, Jesus said
something that portrayed voluntary and sacrificial giving; John 10:17 Therefore
doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to
lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I
received of my Father. This was Jesus giving sacrificially and voluntarily.
I would love to ask at this point, even the tithe that they are
collecting today using the book of Malachi to threatened people, are they using
it for the right purpose as said in the old covenant way of tithing?
Thanks for your time, this is how far I can go on this. May God
bless His people and give understanding to His word. Amen.
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