Tithing

[Jo Smith]

From: joie (Original Message) Sent: 12/3/2001 11:47 PM

Tithing is NOT taught in the N.T. It is the law. It was not taught in the Garden of Eden. It is not in the book of Genesis as a concept; the only time it is mentioned is where Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec, which was a heavenly being.

They were to bring tithes into a 'storehouse' for the purpose of helping the Levites and people who needed help.

The only time 'storehouse' is mentioned in the N.T. is when Jesus said the birds which have neither storehouse nor barn, God feeds. The Church is NOT a storehouse; If it is, it is wrong.

Jesus said we are to be like a RIVER. or a well of water SPRINGING up. A river does not store up anything.

If you will carefully study the Book of Acts; which tells how the N.T. Church opperated, you will not find the word 'tithe' mentioned; for they did not practice giving 10% of anything to God; they gave 100%.

Now, that is the real reason most preachers and church people cling so much to the law way of giving (10%)---for they do NOT want to go by N.T. ways = that of giving it all.

No one (at least, not many) want everything they are, or have, to be on the alter to God!!! No sir!!! They want to cling to the O.T. way of giving only 10%---and keeping back 90% for themselves!!!

But, I tell you, it is not N.T. giving. It is not acceptable to God. We must give our all to God. This does not mean I have to give away everything I own; but it does mean that it should be on the alter; letting God direct my every move. IF God said give it all, then I must do that. It he directs me to give half this month, this might be a test to see if I obey him. I must do that.

If they (N.T. Christians--in the book of Acts) had more than one home or piece of land, they sold it and distributed it to all. They who had houses(plural) or lands (plural) sold them...

WHERE in the N.T. are we told to tithe? Jesus told Pharisees (who were still under the law) that they did this but omitted the weighter matters of the LAW. This ought you to have done, and not leave the other undone. But why did he tell them, This ought you to have done? Because they were STILL under that. We are not.

11Cor. 9:6--But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly: and he which soweth bountifull shall reap also bountifully.
v7---Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of NECESSITY: FOR GOD LOVETH A CHEEFRUL GIVER.

Here we are told that is not of necessity. If we are still under a command to tithe, then it would be of necessity. Nothing in the N.T. is of necessity; we do it out of love. We give whatever we purpose in our heart; it is not a certain amount; it is not a command. That is clearly taught in the N.T.

If you teach O.T. tithing, you are clinging to law and bringing people into bondage which Jesus set them free from. You are trying to set for people a certain amount; and telling them they must do this. But Paul said for each person to decide for themselves how much to give. Very few things in the Word are said this way: for us to decide for ourselves; and you are trying to take this freedom away from people. When did God make you (tithe teachers) overseer of how other Christians give?

You need to study these things out by the Word before you try to teach others.

Jo

[Jo Smith]

From: joie Sent: 1/25/2002 1:44 PM

11Cor. 9:1--For as touching the ministering TO the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

v5--Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

v6--But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly: and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

v7--Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, Nor OF NECESSITY: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

v8--And God is able to make all GRACE abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

v9--(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.



This saying that it is not of NECESSITY shows that this is not a law. It is of the person's own choosing how, when, and how much one gives. If it were of 'law'-- it could not be it is not of necessity. Very little of living for God is left this way; even under Grace.

Also, it said if one gives this way, God is able to make all GRACE abound toward you. Law is not Grace. Tithing is LAW. Law and Grace cannot co-exist. Our giving is of Grace. The tithers' is of Law.

I have personally known churches which actually send out 'dunes' to absent members; requiring them to pay tithes, as if it were a legal debt! This is certainly not one giving 'not of constraint'.

I say any church which operates this way has the mark of the beast.

Jo

[Jo Smith]

From: joie Sent: 1/28/2002 1:46 PM
A lot of things in the Word were there because that is what a person 'vowed' to God. God said to keep your vows.
God did NOT require tithing. It was started by Abraham giving a tithe to Melchisedec. Then, later, Jacob vowed to give a tenth to God.

God expected them to keep these vows; he said it is better not to make a vow, than to make a vow and then break it. God did not demand or command tithes; he accepted this offering made freely from these men.

Now, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob were the FATHERS of the Hebrews. So, the Hebrews followered their words as if they were the words of themselves. They kept up this thing of tithing. So, it became a part of THEIR Law. But, it was not God's law.

But, after John turned the hearts of the FATHERS to the CHILDREN ( the apostles) , then the apostles became the FATHERS of the N.T. Covenant. So, since THEY gave everything = 100% of their goods to God, the N.T. Children, followered THEIR example; not that of tithing of the O.T. Fathers. We are to follow the N.T. Fathers = the apostles. But, neither one is a COMMAND from God. Paul said it is not of CONSTRAINT. We are to give willingly, what we determine in our own heart. It is not law.

The thing which made Ananias and Sapphira's giving to be sin; is not that they did not give all of it; Peter told them it was theirs, they could have done what they wanted to with it; but their sin was that they CLAIMED to be giving it all as the other Christians were doing; but the truth of it is, they only wanted to give a 'tithe' as the O.T. people did; but they wanted it to appear that they had the good heart to give it all.

People today, make this same mistake; = they want to be known as N.T Christians; yet they still want to only give 10% of their goods and time to God. They refuse to give it all. So, they should admit that they are still under the O.T. Covenant = sanctified by the blood of goats; which can never take away sin. They do not want the Holy Ghost Baptism = the N.T. REST ; they want to still do only one day a week thing to God. And I grant you, they do not keep this according to the LAW. They do it according to what pleases themselves.

There was no command to rest on one day of the week before Moses. It was not practiced by those before his time.
Much of their 'doings' were merely tradition from their elders.

Read this:
Isaiah 1:v7---(here God is speaking to the nation of Israel)--- (but, it is really speaking to the O.T.)
Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, STRANGERS devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by STRANGERS.

People, these STRANGERS are the N.T. Christians. This is speaking of the fall of the O.T.; of the N.T. Christians turning the 'world' upside down.

It left the O.T., covenate DESOLATE.

v11- (still speaking to them, calling them, as in Revelation, Sodom)--To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts: and I delight NOT in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

v12--When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
v13--Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and SABBATHS, the calling of ASSEMBLIES, I cannot away with; it is INIQUITY, even the solemn meeting.
v14---Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul HATETH: they are a trouble unto me: I am weary to bear them.

People, this is prophecy for the time AFTER Jesus brought in the N.T. covenant. Please read Isaiah 66--- here you will find this same prophecy retold. It is saying that AFTER the STRANGERS take over, all those things under the O.T. Covenant will be an abomination to God.

He said the keeping of those SABBATHS was INIQUITY.

WHY? Because, now, after the N.T. Strangers, the apostles, turned things upside down, and the Holy Ghost REST OF STAMMERING LIPS AND UNKNOWN TONGUE, came to people, the O.T. sacrafices and Sabbaths of one day a week would be INIQUITY.

I thank God, He brought me into the N.T. REST. This rest is for every day. Paul taught that we should not esteem one day above another. Paul did not rest on any day. Read in Acts---he preached and worked every day.

To go back to those O.T. rituals, after Jesus, is an abomination to God; for it denies the N.T. covenant; which was sanctified by the blood of Jesus. In Hebrews, we are told that all things under the O.T. covenant, were sanctified by the blood of goats. So, to keep the law, to keep the one day a week rest day, is sanctified by the blood of goats. This is what he is referring to when he said they do dispite to the blood of Jesus and count it an unholy thing.

FLEE THIS ABOMINATION TO GOD.

Jo