Stop Tithing!

Oh boy, here we go. I just completed a lesson series on tithing and how we should be giving today in the age of grace. I don’t recall much teaching on tithing growing up in church since I was about 6 years old. Seams to me that some preachers don’t talk about it at all and some harp on it too much. Then there is the Bible position which is to stop tithing! If you are worried about giving 10 percent of your income each pay period, you have been led astray or worse. Anyone telling you that the body of Christ today is required to give 10 percent of their income is just not telling you the truth. By the way Israel did not give just 10 percent. Tithing properly studied will reveal that Israel gave MUCH more than 10%. There were MANY requirements regarding money and income that Israel had to do. Everything from the Year of Jubilee to not harvesting the corners of their fields to paying an extra fifth of their tithe if they had to convert it to cash. I could easily argue using scripture that Israel gave closer to 30% of their income and this was required. Of-course preachers today know there not going to get this much from anyone, so they tell you stories about the “storehouse tithe” and not “robbing God”. Tithing is Israel’s program to care for the Levites because they did not get a land inheritance. Tithing in Israel’s program was for the poor. So basically, some of the tithing requirements were for Israel’s welfare program. There are NO priests today in the body of Christ and although most of us have given money to help others at different points in our life, this is NOT a tithe and NOT required today as something the “church” does. If you are being taught that you are to tithe a tenth of your income, you should study the subject yourself rightly dividing your Bible. People today think building a church is about beautiful auditoriums with state of the art sound systems, lighting, and movie screens so you don’t have to hold a hymnal. We need reminded today that we are not building buildings, we are to be building the body of Christ. Success is not measured in the size of the building or even the number of your church membership. Success is measured in the doctrine being taught from the pulpit. I understand a building is a great thing to have, but if you are told everyone must tithe to get one, then you have doctrinal problems and need to find a church that teaches right doctrine. Today we are to give. Paul teaches we are all to give. Paul teaches that we give from the heart as we have purposed in our heart. So, as with almost everything in scripture, it boils down to a heart issue. Tithing is a LAW requirement that we are not under today. No, we don’t give because Abram gave 10% of the spoils of a battle. Abram was in a covenant relationship with God, and we are not. We give because we have a heart to give. The amount we give is based on that relationship we have with Christ. The love of Christ constrains us. If the car breaks down during the week, God understands. If your child needs medicine God understands. If you’re struggling to make the car payment on that 2022 Corvette, well….. If you are being told to give a tithe and even being told its on the gross and not the net of your income as I have heard, you need to learn about the liberty we have in Christ. Yes, we should give, but NO we DO NOT tithe. Giving is from the heart as you purposed in your heart, tithing is a LAW that then requires you keep the WHOLE LAW. Paul called the Galatians foolish to put themselves back under the law. Why then would you do this?