Revolution Era

This is something I've been pondering for some time now. It's always been a mystery to me (until now) why there are always so many Believers who are struggling to get by financially month after month, year after year. These individuals and families love Jesus Christ, give and give, and are actively doing the work of the Kingdom. Yet it seems like they are living from need to need, and not from abundance.

Further, when we take into consideration passages like Matthew 6 (where we are told that God will give us what we need), and 2 Corinthians 9:10, "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness", it makes the current reality that much more difficult to swallow. The truth is that we need to come to terms with the fact that a vast number of Christians (speaking to those in North America) are living in lack for years on end. Therefore, we also need to embrace the fact that compared to non-Believers, we are no different in this regard. 

Therefore, the question "why?" must be asked. It's foolish not to. And so, as I tend to do with many of the current circumstances in the churches of today, I began to ask questions. And over time, as I cross referenced the Scriptures and used them as a grid for our present reality, I began to find answers. It is these answers that I would like to share with you. My prayer is that you are liberated in your mind, and set free in your thinking in order to be set free from the bondage of lack and poverty. 

Rather than have you read all the way down to the last paragraph to find out what the answer is, I will give it to you right here: The reason why so many Christians today, Believers who love Jesus Christ, give and give and give, and are actively doing the work of the Kingdom are constantly struggling financially, is because the present day understanding of financial giving that many churches (from mega-church to house church) have is an Old-New Testament hybrid. We therefore are unable to fully benefit from the New Testament model of Jesus Christ that we are introduced to through the Gospels and the Epistles. This model of Jesus Christ emphasizes giving to those who lack, not tithing to an organization. Now that you have read the answer, I will proceed to support my statement and establish what I believe to be a solid and Biblical foundation that will give Christians a New Testament system that will lead them out of poverty and into sustainable living. 

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT an article that tells you to stop giving. This is NOT an article that seeks to tell you NOT to give money to your home group, church leaders, or collection plate. This is NOT an article that suggests that leaders should not be supported financially by those they tend to. We must give financially, always. 

Part I: Understanding the Old Model

Tithing. Storehouse. Seed. Sowing. Offering. Sacrifice. These are Old Testament nouns that for many Christians today are associated with giving money. It's become almost a knee-jerk reaction. And therein lies the problem. It's hard to speak about a subject that you already have a strong pre-conceived notion about. If I were to speak to you about the different schools of thought regarding String Theory in the world of advanced physics, most of you wouldn't have any strong emotional pull towards any one of them. But if we talk about an emotionally charged concept like prayer, or worship, or tithing, then we may already have communication breakdown before another word is even uttered or written. However, this is the challenge anyone faces when and if they fly in the opposite direction everyone else seems to be heading in. Well, I'm about to take flight.

Currently, tithing is both taught and practiced in most North American churches. Now understand that I admire and appreciate the hearts of those who understand that it is always better to give than to receive, and that all they want to do is make sure that they are being good stewards of their personal finances. So I want to be clear that I'm not addressing a heart issue. People who tithe or give mean well, and love to do so unto Jesus Christ. I'm all for it.

At the same time, no matter how joyously, selflessly, and faithfully you do something, if you do not have a full understanding of what it is that you are doing, how it is supposed to be done and why, then you will never reach the full potential of your efforts. Therefore, it is imperative that we take time now to explore the Old Testament concept of tithing. I mean REALLY look at it. Only then can we really understand it and see how (and if) it applies today.

What Was Tithing?

Tithing became a mandate for a people group know as Hebrews. It was part of the legal code of their nation, know as the Law of Moses or Torah. It was given to a specific people group, in a specific period in history. Here are some questions you need to ask yourself at this point:

-Am I a Hebrew or Jew?

-Have I been circumcised into the Law of Moses?

-Is the Law of Moses the legal code for my current nation?

-Am I required to keep and obey the Law of Moses today?

With that in mind, let's understand how the "tithe" or "tithing" fit into their Legal Code. Tithing was implemented into the Law in order to provide the Israelites with food for the Feast of Tabernacles (or Ingathering; read Lev 23:40, 43 for details), as per Exodus 23:16 and 34:22. Now the tithe worked on a 3 year rotation - not every person was on the same year (year 1, 2, or 3) in terms of that rotation, which allowed the system to work on an annual basis. The first two years the "tither" or the one who was tithing and their household were required to to eat their tithe in order to observe the Feast in Jerusalem, as per Deuteronomy 12:5-19 and Deuteronomy 14:22-27. If you lived too far from Jerusalem, you could sell your tithe, take the money to Jerusalem, and buy "whatever your heart desires" (Deut 14:26). Note also that a household would often include Levites, widows, orphans, or strangers (see Deut 16:14-15). Essentially, it was forced savings in ensure you had enough food for you and your family to take a week off in order to enjoy a time of celebration in Jerusalem (using temporarily erected tents) in the presence of God! Once again: for two years, the tithe went back to the owner (the tither) and his family. It was a primitive version of what we call vacation pay today.

On the 3rd year, this is what they were to do:

"At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands." Deut. 14:28-29

Also in Deuteronomy 26:12-13 it states:

"When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.  Then say to the LORD your God: 'I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them.'"

God had forbidden the Levites from land ownership or land inheritance, promising them that He Himself would be their inheritance (Num 18:20). So at the end of their harvest, every 3 years, families would give their tithe to the levites, poor, and widows. This was ONCE a year, every THIRD year. Now because one family would be on their 1st year of the rotation, and another on their 3rd year of this rotation, and yet another on their 2nd year, it meant that every year the Levites, widows, orphans, and poor were receiving tithes from different families year after year.

God not only used the 3rd year tithe to provide for the poor, but also this system:

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God." (Lev 19:9-10; Deut 24:19-22).

First Fruits

Here is another offshoot from the tithe that we need to understand. The "first fruits" differed from the tithe, and are not the same thing. The first fruits (Ex 13:2, Deut 15:19-20; 18:34; 12; Lev 23:14, 20; Num 18:3-4, 15; 28:26; 2 Chron 31:5) were to celebrate the beginning of the harvest, and were only given to be eaten by the priests, not the levites (while the animals were eaten by the people). The tithe on the other hand, celebrated the end of the harvest and for 2 years it was kept for the tither and his household to eat in Jerusalem, while on the 3rd year it was given to the needy and the Levites (who were not the same as priests; see Num 18:21 and Neh 10:36-37).

In the New Testament, Jesus is seen as being the "first fruits" metaphorically (1 Cor 15:20, 23; Rom 8:23; James 1:18). Its use in the New Testament is strictly prophetic; a call to those who were once under the Law of Moses, but now set free into the Grace of Jesus Christ, to rejoice and celebrate that the great harvest of mankind had begun with Jesus Christ who was the "first fruit" offered up to God. Paul spoke of those under his oversight in Corinth as being "first fruits" (1 Cor 16:15) too. The "Feast of Tabernacles", or the end of the harvest, can be seen in Revelation 14:14-20.

Abraham

"And he (Abraham) gave him (Melchizedek) a tenth of all," (Gen 14:20).

Abraham is often used as the iconic example of tithing because he did so before the Law of Moses. Of course, these same people often fail to consider that Abraham also offered animal sacrifices and possessed concubines!

In all seriousness, let's consider the following:

1. Abraham tithed ONCE. One time in his whole entire life. If you want to follow his example, then your duty is likely done.

2. We don't know why he tithed, but we do know that Melchizedek was a priest. In the Law of Moses, tithes were NOT given to priests. In the New Covenant however, all Christians are priests (1 Pet 2:9), and a part of Christ who is of the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:6). Logically, this would imply that people should be "tithing" to you and I!

3. What Abraham actually offered was closer to a "first fruits" offering, since he took a tenth and gave it to a priest.

Jacob

"Of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You." (Gen 28:22)

Jacob here promises a ONE TIME offering to God, as part of a negotiation between them (Gen 28:20-21). We don't know where he gave it, how, or when. If you think you can negotiate something with God that is better than the Covenant Agreement Jesus Christ set in place and signed with his own blood, then by all means follow Jacob's example!

Malachi 3

Many a sermon has been preached from Malachi 3:8-12 all over the world. Yet the vast majority of Christians are unaware of the devastating consequences of doing so. How can a doctrine stating that Malachi 3:8-12 (an isolated passage out of a prophetic letter written in a pre-Christ era to a specific nation who were disobeying their specific legal code) still applies today in a time where:

-Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses and all it's requirements (Matt 5:17; Rom 8:3-4; 10:4; Gal 3:23-25; Eph 2:15)

-Israelites themselves are NO LONGER required to observes and keep the Law of Moses (2 Cor 3:17; Gal 5:18; Eph 4:14; 1 Cor 7:23; Col 2:20; 1 Cor. 9:21; Jam 1:15; 2:12, etc, etc.), and Jewish Christians are constantly warned by Paul to NOT subject themselves to the Law again (Gal 2-5; Rom 1-8, etc.)

-Those who come into Jesus Christ and the family of God who are NOT of Jewish descent are FORBIDDEN to subject themselves to the Law of Moses (Gal 2:1-21; 3:1-28; 4:8-31)

-Christ BECAME a curse FOR US (Gal 3:13)

This doctrine (that Malachi 3:8-12 is for today) blatantly ignores major theological and hermeneutical pitfalls. Even worse, to suggest that according to Malachi 3:8-12 God is ready, willing, and able to curse anyone who does not tithe contradicts key aspects of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and creates questions that have no Biblical answers. For example,

1. At what point does God require the Tithe from you - when you become a Christian? When you become a Jew? When you start earning income? When you turn 18? When You learn about the concept of Tithing? When you become a "member" of a church?

2. Who then comes under a curse? Hermeneutically, we know for certain that God was speaking to the nation of Israel between 515 and 445 BC. But if today it is taught that God is still cursing those who do not tithe, then we need to know who. Is the world cursed because it does not tithe? Is a Christian cursed even though this letter was not addressed to him or her? Are Jews still cursed if they don't tithe?

3. If Christ became a curse for us (Gal 3:13), and bore ALL of our sins, both past, present, and future (read the New Testament, it's everywhere), then how does God not violate His own covenant that was made with Jesus Christ and us who Believe (1 Cor 11:25) by cursing us again? If we come under a curse AFTER the fact that Jesus Christ already became a curse and took on our sins then it is no longer the death and and the resurrection of Jesus Christ that is at work in setting us free from curses but OUR OWN WORKS. We are redeeming ourselves from a curse, not Jesus. Galatians 3:10-11 is clear:

"For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.' Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because 'the righteous will live by faith.'"

We are better off NOT trying to obey Malachi 3! For if we subject ourselves to the Law of Moses (Malachi 3 is calling Jews to obey the Law again) then we must obey it fully, or else we are cursed.

Deuteronomy 26:12-15 needs to be read in order to understand what God is saying through His prophet Malachi. It states that in the 3rd year, the only year they were to give, they would make a public declaration that they had set aside the "sacred portion", and would call on God to look down upon them from heaven and bless them as a nation and their ground. Here in Malachi's time, in a post-exilic Israel morality and faith in God was at an all time low. Though they had rebuilt Jerusalem and the Temple of Solomon from the ruins, their commitment to God was being called into question.

Malachi specifically addresses many issues, not just tithing. Therefore, how then can we fail to apply the rest of the book of Malachi to ourselves as well? Were does it say in the Tanak (Law, Prophets, Writings) that we are allowed to pick and choose which portions to apply and which ones to not apply? In fact, the exact opposite is found in Scripture:

"Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do EVERYTHING written in the Book of the Law.” (Deut 27:26)

To subject yourself to the mandate in Malachi, which is the mandate of the Law of Moses, is to automatically place yourself under a curse. In other words, you are cursed for trying to obey the Law of Moses, because it is impossible to keep the entire Law of Moses. As Paul writes,

"Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." Gal 5:2-4

Now, some may be more concerned about the blessing in Malachi 3:10 than they are about being cursed.

"'And try Me now in this,' Says the LORD of hosts, 'If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.'"

This is again a failure to understand the change that took place after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (for more on the transition from Old to New Covenant, read here: http://revolutionera.com/2010/10/simple-version-old-to-new-covenant.html). We no longer live under "closed heavens", and we don't need to ask God to open them. They were opened permanently by Jesus Christ (Mat 3:16; Eph 2:8, Rom 5:2; Heb 4:16; Rev 4:1). And because of Jesus Christ's finished work God is able to bless people UNCONDITIONALLY as a manifestation of His UNCONDITIONAL love. Malachi 3:8-12 is not unconditional blessing - it is VERY conditional. This is because it was based on performance (the Law of Moses). Now, under Grace, love comes to everyone without condition. All we need to do is accept it:

"[God] makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Mat 5:45

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Mat 7:11

Where is the condition of Malachi 3:8-12 here? Did Jesus forget to warn people about the pending curse of God that would come to them if they didn't tithe? And why would he suggest that all people need to do now is simply "ask Him" for good gifts? They must earn it, don't they? No, they don't!

"Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Mat 6:30-33

God is no longer asking people to test Him like He did in Malachi 3:10. At that time He was asking them to test to see that God would indeed honor his agreement which He swore to do with Moses in their written covenant. God always honors His end of a deal. He was calling them to honor theirs according to the covenant as well.

YOU AND I ARE NOT UNDER THAT SAME COVENANT AGREEMENT. Jesus Christ established a NEW covenant with mankind:

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'" Mat 26:26-28

As the writer of Hebrews says,

"But now He [Jesus] has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt..." Heb 8:6-9

And,

"In that He says, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first [the Law of Moses] obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." Heb 8:13

The apostle Paul also made it clear that no one, Jew or Gentile, is ever to go back to the Law of Moses.

"Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed... And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, 'If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.'" Gal 2:11-16

Final Thoughts Regarding the Old Covenant 

Our reality is that most Christians today tithe because it's the only way they know how to give. They honestly feel the Spirit of God compel them to practice generosity, and tithing is presented to them as the main outlet for that desire. I say this because I don't believe Christians are trying to subject themselves to the Law of Moses again (save for a handful of crazies out there) in the sense that they are willing to forsake their covenant with Jesus Christ and embrace the Old Covenant of Moses.

But to suggest that if one does not tithe today then they are subject to a curse is a pure contradiction to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our covenant is with Jesus Christ, who became a curse for us. If God makes it rain on the righteous and the unrighteous - an ancient near-eastern symbol for blessings - then surely he will bless us who are the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). And according to the Torah (Law of Moses), we are not allowed to pick and choose which Laws to obey. So if we are to tithe, we are also to obey all 613 commandments. And according to Paul, we are not to try to place ourselves under the Torah at all. In other words, we need to drop the tithing doctrine all together and find out what Jesus Christ has called us to with regards to giving in His covenant with us.

A final note. Few people had the privilege of having the access to the Tanak (Old Testament) in Paul's day. And the New Testament was still being written. Therefore, if the "robbing God" argument was as big a deal to Paul as it is to some today, then why did he not once, in any letter, address this issue? Would Paul (a PhD in the Torah) have knowingly allowed all those under his care and oversight to become subjects to the curse of Malachi 3? Would he not have at least made mention of the tithe, reminding them of the pending curse that would come over them should they falter? The argument just doesn't hold any water no matter how you test it.

This is the end of Part I.

To continue reading, proceed to part II here.