This book started out as a 117-page power point study. The research for this book became a historical and biblical analysis of modern so-called monetary tithe verses the authentic and approved biblical agricultural and livestock tithe. Journey through the power point presentation and then read more exhaustive 400 page book analysis of tithing system and how it got commuted to cold hard cash. The truth is shocking and will inform you of the truth that was hidden in plain sight.
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Every since I published my book, Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing Anyway some people question that I wrote the book to so discord among believers and to create financial havoc in churches. I can say for sure that is not the intention at all. In fact, it was my desire for truth that drove me to study and seek information about tithing money to the institutional church. That fact that monetary tithing has been around for centuries, it is clear from my studies that the practice has never been accepted 100 percent by academic scholars, theologains and bibical experts. There has never been a consensus about the way tithing is taught accept for those who have a monetary vested interest in maintaining the currect system that is contextually inaccuate with the scripture both hermanutically and exegetically.
In this post, I felt that it was necessary to share what many authors wrote about tithing by providing excerpts from their books that address what they have discovered about tithing. If you read this entire post, you will see that my book, Kleptomaniac: Who’ Really Robbing God Anyway is not as far fetched as some suppose. The reality is, pastors don’t want to deal with the truth on this subject because they have sunk their entire financial future into a doctrine to ensure a certain lifestyle remains intact. And whatever means to ensure that system never gets disrupted, methods are employed to dispense of anyone who threatens the modern monetary tithe system. Anyone who tries to follow the money will be dealt with Al Capone style.
After reading the various authors, you must make the decision about whether or not tithing money or food is described in the Bible. Now some may say I’m biased because I posted only authors who are against tithing. That may be true, but there are many books, sermons, and pastors who have supported tithing for years and so it is clear in church academia what they believe, but many who disagree with tithing have been gagged by excommunication and have been ridiculed as quacks or demons. The way to misdirect the religious masses is to create a counter-arugment that discredits the person who disagrees with the popular doctrine. Whe I finally came forward with my decision to resign from tithing, it was not received by my church leadership. Then I was immediately considered a financial threat to the church.
Daniel White is Reading Kleptomaniac
The first author, Michael Burman makes it clear what tithing is in Iron Sharpens Iron on page 18-19.
What Did Israel Tithe On?
Note carefully the following passage of Scripture: “And all the tithe of the land, whether the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S. It is holy to the LORD” (Leviticus 27:30).
A tithe of the land refers to a tenth of the agricultural produce reaped by ancient Israel as a blessing for their obedience to GOD. The Bible never mentions tithing on anything other than the produce of the land.
The following scriptures clearly support this biblical fact:
“Moreover He commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the fruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the LORD their GOD they laid up in heaps” (2 Chronicles 31:4–6).
“And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of the trees, year by year, to the house of the LORD; to bring the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks, to the house of our [GOD], to the priests who minister in the house of our [GOD]; to bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our [GOD]; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities” (Nehemiah 10:35–37).
The second author Greame Carle’ makes it clear the misinterpretation tithing in Eating Sacred Cows on page 30 and 33.
Those who want christians to tithe becasue Jesus encouraged the Pharisees to do so, do they also want Christans to offer animal sacrifices because Jesus commanded the leper to do so? If not, why not? This offering of lambs and birds by cleansed lepers is certainly not now necessary, but equally certainly was until Jesus died on the cross, He said, “Whever…annuls one of the least of these commandmants (of the Law) , and so teaches other, shall be called least in the Kingdom…” because and the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, Until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18-19) So these passages , although they are recorded in what we call the New Testament, are not yet teaching the New Covenant but rather are more carefully explaining the demands of the Old Coveant. I have heard Dr. Derek Prince state that he is afaid not to tithe because he didn’t want to receive the curse. He may have since changed his position on this without my hearing about it, but his his word then illustrated this well; a wonderful Christian teacher thinking that non-tithing will bring a curse. Christians are not blessed or cursed on the bases of tithing or not? On the contrary, placing ourselves under the law, even the law of tithing, will bring us under a curse. Gal 3:20.
The reality is the tithe in Matthew is for those boud to the demands of the ordinances of the Law and so believers are not bound to the tithe law under grace.
The third author Michael Morrison makes it clear that tithing is not required in Sabbath, Circumcision and Tithing on page 162.
The only other New Testament mention of tithing is in Hebrews. The fact that Abraham was blessed by and paid tithes to Melchizedek illustrates the superiority of Melchizedek and Jesus Christ over the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:1-10). The passage then goes on to note that “when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law” (verse 12). There was a change of the priesthood from the Levites to Jesus Christ, and this implies a change in the law that assigned the Levites to be priests. How much has been changed? Hebrews says that the old covenant is obsolete. The package of laws that commanded tithes to be given to the Levites is obsolete.
The forth author Russell Earl Kelly, Ph.D. makes it clear the Biblical difinition of tithing in Should The Church Teach Tithing on pages 11-12.
Anchor Bible Dictionary, ‘tithe,’ C. Early Judaism and Christianity, says, “Whereas in the OT tithes apply to specific agricultural products, rabbinic and patristic exegesis tends to include all agricultural products, and eventually [much later] all forms of income as subject to the tithe.”
Alfred Edersheim: “And it is remarkable, that the Law seems to regard Israel as intended to be only an agricultural people—no contribution being provided for from trade or merchandise.”8
Fausset’s Bible Dictionary: “The tithe of all produce as also of flocks and cattle belonged to Jehovah.”Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: “The law of Moses prescribed tithing in some detail. Leviticus 27:30-32 stated that the tithe of the land would include the seed of the land and the fruit of the tree. In addition the Hebrew people were required to set apart every tenth animal of their herds and flocks to the Lord…. Nowhere does the New Covenant expressly command Christians to tithe …”
The New Catholic Encyclopedia: “In the Deuteronomic Code the tithe is limited to grain, wine, and oil (Deut. 12:6, 11, 17; 14:22). These texts more or less equate the tithe with other ritual offerings and sacrifices.”
The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary: “The tenth of all produce, flocks, and cattle was declared to be sacred to Jehovah by way, so to speak, of rent to Him who was, strictly speaking, the Owner of the land, and in return for the produce of the ground…. Although the law did not specify the various fruits of the field and of the trees that were to be tithed, the Mishnah (Maaseroth 1.1) includes ‘everything eatable, everything that was stored up or that grew out of the earth….’”
What concerns us here is whether or not tithing ordinances established for the theocratic government of Israel are applicable to Christians today.
Having been led out of captivity by God under the leadership of Moses, the ever-rebellious Israelites were forced to endure forty years of wilderness wanderings before being allowed to begin to take possession of the land promised to their forefathers. It was during this period that the Mosaic Law was established, including the tithing ordinances that would apply upon possession of the land. It is important to note that while ordinances concerning the many types of sacrifices and offerings applied during the years in the wilderness, tithing was not applicable until the tribes had come into their inheritance.
Now is the time to discover what tithing meant to the nation of Israel, and why what is erroneously called tithing today does not resemble it in any manner, shape or form. Tithes were strictly in the form of produce from the field and animals from the flocks and herds. They were not in the form of currency, although tithes of produce could be redeemed for money by adding a fifth of the value to them (Lev. 27:30-34). Some modern day tithing advocates argue that money was not available during these times, but nothing can be further from the truth. Metal, not necessarily or always in the form of coin, was readily available throughout the region, and used on a regular basis for many transactions as described in historical texts and from the Bible itself, including offerings, redemption money and various taxes.
Only producers of agricultural products were required to tithe, naturally, since the tithes were gathered from these resources. A large landowner would tithe, but his hired servants did not. The poor were exempt from tithing. Craftsmen and those of other occupations did not tithe, since they did not produce agricultural products. This fact alone is a heavy blow to proponents of tithing today, since it makes it clear that Jesus and his father Joseph, being carpenters, did not tithe.
The sixth author Leonard C. Bupanda makes it clear that grace is not associated with tithing in The Tithe Deliemma Triumphs of Love in ibooks on pages 63-64.
“As a matter of fact, the Bible has clearly revealed that the Father, just like the Son, has not been associated with the tithe. Even where other commandments are referred to or revisited in Matthew Chapter Five, the tithe is left out. My critical conclusion is that the tithe is not linked to the work of faith for the simple reason that it belonged to the era of Levitical ordinances, of which it was part. Therefore, it does not fit in the environment of absolute love and grace of God our Father.”
Excerpt From: Leonard Bupanda. “The Tithing Dilemma And The Triumphs Of Love.” iBooks. https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-tithing-dilemma-and-the-triumphs-of-love/id481637695?mt=11
The seventh author Edgar J. Goodspeed (1871- 1962) makes it clear that Paul worked for living and never depended on tithes from congreations in Paul on ibooks, pages 88-89.
After this very Jewish doctrinal correction of the Thessalonian view, Paul proceeds to deal with the practical side of the situation. The church is no place for idlers. His own well-known practice of supporting himself by working at his trade shows what he believes on that subject. The idlers are to return to work, and cease to be dependent on their brethren. He has already told the Thessalonians that a man who will not work must have nothing to eat. But now he goes farther. Anyone who still persists in idleness and dependence on others is to be dropped from the society of Christian people, until he learns to bear his part in the common work of life. Read II Thess. 3:6-15. Excerpt From: Goodspeed, Edgar J. (Edgar Johnson), 1871-1962. “Paul.” iBooks.
In this excerpt is clear Pual never endorsed tithing but preferred to work and not depend on believers for charity or to make the congregation his financial supplier.
The eighth author unknown makes it clear that tithing was eatible and not food in New Testament Truth On Old Testament Tithing on pages 17-18.
These passages of scripture teach the following truths concerning the tithe:
A general tithe was to be paid on all Israel’s agricultural and livestock production to the Levites by landowners. Non-agricultural products weren‘t tithed. (Leviticus 27:30-32; Numbers 18:21; Deuteronomy 26: 1-10; Nehemiah 10:37; Hebrews 7:4-5)
- Each year 10%(tithe) of all Israel’s agricultural and livestock production was to be taken to the location chosen by the Lord for his sanctuary. They would eat from it before the Lord at the national festival. (Deuteronomy 12:5-7, 14:22-23)
- If the location of the sanctuary was too far for a person to travel to, or they were unable to transport the tithe, they could exchange their tithe for money. With the money gained from this exchange, at the sanctuary they could buy whatever their soul desired to eat before the Lord at the national festival. (Deuteronomy 14:24-26)
- The Levites were to take the tithe from the Israelites. They received what was left from the tithe after the Israelites ate their portion at the national festival. (Numbers 18:21-32)
- The Levites were to take a “tithe of the tithe” (10%ofthe10%) received from the Israelites and give it to the priest. The priest was to offer itas a heave offering to the Lord. (Numbers 18:8, 26-32; Nehemiah 10:37-39)
- Every third year was the year of tithing.The tithe was reserved at home this ear instead of being taken to the temple. The tithe from the produce of that year was to be gathered and stored in the cities for distribution to the Levites and the needy in the city: strangers, orphans and widows. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29, 26:12; Nehemiah 13:10-13)
The ninth author Thabani Maphosa makes it clear that tithing ended in The Malachi Bomb.
The reason why Christians do not pay temple tax is because the system which the temple tax served, namely the system of sacrifices in the temple, was brought to an end at the death of Jesus. It is for the same reason that Christians no longer need to tithe. Tithes were necessary for the earthly system of sacrifices to function. The levitical system of sacrifices, along with the earthly temple, temple taxes and tithes came to an abrupt end at the cross (Matt 27: 51; Heb 10: 19, 20). Money for the temple was given as freewill offerings and taken from a self-imposed annual fee of a third of a shekel. Money for the temple was not taken from tithes because tithes were food for the Levites. “Also we made ordinances for ourselves, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;” Neh 10: 32 Maphosa, Thabani. Defusing The Malachi Bomb: The Old Covenant Tithe Versus New Covenant Giving (Kindle Locations 2753-2756). Kindle Edition. Maphosa, Thabani. Defusing The Malachi Bomb: The Old Covenant Tithe Versus New Covenant Giving (Kindle Locations 745-749). Kindle Edition.
The tenth author Bryon Shorter makes it clear what New Testmant giving is in Unmasking Traditional Untruths About Tithing. Is it a Mandate or Model?
Now verse seven is revealing, for Paul said, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart.” He did not say, “Let each one give a tithe as God has commanded.” No, he said, “let each one give as he purposes in his heart.” The words “he purposes” is translated from the Greek word “proaireo” which means, “to choose before, or to resolve before, that is, in one’s heart.” The text also says, “Not grudgingly,” literally, “not of grief.” The Greek word is “Lupe” which means, “a state of unhappiness marked by regret as a result of what has been done.” Thus, we should not give and regret and grieve about it afterwards. Next Paul says “nor of necessity.” This word is amazingly supportive of “Grace Giving,” translated from the Greek word “anagke” which means “an obligation of a compelling nature, complete obligation, or necessary obligation.” Therefore, Christian giving should not stem from some compelling obligation [to tithe], but from a cheerful heart. Hence, the text says “for God loves a cheerful giver” [not a cheeful tither]. This word “cheerful” is derived from the Greek word “hilaros” meaning “a happy, glad, or cheerful state of mind.”79 Happy Giving!
Unmasking Traditional Untruths about Tithing by Byron J. Shorter (Kindle Locations 1281-1293). Unknown. Kindle Edition.
The eleventh author The Anonymous Preacher makes it clear the difference between tithing and money in No, You DON’T Have To Tithe: Undeniable Biblical Proof That You Do NOT Have To Give 10% of Your Money To Your Church
I’m going to make a statement that, although it may surprise you, is absolutely true: Everyone in the Bible from at least Abraham onward had money, but no one in the Bible tithed on their money. How can we be required to do something that no one in the Bible did? I could end this book right here…but I won’t, since it will be helpful for you to learn more detail on this subject. Here is another statement that may surprise you: Nowhere in the Bible does God command anyone to give Him 10 percent of their money. You will not find a single place in the Bible where God commanded anyone (much less all His people) to give Him 10 percent of their finances. Friends, the modern teaching on the “tithe” (that says every Christian must give 10 percent of their money to the church) is a lie. No one in the Bible did what modern tithe preachers tell people they are required to do.
Now let’s apply that to the most popularly preached “tithing” verse, Malachi 3:10. In this verse, God was rebuking the Israelites for neglecting to do something He had told them to do in the Old Testament Law of Moses. What command of God in the Law of Moses had the Israelites neglected? They had neglected to “bring the tithe”. The key here is to understand what “bring the tithe” means according to the Bible. Who was supposed to “bring the tithe”? Was it every Israelite? (Sneak preview: The answer is no.) And for those who were supposed to bring the tithe, what were they supposed to bring? Was it money? (Sneak preview: The answer is no. And yes, the Bible makes it clear the Israelites did have money – but God didn’t ask for it.)
Again, nowhere in the entire Bible will you find God asking anyone to bring 10 percent of their money to Him or to the church. With Malachi 3:10, many preachers are just making a common mistake that many people make when interpreting the Bible, which is reading one verse and taking it completely out of context, making it mean whatever you want it to mean without defining the terms Biblically. So what does the word “tithe” mean in Malachi 3:10 – according to the Bible? The short answer is this: As part of the Law of Moses system in the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelite farmers and ranchers to bring the tenth portion of their crops and livestock to where the Levites lived. So the word “tithe” does mean “10 percent”, but it does not mean “10 percent of every paycheck every modern Christian receives”. It means “the 10th portion of every ancient Israelite farmer or rancher’s crops and livestock”. By the way, under the Law of Moses system, if you only had nine sheep, you didn’t tithe. The tithe was the tenth portion of the livestock, not the first. It’s amazing how many misconceptions have come into this “tithing” doctrine that has been invented by men. The key thing to understand here is that the tithe had nothing to do with money. God’s people back then had money, but God didn’t ask for it.
We know they had money back then because in Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17 God put a little provision in His “crops/livestock tithe instructions” that mentioned money. The provision was this: If a farmer or rancher lived very far away from where the Levites were, instead of dragging the 10th part of his crops or livestock all that distance, he was allowed to sell his crops or livestock for money, and then take the money to where the Levites were. Other verses in the Bible talk about the money the Israelites had, such as Deuteronomy 23:19 where God commanded them not to charge a fellow Israelite interest on money: “You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest.” So because of these Bible passages, we know they had money. But they didn’t tithe money. These passages also tell us something very important: the Israelites did not consider food/crops/livestock to be their version of money. I know this is a simple concept, but the reason I mention it is that tithing preachers will often act as if when the Israelites tithed their crops and livestock, they were tithing their version of money. This is simply not true. Food was not their version of money. Crops and livestock were not their version of money. They had money, just like you and I have money. But they didn’t tithe it.
No, You DON’T Have To Tithe: Undeniable Biblical Proof That You Do NOT Have To Give 10% of Your Money To Your Church (Kindle Locations 126-137, 114-126, 108-114, 91-101).
The twelveth author E.B Reynolds gives an undisputed Jewish argument that tithing is not money in Tithing and Christianity.
There are many different opinions about the tithe. Some churches expect their members to pay one tithe, while others teach two and three tithes. Some want the tithe before taxes others after taxes. How many and when tithes are to be paid is not really the objective here. Rather it is to see if the tithe is or has ever been mandatory to the Christians. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 3:1-2 that the Jews have advantage over us because unto them were committed the oracles of God. That being the case the writings of the one Jewish sage who has been called by many “the second Moses” has been consulted. Moses Ben Maimon is considered by many to be the greatest Jewish thinker, Talmudist and codifier of the Law (Mishneh Torah) during the Middle Ages. In 1180 Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon, better known as Maimonides and also as Rambam, finished the Mishneh Torah which took him about 10 years to write. Maimonides was born in Cordova, Spain in the year 1135. After the death of his father and of his brother David, he dedicated himself to the practice of medicine to support himself and the family of his brother as he believed that it was incorrect to make a living teaching Torah. The Mishneh Torah is divided into different chapters. Under the title “Matnot Aniyiim”13 (Law about giving to the poor) there are 10 chapters and each one has several rules called “halacha”. Chapter six, for example, has 17 rules or divisions. Halacha one explains that the product from the land that is given to the poor is called the tithe of the poor. In Halacha two Maimonides explains that after the offering of the first fruits is given to the priests, which consist of the first of the grain, wine and oil (Deuteronomy 18:4), the owner of the field separates one tenth of the remainder. This constitutes the first tithe and is given to the Levites. From the remainder (Halacha three) he separates another tenth which is called the second tithe. This belongs to the owners of the fields and is to be eaten in Jerusalem. This second tithe (Halacha four) is separated in the first, second, fourth and fifth years, but in the third and sixth year (after the first tithe has been separated) it was given to the Levite, the widow and the orphan. This is the tithe that was kept within the cities, as was mentioned before and was known as the tithe of the poor or the tithe of the third year (Deuteronomy 14:27-29). The Levite in turn had to separate a tenth of the tithe he received and give it to the Priests. Under the title Terumot (offerings) chapter one, Halacha one, we read that the obligation to set apart the terumot and the tithes applies only in Eretz Israel, (the Land of Israel). Halacha 11 is very reveling. In it we read that the produce grown in Eretz Israel, belonging to a Gentile who was involved in all the work, was exempt. The reasoning behind this is found in Deuteronomy 18:4 which clearly states your grain meaning, of course, the grain of a Jew, not of a Gentile. If a Jew is working for a Gentile in Syria, for example, he does not have to tithe because he does not own the land (Halacha 17).
E. B. Reynolds. Tithing and Christianity (Kindle Locations 209-213, 196-209, 189-196). EB Reynolds. Kindle Edition.
The thirteenth author John Lilly gives analysis of why tithing in not money in Why You Don’t Have To Tithe: Undeniable Biblical Proof That Tithing Is Not An “Eternal Principle” and You Are Not Required To Do It.
The Pharisees Tithed Spices, Not Money
The only time Jesus referred to tithing was when He was rebuking the Pharisees because they tithed on their little garden spices but didn’t really help anybody out in life. Jesus said in Matthew 23:23, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” Notice, what were they tithing on? Agricultural products. “Mint and dill and cumin”. Not money. We know the Pharisees had money, because the Bible says they were lovers of money! But yet they didn’t tithe on their money! They tithed on their garden spices! Why? Because the tithe commands of the Law of Moses had nothing to do with money. Why were the Pharisees tithing their spices? Because tithing of agricultural products by those who grew them was a “provision of the law” – it was commanded in the Law of Moses. See, the Pharisees tried to appear religious outwardly by keeping details of the Law of Moses, and in this case they were being nitpicky about it to the point where they brought a tithe of the spices they grew in their backyard in order to obey God’s tithing law for farmers and ranchers in the Law of Moses. Jesus told them, “This you should do” (because they were supposed to be spiritual leaders and examples to the people in obeying the Law of Moses), but then rebuked them for neglecting the weightier matters of the law (like actually loving and helping people). Now, I’ve heard preachers say that Jesus’ statement, “This you should do” (in reference to the Pharisees tithing from their little spice gardens), proves that Jesus wants us all to give 10 percent of our every paycheck in the offering plate. The problem is, the Pharisees didn’t give 10 percent of their money in the offering plate. They brought 10 percent of their spices. Their money was sitting in their house under the bed.
Modern preachers use those phrases figuratively, trying to turn God’s reference to literal food in the Law of Moses into “spiritual food”, etc. That seems a natural thing to do – especially to us today who have repeatedly heard erroneous preaching on the subject. But the problem is, God did not speak through the prophet Malachi figuratively. There is absolutely no indication anywhere in Scripture that when God used the words “tithe”, “food”, and “storehouse” in Malachi 3:10, that He suddenly and magically changed the definition of these words from literal food to “figurative or spiritual food”. There is no evidence in Scripture that God suddenly changed the meaning of the words “tithe”, “food”, and “storehouse” in Malachi 3:10 from a literal meaning to a figurative meaning. In fact, in verse 7 God directly referred to His specific “ordinances” (commands) in the Law of Moses, which all had to do with tithing literal agricultural products, literal food and literal storehouses for the food. So the immediate context of Malachi 3:10 forces to conclude that when God used the words “tithe”, “food”, and “storehouse” in Malachi 3:10 in talking to the Israelites, He meant the exact same thing He had meant every other time He used it in the Bible when talking to them – “farmers and ranchers (not every Israelite) living under the Mosaic law, tithing the 10th part of their agricultural products according to certain specific instructions that sometimes did not include giving it to the Levites.
Lilley, John. Why You Don’t Have To Tithe: Undeniable Biblical Proof That Tithing Is Not An “Eternal Principle” and You Are Not Required To Do It (Kindle Locations 239-250 and 257-274). Panta Press. Kindle Edition.
The fourteenth author John Kelly seattles the argument that tithing was not paid on income but on eatible items in The Other Law of Moses.
The Levites did not pay a tithe. As I opined earlier in the chapter, the Levites had town occupations, supplying the agricultural economy with valuable finished goods and services. They were paid for these goods and services. Yet there is never a mention, or even an inference that a tenth of these things or of their remuneration were to be given over to God. The Scripture states that the Levites’ tithe exemption derived from the fact that they received no inheritance in land, not because they were without income (Num. 18:20-32). Income was not inherited from God; income came from the work done by the individual. That work belonged to the individual. The land belonged to God and the tithe came from the land. If a non-Levite family was engaged in an additional commercial endeavor, say a grandmother hired out as a seamstress, or children picked the weeds out of a neighbor’s fields for a small wage, a tithe was not demanded in Scripture from these additional family earnings. If Papa is a superior wood carver and contracts with others to make carvings for pay, none of the pay is tithed. The tithe was strictly a contract between the landowner, God, and the lessee, the possessor family, for the use of the land.
Kelly, John. The Other Law of Moses (Kindle Locations 615-625). John L. Kelly. Kindle Edition.
The fithteenth author Mash Udenula surmises what tithes or first fruits could never be money in The Modern Teachings On Tithes,Offerings and First Fruits.
I have not exhaustively quoted every word Moses uttered concerning tithes, first fruits and offerings, but having had read exhaustively, this is what I conclude from the scriptures: 1. There were various types of offerings (The grain offering, peace offering, sin offering, trespass offering, offering with restitution), but all offerings were presented to God by burning a portion as a sweet smelling aroma to God. In this sense, the offerings were indeed, literally, offered to God. What I am implying here is that, the modern offering and tithing are questionable as to whether the giver gives to God, to man or an institution. 2. Though money was in existence during the introduction of the Mosaic laws relating to offerings, tithes and first fruits, God specifically identified what was to be offered. It was animals and farm produce. Tithe was not in the form of money. 3. Tithe related to a tenth of all farm produce and animals, and it did not matter the state of the tenth-whether bad or good. It just had to be the tenth as per God’s instructions. 4. All the males that were born first of men and animals were dedicated to God. The cows, sheep and goats were actually sacrificed to God (a portion was burnt before God), while man’s first born male was to be redeemed and replaced with an animal. Of course this is one principle you can never apply today owing to the fact that money has no gender! 5. The first fruits only related to a very insignificant portion of the first harvest from the ground. This portion could not even be 1% of your usual entire harvest. Try to ascertain what percentage of a one hectors’ crop production a basket full harvest will be, and you will agree with me! A sheaf of wheat cannot even produce a loaf of bread, by the way! 6. I could have gotten it wrong, but the times I have heard first fruits being taught, I get the impression that first fruits and first born, are in principle, the same thing. The scriptures however, make a clear distinction of what these two represented. They are totally two different things with two different underlining principles. 7. By nature of what tithes and first fruits were, It would be practically impossible for someone who did not own a farm or animals to give tithes and first fruits. Meaning an individual who worked for someone and earned wages (whether in money terms or in kind) but did not own his own production could not tithe or offer first fruits.
Udenula, Mash. The Modern Teachings On Tithes,Offerings and First Fruits (Kindle Locations 1065-1105). Kindle Edition.
The sixteenth author Cynthia McClaskey seattles the argument that tithes were food items brought to the temple not money in The Truth About Tithing.
The Israelites did not just take their tithes and offerings to the temple and “drop them off”. THEY and their HOUSEHOLDS partook in all that they brought, as well as the portion of their offerings “reserved from the fire” for the Levites, as God commanded. The only offerings they did not partake in were the redemption monies and things devoted. These belonged to the priest performing the ritual. The tithe, in reality, was a yearly celebration at the Temple. Jews traveled from all over the known world to partake in this huge celebration. As you will see from the following verses of scripture, those who had to travel great distances were allowed to sell their crops for money and then buy whatever they wanted when they arrived in the city where the celebration was being held. Also notice that alcohol was allowed to be consumed before the Lord during this celebration. If drinking alcohol is a sin, as some churches teach, then why does GOD allow consumption of wine and strong alcohol in the Temple during this celebration? Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the TITHE of thy CORN, or of the WINE, or of thy OIL, or the firstlings of thy HERDS or of thy FLOCK, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thy hand: But thou MUST eat them (tithes and offerings) before the LORD thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, THOU, and THY SON, and THY DAUGHTER, and THY MANSERVANT, and THY MAIDSERVANT, and the LEVITE that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto (Deuteronomy 12:17-18). Thou shalt truly TITHE all the increase of thy SEED, that the FIELD bringeth forth year by year. And THOU (the children of Israel) 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. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou are not able to carry it (again, we are talking about crops, wine, oil, herds and flocks); 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: THEN shalt thou turn it into money (sell it), and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God SHALL CHOOSE: And thou shalt bestow that money for WHATSOEVER THY SOUL LUSTETH AFTER, for OXEN, or for SHEEP, or for WINE, or for STRONG DRINK (The Hebrew word here means intensely alcoholic liquor), or for WHATSOEVER THY SOUL DESIRETH: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, THOU and THINE HOUSEHOLD. (Deuteronomy 12: 22-26). There are several very important things that need to be pointed out from these passages: 1. God had to choose the place for the tithe celebration. 2. The whole family, along with servants, partook in the tithes. 3. The Levites partook in the tithes. 4. Alcohol was consumed in the Temple during this celebration. 5. This was an ANNUAL celebration. Basically, everyone went to the Temple to celebrate the goodness of God in their lives. THIS is what the tithe celebration was all about. There was absolutely no way the foreign Jews could travel every week to the Temple to pay tithes; this would create financial hardship for the entire family! Nowhere in scripture does it state that tithes are money. Nowhere in scripture does God command the Jews to leave their tithes at the Temple. Nowhere in scripture does God command that the Levites receive 100% of the tithes taken to the Temple. Nowhere in scripture does God tell us that he has chosen to place his name in thousands of church institutions for a tithe celebration each and every week! The families of those who tithed all partook of the tithes and offerings during this celebration.
Cynthia McClaskey. The Truth About Tithing (Kindle Locations 989-1249). AuthorHouse. Kindle Edition.
The seventeenth author M. D. Ewing presents a clear arguemnt how tithing can me misintermpreted as money instead of food items, in The Emancipation of Tithing: Discovering Your Freedom From Financial Slavery
The most important lesson for properly interpreting the Bible and the Scriptures relating to each passage is based on how well we understand the surrounding context of the story being portrayed. Do we understand all the facts in each passage? Do we understand the context before and after each passage? Have we biblically defined the meanings of all the words surrounding each passage? How well do we understand the general flow of discussion? Do we have an indication of the cultural background at hand? What did the author mean in the day that he/she wrote the passage? It is imperative that we clear up all the factual problems before moving into the theological meaning of any passage of Scripture. It is also important to visualize yourself as a participant in the crowd of the original audience in order to understand the authenticity of the original message. There are two terms that are always used when practicing the art of hermeneutics. The first term is known as, “eisegesis” (ice-sa-ge-sis), which means to read your own meaning into a passage. Interpreting the Bible correctly begins with a great deal of prayer, learning how to pay attention to what the text itself is saying, and then pulling the meaning out of each passage. This term is called, “exegesis” (ex-sa-ge-sis), which means to draw out from. We must allow each passage to be defined by what is actually in the text of Scriptures, supported by the surrounding verses of the text, if we intend on interpreting the Bible in context and in a correct manner. We can no longer put into a passage of Scripture our own meanings and interpretations about a particular subject when that subject is not listed or included in the passage at hand. This is called “bias demeanor” and “subjectivity,” which is the framework of silent manipulation and control. For example, if I said, “Farmers sow seeds in the ground to bring up a harvest,” this text should NOT be interpreted as, “People should give me money in order to gain possessions.” This is a primary example of bias demeanor and subjectivity. As the author of that statement, I literally meant what I stated, that farmers who plant seeds in the ground will grow a harvest. As you see, my original message can easily be misinterpreted if the meanings of all the words surrounding the context are misunderstood, and if the meaning of the original writer is misunderstood then the true meaning behind the story could be lost forever.
Ewing, M.D. The Emancipation of Tithing: Discovering Your Freedom From Financial Slavery (Kindle Locations 80-98). Enlightenment Publishing LLC. Kindle Edition.
The eighteenth author Daniel Mynyk seattles the argument about Abram’s tithe spoils of war and not income in Freedom To Give (The Biblical Truth About Tithing).
The nature of Abram’s tithe Several questions and issues can arise for one who examines the account of Abram’s tithe in detail without merely viewing the presence of the word tithe through the lens of modern tradition. Reading the details of this account, one can notice several problems with an attempt to extrapolate Abram’s tithe to one’s current understanding of the alleged tithing doctrine. These problems shall be analyzed using Abram’s tithe as the “tithe that binds.” First, how many times do the Scriptures record Abram giving something in the form of a “tithe”? Genesis chapter 14 and Hebrews chapter 7 are the only accounts of Abram’s tithe, and they are both of the same event. As far as we know Abram only tithed to Melchizedek once. Accordingly, we can then notice that Abram only tithed to anyone once. A legitimate question protrudes from examining this problem: How does Abram’s one-time tithe to Melchizedek argue a case whereby those who claim him as a “father” must tithe not only once but continually? Read chapter 15 of this book to analyze a possible significance between the priesthood of Melchizedek and the fact that Abram tithed only once. Second, of what source did Abram tithe? Did Abram tithe of his own “income”? One author claimed: “It is a disputed point whether Abraham meant a tithe of all his property, or of all the spoils of war which he had with him.”[26] Although Genesis 14:20 says that Abram gave Melchizedek “tithes of all” and Hebrews 7:2 says that Abram gave “a tenth part of all,” Hebrews 7:4 clarifies that he gave “the tenth of the spoils.” One could argue that the “tithe of spoils” was only part of what Abram gave Melchizedek in the “tithes of all.” However, this reasoning fails both logic and Scriptural analysis. Obviously the “all” can mean “all the spoils of the battle.” The context of Abram’s tithe is directly within the context of winning the battle, returning the spoils, and the king of Sodom requesting a return of his people. Abram gave Melchizedek the tithe after returning from chasing the alliance of Chedorlaomer to Hobah. Abram met both Melchizedek and the king of Sodom in a place called “the valley of Shaveh,” which likely belonged to the king of Sodom. Abram was not in his own home when he gave Melchizedek the tithe. It would defy logic and be to argue from silence to believe that Abram brought all his many possessions with him to battle. Abram did not have all his possessions with him. He tithed to Melchizedek of the spoils of the battle as Hebrews 7:4 makes clear. If, indeed, Abram tithed only of the spoils of war to Melchizedek—things that were stolen from the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah—and not from his own possessions, how does Abram’s tithe in this regard present an obligation to those who claim him as “father” to tithe of their own “income”? Third, of what type of substance did Abram tithe? Did Abram tithe only of money? Did Abram tithe of money at all? Likely, Abram’s tithe included money, but was not limited to money. Genesis 14:11 says that the alliance of Chedorlaomer took all the “good” and “victual” from the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. The “goods” may have included money, but likely also included clothing and weapons. The “victuals” strictly means “food.” The alliance stole the food that these kings brought with them to sustain themselves for the battle. In verse 21, the king of Sodom granted Abram to keep the “goods” but requested to return the people. In verse 23, Abram replied that he would not keep a “thread” to a “shoelatchet,” which both indicate small portions of clothing. In verse 24, Abram also qualified that he could not return food that his men had already eaten or would need to compensate them for their efforts. If Abram’s tithe consisted mostly of material things and food, why do many who attempt to regard Abram’s tithe as a model for continual practice for the church dictate that the people only tithe from sources of monetary income or comparable liquidity? Fourth, what did Abram do with the rest of the spoils after he tithed of them to Melchizedek? Genesis 14:21-24 distinctly records that Abram returned the remnant of the spoils back to the king of Sodom.
Mynyk, Daniel. Freedom To Give (The Biblical Truth About Tithing) (Kindle Locations 605-613,613-629 and 629-643). CrossLink Publishing. Kindle Edition.
The nineteenth author Ron Knott gives 27 reason for why tithing is not money in the Bible Tithing-Fact or Fiction.
In starting our search through the Scriptures for the truth concerning tithing let us consider the following Situational awareness statements. Further into the study we will address each one of these statements. TWENTY-SEVEN REASONS OR CONSIDERATIONS FOR NOT TITHING 1. There was no command to tithe before or after the Law. 2. Did Adam and Eve, Job, Noah, or Joseph tithe? 3. Why did God reject Cain’s gift? 4. Tithing is not commanded in the Ten Commandments. 5. The tithe was never money; it was always agricultural products. 6. Tithes are to be eaten. 7. Tithes are to go into the storehouse. 8. Under the Law one could redeem his tithes. 9. Only a tenth of the tithe went to the priest. 10. Every three years the tithe went to the need. 11. Every seven years there was no tithe. 12. The people paid a tithe to themselves. 13. Tithes were for the Levites, widows, aliens, and fatherless. 14. All priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests. 15. The Law tolerated many wives, concubines, sacrifices, and tithes. (The implication here is if we teach one of these practices – why not all?) 16. Who is robbing God of tithes and offerings? 17. Jesus did not tithe, nor did He accept tithes. 18. The New Testament Church did not tithe. 19. The New Testament command concerning giving: “Every man as he purposeth …” 2 Corinthians 9:7 20. Since the New Testament salvation plan is superior to the Old Testament salvation plan we can conclude that the New Testament giving plan is superior to the Old Testament giving plan. We have a better covenant with better promises. Which plan should we follow? 21. God honors acceptable gifts and rejects unacceptable gifts. 22. The Pope reinstated tithing at the Council of Macon in 585 AD. 23. Where do your tithes go? 24. Should we support the church and the ministry? Absolutely! But not by the Old Testament Law of tithing. 25. Present day priests, pastors, and preachers are not restricted from owning land, as were their counterparts in the Old Testament. 26. Why are not all who tithe wealthy? 27. Are you blessed financially for tithing or for giving to the poor? There are a lot more than twenty-seven reasons why New Testament Christians should not tithe but these should be sufficient for this study.
Knott, Ron. Tithing-Fact or Fiction (pp. 45-47). Kindle Edition.
The twentyeeth author Alvin J. Bates mences no words to proclaim that titing and first fruits is not monetary but food in Debunking The Tithe of Israel”: Warning: Ministers of the Gospel Read only at your own risk!
Next, let’s talk about giving under the Law of Moses. Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: At the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty handed. Every man shall give as he is able according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. Deuteronomy 16:16 and 17 Now most preachers would jump up and say “that’s what I’m talking about!” Let’s take a closer examination of God’s word. The first command was to appear before the Lord their God to all three feasts. The second command was to give as he is able. Some men would have undoubtedly given much more than others. Some men whose hearts were not right with God would have given less. But the key phrase here in verse 17 is every man is to give as he is able. This means it is an offering from the heart and not some ritualistic giving of say “10 percent of everything they made.” Remember, the tithe was a forced saving up of food for the people to be used on the trip to Jerusalem and during the feasts of the Lord. The teaching of the tithe has been used to pile on guilt and force people to give 10 percent of their earnings to the church or God will “curse you” and yours with “the Curse” given for breaking the Law of Moses. The last time I checked the New Testament, Jesus had fulfilled the whole Law of Moses, and we now live under “Grace.” Uhm mm. If we are now living under grace, then how in the world can we likewise be living under the “Curse of the Law of Moses?” Yet that is exactly what nearly all preachers proclaim. This teaching is an untruth and should be stopped immediately! Fulfilled means “completed,” and still we visit all those old law scriptures when it comes to money yet stay in the new testament for nearly everything else—hypocrisy! Either we are living under the old law, or else we have been delivered out of the old law and now live under the Spirit of Grace whereby we cry “abba father.”
The modern teaching that our “firstfruits” is really our first 10 percent of every dollar we make is really, wrong. The firstfruits when the children of Israel entered the Promised Land was the first of all the produce that grew out of the ground and not “money made.” Why is it that today and for hundreds of years churches have claimed firstfruits as “money made,” even when 90 percent of all Christians were farmers all around the world just a few years ago, and farmers could give food! In old England, some churches used to build “tithe barns” on church property to hold their tithes. Whew! I guess they knew that the tithe was really food. Calling “the tithe” money is a total perversion of scripture, and to call money “a shadow” as to what God was saying to the children of Israel is “heresy.” For God to say one thing and for us to do another is a total and complete perversion of scripture. This is hypocrisy, pure and simple!
Alvin J. Bates. Debunking “The Tithe of Israel”: Warning: Ministers of the Gospel Read only at your own risk! (p. 36 and pp. 25-26). Xlibris. Kindle Edition.
The twenty first author David A Croteau examines the tithe doctrine who paid and did not pay tithes in the scritptures in the Perspectives on Tithing.
Different scholars have different calculations. Regardless of the total, the tithe laws are clearly more complicated than a mere 10 percent; also, the Israelites were required to give more than 10 percent from the land. Nowhere is there a command to tithe from income.
Tithes were given from the increase of the land. The Mosaic law never directed the Israelites to give of their increase; it specified particular products that were liable to tithe laws, and these products were always connected to the land. There was a very strong connection of products liable to tithes to the land; originally, only products produced from Israel were included. In the New Testament period, artisans, fishermen, and tradesmen did not pay tithes on their income, and Jews outside Israel (those in the Diaspora) did not pay tithes on anything.9 Furthermore, priests and the poor (who owned no land or animals) were exempt from tithes.
The Mosaic law demands systematic tithing. Abram gave his tithe to Melchizedek (a priest), while the Mosaic law tithes were (mostly) for the Levites. Abram gave voluntarily and not from his own possessions; the Mosaic law tithe was compulsory and was on the increase of possessions connected to the land. Abram gave 10 percent to Melchizedek (though his gift was really 100 percent) and the Mosaic law tithe averages about 20 percent. Finally, there is no evidence that Abram was obeying some revelation from God prior to the Mosaic law. Numbers 31:27–29 says that the Israelites were to take one five-hundredths (0.2 percent) of the spoils of war and give it to the priest as an offering to Yahweh.10 Therefore, the stipulated amount required by the Mosaic law for spoils won in battle is significantly less than what Abram offered Melchizedek in Genesis 14.
Croteau, David A., Perspectives on Tithing (Kindle Locations 1680-1686, 1664-1667 and 1694-1699). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.
The twenty second author C. L. Threatt explians in Malachi what the rain and devourer means in relation to tithing in The Tithes That Bind.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. KJV The devourer in question was pests that were destroying the products of the earth and the fruits of the trees. Some say today that our devourer is satan, because the Bible says he prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1Peter 5:8). His job is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), and what better way to do this than through our finances. The land was once plentiful, but the sin of not bringing the whole tithe caused it to be cursed. God was telling the Israelites that if they did as He commanded, the curse would be lifted, the windows of heaven would be opened, and pour out an abundant blessing. What were the windows of heaven? The windows of heaven as it relates to this scripture are the clouds and rain. In Genesis 7:11, the windows of heaven opened up to pour out a deluge of wrath during the flood of Noah. In Malachi, God promised to open the windows of heaven again, only this time, the rain would be a blessing rather than a curse. The land at that time was barren due to a lack of rain, and because their tithes were of an agricultural nature (grains and crops), they were suffering. God promised to pour out rain so that they would have so many crops that they wouldn’t have room for them.
Threatt, C L. The Tithes That Bind (Kindle Locations 404-419). Ahava Publishing, LLC. Kindle Edition.
The twenty Third author Eric M. Hill explians how some early church fathers were misinterpreted as it relates to tithing inWhat Preachers Never Tell You About Tithes & Offerings: The End of Clergy Manipulation & Extortion.
Bishop Cyprian of Carthage Bishop Cyprian (A.D. 200-258) represents those early church leaders who did not advocate the tithe, but who strongly believed the clergy should be involved in no worldly activities that would encroach on its ability to serve the church. Of course, this belief, noble as it was, was used in later years by others to create and demand a financial tithe. That’s one reason why we’re including it here. In 249 A.D. he explained that “every one honoured by the divine priesthood, and ordained in the clerical service, ought to serve only the altar and sacrifices, and to have leisure for prayers and supplications.” Cyprian’s letter uses the Levites as an example for ministers who are able to devote their full attention to the ministry of the church, which he considered to be prayers and supplications: …the Levitical tribe, which was left free for the temple and the altar, and for the divine ministries, received nothing from that portion of the division; [the allocation of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel once they crossed the Jordan river with Joshua] but while others cultivated the soil, that portion [the Levites] only cultivated the favour of God, and received the tithes from the eleven tribes, for their food and maintenance, from the fruits which grew. All which was done by divine authority and arrangement, so that they who waited on divine services might in no respect be called away, nor be compelled to consider or to transact secular business. Which plan and rule is now maintained in respect of the clergy, that they who are promoted by clerical ordination in the Church of the Lord may be called off in no respect from the divine administration, nor be tied down by worldly anxieties and matters; but in the honour of the brethren who contribute, receiving as it were tenths of the fruits, they may not withdraw from the altars and sacrifices, but may serve day and night in heavenly and spiritual things. A careful reading of Cyprian’s short letter reveals that its subject is not the Old Testament tithe, the modern financial tithe, or even financial support of the clergy. It is the ideal of church sponsored clergy taking care of the church without distractions. Cyprian mentions the model of the Levites solely for this purpose, and not to encourage a financial tithe.
It is important to correct this error because Cyprian’s letter has been cited by many anti-tithers as his attempt to support the clergy with financial tithes. This mistake gives the appearance that there was a credible effort to introduce the new tithe system a hundred years before bishops began to do so. The sentence in Cyprian’s letter from where this idea comes doesn’t support this view: …but in the honour of the brethren who contribute, receiving as it were tenths of the fruits, they may not withdraw from the altars and sacrifices, but may serve day and night in heavenly and spiritual things. Cyprian states that the clergy was supported “by the brethren who contribute,” and that this was “as it were tenths of the fruits.” As it were is a simile, “a figure of speech in which two dissimilar things are compared by the use of like or as.” The bishop was stating simply that freewill contributions given to support the clergy and tithes given to support Levites were similar in this manner: the object was to provide modest financial assistance so they could fulfill their leadership duties without distraction.36 It is significant that such a fervent and focused leader (and future martyr) should rely on freewill contributions to fulfill his clergy obligations instead of demanding money through a new tithe system. If it were possible for him, why is it not possible for us?
Hill, Eric M.. What Preachers Never Tell You About Tithes & Offerings: The End of Clergy Manipulation & Extortion (Kindle Locations 1341-1348, 1348-1361, 1362-1364, 1364-1377). SunHill Publishers. Kindle Edition.
This short list of authors who disagree with tithing is by no means exhaustive, but in my research this list can go back centuries. Many people did not agree to the commuting of the food and crop tithe to money. I guess I’m not different in my view and so here is a quote from my book, Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway?
“There are varying beliefs and theological arguments on whether there were one, two, or three tithes in Israel. This chapter examines different tithing practices in Israel; importantly, it will not focus on the number of tithes. I will examine tithing based on its empirical definition, which is from the agricultural production and livestock that relates to farmers and herders who tithed in Israel using Leviticus 27:30-33. Individual study of the tithe doctrine in Israel and how many there were is essential for understanding the tithe practices of the Hebrew people. No matter what position you may have regarding the number of tithes, it is important to understand that the term “tithe” in Hebrew always refers to food; it never refers to money.
Based on the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE), the view of multiple tithes is, “There is an obvious apparent discrepancy between the legislation in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. It is harmonized in Jewish [Hebrew] tradition, not only theoretically, but in practice, by considering the tithes as three different tithes, which are named the first tithe, the second tithe and the poor tithe, which is called the third tithe.”Excerpt Taken from Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway? by Dr. Frank Chase Jr. iBooks.
The article is titled, Single Mom Fined $1,000 by Church For Not Tithing–Threatens to Remove Her. After reading the article, I shook my head in disbelief and knew I had to write another blog post to address tithing. I guess I will be for the foreseeable furture continue to write tithing blogs until the monetary tithing madness ends. Let me make this clear as day, what you give to your church is your personal business. However no pastor has a right to take scripture out of context as a means to sustain a finanical system the Bible never endorses. So let’s take a magnifying glass to a scripture text to show that tithing in the Bible was not income but edible items. We know pastors love to quote Malachi but I will not start with that verse. You can get signed paperbacks, just order Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway? from Paypalme for $23.87
Midwest Book Review for Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway?
Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway? The Untwisted Truth About the Centuries Old Tithes and Offering Deception examines the history of church tithes, a practice from the early days of Christianity which takes a darker turn as its history and connections to actual Scripture are probed from its original applications to modern times. But if readers expect a supportive Scripture-based emphasis on the value of tithes, it should be advised that Kleptomaniac does not toe a party line of religious propriety but offers a sobering and critical examination of the notion of tithes and how it has changed over the centuries.
Church-goers who struggle with the idea of tithes and Church donation processes will discover that there’s reason for their concerns. There is an ongoing battle for truth and orthodoxy surrounding these matters, and this too is covered as Kleptomaniac analyzes the Biblical roots and intention of tithes and how the Church has applied them over the centuries.
This book is dedicated “To those who have suffered the wrath of family, friends, pastors, churches and other Christians for changing their giving practice from mandatory tithing to New Covenant, post-tithe freewill giving, remember, this fight to reveal the truth about tithing started centuries ago. People from many denominations and religious groups have held views against tithing long before we were born and the debate still rages on in the annals of theology.”
That tithing has long been a powerful controversy is reflected in the Introduction’s dedication: “To those who have been excommunicated from their church, to those who feel shunned, to those who have lost friends, to those who have been cut off from fellowship and to those who want to give from their heart without a percentage mandate, your voices will echo through the pages of this book. Also, to the believers from past generations who died never knowing that a curse on their lives never existed for not tithing, may this book be a light to your descendants who are still afraid to question tithing.”
Despite its fiery contentions, Kleptomaniac’s approach rests firmly on a combination of historical precedent, experience and analysis, and Scriptural quotes that back Dr. Frank Chase Jr.’s scrutiny. Chapters thus adopt a scholarly tone as they pull quotes from Scripture to analyze them: “I will examine the different tithes as separate items for context. The Bible gives specific instructions on how to distribute the tithe and to whom the tithe belonged. Who did God command to receive the tithe and who paid the tithe? Numbers 18, lays out the legal legislation on tithes under the law. However, before we look at this text, let’s jump forward to the New Testament. Hebrews 7:5 is the nail in the proverbial coffin that says who can collect tithes.”
From keywords and comparing Bible references to how tithes were (and are) being stolen from early to modern times, Dr. Chase’s scholarly analysis is precise, well detailed and reasoned, intricately researched and referenced, and yet is very accessible to lay audiences: “I think this book presents convincing doctrinal evidence that no money tithe argument can be established because it is inconsistent with Scripture, context and history. Although the Bible clearly describes that tithing took place in many verses, it does not mean that we continue the practice through commuting the tithe to money. The description of tithing food in the Old Testament does not equate to a money tithe prescription in the New Testament.”
Dr. Chase’s attention to detail in covering the history of tithing and his analysis of what constitutes an authentic tithe in keeping with God’ Biblical directives includes a great deal of research into early Greek and Hebrew writings, creating a weighty yet authoritative, accessible piece filled with empirical evidence and discussions central to the tithe’s place in Christian theology. Although its research-backed history is not light reading, its attention to well- researched detail is impeccably presented, and represents a breath of fresh air to a topic typically laden with more emotion than reasoned inspection.
The result is a thought-provoking read which is very highly recommended for any Church member interested in the history and ongoing debate over tithes, their mandate, and where and how they are spent. D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review. Midwest Book Review for Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway
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