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January 20
THE TITHE “?”
-Is it correct to teach that the New Testament Church is bound to a tithe? Most preachers think so. It is taught every
Sunday in churches all over the world that if you do not give a tithe ( 10% of your money ) to your local church that you
are cursed by God. These well-meaning ministers mean no harm, but they are misleading the people, and they are keeping the
people under the legalistic letter of the law, rather than introducing them to the law of the Spirit of LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS!
Oh yes, the people are giving, but many are giving out of OBLIGATION rather than to prove the sincerity of their love toward
God. Many are giving of their money because they are afraid of what God will do to them if they do not give. Let us now take
a look at the TRUE BASIS FOR GIVING to God according to the NEW TESTAMENT.
-THE APOSTLE PAUL DID NOT TEACH THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH TO PAY TITHES!!! He did however teach the church to give, and
to give with a cheerful heart. 2nd Corinthians 9:6,7 states, … But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall
reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposes in his
heart, so let him give; NOT GRUDGINGLY, OR OF NECESSITY: FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. In actuality, this scripture holds
us to a much higher standard of giving than the Old Testament law of tithing. God wants you to DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN! No
percentage is mentioned here. If the best you can do is 5%, then give 5%. If you are able to give more, then give 10%, 20%,
30%, or 40%. If you are able to give it all, then give 100%. The most important point in giving is NOT THE AMOUNT, but that
you do the best you can, and that you do not give grudgingly, or of necessity, but as a cheerful giver. IT IS TIME TO COME
OUT OF THE LEGALISTIC MINDSET OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW OF THE TITHE. When ministers quote Malachi 3:8-11 as a means to put
pressure on people to give, and as a means to teach them how to give, and as a means to make them feel guilty for not giving,
THEY ARE OUT OF LINE, AND THEY ARE NOT RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH! This passage of scripture pertains to God’s
dealings with His people under the OLD COVENANT. WE MUST STOP TAKING PORTIONS OF THE OLD COVENANT THAT WE WANT TO INCORPORATE
INTO THE NEW COVENANT, FOR IF YOU TRY TO KEEP ANY OR SOME OF THE OLD COVENANT YOU MUST KEEP IT ALL. IT IS ALL OR NOTHING!!!
According to Gary Amirault:
-"The apostle Paul did not quote a single tithing scripture to make people give, not one! The apostle Paul knew that only
LEVITES could collect tithes. Paul introduced a new way of giving - OUT OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN YOUR HEART! When the writer
of Hebrews used the word "tithe" in chapter seven, he was not dealing with tithing, but a higher priesthood than the Levitical
Priesthood, that is, the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. When Jesus spoke of tithing in Matthew and Luke, remember
this: The New Covenant is not the set of books from Matthew to Revelation. The New Covenant was not ratified until Jesus offered
up His blood in heaven which was after His resurrection. Prior to that, the Old Covenant, and the Levitical Priesthood was
still in effect. Here is the conclusion of the matter: We should give, not from the letter of the law which kills, but from
the Spirit Who prepares works for us to walk in. One comes from bondage to a set of laws, and the other comes from LOVE, which
is the nature of God. The first usually produces pride and self-righteousness, and the latter produces joy. The higher ways
of God are much better than the lower ways of the Old Covenant." ( The Tithe Is Illegal, Gary Amirault )
-GIVE BOUNTIFULLY WITH A CHEERFUL HEART!-
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