Where Does Tithing Fit in the New Testament Church?

4 Part Series on New Testament Tithing/ #2

Does Tithing Fit in the New Testament?

Hebrews 9:22 -And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. This was the way of the Old Testament, Paul declares, but the way of the heavens and that which was to come was a far better way.. "The Blood of Jesus was shed once and for all".

Point of Fact: He declared that Jesus did away with the old covenant, along with the old ordinances and the old way of purging away sins. Its time to accept that we are totally under a new covenant. We are not bound to the law, to its imperfections, and to its condemnation.

We are set free. In Christ you are made free.. Gal. 5:1 -"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage". Gal.3:25 Faith is the activation of our freedom. "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster".

--Gal. 2:4, Gal 4:9, Matt: 23:4 these three verses warn; 1) don't let others take you back under its yoke; 2) Don't take your self back under its yoke; and finally, 3) beware of those that want you back under the yoke of fear and bondage and slavery, but won't lift a finger themselves to do any of it! In Acts 15:10 Paul calls it a yoke that none can bear! Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of son-ship by whom we cry, "Abba Father!"

WE ARE SET FREE FROM ALL THE ORDINANCES AND CONDEMNATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ; hashtag: "IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS". That (old) era is closed, and whatever you do for God now today, you are asked to do it under the perfect law of love and liberty in Christ. "Wherewith if Christ has set you free, you are free indeed!" NO MORE BONDAGE! No, no, no, a thousand times no! John 8:36 Freedom is only in Christ!: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed". 2 Cor. 3:17 "Now the Lord is the spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom". Let's live in Christ and keep that freedom!

Whatever we do today as a church, including the church tithe or finance, including what we do as individuals, we must establish it upon the new testament. You can't bring the Old Testament back to life, (or the old covenant) or you will make the teachings of Christ of no effect and make the New Testament void!

Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believes.”

Friend, how we interpret and live the new testament law is the secret of how the old testament law is fulfilled in us because of Christ. Understand that the old law was merely a path to the new. The perfect law is within the spirit and love of Christ and those who believe. Christianity has a difficult time managing the propriety of the heart, but God doesn't. They want to combine the old with the new in a mix that can be man-controlled. Today, as born again Christians, we don't destroy the law. Instead, within the teachings of Jesus, Paul and Timothy, we confirm, establish and uphold the part of the law that the holy spirit wants us to keep by virtue of it being within us. Christ's Kingdom is within you if you have been born again of water and of spirit. Have you invited Him to come inside you? This is the key to salvation. JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. John 14:6. "And you are complete in him who is the head of the body". Col:2:10

Do we copy the old testament plan of personal and of church finance while living in the new testament? This is a series of ongoing studies. One writer says we are commanded to continue old testament tithing, and another writer gives seven reasons why we cannot follow the old testament plan today and please God. My notes on tithing argue that if you are trying to fulfill the old testament way then you are living under the threat of its ordinance and condemnation and displeasing to Our Lord Jesus who we follow in the New Testament church. This is because he truly set us free from old testament ordinances and has giving us a better and higher way to live. We need to update our teachings and belief's to line up with the New Covenant. That includes getting rid of the fear and condemnation which comes with adhering to the old covenant. What we do must match the New Covenant teachings.. And there is a great difference between the old and the new covenants. We can and should do what is necessary to conduct our business in the New testament church, mainly by proclaiming " this is NOT old testament anymore." Basically, what we are doing is based on the decisions and the needs of the current biblical era. I've found this is a lot more scriptural and honest than what has occurred in the modern church; namely, by holding on to the use of legalistic, fear based threatening and condemnations. I'm not saying all have done so, but its certainly a misguided concept that preachers have. (See the scriptures above) Jesus said you make his word void if you pretend to be part of his new covenant but preach burdensome messages of obligation and bring people back into bondage of the old ordinances.

And when you study deeply on this, you will remove the mixed up teachings of tradition. You will discover its right and Godly to do what is necessary for the church today, without displeasing our Lord and Savior. The high point of this is that it's now based on New testament principles.. If your church requires a tithe, then its a New Testament Tithe, for the purpose of caring for the ministry and for the expenses of the New testament church facility. I don't see how anyone can find fault with that. OTHERWISE; the NEW TESTAMENT already allows for cheerful giving, collections for needs, etc, and other scriptural causes.

So whereas someone could always condemn the use of tithing calling it and old testament ordinance; NOW there is no contention, for we can honestly speak the truth that this is a new testament practice our church elders have set in place! I can show you several places in the scripture where its taught that we must take care of those that minister, and pay the expenses incurred with the gospel. Now please let me tell you this is not the only reason for this study, but I am still filled with nightmares of 20-25 different pastors while I was growing up that would subject us to 1-1/2 to 2 hour long venomous sermons on the old testament threats and eternal condemnations of not giving that 10%! Dare I say those same pastors had no clue to what the obligations of tithing under the old covenant were? Of what they themselves were allowed, or not allowed to do with the tithes they collected? And of course some of them owned large ranches bought and paid for with the tithes, along with other abuses of ministry funds. Just the concept of some that proclaimed all the tithes of the church belonged to them to do what they pleased sends shivers down the spine. That alone gives way to ask who made that so? Certainly not the word of God. It makes one wonder how thousands upon thousands and even millions of saints can justify making modern day preachers the richest of all? Is that good stewardship? Or just ignorance? Old Testament Levites who were expected to live on the tithe and mostly it was animals and agriculture offerings, had to follow very stringent rules in order to use the tithe properly. And even if there were times they got actual money, they were NOT allowed to own property or anything that would even pretend to make them wealthy. When they did, it was called filthy lucre.

So really can you compare the tithes of the old and the new covenants? Not really. Never does it show that the apostles sought or accepted tithes of the early church, but yes they did have collections. No, they weren't paying for large church facilities like we are today. So, in conclusion, Old testament tithe and anything you might construe as new testament tithe are pretty much Apples and Oranges. Not Oranges and Oranges! So why would you WANT to establish that baseline in giving other than to exert fear and intimidation?

Jesus said we have a better way.. So now if you have need to use tithing for ministry, and for facilities and other expenses, then do it as a new testament service under the Lord Jesus Christ inside this new and living way.. We all have said this - You really don't HAVE to give anything, but if you Love Jesus and his word, it will be in your heart to do so.. Its interesting that according to most scholars 10% is probably only about 1/3 of what the combined giving was under the law with all the special heave offerings. We are not in bondage however to the old covenant. Some of us REALLY need to get free of this stigma! Instead, we truly are Christ's at his appearing, freed from the law of sin and death, and joint heirs to the kingdom of God.

note; I found that all of (Mr Barclays tithes are commanded) insistence to follow the old testament tithe laws had to be explained into existence to be used in the new testament. that's why I believe the ending of those ordinances is the model we should be using, ( Mr. Schreiners 7 reasons we should not) so that we can properly follow the New Testament Ordinances. But not to the inclusion that tithing is non- existent. What do you think?

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Resource: “Let Us Reason” ministry; - <letusreason.org>

1. “Let Us Reason- Tithing”

2. “Cheerful Giving”
(2) docs. 16 pages total.
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Resource: “Weigh in on Tithing” TGC / Schreiner Vs.Barcley/ <thegospelcoalition.org>

1. The Bible Commands Christian to Tithe- William Barcley

2. 7 Reasons Christians Are Not Required to Tithe – Thomas Schreiner