Tithing - The Sacred Cow Because it is a Cash Cow

I have been wanting to address the subject of tithing for some time now. Today is a good day so why not now.

Here is some food for thought, did you know that the poor in the Old Testament were not required to Tithe...Think on that for a while...  I say that because it is the poor who are most exploited with the whole giving thing.

There has been much debate about tithing among Christians for ages. I find the proper position we should take regarding giving is of course in the Bible. Before I go into my scripture references I want to say that tithing has been a tremendous burden for a large number of Church members. It is introduced to us as a hard and fast rule not to be ever questioned. I find most people have been so brainwashed about tithing that they would never question if it is right or wrong.

We often hear testimonies about how someone received a financial blessing as a result of them being faithful tithers, but we never hear or rarely hear of the many financial failures suffered through the act of tithing. The failures do exist and in very very large numbers.

Giving :

2 Cor 9:7

Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving].

Many Churches today mandate tithing as a necessity in Christian living. This position by the Church is NOT scripturally based.

The Bible says giving has to be something that we make up our own minds to do or not to do. Giving of course is good. In fact the Bible says it is more blessed to give than receive

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Where is the instruction for tithing in the New Testament?

Tithing:



Luke 11:42
"But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.


Interesting there is the New Testament reference. So it is true, we must tithe because Jesus says these you should have done.


Guess my argument against tithing has been shot down? Would you agree?

But Jesus is addressing the Jewish people in this verse still under the old covenant law. That's right the New Covenant , provided in and through the Blood of Jesus had NOT come into existence because Jesus had yet to die.

The Jewish nation was still sacrificing animals for their sins during the time Jesus was alive. So the fact that they were tithing as well does not at all surprise me.

Matt 5:17

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

Yes without the fulfillment of the LAW, unless GOD's LAW had been fulfilled there would be NO salvation.

And now because Jesus did what no one else could do, our faith in the finish work of the cross brings the FREE gift of salvation to us all.

By the way you know what the people did many times when they brought their tithe to the temple as part of thier worship? They had a feast , yes they ate the tithe...Yes the needs of the priest were met but  Sunday dinner was had at church as well.  The people brought livestock,  crops and such, ten percent and they sat down and eat what they brought.  It would be like us going to church bringing our money and then paying caterers for providing dinner. The purpose here seems to be that the tithe was supporting fellowship with GOD in HIS temple.

The other purpose of the tithe is to give to those most needy.


Deut 26:12 "When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.


One of the things I find out of order in many Churches is that there is little understanding of the mercy of GOD. God always chooses mercy over sacrifice. In fact GOD is always looking for a way to dispense mercy to His beloved people. That would be us the people Jesus was nailed on the cross for, me and you. GOD has an intense passion to be merciful.

Matt 9:13

Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims.

Let me break this down simply, Tithing even in the old testament  can be viewed and should be viewed as a sacrifice. If you do not have the money then GOD has mercy and says it is ok. Yes it is true giving is based on what you have to give NOT on what you do not have to give. If after you've paid all your bills and you have little left, keep it so you have money to live on people and that is what mercy is about.

Here is a list of abuses occurring under the false doctrine of tithing:

If you are in trouble and you need money the church will not help unless you have been a consistent tither.

If you are not a tither you can not participate in any role in the church, be it an usher, choir member or whatever.

If you are not a consistent tither you will be an outsider some people will just refuse to engage you socially.

Where is the love of GOD in this behavior!!!!!!!!

Many members of the so called Church Hierarchy have become rich and some millionaires because of the nonsensical practice of Tithing.  And then they parade their lavish lifestyles without shame in front of the world. If the pastor has two Mercedes and a Porsche and some of his members are riding the bus to church who should be giving to who?

Wake up people! stop being used.  Ask the LORD to put someone in your path that really needs help and give to them!!!

Let me sum up giving with this final Bible verse and I pray it becomes revelation in your reading. This is the purpose of GIVING.


Acts 4:34
Nor was there a destitute or needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought (gave back) the amount received from the sales

Acts 4:35
And laid it at the feet of the apostles (special messengers). Then distribution was made according as anyone had need.

 You mean the apostles did not go out and buy themselves a Lexus and then tell the people how much GOD was going to bless them for giving all that money?

Should we support church workers??? Absolutely as they labor for the work of the LORD. But not at all to the excessiveness in lifestyle that we see daily in our Churches.

False prophets have gone forth into the world.

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1 John 4:1
BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

I noticed a lot of activity in the Church regarding 5 fold ministry callings. I highly doubt the validity of these claims. The Bible does say many false prophets will appear, and guess what, they are definitely here.

Most people who say they are Apostles and Prophets do not display the giftings or operate under the authority given that office. I am therefore very skeptical of many people who have fixed their title to the offices described. .What really bothers me however is that many Christian do not understand the requirements of the office they claim to have.

 Here is an example;

The office of the Prophet is to bring correction in the church through a word of knowledge, that is rarely done if at all. The Prophet is to sound the alarm for pending judgement on sin and that is rarely done. Notice the actions of The Apostle Peter operating in the office of an Apostle.

Acts 5:8
And Peter responded to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?" And she said, "Yes, that was the price."


Acts 5:9
Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well."


Acts 5:10
And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

The authority is demonstrated and authenticated by addressing sin and brining about either correction or judgement.

Here is Paul brining about correction, this verse addresses judging, YES judging is RIGHT!, when is judging wrong ??? When you are not in the position to judge.. meaning without the spirit of GOD you can not judge righteously.    Read the scripture


1 Cor 5:1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife.
1 Cor 5:2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.

Another striking difference between Prophets who are false and those you are truly sent by GOD. They will speak a prophcy and it will come true 100%.  The prophecy will not be a vague generality.

For many who through misunderstanding have concluded that this kind of thing only happened in the Old Testament, please note the Book of Acts referenced occurred under the New Testament..

One more example that I just could not resist sharing



Acts 21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.
Acts 21:10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
Acts 21:11 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

Here we have Christians appointed as Prophets by GOD who do more than just say things that are so called intended to edify.  This Prophecy is a WARNING..  If you are a prophet yet you have never ever uttered a warning in this sin filled world I do have a problem believing you.

And lastly the sign of an Apostle is described below, do not accept any counterfeits!!!

2 Cor 12:11 Now I have been [speaking like] a fool! But you forced me to it, for I ought to have been [saved the necessity and] commended by you. For I have not fallen short one bit or proved myself at all inferior to those superlative [false] apostles [of yours], even if I am nothing (a nobody).
2 Cor 12:12 Indeed, the signs that indicate a [genuine] apostle were performed among you fully and most patiently in miracles and wonders and mighty works.

Who are you Kissing

1 King 19:18 Yet I will leave Myself 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him. 


There was a time in Israel's history that the nation had been defiled through the worship of an idol named baal  this was a violation of the commandment of GOD 

Ex 20:3
"You shall have no other gods before Me. 

 Ahab, king of Israel, married Jezebel, daughter ofEthba’al, king of the Sidonians, and then served habba’al ('the Ba'al'.)

Ahab married an idol worshiper and caused the entire nation to be unduly influenced by a pagan culture that was aligned against the ways and purposes of GOD.

This is a clear example of how forming mis-matted alliances inconsistent with your faith will cause you to stray from GOD.

Without getting into a long conversation about baal I will use this scenario to illustrate idol worship in general .

What is an idol?  I will derive the definition from scripture.

1 Cor 5:11
But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.


idolater = whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God

Any object that usurps the place of GOD in your life.


Our leading scripture relates to the Prophet Elijah being much discouraged about the condition of Israel because  Baal was being worshiped more than GOD.


In spite of most people in Israel  going along with the influence of the times and turning away from GOD there was still remaining a faithful people who had not bowed their knew to baal and had not kissed baal.   God informed Elijah that he was not alone serving HIM but GOD had others as well. The LORD reserved Himself a remnant.


I was drawn to understand why the Spirit of GOD used the word "Kiss" in the subject scripture.


So I looked up the definition, yes i know what a kiss is but reading the definition always seems to contribute to my understanding of the text.


Websters online dictionary ;


Kiss - To salute with the lips, as a mark of affection, reverence, submission, forgiveness, etc


Now I relate this definition back to the scripture and it will produce this paraphrase


1 Kin 19:18 Yet I will leave Myself 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed (reverenced baal, is not submissive to baal and does not seek approval through asking baal to forgive them).


Our world in general terms is a world of idol worshipers. We, even many Christians  have kissed what the world deems valuable and because of the worlds influences we have comited sin. 



1 John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

1 John 2:17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Yet as scripture proclaims to the Glory of GOD the Father, there remains a remnant steadfast in their faithfulness to GOD.  Are you in that number?

People if you are going to kiss someone, kiss Jesus!!!


Ps 2:12 Kiss the Son [pay homage to Him in purity], lest He be angry and you perish in the way, for soon shall His wrath be kindled. O blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are all those who seek refuge and put their trust in Him!


Ps 2, written by King David is prophetic and it is referring to the Messianic rule of Christ.  Anothet topic for another time :)


Back to the subject at hand.


Do not be like an unfaithful spouse kissing others, becoming defiled  and then coming home and kissing your husband or wife. What is my point, doing the world's thing all week and then going to church on Sunday saying praise GOD.  You are an adulterer if this is your routine .

Jer 23:10 For the land is full of adulterers (forsakers of God, Israel's true Husband). Because of the curse [of God upon it] the land mourns, the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. They [both false prophets and people] rush into wickedness; and their course is evil, their might is not right.