Tithing: The Great False Doctrine

by Van Robison

Many churches teach that tithing 10% of one's income to the church is a part of obedience to God and a requirement in the New Testament, as well as the Old Testament. They love to quote Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me, but you say, wherein have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings." The truth is that when anyone does an in-depth study of the tithing issue, it will be found that the concept of "tithing" is very misunderstood, even from an Old Testament perspective. Many different authors have presented in-depth studies on tithing, covering all the issues in both the Old and New Testaments. While preachers love to make Christians think that "tithing" represents 10% of one's "income", it is easy to prove that in fact, tithes in the Old Testament involved several tithes, used for different purposes and that tithing is not at all what Christians have been led to believe.

Since there is more than one tithe spoken of in the Old Testament, for those who have never researched and studied this hot topic, it may come as a surprise to read this:

Deuteronomy 14:

• Verse 22: "You shall truly TITHE all the increase of your SEED, THAT THE FIELD BRINGS FORTH year by year."
• Verse 23: "And YOU SHALL EAT before the Lord your God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, THE TITHE OF YOUR CORN, of YOUR WINE, and of YOUR OIL, and the FIRSTLINGS OF YOUR HERDS and of YOUR FLOCKS; that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always."
• Verse 24: "And if the way be too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from you, which the Lord your God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord your God has blessed you."
• Verse 25: "Then you shall turn it (note: "it" refers to the tithe of the corn, the wine, the oil, the firstlings of the herds and flocks) into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose.
• Verse 26: "And YOU shall bestow that money FOR WHATSOEVER YOUR SOUL LUSTETH (King James Version) after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever your soul desires: and you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household."

Do these verses not tell us, that this particular "tithe" was not money, but rather it was the "tithe" of corn, wine, oil, firstlings of the herd and flock? And was not this "tithe" used to EAT before the Lord and to be consumed by the individual and his family? Some sources believe there were three different tithes in the Old Testament. Some even say four tithes. Have you ever heard a preacher tell you that God in the Old Testament, told the Israelites to EAT (Deuteronomy 14:23) their tithes?

Jesus had this to say about tithes in Luke 11:42: "But woe unto you, Pharisees for YOU TITHE MINT and RUE and all manner of HERBS, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone." If tithes were paid on herbs, I suppose you would have to ask the question "Did everyone grow herbs?" What about carpenters, did they pay tithes on their lumber? What about iron workers, did they tithe on iron? What about tentmakers, did they pay tithes on their tents? Even in the Old Testament, tithes involved only certain items such as herbs and firstlings of the herds, but on many other things in life, there was no such thing as "tithes".

Another verse in the Old Testament that proves that "tithes" was something very different than what we have been led to believe by pastors and preachers of churches today, is Deuteronomy 26:12: "When you hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase THE THIRD YEAR, WHICH IS THE YEAR OF TITHING, and HAVE GIVEN IT UNTO the Levite, THE STRANGER, THE FATHERLESS, and THE WIDOW, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled." Ever hear of giving "tithes" to strangers, the fatherless and the widows? Ever hear about the "third year, the year of tithing?" Probably not and that is because the preachers don't know the truth about tithing themselves.

A very good book that deals with the New Testament truth on tithing is: Tithing: Low-Realm, Obsolete & Defunct by Matthew E. Narramore (Copyright 2004) and can be read FREE on the Internet. It can also be purchased from the author at his website, or from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Seed Sowers Christian Books Publishing, and from other book sources. Countless full length and in depth articles on the tithing issue inundate the Internet and can be easily located. Other authors have also published full length books on this important topic. However, if you happen to stumble across a "tithing" book by a prosperity gospel preacher, chances are you will not learn the truth about the false tithing doctrine.

Tithing and money are a constant source of spiritual abuse in the church world and basically for the reason that churchianity today insists on functioning as a business enterprise. Tithing is not only greatly misunderstood, it also causes great false fear in the lives of many.

Here is a quote I took off the Internet about the Mormon Church and their tithing policy: "Tithing is an important test of our personal righteousness." President Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918) said "By this principle it shall be known who is for the Kingdom of God and who is against it... By it shall be known whether we are faithful or unfaithful" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 276." Here are some astonishing notes from ex-Mormons about "tithing". The Mormon Church is worth tens of billions of dollars as a result of tithing and from what I have read about the Mormon Church, they do not disclose how the money is spent.

Tithing is one of the great false teachings in the world of churchianity, and money is one of the false god's of the church world.

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Tithing

condensed from chapter 3 of Millionaires of the genesis by Catherine Ponder

Since God is the source of our supply, we must do something definite and consistent to keep in touch with that rich source, if we want to be consistently prosper. Those who tithe are always certain they will prosper because they have the confidence and faith that goes with having GOD as a partner.

Although the act of Tithing was an ancient prosperity practice, many of our modern Millionaires attribute their lavish wealth to this practice. "God gives you what you give God".

Giving is good but consistent giving through the act of Tithing 1/10 of all one receives to God's work is far better. Consistent giving opens the way to consistent receiving. As promised to Abraham, those who tithe are not only prospered exceedingly, even lavishly but they are also protected from the negative experiences of life. Vast wealth always brings the need for protection. Tithing gives that assurance.

We can be consistently prospered despite recession- inflation when we practice consistent giving through the act of Tithing. Consistent practice of Tithing had made Babylonians one of the richest nations of ancient times.

You are barely surviving financially, Tithe anyway as an act of Faith. It is a fascinating and mystical way to be prospered.

"If the farmer refuse to give back to the soil a certain % of the crops which the soil had given to him, he would have no crops".

Jehovah Jireh, Hebrew's mystical name for prosperity. It meant, "The Lord will provide for you, regardless of opposing circumstances".

Money invested in spiritual things is never loss but gain a hundredfold. Tithing should be given ASAP within three(3) days. NEVER use the money or even a portion of it for own personal needs.

It has been proved that those who Tithe 1/10 of their income to God's work find that their prosperity increases. The act of Tithing gives our prosperity a permanent enduring basis.

Be careful where we give our Tithes. it is important that we give at the point where we are receiving spiritual inspiration with no stipulation of how it is to be spend by the recipient.

Wealth is considered a necessity for the priesthood because it freed them of material care and that they might devote their time to the development of spirituality.

Genesis 28:20-22 " of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the 10th unto Thee".