Why is the church still struggling with Tithes and Offerings? Why, after nearly two thousand years, are we still in confusion? Are we under obligation to offer up our Tithes to God? If not, then why is the church teaching it? Are there any clear indications in the scriptures to point the way for us? Yes! Thank God, Yes!
God is very clear on Tithing and Offerings, but the church today doesn’t suggest any clear directions to its members. This isn’t new; the first-century churches also had difficulties with the laws of Moses. As a matter of fact, the first general council of the new Christian church addressed keeping the laws of Moses as a requirement for Christian fellowship. Acts Chapter 15 records this major debate within the Church, should we require Circumcision in order to be saved? After much disputing Peter (vs 7-10 ) asked: “Why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” I ask the Church today the same question, if the prophets, children of Israel, and the disciples couldn’t keep and bear the yoke of the law, why are you burdening us with it?
Then James added (vs. 13-18 with Romans 3:21) that even the prophets agreed on salvation to the Gentiles is without the law. And they all concluded in verse (24) that Christians were not required to keep the law of Moses. (24)”Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your soul, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment”
James, Peter, Paul, and the other first-century apostles, teachers, and ministers felt it was a subversion of the soul to teach keeping the laws of Moses to Christians. So why are we still hearing about Tithing in the church today? Under what authority do preachers have to go back into the old Testaments and pull out one law, use only a small part of that Law and place its yoke around the people of God? By which scriptural permission does today’s church have to determine which part of the Old Testament Christ didn’t fulfill, died for, and abolish forever?
Galatians 3:1 “O Foolish Galatians, Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?”
3:2 ” This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
3:3 “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
Would Paul call the church today foolish? Are we trying to become justified by the works of the law, which was designed to condemn us? What are the results of believing in the law of Moses to salvation? Where are the praise, worship, and celebration? All we have is condemnation, death, and hell. The Law was never to benefit mankind, it was to condemn mankind. But because we have been under oppression for so long, we seek an oppressor over us. Even when victory was found, we still seek a master over us. It is our nature to serve our abuser.
An abused woman will support her abuser. You cannot tell her she is being abused; she knows that. You cannot rescue her from her abuser; she will only return. If the abuser leaves her, she will find another. If you call the police while she is being beaten on her front lawn, she will get up and fight the police. She cannot be reached until she has had enough of the abuse. Then and only then will she leave in the middle of the night with only her clothes on her back. Then you had better have a safe place for you to go. A safe place all prepared to handle her fears and burdens.
That was what the death and resurrection of Christ is to the church. While we were under the abusive Law, we supported and defended it. We sought to be under it and defended it. But we were rescued by our Savior and are no longer over the taskmaster. But some are trying to keep their loyalty to the abuser, and it is an insult to our Savior.
Galatians 5:1-6 (along with Romans 4:13-16) (1) “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. “(2) “Behold I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.” (3) ” For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.” (4) “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (5) “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (6) “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
I believe Paul is very clear here; you cannot believe in the law and grace at the same time. You can’t serve two masters. Either Christ abolished the law, or He didn’t, and God will accept whichever choice we make. He will either judge us by the law or forgive us by the blood whichever one we select!
Galatians 3:10 or Malachi 3:10? ONLY the truth will set you free.
Galatians 3:10 “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”
Are you free to Christ or a slave to the Law? The Galatians were warned not to take even a piece of the law because they would be required to keep all of the law. They had been raised to believe in the law, were required to keep the law, and had followed the traditions of their fathers with the law. But they had forgotten the promise of a deliverer from the law. They had not learned enough about the redemption from the law that they could not recognize their kinsmen redeemer when they saw Him. It is natural to keep our traditions. They form our culture, and culture forms our heritage. But man can void the very word of God with his traditions. Mark 7:13 “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” Make up your mind saints, do you live in Old Testament times or New Testament time? Why would Jesus need to die on the Cross if you are still under bondage?
