This list of ignorant statements about tithing are listed here because they are the cream of the crop when it comes to oblivious arguments. Every time i hear these statements i either roll my eyes to the back of my brain or i shake my head in disbelief about how shallow their brain must be. I know my mood seems uncaring and sarcastic, well, that’s probably because it is. Sorry, it’s been a rough couple weeks. So, onward we go into the barren, thoughtless, and ignorant statements about tithing.
- You don’t pray about tithing, you do it
Who can recall the countless times I’ve come across this statement. This argument pretty much stems from the mentality, “God said it, and that settles it”. I could understand if we skipped the whole prayer thing if we were talking about murder, adultery, or stealing; but curiosity should arise when we realize that God is present, but I don’t need to pray because all I need to know is in this little black book. After all, it says “Holy” on the front, so it must answer all my questions. Who needs a God that is able to communicate? There are many other religions out there that pray to idols who can’t speak to them. For some reason, I don’t think God is made of wood or stone. - Tithing acknowledges that God owns it All
STOP! Think about that: Does giving 10% mean you are giving 100%? Notice how they always say that tithing “acknowledges”. They know it doesn’t bring fulfillment, or completion to stewardship. It’s because they know if we aren’t committed 100% to God, then 10% means nothing. It is very possible that many people have tithed without acknowledging that the other 90% belongs to Him as well. We’re in a bit of a quandary here. Is it tithing that acknowledges God owns it all, or it is a circumcised and sacrificial heart that acknowledges God owns it all. Which is it? - Freewill givers do not give as much as tithers
I am sure that is probably true, but the truth is not based on success or results. Let’s take Islam for example. Right now, it is the fastest growing religion in the world, so does that make Islam right and Christianity wrong? I’m even sure many more Muslims are ready to die for their faith than Christians are. (shout out to Achmed the dead terrorist!)One of the reasons tithers follow through with their commitment to giving more is because they place themselves under a storm cloud that will strike them with a curse if they disobey. Even though God directly says, “you are no longer under a curse”, tithers still think that God didn’t mean he removed the curse about tithing also. - All scripture is profitable
If I could define ignorance in one of these arguments listed here, well this is it. This is one of those responses i get when people think I’m just trying to throw out the whole Bible whenever i say that the tithe is no longer valid. Forget the fact that they don’t believe in the Sabbath on Saturday, animal sacrifices, or even clean meats for the same reasons i don’t believe in tithing. This is how it usually goes: I basically tell them that the tithe is no longer commanded, and they basically say, “How dare you throw out God’s Word”. Then comes either one of the two statements: ‘all scripture is profitable’ or ‘i did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. Why should I even bother asking them why they don’t fulfill the sabbath?. . . sigh. . . - God never Changes
This kind of goes along with #4 . . . as in why should I even bother asking them why God changed the sabbath, or the priesthood, or the temple. Debating with people over these tithing arguments is like arguing over an algebra equation with a 5-year-old when they don’t even understand multiplication. If tithers just stop and think about what they are saying, then they would soon realize that if God never changes in the way that they are implying, then we would still stone our children. This is what I mean when I said ‘thoughtless’ at the beginning of the blog. These tithing arguments are just that – thoughtless. - Where does the Bible say to stop tithing?
It doesn’t say, “stop tithing”. I believe there are over 600 some-odd old testament laws that we do not practice anymore. I would imagine if God took the time to rewrite a verse in the new testament commanding us to stop each law in the Old Testament, then our bible would be a few hundred pages longer. We are born again, adopted in God’s family, indwelled with God’s Spirit, and given a new covenant. On top of all this, the earthly priesthood was eliminated, the temple destroyed, and Judaism is not my religion, nor am i an Israelite; and yet, we find it hard to believe that tithing could have been replaced by Spirit-led giving. After all the changes, i think we need to find where the Bible says to continue tithing. Don’t you? - Tithing is the starting point
This philosophy is not even in the bible. First of all, first fruit offerings were given prior to the tithe, so tithes were not even given first. Second, tithes were only given from food and animals, and were not given from occupational income. So, there was no starting point for blacksmiths, lawyers, doctors, or carpenters.Here’s a little saying, that i’ve thought of all by myself (as you can see I’m boasting)
Where should our giving begin?
Where should our giving end?
WHICH ONE SHOULD WE TEACH? - Would you like God’s net or gross blessing?
No, this is not necessarily an argument used to defend tithing, but more or less used to persuade those who are tithing, to tithe more. First, this argument exposes the root of why tithing has such a hold on many lives. It is the promise of blessing and the fear of the curse. Who cares about gross or net blessing from God, you should want to do what’s right. Right is either right, and wrong is wrong. There is no gross right or net wrong. The problem is that those, who are concerned if they should tithe on the gross, ask others who couldn’t give you a biblical answer. So the best thing to do is conjure up a catchphrase that seems to have wisdom embedded in it. - How Much do you give?
Ah yes, this question is their famous “gotcha” argument. They know that biblical reasoning will not win their argument so they resort to personal attacks because your character is all they have left to attack. I have to admit, this is a tricky one to respond to. First, they have no business investigating what you give. Second, if you happen to give less than a tithe of your income, they let you know, your works do not shine as bright as theirs. Last of all, if you do give above 10%, they will convince you that tithing is the minimum and your conscience knows it. This question is in the ignorant list because either they want to corner you; no, not on biblical truth, but on your performance; and also it is ignorant because anyone should know better than to determine scriptural truth based on the performance of mankind. - We can’t rely on people to be Spirit-led
This is an ignorant statement that tithers unfortunately believe, and yet ironically in the same sentence, they believe the book of Acts is historically accurate. I don’t know, maybe they do believe the book of Acts was a fairy tale. What they are saying is that ‘i don’t trust that people can be Spirit led, but of course, the Christians in the book of Acts are the exception‘.With their ignorant statements, they don’t even realize that they deny the power that God has on his children. They deny the blood of Christ, and they deny that any Christian can be sacrificial and liberal with their giving while being filled and led by the Spirit of God. What a shame, and what ignorance. - How will the church stay open if we don’t tithe
There are thousands of non-profit organizations that keep their doors open all year without demanding, or imposing a tithe of their freewill donors. What makes us think that an operation that is commissioned and overseen by God’s almighty hand would fare less than any of these non-profit organizations? Are you kidding me? is your faith that little? It might just be that you have seen your astronomical church budget, and it is in the millions! Yeah, you’re right, if there’s anything that God could struggle with is to continue paying for your worthless, under-performing, humanistic kingdom that does very little in out-reach but a lot of in-reach. In that case, you are right, we probably would see some church doors close. That’s the price you pay when God is in charge of financing his kingdom.
Now i’m looking for your input. But please, if you have anything to say, ignorance is not welcome.
Ann says
Also, was not tithes for the Levites who had no lot or land. What have God taken from you and that the church needs to supplement? Just a thought.
OKema says
I am truly at a loss to convey
the words for the blessing of
knowledge given from this article. So many thoughts have
been confirmed that wake up
the Spirit of God in my life.
I have printed out the article
and I just want to say
Thank you for the blessing
and panacea of thought about
tithing and being Spirit led.
Dee says
I tithe because I want to and have never been guilted into it. The Bible doesn’t say anywhere, OT or NT, NOT to tithe, so I do.
And mind you, whatever argument anyone here can make about not tithing, it comes down to choice. I choose to tithe because it just feels right. 10% compared to what the tax man takes AUTOMATICALLY without even thinking about giving me a choice is truly why I feel good about tithing. The tax man takes more than twice as much and if the tax man TAKES over 20% without so much as my permission, surely God, who multiplies my finances (among many other more important things), deserves a mere 10th. And I don’t just tithe financially. I’m also trying to tithe at least of 10th of each day to prayer, studying and ministry as well.
I tithe and don’t give it a second thought. And I won’t give it a second thought. To each his own, I suppose. To me, it feels right and it being voluntary makes it feel even better. If I tithe because I felt forced, it would be spiritually moot because it would not be sincere.
In short, I tithe out of reverence, not fear. I tithe out of respect, not ritual.
This is a riveting conversation though.
Dee says
Now that I’ve given my heart, I’d like some feedback on scripture…NT scripture, that is.
Matthew 23:23: “23”Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
No, it’s not talking about money, but it IS talking about tithing. Here, Jesus has said tithing is not the problem here, but the neglecting justice, mercy and faithfulness is. So He’s not saying NOT to tithe. As a matter of fact, He’s sayiing just the opposite. He’s saying to tithe but cautions not them not to think that tithing alone is enough. In other words, He’s encouraging and admonishing them not to form the attitude of, “I gave my tithe. My part in the building of the Kingdom is done. I don’t need to do anything else.”
And this is just one of the seven woes Jesus about in Matthew 23. He’s addressing the hypocrisy of the leaders there:
Matthew 23:1-3:
1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2″The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
Luke 18:10-14:
10″Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13″But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14″I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
If tithing was not meant, why did Jesus not say it here? Or in the previous passage? He’s neither saying nor suggesting that there is something wrong with tithing. As a matter of fact, He’s very clear that there’s definitely something right about it.
And although He’s not saying in any way, shape or form that tithing is anything other than right, to be fair, He’s also not saying one HAS to tithe.
This takes me back to choice. I choose to give freely and honestly, I’m a living, breathing testimony that being the best Christian I can be with everything from my attitude to the way I carry myself to the way I walk and talk and to my manner of giving (both tithes and offerings) has absolutely garnered me God’s favor.
Ask me what my life was like before I started tithing. No, it wasn’t bleak but the very basic concept of “my cup runneth over” has become very evident as a result of tithing. How do I know? Because with God, there are no coincidences. I started givng without worry…cheerfully…without doubt that I wouldn’t be able to pay my bills, etc., and God just multiplied what I had given and gave it all right back to me and then some. …as recently as yesterday.
So, no, I don’t HAVE to tithe, but it’s certainly been one of the most wonderful, rewarding, spiritually trust-building decisions I ever made.
Gary says
Dee – Jesus was born, lived, and died under the OLD TESTAMENT LAW. The New Testament didn’t start until AFTER Jesus died on the cross. Jesus taught and fulfilled the law. He couldn’t have said for them to not follow the laws.
Others are missing an important point. Tithing was NEVER on INCOME, or anything that man made or earned. Tithing was always on GOD’S INCREASE, and NEVER on man’s increase.
Had God wanted everyone to tithe, He could have made it simple. Tithe on your income, or gross income, or net income, etc. But He didn’t give a command to tithe on man’s labor. His command was to tithe on HIS increase.
Man has diluted God’s tithe by replacing God’s miraculous increase with man’s achievements.
EnnisP says
There is no difference between “increase” and “income.” The argument is not even serious enough to qualify as semantic juggling.
The legal arguments are also smoke screens. How many of you anti-tithers are faithful to your wives only because the Spirit led you to be.
Gary says
EnnisP – Of course the definition of increase in Webster’s dictionary will include income. However, the definition is limited in the Word of God when it is in reference to the tithe. EVERY time the word “increase” is used in scripture referring to the tithe, the Hebrew meaning is increase of seed, or increase of crops. It is NEVER any other increase. Therefore, today’s definiton of increase includes income, but the Biblical definition, when referring to the tithe, means ONLY INCREASE OF CROPS.
Gary says
EnnisP – Also, the tithe was always on GOD’S INCREASE. Just read the scripture. “increase of the seed” In the one verse that states “your increase” the Hebrew defintion is, again, “increase of crops” so it is very clear in the scriptures that increase for tithing purposes is limited to crops, which come from God, not man.
Dustin says
Great post. I have struggled with this and i’m currently listening to a message about tithing and it’s making me sick.
rory says
anyone who reads the New Testament looking for a reminder from Malachi, or an instruction to tithe, will come up empty.
Paul founded a lot of churches and developed a lot of ministers, and said things like “THESE THINGS COMMAND AND TEACH….”
but shucks, he never told any of them to tithe.
Jesus clearly said “tithing is of the matters of the law..” Mat 23:23
Christ is THE END of the law to all that believe…
Learn to listen to God who will direct you to who and how much to GIVE. -and break the Sunday extortion habbit.
….
Sha'ul Dag says
CORRECTION. In the book of Acts, it speaks of Messianic Jews, and not Christians. The Apostles were Jewish. All Non-Jews (Which the Apostles were not), were Gentiles, who were grafted into the olive tree, but could never be Jews, but share the Salvation of Mashiach with the Jews. Christianity was created by Constantine the Great, many years after Yeshua was nailed to the tree. It’s origins were based in a combination of paganism, and a loose belief in Mashiach. To read the truth, go to this address.
Sha'ul Dag says
Rory, YOU ARE WRONG!! With the death of Yeshua, we were redeemed of THE CURSE of the Law, and not the Law itself. To say the Law is irrelevant, is to say all of the Old Testament is no longer valid!! Yeshua came to fulfill the Law, and not to eradicate it!! When he was on this planet, he reinforced the Law, and introduced the New Covenant!!
Jared Brian says
Sha’ul,
when a bucket fulfills its purpose, it means that it is full and can no longer accept anymore water. The bucket is not useless, it is not gone, it is not destroyed. it is just fulfilled and cannot be used anymore for new purposes.
The law is not destroyed, but We cannot use it because it is fulfilled. We cannot fulfill it anymore. Jesus fulfilled it. The law had a purpose just like a bucket did and Jesus filled it, leaving Christians no room to continue to use it apart from demonstrations.
The law brought us to Christ. It cannot bring us to Christ again and again and again. Once it is used to bring us to Christ, then the bucket is fulfilled. You do not have the liberty to empty it and re-use it.
– jared
Sha'ul Dag says
Steward,
When Yeshua was killed, he fulfilled the Law. The Law, is the word of G-d. Which means he fulfilled G-d’s word. Which means his promise, and prediction was fulfilled.
De 18:22
When a prophet speaks in the name of ADONAI, and the prediction does not come true -that is, the word is not fulfilled -then ADONAI did not speak that word. The prophet who said it spoke presumptuously; you have nothing to fear from him.
Lu 24:44 –
Yeshua said to them, “This is what I meant when I was still with you and told you that everything written about me in the Torah of Moshe, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.”
Joh 18:32
This was so that what Yeshua had said, about how he was going to die, might be fulfilled.
Ac 1:16
“Brothers, the Ruach HaKodesh spoke in advance through David about Y’hudah, and these words of the Tanakh had to be fulfilled. He was guide for those who arrested Yeshua –
Ac 13:27
For the people living in Yerushalayim and their leaders did not recognize who Yeshua was or understand the message of the Prophets read every Shabbat, so they fulfilled that message by condemning him.
Ac 13:33
he has fulfilled for us the children in raising up Yeshua, as indeed it is written in the second Psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’
Just 10 of the 613 Laws, are the 10 Commandments. To say the Law is irrelevant means we can lust, murder, steal, defy our parents, use the L-rd’s name in vain, lie, covet, and whatever pleases our flesh. This is a very dangerous mindset to have!!
Colossians|2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was
against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing
it to his stake;
Hebrews|4:8 For if Yeshua had given them rest, then would he not
afterward have spoken of another day.
Hebrews|4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of G-d.
Hebrews|4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased
from his own works, as G-d did from his.
Hebrews|4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any
man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Revelation|22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the
first and the last.
Revelation|22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they
may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into
the city.
Revelation|22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and
whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh
a lie.
Revelation|22:16 I Yeshua have sent mine angel to testify unto you these
things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the
bright and morning star.
Revelation|14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they
that keep the commandments of G-d, and the faith of Yeshua.
Why would we be rewarded for keeping the Commandments (The LAW), in Revelation, if the Law is no longer relevant??
Sha’ul
EnnisP says
Well said Sha’ul. The law is not the means of our righteousness but it is still the standard we follow.
Steward, your bucket analogy fits with prophecies which point to specific one time events (never to be repeated) but it has no bearing on universal principles by which we live our lives.
The death of Jesus was a “once for all” event which never needs redoing. But universal principles articulated in the law, which also existed before the law, have not been abrogated. As a Christian, I don’t obey these laws to become righteous, I obey them because I am.
Obeying the law as a Christian is an expression of love and gratitude. Grace keeps me going when I fail it doesn’t override my sense of love for or my desire to honor the law. King David, BTW, said he loved God’s law. I never get that sense from your posts.
And to keep this comment in line with the original post, giving and receiving is a universal principle. “Give and it shall be given to you,” according to Jesus is still valid and giving, like insurance, must be consistent, or it isn’t giving.
Jared Brian says
Ennis,
My ability to not wear clothing with 2 different types of materials(Leviticus 19:19) has nothing to do with prophecies.
Add to that . . . not only own slaves as property but beat them as long as they don’t die. (Exodus 21:20,21) . . and also . . .
rebellious children and adulterers shall be put to death (Leviticus 20:9,10)
With all this said ennis, you don’t even follow all the laws of tithing. I’m sure, like most, you just give a tenth and ignore all the other laws that were in place with tithing.
Put your money where your mouth is and follow the all the laws as a minimum standard like you say you should.
EnnisP says
Two questions:
Can you explain what underlying principles were being served by those laws and why they were used in the day but not now or do you just dismiss them as morally reprehensible?
And how would you know what tithing laws I obey and which I don’t?
Jared Brian says
there is no more Levitical tribe to tithe to. that’s how i know. you wouldn’t happen to have a Levite in your closet would you?
Sha'ul Dag says
Steward, Leviticus 19:19 speaks of sickness spread through clothing. Tzara’at was an illness like Leprosy. It affected clothing, as well as human flesh. It also does not speak of wearing a wool shirt, and cotton pants. It states that Linen and Wool should not be combined into one garment because one was from animals, and one from plants.
Leviticus (Vayikra) 13:47-59
47 “When tzara’at infects an article of clothing, whether it be a woolen or a linen garment, 48 on the threads or the woven-in parts of either linen or wool, or on a hide or item made of leather; 49 then if the stain on the garment, hide, threads, woven-in parts or leather item is greenish or reddish, it is an infection of tzara’at and is to be shown to the cohen. 50 The cohen is to examine the stain and isolate the article that has the infection for seven days. 51 On the seventh day he is to examine the stain; if the stain has spread on the garment, threads, woven-in parts or leather, whatever its use, the infection is a contagious tzara’at; the garment is unclean. 52 He is to burn the garment, threads, woven-in parts of either wool or linen, or item of leather having the infection; for it is a contagious tzara’at; it must be burned up completely. 53 But if, when the cohen examines it, he sees that the infection has not spread on the garment or in the threads, woven-in parts or leather item, 54 then the cohen is to order that the article having the infection be washed and isolated for seven more days. 55 The cohen is to examine it after the stain has been washed, and if he sees that the stain has not changed color, then, even though the stain has not spread, it is unclean; you are to burn it up completely – it is rotten, no matter whether the spot is on the outside or on the inside. 56 If the cohen examines it and sees that the stain has faded after being washed, then he is to tear the stain out of the garment, leather, threads or woven-in parts. 57 If it appears again in the garment, threads, woven-in parts or leather item, it is contagious, and you are to burn up completely the article that had the stain. 58 But if the infection is gone from the garment, threads, woven-in parts or leather item that you washed, then it is to be washed a second time, and it will be clean. 59 This is the law concerning infections of tzara’at in a garment of wool or linen, or in the threads or the woven-in parts, or in any leather item – when to declare it clean and when to declare it unclean.
Exodus 21:20,21, and Leviticus 20:9,10 are a breakdown of the ordinances, stemming from the 10 Commandments of that day and time. When Yeshua died, all of the ordinances were revoked, but the Law still remains intact to this day.
As for tithing, Mal 3:10
Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and put me to the test,” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot. “See if I won’t open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs.
This is the ONLY TIME G-d says to put him to the test, and he asks for “The Whole Tenth”, or the WHOLE TITHE as our offering. I suggest you get into a Congregation that teaches the truth of the word, and not just pulling scripture out of context from the Bible, in order to meet their agenda. It will really be helpful for you to do so.
Shalom.
Sha’ul
Jared Brian says
Sha’ul Dag,
What does sickness spreading through clothing in the OT have anything to do with making it a requirement for us today? Besides giving a lesson on fabrics, you have proven absolutely nothing about your point.
What’s all this talk about the ordinances were revoked, but the law remains intact? I never said the law was destroyed.
Uniqueness doesn’t make Malachi 3 binding. The ability to prove God’s promises is not exclusive to tithing either. in fact, Gideon tested God 3 times! You act as if tithing is our one and only chance to to prove that God actually keeps his promises.