By

Rev. Christopher J. Derring,Th.D

There is a little secret that most ministers don’t want you to know about. I am writing this teaching, not to name names, not to criticize or judge anyone. But to hopefully set some people free from a heavy burden that God never put upon us and never required of us. This man made Law of sorts demands that we as Christians “pay God” 10% of our Gross income. Commonly known as the Tithe. You will be hard pressed to find a mainstream church today that does not believe in this so called Biblical principal. The problem with this is that God never required us as New Testament believers to Tithe 10% of our Gross income nor did God require Old testament Believers to Tithe 10% of their Income either. “Wait just on second you say“, what about Malachi

Well, I’m glad you asked lets take a look at it here.

8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Malachi 3:8

Yes, here in Malachi the Bible talks of Tithes but before you say I’m a crazy nut job who is misinformed and wrong about tithing lets take a look at what the tithe really is.

30And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the LORD. Leviticus 27:30

Notice here what was to be tithed unto the Lord

Let’s look at the book of numbers to further our understanding of what was to be tithed upon.

27And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress.

28Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest. Numbers 18:27-28

Again, notice what was to be offered up unto the Lord here.

The Children of Israel were to give of their corn and their wine (grapes) unto the priest. This was what they were required of God to give.

17Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand: Deuteronomy 12:17

Wasn’t food the money of the day back then ? NO !

Many people assume there was no money back then, therefore, the food was what people bartered with and therefore it was a currency of sorts. This is not only false it is also not Biblical we see as early as Genesis the use of actual money

The word money, often referred to as a shekel is seen over 40 times in the Bible before the command of the tithe is ever given in Leviticus 27. So it is very clear that there was money at the time of the first tithe and that it was not required to be tithed upon. Are you shocked yet ? Have you been taught to tithe 10% of your gross income or God would curse you ? Have you been pressured and guilted into giving money you really didn’t have to give. Have you gone without to give your tithe instead ? Don’t feel bad many of us have but we are not going to be lied to and used any longer by preachers who are either misinformed or flat out using us to make a quick buck.

What about my church how will they operate without tithes &

Aren’t we commanded to bring our tithe to the storehouse ?

10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10

Ministers need to stop scaring people and start trusting God. The Lord will provide the needs of the Church just fine. I truly believe people would give more if they wanted to give rather than being threatened with curses from God or rittled with guilt because they can‘t afford to give 10%. If your church is feeding you spiritually and blessing you then you should give to it’s cause monetarily according to what God has given you and according to what you have purposed in your heart. You will be blessed, and your churches needs will be met.

I’m almost convinced, but what about Abraham, Didn’t he pay monetary tithe to melchizedek before the Law ? NO !

In Genesis 14 we see Abram giving Melchizedek the High priest and King a so called Tithe and it was in fact monetary so some critics will say there is a precedent for tithing of money. That is simply wrong and not at all what the Bible says about it here are some facts to support this.

1. Abram was not tithing off of income.

2. he was never asked by God or anyone else to do this.

3. The custom of a tenth was very common in ancient lands.

4. Abram gave a tenth of the spoils of war to melchizedek but did not keep any of the remaining 90% for himself.

This is clearly not Abraham tithing 10% of His gross income in fact this was not ever a Command of God nor is it today !

Today’s standard of Giving, as required by God

In the Old Testament the tithe was to support the temple and those that ministered to it. In the New Testament, all we see is the commandment to give freely as we so chose to give and that with a willing heart.

No New Testament epistle contains any instructions or a rebuke for failing to tithe. No Apostle ever instructed the church to tithe. In fact we see that a number of rich people gave more than 10%, i.e. Barnabas.

I pray that this teaching has set you free from the burden of tithing and from it’s guilt. I absolutely believe in prosperity and that God desires for us to have more than enough. I believe that if and when you chose to give a free will offering according to what you purpose in your heart that God will bless you and I pray that you will give to those whom God speaks to you about giving and I pray you will do because you want to and enjoy it. Not because some man says you have to. God bless you my friends !