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LETTERS TO THE REMNANT CHURCH
TITHING - LAW - GRACE
"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith ti them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin (RM 3:19-20).
"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (JN 4:23-24).
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (JN 1:17).
"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, (circumcised oof heart, not flesh), and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (PHL 3:3).
"But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster (GAL 3:23-25).
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even wee have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified (GAL 2:16).
"And by him (Jesus) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses (AC 13:39).
Are we worshipping under law, or are we worshipping in spirit and in truth? All mention of tithing in the new testament is a direct reference to "tithing as under (and according to), the law". Hebrews chapter 7 talks about how Abraham "gave a tenth part" to Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God. Verse 11 tells us that perfection could not be attained under the law (which included tithing). Verese 12 tells us then that the law itself, of necessity, had to be changed. Verse 18 tells us that there was a "disannulling" (annulling) of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. the changing or "disannulling" of the law was because of the weakness of the flesh. Verse 5 tells us directly that they are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people ACCORDING TO THE LAW, that is, of their brethren, thought they come out of the loins of Abraham.
The Levitical priesthood, being under the law, were commanded by MOses (God) to receive tithes (among other things) from their brethren, the children of Israel. Whether it's 1490 BC, or AD 2000, giving of tithes is STILL a portion of the law of Moses. It is a commandment that you have been set free from. "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (RM 8:2).
It is clear then, that tithing was, and still is, a part of the law.
What does the new testament have to say about "giving" (since it says nothing about tithing under grace).
"And all THAT BELIEVED were together, and had all things common; and sold their posessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need (AC 2:44-45).
"And the multitude of them THAT BELIEVED were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common...Neither was there any among them THAT LACKED... and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need (AC 4:32,34-35).
"Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up before hand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposes in his heart, (not according to the law), so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver (2COR 9:5-7).
"Distributing to the necessity of saints" (RM 12:13).
..."ready to distribute" (1TM 6:18).
..."and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men" (2COR 9:13).
"But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, "He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack" (2COR 8:14-15).
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churched of Galatia, even so do YE" (1COR 16:1).
"Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabus and Saul" (AC 11:29-30).
It seems then, according to scripture, that "collections" were taken among the churches when there was a need among other churches. Thus, the saints were "to give" according as they were led in their hearts to give, not according to the law. Not once, EVER, is there a mention of "tithing" under the new covenant. When Paul went to Jerusalem and met with Peter and James, they agreed that Paul should go unto the Gentiles. The "only" sttipulation they gave Paul was "to remember the poor", not that he should enforce tithing.
The way that it worked in the first century church was as follows: The saints sold goods and gave money whenever there were other saints in need. The money was given to the elders for distribution back to the saints. That is the way that it worked then, and that is the way it should work now.
DISTRIBUTION TO THE SAINTS, FOR EQUALITY AMONG THE SAINTS.
First of all, if you tithe, you are performing (working, ie: works) under the law. Second, if you give anything (no matter what you call it), to the church, the church does not distribute any of it back to the needy saints, (and there are MANY needy), but rather, the church uses every bit of that money on it's own needs, and cries for more, because it is behind in some payment or project. There is no equality among the people, there is however, much lack among the brethren.
Since the "elders" and "pastors" are not distributing according to the saints needs, (and according to scripture), but, are literally keeping people in bondage by making them tithe, which is under the law, we should leave them "out of the loop", and give directly to those that we know are in need. After all, they should be the recipients of the money, according to scripture, to ensure "equality" through "distribution".
You have been taught to tithe. You have been taught a lie. Because of the church's refusal to hear the truth, (and I am speaking to the pastors and all the leaders, so called, in the church today) this lie has become "iniquity" to the chhurch. Iniquity is nothing more (for explanatory purposes) than when a prolonged life in sin, becomes a "prolonged ingrained lifestyle" because of that sin, in that person. Because the church has "believed this lie", the LORD has sent "strong delusion" that they should not only believe this lie, but that they should "love" this lie as the very truth. Iniquity is no respecter of persons, it is the same, whether through the sin of an "unbeliever", or, through "disobedience, stubborness, and arrogance" of a "believer". IT IS SIN TO BOTH, and it has produced iniquity in both. Worshipping under the law is untruthful, it is unpure, and it is unrefined, and is NOT in the "truth of the spirit".
Now a word about Malachi. The book of Malachi was written about the Levitical Priesthood. It was written because the priesthood had become corrupted, polluted, and profaned. Read it, it is clear. "For the priest's (pastors) lips should keep knowledge, and they (Israel/church) should seek the law (truth) at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye (priests/pastors) are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law (truth); ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi (priesthood/pastor), saith the LORD of hosts" (MAL 2:7-8).
"Will a (priest/pastor) rob God"? If a priest took the tithe from the people and kept it for himself, he was indeed not only robbing God, but was in fact robbing the nation of Israel. If he did not "bring all the tithes into the storehouse," there would be lack, not only for the nation in God's blessing, but also in the house of Levi for their provision, for they lived off of a "tithe of the tithe."
Malachi does not "speak" to the people of God, but rather "speaks" to the priesthood of God as the ones who are the "robbers," and it is they (priests/pastors) who are bringing the curse not only upon themselves, but also upon the people of God.
By changing several words in three verses of scripture (RM 2:25-27), it becomes clear. I think that it will be just fine to do that in order to "clarify" this truth. I am neither violating the scripture, nor the intent of the scripture, for both "circumcision" and "tithing" (for both are "acts" that you do) are under the law, and are "interchangeable" towards fulfilling righteousness as far as the law and grace are concerned.
Scripture as written:
"For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Scripture as changed:
"For [tithing] verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy [tithing] is made [unrighteous]. Therefore if the [unrighteous] keep the righteouness of the law, shall not his [unrighteousness] be counted for [righteousness]. And shall not [unrighteousness] which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and [tithing] dost transgress the law?
So, to be circumcised will only do you good (toward righteousness) IF you keep the whole law. Likewise, tithing also will only do you good (toward righteouness) IF you keep the whole law.
Again, if you are led of the Spirit, you are not under the law (GA 5:18), "For sin sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (RM 6:14). I suppose then, by the reading of these two scriptures, one could ascertain that doing any part of the law (toward righteousness) would put one under the dominion of sin, instead of under the liberty of grace.
Remember, all the law is fulfilled in one word, even this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (GA 5:14), how?..."in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (HB 6:10).
I don't want to put to much emphasis on the difference between what is "under the law," and what is "under grace." I believe that those differences are pretty evident to both you (all) and to me. I also believe that is is evident that no righteousness can be fulfilled through doing any part of the law. So, the real thrust of this letter, is to show you (all) that "tithing" is most assuredly a commandment done "under the law," and "according to the law."
What will you do with the truth?