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Re: Re: “I believe you are going to go to hell (fire) if you don’t give your tithes.”
Submitted by Saved by Grace on 06/Jun/2009 in reply to Re: “I believe you are going to go to hell (fire) if you don’t give your tithes.” posted by Nick on 03/Jun/2009
Message:
My point in referencing overcomers in Revelation is not to quote you directly, but to discourage the use of “you are going to go to hell (fire) if” statements. These kinds of statements can be very contentious. I can not reconcile your statements of “I believe you are going to go to hell if you don’t give your tithes” and “I do NOT believe that a Christian has to tithe to attain salvation.”
I believe that Matthew 18:21-35 contains teaching on forgiveness (we must not expect forgiveness from God if we are unwilling to forgive others), not tithes and offerings. Whether those who do not tithe are “unwilling to sacrifice to Christ” or are “failing to live out Christian principals” is a judgment that I will leave to God. I do know that there are other sacrifices that God desires that are not monetary. Some people may not be able to give 10% of their income, but can give much more time than some who give 10%.
I did not make the statement, “we must never judge other individual’s actions.” In I Corinthians 5, Paul wrote “not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.” The purpose of this discipline was “that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” I hope that we never shun someone based on their lack of tithing. I agree that we should allow not only the pastor but all the members of the congregation the opportunity to share their convictions without biting and devouring one another.
Abraham tithed, circumcised, and offered sacrifices before the law. Each of these deeds became ordinances of the law. The ordinances of the law serve as shadows (Hebrews 8:5, 10:1) of heavenly things, of good things to come. We need circumcised hearts. We need to present our bodies a living sacrifice. To imitate the works of Abraham in the flesh is not the teaching of the gospel. Nevertheless, I understand your desire to be led by a spiritual principle. Truly, we must wholly dedicate not only our money, but ourselves to Jesus Christ. Our giving must not be limited to the church, but must include the underprivileged.
I am not seeking to prove that there is rarely any mention in churches throughout the world of tithes going to underprivileged groups. However, my personal experience is of preachers I have heard (in person, on the radio, on television), tracts on tithing, and internet sites discussing tithing. Although individual churches may use tithes to support the poor and needy, the reason given to tithe is usually to support the pastor, with no mention of the underprivileged.
I did not make the statement, “Christ condemned tithing.” Regarding Jesus statement, “these ought ye to have done,” we must remember that He was preaching to Jews under the law, not to Christian Gentiles. Jesus also spoke of offering animals for cleansing which Moses commanded (Mark 1:44, Luke 5:14) and circumcision (John 7:23).
A tithe, by definition, is a tenth part.
I want to be perfectly clear; I believe that “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” I believe most people who tithe, unlike the Pharisees, do so from a pure heart. I want to “let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). Before deciding how much to give, one should pray for God’s guidance. If one is not fully persuaded to tithe, I don’t want anyone to damn them to hell or make them feel like second-class Christians, by exalting tithers and abasing non-tithers.
I have always tried to give bountifully as God has blessed me. “I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things” (I Chronicles 29:17).
I even try to give anonymously so as not to call attention to my giving because I want God’s reward, not man’s praise. “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:3-4).
For more information on tithing, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithing
For anyone that reads this that doesn’t attend The House of Prayer, I want you to know that it is a very special church. Pastor Butch White is very deep in the Holy Bible and preaches to edify and exhort the body of Christ. He hears your questions, concerns, and comments. Brother Nick White is a dedicated Christian who does not hesitate to help those in need.
Our discussion here is an example of the liberty we have to discuss the living Word of God. We do not harbor any ill feelings towards one another. As evidenced by Brother Nick’s response to my original message, our beliefs are very similar. We both support liberal giving; we both discourage covetousness and legalism. May God bless us all as we endeavor to be epistles of Christ, known and read of all men.
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