Gospel Giving

The New Testament Ordiance of Gospel Giving

Gospel Giving

Jesus Christ taught gospel giving. Luke 6:38. He taught it was a blessing to give. Acts 20:35.

And as in the New Testament, we are commanded to give;

To the poor. Matthew 19:21; Romans 15:25-27.
To the needy. Eph 4:28
Also to the need saints. James 2:15-17; 1 John 3:16-18.
To them who preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthian. 9:7-14; Galatians 6:6

This is a duty of the Saints of God. 1 Corinthian 16:2; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 6:17,18.

As God’s people we are not to give grudgingly, but cheerfully and as we purpose in our heart.

Not grudgingly, but cheerfully and as we purpose in our hearts, not of necessity 2 Corinthian 9:7
We are to give freely. Matthew 10:8
As the Lord prospers us. 1 Corinthian. 16:2
As we are able. Duet. 16:17
Not to be seen of men. Matthew 6:1-4.

Today there is a setup among many so-called churches, where there is a compelling force being preached, “that if you don’t give a certain amount each week, you are not saved or you have sinned, robbed God and you are going to hell. If you don’t give you cannot participate in certain function or events. Also what you give is recorded for others to see and figure how much you give, or have given. And if it is not enough, they want to know why and how come you cant give more. Your name is read publicly or placed annually on some man fact sheet of how much you have given. There is also the public solicitation from the unsaved to help out the church and their finances. 3 John 4-8. Public offering are lifted, public fund raising and money begging drives to help out God in his work, so they say. But I find this all disturbing because this is not the gospel of Jesus Christ regarding our giving. God never needs the unsaved to support his program, and God’s people don’t have to be horse whipped into giving if they ar taught concerning it the right way.

Some by force and intimidation are making merchandise of God’s people, telling them if you don’t give 10% of your earnings, you are going to hell or you have robbed God. The Bible teaches us to give, but in this Holy Ghost dispensation where we are govern by new covenant, there is no stipulated amount concerning our giving. Under the Law of Moses there was a stipulated amount, but in the New Testament the bible says “Every man according as he purposed in his heart so let him give. This is the universal voice of the bible now concerning our giving.

What is tithing, and where did it come from?

The true origin of tithing is unknown. We find that it was practiced by both Jews and Gentiles at a very early date, but we have no record of where or when it had it beginning.

Abraham’s Tithe

The first biblical account we have of tithing is where Abraham on his return from the slaughtering of the Kings, gave Melchisedec, the King of Salem the tenth of his spoils. See 14:17-20.

Jacob’s Tithe

Some time later Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, who had been evicted from his father’s house, promised God that if He would restore him to his father’s house is peace he would give him a tenth of all that God gave him. See Genesis 28:20-22. God heard his prayers and granted his request, and furthermore gave him his father’s inheritance, the land of Canaan, for his future possession. See Genesis 35:11,12. Then, according to the contract, the tenth of the entire production of the land of Canaan legally belongs to God, and to withhold this tithe from God was considered robbery. See Malachi 3:7-10.

Moses Tithe

Later, when Moses gave the Law to Israel (Jacob’s posterity in Canaan, this contract was remembered and inserted in the Law to impose upon the Israelites during the life time of the nation, or their stay in Canaan Land. See Leviticus 27:30-34. As this contract was made with Jacob and only included Jacob’s inheritance, the land of Canaan, it could not be extended beyond its bounds, or to any other people. This is how and why tithing was carried into the Jewish church and imposed upon them as a duty to be observed.

Tithing was Israel tenth of the gross production of the land of Canaan which included every see planted in the ground, oil, wine, all livestock, herbs, with nothing exempted. See Leviticus 27:30-35. This was Israel’s tithe, and the people today who claim to be tithing are not doing the same. Just giving 10% of your monetary earning is not 10% of your entire production. Tithing, like all other types and shadows of the old law covenant was fulfilled by Christ. Matthew 5:17,18. “Fulfill” means “To bring to a close, to finish”. When Christ expired on the cross and said, “It is finished”, John 19:30, all things written of him then fulfilled. See John 19:28. The Law then came to an end and passed out just as Jesus said it would. For additional proof, See Galatians 3:24,25; 4:22-31; Heb. 8:6-13; 10:9

Why was it abolished?

The Old Testament tithing system was abolished because of its many faults and imperfections. This shall I prove. See Hebrews 7:19; 8:6-8; Heb 10:1; Col 2:14-17; Gal 3:24-26; Hebrews 10:9; Romans 6:14. Among these groups of shadows, tithing was one of the most beautiful and attractive of them all, when properly understood. Here it is:
- Literal Israel consecration of her physical energies in literal Canaan, beautifully typifies spiritual Israel’s consecration of her spiritual energies in spiritual Canaan. “The experience of entire Sanctification”. They gave in part, but in order to receive God’s blessing, but we give our all.

Again it is wrong because it is not a law of equality; for this imposition would work a hardship upon one class while another class could live in luxury and at ease, because some are more able to give than others. This contrary to the principles of Christianity which forbids such distinctions. See 1 Corinthians 12:24,25.

And again its principle is wrong because it is a fixed law of taxation imposed upon another person without his consent. This is also contrary to the law of liberty and freedom given him by inspiration. See 2 Corinthian 9: 6-9.

Again, its principle is wrong because it cannot universally be applied. No man can thith who income is below the cost of production. We have many today who are on relief with no income at all. These certainly could not tithe. Since the tithing system cannot be universally applied proves it does not belong to the gospel of Christ. It belongs to the law, the old yoke of bondage, just as Jesus says does. Matthew 23:23.

Now, let us see if in the New Testament the Church of God was tithing. If they were, we will have proof of it in both precept and example.

The church at Jerusalem. Acts 4:32-37; 5:1-4
The church at Corinth. 2 Corinthian 9:6-9
The church at Galatia. 1 Corinthian 16:1,2

Tithers, having no scripture to support them in their false claim, resort to such scriptures that they can wrest unnoticed for their proofs. These are the scripture that they wrest for their false claims.

Malachi 3:7-10 – This was written to the sons of Jacob, the nation of Israel, not the New Testament church of God.
Matthew 23:23 – Here Jesus plainly states that tithing is of the Law.
Genesis 14:17-20 – Concerning Melchisedec Ministry. Also see Genesis 17:23-27 (The Covenant of Circumcision), and Galatians 3:8-18.
Hebrews 7^th Chapter – Concerning Abraham’s Tithe

These Tithers, in their little book on tithing, lament finding so little about tithing in the New Testament, the reason for this is because the writers of the New Testament knew that it had been abolished. And if tithing was a doctrine of the New Testament Church, and is commanded as some Tithers claim. We would have to tithe regardless of our poverty or inability to do so, or else quit profession to be saved.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, I wish to advise that I do not object to tithing or any other method of gospel giving provided it is done voluntarily. If you want to tithe you have a perfect right to do so, and if you do, God will bless you for it, however not because you were tithing but because you were giving; and the more you give, the more you will be blessed 2 Corinthians 9:6-9. What I object to is the false claim that tithing is a doctrine of the church, commanded and enforced by intimidation and threats, as some are doing, thereby making it a test of fellowship.