Many pastors teach that Christians should tithe, but if you were at Sunridge this past Sunday, you know I'm not one of them. It's not because I think it's unbiblical, but because I think it's outdated. When Jesus died on the cross, we died to the Law—all of it, including tithing. God replaced the Law with the Spirit (Romans 7-8), and now we give as we are led by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 8-9).
This clip from the sermon was my most unscripted 60 seconds, so my words are not as precise as I would like. (For instance, the word "risk" implies that God didn't really know if grace would work better than law; of course He did.) But I hope you can see why grace giving matters to me. I'm not anti-tithing; I just don't want to revert to the Law in the era of the Spirit.
What do you think? Is tithing for today? And in what sense are Christians under the Law?
To view the entire message, click here.
Greg
I am anti-tithing and I have a 288 page book from my PHD thesis and a 2 hour video to tell you why.
True biblical tithes were always only food from inside Israel which had been miraculously increased by God. Although money was common even in Genesis and essential for sanctuary worship, money is never included in 16 texts which describe the contents of the tithe. Jesus, Peter and Paul did not qualify as tithe-payers and neither did the poor, the Gentiles, nor those who lived outside Israel.
The word "tithe" comes with Old Covenant legalistic baggage with should be offensive to New Covenant believers who have no beginning or ending percentage for giving. If you agree with me, please send your church name and address and I will add it to my list. Thank you.
Russell Earl Kelly
www.tithing-russkelly.com
Greg, have not listened to your message yet, so you may have answered this in the message. Grace giving appears to be structured, proportionate (which will end up being a percentage),and joyous. I don't think the Spirit eliminates discipline and means in His leading. When the average evangelical gives 2-3% it is sad that the Spirit is leading so few to give generously and joyously... okay so few are choosing to be led.
In the end using a percentage is pre-law and so perhaps post-law as well.
Chris
Chris, you make some good points. 1 Corinthians 16:2 is an important passage to study in regard to Spirit-led giving. And I find it interesting that many Christians who do strive to be led by the Spirit in their giving feel His nudge to give 10%. Based on Romans 8:4, it makes sense that He would put that amount on their hearts. But to me the process is all-important: listening to God vs. following rules. This is the new way of the Spirit, now that we have died to the Law.
The truth sets people free, however many christians are brainwashed in believing that tithing is a Christian doctrine. Thank God I am now free from this bondage and false teaching, and I now share with my fellow christians who wants to hear the truth.
Michael M London England