I do, however, acknowledge and appreciate your effort to give some guidelines to giving as you teach it and practice it. That is far better than being mysterious about it.

Abraham tithed war spoils, NOT from his income or wealth. That was a one-time event recorded in over 2,000 years of Biblical history. Jacob only vowed to tithe IF God met his conditions. There is no record whether Jacob in fact tithed or not, and if he did, who he gave it to.

Hebrews 7 starts talking about Melchisedec and Abraham’s tithe. That’s the ONLY commandment, or law, being spoken of. Then in Hebrews7:12 we are told “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” Then in verse 18 we are told “For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment…” Verse 18 tells us tithing had been abolished.

Ephesians 2:15 and Colossians 2:14 plus many other verses tell us the law ended at the cross. Tithing was part of the law. Abraham’s tithe was not commanded by God.

In the Old Testament, you PAID a tithe to God by taking it to the Levites. You gave God offerings by BURNING them. That was the only way to give to God. In the New Testament, it is not possible to pay a tithe to God because the Levitical priesthood ended, and God NEVER authorized the Christian Church to receive his tithe. In the New Testament, it is not possible to give offerings to God. Giving to a church is NOT giving to God.

In the New Testament we can give to the Lord by following what Jesus said in Matthew 25:42-45. Giving/helping the poor is giving to God.

I have electronically published my latest book, THE PRINCIPLES OF NEW TESTAMENT GIVING, which is available, free of charge as a download, at my newest website, http://www.NewTestamentGiving.com. I cover God’s gifts to us, how God wants our giving to Him to begin with ourselves, what God wants us to do with our money, principles of giving, when and how to give, and more.

I believe that God is more concerned with how much we keep for ourselves than He is with how much we give. Some will argue that our giving should be more like the “graduated income tax” in that the more money one makes, the higher percentage he or she should give. But there is NO percentage to start with. Many should be giving 20%, 30%, or more, while others may only have a dollar to give. Each must pray and be led by the Spirit.

I consider it an honor and privilege to give to those in need. Giving need not be to a church or charity. Giving can be direct to those you know need help. However, those who attend a local church are morally obligated to “pay their share” as the bills must be paid. If you want a building to worship in, air conditioning, etc., those using it need to pay for it. Those who are able should even help pay the share of others less fortunate.

My giving is led by the Spirit. When attending a church, I decide or a “regular donation” to pay my share since a church needs to have a budget. Then I pray and let the Spirit guide me for any amount above it. Sometimes I an led to give a large amount; sometimes nothing additional.

My biggest blessings have come while being a cheerful GIVER, not while I was a tither. Paying a tithe is like paying your income taxes. There is nothing pleasurable about it. I find much pleasure and satisfaction in my giving where I know it is making a difference.

We are able to give from our earnings. The Lord’s tithe was ALWAYS on the miraculous increase of God and NEVER on anything that man made or earned. It was NOT on man’s increase. My book on tithing can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.tithingbook.info.

God has called me to teach the truth about His tithe as well as to teach stewardship and giving. This is now what I do. And since I am retired, I never charge or any of my services, and actually refuse to accept any donations to my ministry. God has already blessed me, and now I am giving back to Him.

My major objection to forced tithing is that Jesus no longer gets the praise or glory for any favor and healing but the tither and the tithe payment gets all the credit. In other words it is like God had to be paid for goods and services just like paying a bill in exchange for a product. Wasn’t the point of Christ coming was that we were incapable of keeping the law and were lawbreakers with a sin-nature. It just makes no sense to teach that this is the Dispensation of Grace while demanding that one of the Old Testament laws must be kept for the Lords favor. Hmm… its the one about paying money! Smacks of manipulation to me!

You can’t be cursed if you are in Christ, for Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. If you want to feel justified by your works go right ahead I would rather rest in the finished work of Christ and believe him when he said it is finished.
Sign me Happy that my debts are “paid in full” by Jesus I give under grace not to keep the law that Jesus fulfilled for me. Since the tithe promoters are teaching the tithe law where is the command to keep the other six hundred and twelve laws?