I have come to the place where I feel it is necessary to share what I believe God’s Word teaches about TITHING and the PROSPERITY/ BLESS ME doctrines which seem to pervade many churches today. 

I believe that the Word clearly teaches that our giving today should be led by the Spirit and that it should come from a generous heart rather than being demanded by a law. 

About a year ago I had an encounter with God …after having been a born again Christian for about 30 years. God literally stopped me in my tracks with His Word … 

“WHAT PROFITS A MAN IF HE GAINS THE WHOLE WORLD BUT LOSES HIS SOUL” 

(Question   What do you think God would say to you about your priorities and attitudes to wealth and the way you handle your money? ….. Would He say “Well done good and faithful servant? ….. I believe many in the Church would be as shocked as I was about His opinion) 

In looking with an open heart into what Jesus taught about worldly riches and His life along with the teachings of the Apostles and the practices of the early Gentile churches a stark distinction seems to exist with what is currently taught in many churches which could (with tongue in cheek) be illustrated as follows:- 

Luke 18:18-23              to the Rich Young Ruler 

Jesus said 

“Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and follow me” 

vs 

Church Today 

“Sell 10% of what you have and give it to God (ie us) and you will have treasure on earth and join our church.

Unpopular Teaching 

What we seldom hear in today’s church is what Jesus actually says about money ie 

Mat 6:19     “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...” 

Mat 6:21     “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also” 

Mat 6:23     “No man can serve two masters……You cannot serve God and Mammon (ie riches)” 

My great concern about tithing and the prosperity doctrine as taught today is that when Gods people get into reading His word they will arrive at the conclusion that they have not been taught the  truth by their Churches 

The second concern about tithing and the prosperity doctrines as taught today is the impact they have on the poor….those who Jesus loved and came to help. They are left to feel that they cannot participate in Gods blessings as they are unable to tithe (if not possibly going to hell because they are thieves) and that God isn’t real or maybe doesn’t love them because they are not rich which is totally contrary to Gods word. 

Luke 6:20  Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of God 

Jesus says     ‘I am the Way, the TRUTH and the Life’   (Jn 14:6)

……there must never be any question that God’s Word is compromised to teach a convenient rule or an appealing/compromising doctrine 

Jesus says    ‘You will know the truth and the truth will set you free’ (Jn 8:32) 

Rom 8:1   ‘Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’  

Mat 13:18-23   The parable of the sower explained gives a clear explanation of where much of the church is at… 

                        ‘Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 

                   If we don’t want to find ourselves choked and unfruitful in the kingdom the only answer is to learn to receive your needs from God thru faith and for riches to be viewed as a blessing from God to enable us to be generous and to sow into the kingdom!

 

Other resources

   www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com

Russell Kelly  - a PHD theologians thesis on tithing

   www.tithingdebate.com

Free online books