The Tithe Again?

I have done many studies on this subject over the years, and I keep finding that other preachers of the gospel are being awakened on this subject and how dangerous it is to the body of Christ. But today I want to list four things I see the “Church” teaching that is not for today, and some of their teachings are twisted and even wrong according to the scriptures. I will list the four points and then expound on each one as I see it being taught wrongly.

1. Let’s start with King Melchizedek in Genesis 14: 18-20, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” KJV

Has the “Church” been teaching this scripture wrongly all these years? Yes and No! (Please go read my previous letter I wrote on March 3, 2021 for your answer.) It looks to me like Melchizedek gave Abram a tenth of all he took in this war with Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam, to recapture Lot and all the people that were taken.

(Let me say before I answer this question that the KJV is sometimes very difficult to understand, to say the least.) If we look at Hebrews 7:2, Paul explains it to us as he writes (to whom Abraham gave a tenth part of all…, verse 4- now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.)

I see here that Paul has interpreted that verse as “he” being Abraham. So the KJV translators got their placement wrong by putting this part in verse 20. I have not found in scripture where two thoughts are in the same sentence. But the again I’m not a scholar, barely made it through English class with a passing grade, so I may be wrong in this regard. Anyway it seems to me that Abram owned all this booty of war by right of conquest.

Even if he gave a tenth, it was only a gesture of respect to a king that was blessing Abram by giving food and drinks whereas none of the other kings were doing. Abram could have kept it all, but he was not that kind of person. He gives it all back to the people it belonged to, except a portion to those who fought with him. He had accomplished what he had set out to do, free Lot and his family from slavery by this evil force that took them.

This does not set any precedent to the modern church for it to be the reason for their teachings on tithing as a doctrine for the body of Christ. It was a spoil of war, and it belonged to Abram by right of conquest. It was not anything which he already possessed as his own wealth. And, he was a very rich man to have 318 servants.

2. The Levitical law of tithe was on produce or livestock, nothing else! It was only on their produce and animals that they raised. This can be taken back to the book of Genesis 4:3-4, where Cain offered up the fruit of the ground and Abel offered up fruit from his animals. (I know this is two different things,)but this is what God wanted in the tithe. It was never about money, only their increase from the labor of their hands.

It was never on their seed, but only a tenth of their increase. I hear modern preachers saying to tithe on your whole paycheck before taxes and not what you take home. Poppycock! I spent many years under this ungodly burden and my family suffered for it. God never required it of His people and they were blessed by Him.

How unstable is the ground of this modern tithe teaching? No scripture for them to stand on when they apply this Levitical Tithe to the church of today. It only benefits them and their little tithe scheme, in reality a false ponzi pyramid, not one set up by God.

3. Malachi 3:10, “bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse…” This scripture is the whipping post that the church uses to force Gods people to give into their scheme. But if you look at the whole book of Malachi you will see who God is talking to. Mainly the priest, the Levites, are stealing from God, and thereby robbing the people of their blessings.

You can’t rob God but you can rob Him through his people. This is one area the modern church leaders are still doing. They are robbing God by teaching this ungodly principle of “tithing money.” Once again I want to remind you to check out my other two letters on the tithe for more clarity on this subject.

4. We are gentiles and cannot, and should not be recipents of the tithe! The tithe was only meant to take care of the Levitical Tribe of Priest who had no inheritance except the Lord. The tithe was their only means of support. This is what the prophet Malachi was writing about. Never was it intended to be used by the Christian Church leaders.

The “organized church “ has made a neat little package of self imposed, self absorbing, self serving tithe God intended only for his Levitical priesthood. Where is the help for those who are less fortunate, the widows, the orphans, and those who are hurting in the church community today? This is why Paul spent so much time trying to guide and teach the Church on how to provide for ourselves by working. This was so that you could have the means to help those in the Church community that needed it.

The modern church is such a burden to itself. The resources the people give are spent on upkeep of a building that only gets used a few times each week. Also the salaries, bills, insurance, etc., to the tune of 85-90% of which comes in. This does not leave much left over for the work of ministry does it?

People used to look to the church for answers and now the church has become so stale it’s almost useless, and the world has almost ceased to look at it for help. We, the body of Christ can only turn our heads for so long, until we get fed up with the self indulgence lifestyle of our leaders and the lack of physical help to those we see needing help in the church body.

I hope this letter is of some benefit to all who read it. Please take care of your family needs first, (I said needs, not wants) then look for ways to help your brothers and sisters in your local church, and then give to your church that you go too. I am not against giving in the offering on Sunday, but please don’t call it a tithe. Remember God loves a cheerful giver, 2 Corinthians 9:7, and no one can be cheerful when they are forced to give.

Remember you will make it, just don’t give up. I hope to get back to writing weekly very soon. I love you all, and thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you.

In His Service As Kilted Priest