TITHE OR DIE?

Tithing was a system set up for the tribe of Levi. When the promise land was divided up amongst the twelve tribes of Israel, the Levites were allotted no land. For The Lord was to be their portion in this life. Therefore they weren't permitted to farm or raise livestock because they had no land to cultivate.

Money was never tithed....Only products of the land were tithed. Tithes are how the Levites got their produce and animal sacrifices were how they got their meats. ONLY descendants from the tribe of Levi were entitled to the benefits of the tithe.

If you were a member of another tribe and you were NOT a landowner, you were NOT required to tithe. Only landowners tithed.

Within the early church, Christians and Gentiles never tithed, period. Jews who had converted to Christianity never tithed...period. We haven't one command in the New Testament telling us to tithe 10% of our income. Jesus addressed the hypocrisy in how the Jews were tithing, but never did Jesus ever suggest that his Gentile followers needed to tithe to the Jews. Nor did Paul, James, John, Peter or Jude. Not once did ANY of the Apostles liken themselves unto a "spiritual Levite" (in typology) who now requires 10% of the collective body's income. Fact of the matter is, Christians are never seen tithing anywhere in the New Testament. Why? Because the commandment to tithe only applied to Jews who had active Levites serving in an active temple. The commandment to tithe and the benefits thereof, ONLY went to Levites. Nowhere do we have a record of a "Christian" form of tithing in typology or otherwise ANYWHERE within early Christianity. The only thing you find within the historical record, is Christians giving as the Lord leads them. No set amount was ever imposed upon the early church. They simply gave whatever amount the Lord led them to.

Simply put, any pastor who claims you NEED...you MUST...your salvation depends upon it and "GAWD" COMMANDS that you give him 10% of your paycheck... is in desperate need of a biblical and historical overhaul in regard to the Christianity he has hijacked. Such a one is in desperate need of repentance from lying to God's people (whether intentionally or unintentionally)

Fast forward to the 21st century:

Did you know that the Jews don't even tithe today? Why? Because they have no Temple just yet. The system of tithing was abolished when the temple was destroyed way back in 70 AD.

In the words of a prominent Jewish Rabbi (whom upon the information in this article is based) "If any member of my synagogue paid tithe in the scriptural manner, he would be disobeying the law of God—he would be sinning against God."

He went on to inform me that since the Bible demands that the tithe be paid to Levites, he said it would be wrong to pay it to anyone else. And further, because there is presently no official Levitical order of Priests ministering at a Temple in Jerusalem, this makes it illegal at this period to pay any biblical tithe whatsoever. He went on to say, however, that the moment a Temple is rebuilt, with its altar in operation and with the priesthood officiating at that altar (and the Levites there to assist them), then every Jew who lives in the tithing zones mentioned in the Bible will be required to tithe according to the biblical commands.

There are no active Levites who are eligible to receive a tithe because there is no active Temple by which to initiate the tithe.

Therefore, there is no need, let alone requirement, within the non-Levitical order to tithe anything at all.

Then why do modern day pastors require a tithe? Are they the real Levites that has replaced Judaism's Levites? Not hardly; but yet the vast majority of "tithe or die" proponents elude to this if not ALL OUT blatantly teach this. Truth is, modern day Jews laugh and shake their heads in regard to the fools within Christianity who subject themselves to charlatans who have hijacked, cherry picked and bootlegged God's Word to make it a servant to feed their greed.

How many souls have these Charlatans verbally "damned to hell" all because someone couldn't afford to give 10% of their income because they had to feed and clothe their children?

How many marriages have been ruined through the unnecessary and unscriptural financial burden of tithing?

How many "curses" have been pronounced upon God's people for not doing what even the Jews are not expected to do?

How many people have turned their back on God because they REALLY think this is what God expects of them?

Many people think they have backslidden from God, when in reality they've backslidden from religion...they've backslidden from an already backslidden state of spiritual affairs. They've backslidden from a God-forsaken system of apostasy and filthy licentiousness. But the tragedy is, as stated, these people are under the impression they were involved in a Biblically based movement... that God Himself approved of. So now, they are angry, embittered and hateful toward what they think is God...but is really just apostate-heresy. Therefore, they want NOTHING further to do with ANYTHING "biblical". To reach such a one takes a miracle from God (I used to be that one).

See how most modern pastors live in the lap of luxury while denying needy families financial help unless they're a an active tither? Sickening.

Oh how they stroke, coddle and make their conscience purr by throwing a few measly cans of welfare-level goods at the people who are close to financial ruin. And are these canned goods purchased with the tithe and offerings of these churches? No, they are donated over and above what comes in via the offering plate, by food banks and those who already are tithing to that church. You see, once the pastor's salary and numerous vacations are paid for, not to mention the lavish sound system, new carpeting and the multi-million dollar mortgage...there just simply isn't enough to take care of people (especially if they're wicked non-tithers).

To pay for a building they have named "the church", they kick the actual hungry, starving, needy, disabled and elderly CHURCH to the curb, telling them if they tithe, "God will bless them and meet all of their needs according to His riches in glory".

You see, a pastor can't inscribe his name on the forehead of a brother or sister (the real church) he has recently sunk money into (getting glory for it)...so he rejects them (the real church) and chooses a church sign pointing to a building instead (the counterfeit church). And people flock to it like sheep led to a slaughter.

The church that needs to be taken care of isn't that brick building down the street...the church is YOU and I and ALL who have been redeemed by His blood. But unfortunately, the modern church has pushed aside the real church in place of an idol called a building and a pastor. And in so doing, they have rejected Christ.

" Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:41-46

Yes, the vast majority of the modern church preaches tithing so it can deny, reject, starve and flagrantly ignore Christ's Body...who is the literal epitome of His presence on the earth. "To the least of these...you've done it unto me..."

These thieves who are under the impression that their "personal Jesus" approves of such tactics will be handed a personal millstone from this very same Jesus on Judgment Day. Matthew 18:6/ Matthew 7:23

Fear tactics

spiritual blackmail

Holding one's salvation hostage

Guilt and condemnation

These are the tactics of career criminals such as the Papacy, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, Mike Murdock, and the entirety of their "wanna be" minions the world over. This is how a spiritual adulterer gets rich...by telling his flock they'll go to hell if they don't participate in and believe their lies.

If people such as this don't repent, may they go up in flames on Judgment Day.

There is much learning needed in the church. Most of this tithing nonsense is intentionally pushed on people by using guilt tactics, for the simple fact the so-called laity are riddled with greed through and through. Some pastors, through ignorance, are simply doing what they think God wants them to. Their misunderstanding and acting upon it, comes from a desire to obey God. Some pastors who preach tithing are doing it to honor God. I know of a few humble, righteous living men of God who preach tithing...not so they can get rich...but because they think it's what God requires of His people. So, in effect, they feel if they don't teach "what God requires" they are being disobedient to Him and hereby dishonoring Him. So you see, there are exceptions. But even within the exceptions, it's still error and it should be abandoned.

To the pastors who are not "getting rich" from tithing on a personal level but are doing it to keep the bills paid so the church doesn't go into foreclosure:

Perhaps you shouldn't have built a church under the pretenses of tithing?

If you built and grew your church under the pretenses and necessity of tithing...rest assured, you will have to maintain that church under the pretenses and necessity of tithing.

Under whatever conditions you build ANYTHING...you will require those very same conditions in order to maintain it.

If you took your earthly-minded eyes off of expensive bells and whistles so as to attract the world and compete with other churches...perhaps you wouldn't need to teach tithing at all?

Perhaps if you just taught as the New Testament teaches...maybe if you adhered to what the early church did by teaching the principle of "Give as you have purposed in your heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, but cheerfully" you could then have a clean conscience? (2 Cor 9:7)

A clean conscience where the teaching of the Word of God is concerned, should be more sought after than trying to prevent a building from being foreclosed upon.

"But what if I tell my flock the truth in regard to tithing...that there is no set amount...that it's whatever amount they have decided in their heart...and the building goes into foreclosure? " Answer: "Then you'd be suffering for doing what is right...you'd be suffering for previously doing what is wrong. Following the Word of God MUST be at the forefront of ALL we say, do, believe and teach...no matter what the consequences.

Pastors and prospective pastors: Build your churches the scriptural way. Don't copy and paste "bootlegged" Christianity/Judaism into your methods of church growth. Start in a house...then go from there as the Lord leads.

Do I have a problem with giving to ministries? NO, absolutely not. I serve in ministry and accept donations. I even have a donation section on this page. So I am certainly not against giving or being given to...as the Lord leads. But do I hold people's salvation in the balance in order to pressure them into giving? Do I say God commands you to give $____________ amount or you're in direct disobedience to God and His Word? Absolutely not!

We should give...whatever amount we and the Lord decide...cheerfully...not under compulsion.

Disclaimer: Modern day Jews do give money. They still (believe it or not) hold the chief seats in the synagogue in high regard. A lot of the proceeds to support local synagogues come from Jews annually purchasing specific seats in the synagogue that become designated for them and their families. Others just simply give as they feel led. They also donate money to fund the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem (which is nearly complete). But know this: Tithing is NOT pushed or even taught as you see it in the Old Testament (let alone in modern Christianity) in and among modern day Judaism. As you learned above, it would be considered a sin against God for a modern day Jew to require the tithe to go to ANYONE other than the ones God commanded it to go to: The Levites. And since there are no actively serving Levites within a temple...tithing is a tenant that CANNOT be taught nor observed.

But ironically, the modern-charlatan within apostate Christianity's favorite verse to guilt, shame and fear-monger people into giving, is Malachi 3:8 which reads ""Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings you have robbed me".

This verse is the "go to" verse for those who use tithing as a guilt mechanism to fill their wallet or pay church bills. There isn't a Jew alive, nor has there been since 70 AD that has preached this verse as such.

The only ones being robbed are the ones who are giving under the compulsory tactics of this taken out of context verse.

Modern Christian's needn't worry so much about robbing God...they should be worried about being robbed by those who bear the name of God.

May they all repent.

Giving to the work of the Lord under the direction of the Spirit and with a cheerful heart is Biblical. But being compelled or compelling others to give a set amount by using fear, guilt, shame, threat of hell and charlatan-like high pressure salesmanship as a law that MUST be abided by, is unbiblical and utterly evil.

Lest we be put to shame, may we shake and tremble in reverential fear before His Holy Word, seeing to it we accurately handle the Word of Truth as it is meant to be handled. 2 Timothy 2:15