*7 REASONS WHY EVERY BELIEVER SHOULD PAY THEIR TITHES ?" PART 5c*
by Segun Olumide *PRECONDITIONS FOR HEAVEN SERIES (Every Sunday)* *LECTURE 64: SEVEN REASONS WHY EVERY BELIEVER SHOULD PAY THEIR TITHES — PART 5c* Sunday, 18th September, 2022 (Released Tuesday, 20th September, 2022)
*Introduction* Some weeks ago, we considered the first reason out of the 7 reasons why every believer should pay their tithes. The following week, we looked at the second reason. Then, we dwelt on the third reason. Later on, we dealt with the fourth reason. After that, we looked at the first part of the fifth reason. Next, we continued with the second segment of the fifth reason. Now, we are completing the the fifth reason with its third segment. That first reason mentioned was — *REASON 1: TITHES STARTED BEFORE THE LAW; WERE EFFECTIVE AND REINFORCED UNDER THE LAW; AND CONTINUES AFTER THE LAW – UNDER GRACE* The second reason was — *REASON 2: TITHES BELONG TO GOD.* The third reason was — *REASON 3: REFUSING TO PAY YOUR FULL TITHES & OFFERINGS TO YOUR LOCAL CHURCH MEANS YOU ARE A THIEF STEALING GOD'S MONEY/RESOURCES* The fourth reason was — The fifth reason was — *REASON 5: THERE ARE GENUINE WITNESSES ESTABLISHING THE TRUTH* Now, we want to conclude: *SECTION 2: WITNESSES AGAINST THE TRUTH*
According to the article titled: *"3 Nigerian Pastors United Against Tithing Like Creflo Dollar"* published by Ademola Adegbamigbe for PM News, on 5th July, 2022, Sunday Adelaja, founder and president of the Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of all Nations headquartered in Ukraine, said: *"Matthew 23v23 is not addressed to the followers of Jesus. He was talking to the Pharisee. And he was not asking them to pay money tithe. He was saying they pay tithe of mint, dill and cumin, not money tithe.* *"There is no place in the scripture where money is paid as tithe. The only place where money is allowed is in Deuteronomy 14v22-28 where the Lord says the people can exchange their tithe for money in case the products they are carrying are too heavy for them and that they should eventually use the money to buy what they like and eat. That is the only place where tithe is mentioned in connection to money.* *"I don't believe tithing is commanded in the New Testament. We are under no obligation to pay tithe. Nobody should force you to pay tithe. But on your own, you pay out of love."* That was the submission of Sunday Adelaja. I have known for awhile that Sunday Adelaja does not believe in tithing. I read it in one of his books. As a matter of fact, he taught the Church members to rather give in form of alms to the poor instead of tithing! Malachi 3:10 KJV So, the divine command: *Bring ye all the TITHES into THE STOREHOUSE, that there may be MEAT in MINE HOUSE,* has been cleverly replaced with: *Don't give TITHES; rather turn them to ALMS and give them to the POOR in the neighborhood, that there may be MEAT in THEIR HOUSES.* But, Jesus differentiated between tithes and alms, which are both important. Luke 11:41-42 KJV It's totally unScriptural to replace tithes with alms, or vice versa. And Jesus encourages both. Although, I respect Sunday Adelaja and some of his teachings on finances are eye-opening, yet he missed it outrightly on tithing! Paul wrote: *Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ (*1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV). We are to follow men or women only as long as they follow Christ! *SOME QUESTIONS FOR THOSE WHO SAY THERE IS NO SPECIFIC COMMAND TO TITHE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT* (1) Does the Lord command us to build Church auditoriums or cathedrals in the New Testament? And do you have Scriptural examples in the New Testament? (2) Do we have examples of female evangelists in the New Testament Scriptures? (3) Do we have examples of genuine prophetesses (female prophets) in the New Testament Scriptures? (4) Do we have examples of drama ministry in the New Testament Scriptures? (5) Do we have examples of the ministry of a psalmist — singing or music ministry in the New Testament Scriptures? (7) Does the Lord command us to have naming ceremony (christening) in the New Testament? And do you have Scriptural examples in the New Testament? (8) Does the Lord command us to have Church wedding ceremony and traditional engagement in the New Testament? And do you have Scriptural examples in the New Testament? (9) Does the Lord command us to practise dancing and clapping in the New Testament? And do you have Scriptural examples in the New Testament? (10) Does the Lord command us in the New Testament not to smoke? And do you have any Scripture in the New Testament to back it up specifically, not generally?
Also, according to the same article: *"3 Nigerian Pastors United Against Tithing Like Creflo Dollar,"* Sam Adeyemi, founder and president of Daystar Christian Centre, as reported by Church Times, told his congregation on Sunday, 25 February 2022, among other things: *"... I have been following the tithe debate. I discovered that it has been an age-long debate and it will be on for a long time.* *"... I want to say clearly that tithe, as practised under the law of Moses, has expired. The death and resurrection of Jesus have put paid to it. It has expired.* *"All the requirements of the law were satisfied under Christ. It is a gamble to say Jesus never paid tithe. The fact that it was not written that Jesus paid tithe does not mean he did not do it. I can also claim that Jesus did not go to the toilet because it is not written... When he was born his parents satisfied the requirements of the law. John 22v25 says there are many things he did that were not recorded. Jesus did not say it was wrong to pay tithe in his day.* *"The law of the spirit of life in Christ has made us free. Romans 8 tells us that we are free. No Christian should feel guilty for not paying tithe. There is nothing you can add to what Jesus did to be qualified before God. When Jesus said it is finished it was finished. Gal 3v13 says Christ has redeemed us from the I respect him as well, though, I do not agree with him on this. I believe I have already offered counter Scriptural explanation in our last lecture to deal with this. (You may revisit that.) But, let me just add some few things: *THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC* VS *THE ORDER OF AARON* Hebrews 7:11 KJV A dear brother pointed out these 2 orders above. First, we need to understand that Jesus is our High Priest, not after the order of Aaron, but after the order of Melchisedec. You see, under AARONIC ORDER, THE LAW *COMPELLED* people to tithe, but under MELCHISEDEC order today, GRACE *IMPELLED* people to tithe! Very importantly, Abraham gave tithes to Melchisedec by faith. And we are the children of Abraham. Galatians 3:5-9 KJV Galatians 3:5-9 NIV It's noteworthy that Paul does not refer to us as the children of Moses, the man of law; rather, he referred to us as the children of Abraham, the man of faith. *UNDERSTAND, THEN, THAT THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH ARE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM* (vs 7, NIV). Verse 9 (NIV) says: *SO THOSE WHO RELY ON FAITH ARE BLESSED ALONG WITH ABRAHAM, THE MAN OF FAITH.* Friend, we are people of faith — like father, like children! Like Abraham, we rely on faith, not on the law! Second, under Jesus our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, all believers know the Lord intuitively. Hebrews 8:10-11 AMPC Therefore, if believers will get rid of all the encumberances and hindrances beclouding their spiritual perception and follow the Holy Spirit in their human spirits, then they will have the knowledge of God and His will intuitively, clearly and deeply within them! Proverbs 20:27 NIV Romans 8:14 KJV 1 Corinthians 2:11-13 KJV I want to encourage every believer to spend enough quality time with God personally, daily and consistently in the Word and in prayer, especially in worship. James 4:8 KJV This will surely help to clarify many issues in our lives (walk with the Lord) and ministries (work with the Lord). By so doing, a time will arrive that you know that you know that you know that you know the truth that liberates personally for yourself! John 8:31-32 KJV
Again, according to the same article: *"3 Nigerian Pastors United Against Tithing Like Creflo Dollar,"* Femi Aribisala, the fellowship coordinator of Healing Wings, wrote in an article titled: *"Every Pastor Who Collects Tithes is a Thief"* published by Daily Post: *"As far as many pastors are concerned, the most important scripture of all is not to be found in the word of Jesus. Neither is it even in the New Testament. That scripture says: "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).* *This scripture is drummed repeatedly into Christians on Sundays. However, the only time Jesus mentioned tithing in scripture, he pointed out that it was not a weighty matter of the law (Matthew 23:23). Hebrews says people only receive tithes "according to the law" (Hebrews 7:5). It then insists tithing (and everything else under the law) has been annulled. "The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless" Hebrews 7:18-19). Nevertheless, mercenary pastors continue to insist on the payment of tithes.* *"Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for keeping part instead of the whole law (Matthew 23:23). That is what tithe-collecting pastors do today.* *"If we insist our congregants must pay tithes, we must also insist that they keep the rest of the law. James says: "Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10). Therefore, if we insist on tithing, we should also refrain from eating pork. We should stone adulterers, execute homosexuals, kill Sabbath violators and restore blood sacrifices."* Though I don't know this servant of God, nevertheless, I respect him. And I will like to point out a few things here, namely: First, Jesus never said giving of tithes is not a weighty matter of the law as claimed by this dear servant of God. Matthew 23:23 KJV Jesus was simply saying paying of tithes is a WEIGHTY matter of the law while living a lifestyle of judgment, mercy and faith constitutes the WEIGHTIER matters of the law! You see, if Jesus used the word *"weightier,"* which is a comparative adjective for some things, then we must understand that it implies that the other thing mentioned in the passage is *"weighty,"* which is the basic form of that adjective. Just as we have "fast — faster," "big — bigger," "pretty — prettier," and so on, so do we have "weighty —weightier." Hebrews 7:5 KJV Another version says: *Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people —that is, from their fellow Israelites —even though they also are descended from Abraham* (Hebrews 7:5 NIV). That means the Israelites gave tithes to the Levites under the law. Simply put, the Levites received tithes from the Israelites under the law. But, outside the law, Abram paid tithes. Genesis 14:20 KJV Jacob, his grandson also paid tithes. Jacob said: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: *and of all that thou [God] shalt give me I will surely give the TENTH unto thee [God].* (Genesis 28:22 KJV). I think in my imagination that Abraham must have taught Isaac and the rest of his children to pay tithes while Isaac must have taught Jacob and Esau to do the same because God boasted about Abraham: *For I know him [Abraham], that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him* (Genesis 18:19 KJV). So, Abraham paid tithes to someone. But, Jacob must have most likely paid tithes to someone else. Even though, there was no record that Isaac paid tithes to anyone, but if his father paid tithes and his own son paid tithes, then he most probably (not surely) paid tithes to someone best known to God! Third, saying tithing has been annulled with the law cannot be established in the Scriptures. Hebrews 7:18 NIV Hebrews 7:18 KJV It's true that there is a change from the Old to New Covenant, change of priesthood, change in the order of service, setting aside the former regulation, and so on; but tithing began before the law, was consolidated under the law and continues after the law (see Part 1 of this teaching). Fourth, in the first part of this teaching, I gave some examples of relevant Scriptures in the law applicable to us today in the New Testament. I want to repeat that below: *EXAMPLES OF RELEVANT SCRIPTURES IN THE LAW APPLICABLE TO US TODAY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT* (1) 1 Corinthians 9:8-10 KJV (2) 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 KJV (3) John 10:34-35 KJV (4) John 8:17 KJV 2 Corinthians 13:1 KJV (5) Malachi 3:10 KJV
Ephesians 1:16-18 KJV
To be continued.
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