"Since You Left Our 'Church' Where Do You Pay Your Tithe?"

*Note: When the author renders the word 'Church' as shown, he is referring to the Institutional, Main-Stream, Corporate Entity 'Church' System of man's device that we are all familiar with. When he renders the word church in all lower case letters, he is referring to Christ's Authentic, Legitimate, Home based assembly, which He continues to build. 

I was asked that question while attending a funeral at the old institutional 'Church' I used to be a member of. The lady asked me this in jest thinking she was making a fool out of me. I didn't answer her then, because it wasn't the time or place to do so. I hope that this blog will be used as a vehicle to answer questions such as her's more in depth and without interruption. There is no short answer to her query. It needs a little foundation first. I'm afraid that without some background information the uninformed reader might not 'get it.'

First, let me say that leaving my 'Church' was the most difficult thing I ever had to do. I didn't leave it because of the tithing issue. It was more of a cumulative awareness that took time. In fact, it took about thirty years before I knew Scripture well enough to research tough questions for myself without running to my Pastor for his "holy insight." I loved the people there and have no enemies or axes to grind. The pastor was a swell fella and he had built a pretty substantial enterprise over his 34 year reign. He was very Proper and prudent and managed his business well. But that's all it really is; a business.

I will be addressing some Pros here to help illustrate my points. The institutional 'Church' I was a part of is an Independent Fundamental Baptist 'Church.' They have their 'Church' Properties, 'Church' Programs and 'Church' Projects to support. With all these lingering in the midst, how do you suppose they fund them? Through the tithe! You say, "Okay Bro. Bobby, I KNOW this! What's your beef?" My 'beef' is that, nowhere in Scripture does it teach that Jesus Christ's New Covenant church is to be supported by utilizing the O.T. law of tithing.

People being 'Churched' have been carefully manipulated and swindled into giving up their 10% by very skilled 'Cons' to support their agendas of power, greed, and expansion. The sad thing is, most of these 'Cons' don't realize they are doing anything wrong! They actually believe they are doing "God's work." I'm sorry, but God doesn't work that way. These 'Cons,' also known as Pastors, Deacons, Trustees, Elders, Secretaries, Ministers, Overseers, and Clergy have been misinformed, indoctrinated and conditioned just as we have. What school of thought did they receive their education from? From 'Satan's Academy of False Teaching,' that's where! Through several blogs I will define and dissect for you why this is true. We won't take my word for it, but God's Word. My opinion is worth about as much as a piece of lint on a bran muffin. But God's opinion is worth the entire inventory contained within the cosmos.

Before I get into my dissection, and like the lady mentioned above, I have some questions for us to muse over. These aren't meant to be insulting as her question was. They are given in the spirit of meekness so that your minds may be prepared and ready to receive the seeds of truth. I'd like the reader to think of these questions as sort of a Quiz so that you can monitor how much one actually knows regarding the tithe. If all we know is giving ten percent, then I believe we are 'short-changing' ourselves in the end. Here goes...Who originated the first tithe? Was the tithe given from an income or assets? How many times throughout the year was the tithe given? What was known as 'The Tithe Cycle'? How many times did Abraham tithe? Was the tithe given perpetually? Who was exempt from paying a tithe? Was the tithe ever money? How did the tithe become such an intricate part of American 'Church' culture? And, Did Jesus Christ command His church to tithe?

These are just a few of the many questions that can be given and answered. To help you out, I have published a post to the left entitled, 'Take The Tithe Test.' A lot of you 'home church goers' already know most of, if not all of these answers. These questions are meant for those still being 'Churched' inside of an Institutional 'Church' setting. I will explore the reasons for the tithe in the O.T. and its uses carefully as not to handle this topic irresponsibly. I want to give you a logical and Biblical explanation for why, by and large, tithing in an Institutional 'Church' is just a device created by man, and against what God would have us to do. Until later, please chew on these ten questions and ask yourself, "Is it God's will that I part with 10% of my income, or is it possible I've been duped into supporting a business with Christian sounding names?"

Here's hoping that you find the answers you're looking for. Thanks for visiting ChurchPros.