Twenty Questions for Tithers

Twenty Questions:

Why New Covenant Christians Should Object To Tithing

 Written by: Alyssa Korzeniewski & John J. Vuckovich Jr.

Contributions & Edited by: Bobby Kmiec

To begin with, we need to ask ourselves these questions:  What did tithe mean in Bible times and what are we told it means today? The word tithe has been re-imagined and redefined.

Today: Today it means all saints pay 10% of their total INCOME from each pay period and is given to the “Church.”

Old Testament: It was never an ALL across the board requirement as is observed today. Only those who were farmers dealing with crops and livestock met the criteria to tithe. In the OT there are no Bible examples of tithing off of one’s income.

1.) Is the so-called “Biblical Principle” on tithing supported by Old Testament accounts?

“Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.” ~ Deuteronomy 14:22.

Introduction/Explanation: Although most of Christendom views tithing as an income derived financial support system for the Institutional “Church” today, the Mosaic ceremonial law on tithing did not come from one’s income or assets. They were first fruits from the seed of the field. In the case of the Hebrew national, both produce and livestock were tagged for tithing, but only if one owned an inheritance of land. In other words, tithing was an agricultural food program commanded of the LORD to the Hebrew landowner commencing with the writing of this particular Mosaic ceremonial law. A Mosaic ceremonial law only applied to Hebrews within the boarders of Israel. But, not every ceremonial law applied to every Hebrew. Some of these laws had stipulations attached to them. In the case of the law on tithing, one had to possess an inheritance of land to be eligible to tithe. Those who didn’t, save the Levite, couldn’t tithe. To tithe without permission was to break the law.

The Levite only tithed off of the tithes they received from the landowner. He gave a tenth of the best that he received to the Aaronic priests. The priests never tithed. They ate the tithe as part of the ceremony. The rest of the tithes throughout the nation were eaten in rejoicing and celebration unto the LORD God. This was the main purpose of the tithe in

Israel.

This Mosaic Ceremonial law never translated into the Christian culture of our day (or on our shores) as a commandment from God. The fact is that only one portion of the Mosaic Law (the Moral portion), is universal to all men. This is noteworthy because the Ceremonial and Judicial portions of the Mosaic Law do not (and never did) apply to us here in America (or in any other land). The reason is simple; our ceremonial and judicial laws wouldn’t be in effect within the jurisdiction of Israel any more than their laws would apply to us in ours.

The Mosaic form of tithing was much different than the old Gentile custom of tithing. The Gentile method was well established even before the Hebrew became a separate people. Even before Abram was conceived, tithing was a form of tribute to kings and other rulers of ancient Bible times. In fact, money was widely used as a means of trade. So, the argument that the Hebrew economy was limited to agriculture as a means of commerce is vastly inaccurate. Money is mentioned in the book of Job, considered by many a pre-flood book. There is also a Genesis account of Abraham buying a burial cave for his deceased wife Sarah for 400 pieces of silver, (Genesis 23:1-15). These two books, and their historical accounts occurred way before the Law was given to Moses in Exodus.

The concept of tithing wasn’t a new one when Abraham came on the scene. When Abram tithed in Genesis, he gave ten percent of what was known as “the spoils of the slaughter of the kings.” These ‘spoils’ were not Abram’s income. Nor were they assets. They were simply spoils of war, (Hebrews 7:4). These were not agricultural products and animals farmed out in Israel, because Israel didn’t even exist! They were spoils; items taken in time of war. Also, what is seldom mentioned among tithing proponents is that the other ninety percent of these ‘spoils’ were given to the king of Sodom (save what Abram’s men ate on the returning journey). Abram kept nothing for himself. Abram’s assets were located at his homestead in the opposite direction. When he met the kings of Salem and Sodom, he hadn’t yet reached his home.

All of the food (minus what the servants ate), clothes, money, livestock and sundries were spoils of war, not an income. He had only taken and then transported the spoils. Hence, he couldn’t count them among his assets since he had no intention of keeping them. It’s as though one party had given me $100 to immediately give to another party. I would simply be the courier. God gave the spoils to Abram to be passed along to the kings of Salem and Sodom. The only difference being that Abram freely gave the king of Sodom back what was originally taken from him on account that Abram didn’t want people to think that he became great because of an generous earthly benefactor, (Genesis 14:22-24). The tithe he gave to the king of Salem was the best of the spoils. It was a tribute as was the custom of the day. But, the other ninety percent was given back to the king of Sodom, not as a tribute, but as a statement that God would get all of the glory for the victory and Abram’s greatness among the people was due to Him alone. It also stated that he had no particular allegiance to the kingdom of Sodom whatsoever.

Moving forward… In a Hebrew agricultural year, there were three harvests reaped ~ (spring, summer, and fall). Tithing was commanded from “all the increase” year by year. Thy only break in this cycle was the seventh year where the LORD God commanded there be no sowing and reaping. On the seventh year the land was to have its rest, (Leviticus 25:1-7). Therefore, no sowing was done in the field and no tithe was given. The only other exception is if there was no increase. This could be due to the fact that famines occurred from time to time. This happened mostly because the behavior of the people was displeasing to the LORD God who was responsible for giving the increase.

To be precise, an asset and an increase are two different things. An asset is something you own that has a particular value or worth. An increase is simply something more than what we had before. Not too many men have an increase of hair after a certain age (except in the nose and ear areas). In the case of the Israeli landowner who was commanded to tithe off of all of the increase, this meant that there had to be a starting point. The starting point in this case was year one of the tithe cycle. Whatever the amount reaped, ten percent of it was already earmarked for the Master’s bidding. This was the tithe. His bidding was spelled out in the law on tithing. The ninety percent that was left became the landowner’s assets. Since the firstfruits (ten percent off the top belonged to God) the landowner couldn’t count it among his assets. This is why none of Abram’s tithe, nor the tithes from the Hebrew landowners were from their own personal assets.

To delve a little deeper into this increase equation, we have to consider what happened in year two of the tithe cycle. Let’s say that our benchmark for number of bushels yielded in year one was one hundred. Whatever amount (over one hundred) in year number two was what was tithed. Remember, the LORD said, “all the increase… year by year.” The LORD wants to show His blessings. What better way than to increase the crop yields from year to year? Let’s say that year number two yielded two hundred bushels? That’s an increase of 100%! What a blessing, eh? In todays market this would be considered a miracle. And, that’s exactly what the LORD wanted to show His people. He wanted to show that He is a miracle working God.

Now here comes the tricky part. Here’s where most people misunderstand the LORD’s concept of tithing. In year two of the tithe cycle, the amount tithed should be ten percent of the increase. If the increase from the year before were one hundred bushels, then the farmer would tithe just ten bushels. Why not twenty bushels? Because, the increase was “year by year,” not every two or three. The landowner had to tithe off of the increased amount only. This would mean that his personal assets would increase almost double. Since his net yield increased, his wealth increased. The tithe off of the increase was already earmarked for the LORD God. That was His asset alone, not the landowner’s. God brought the increase into being, not the farmer. I believe that one purpose of God’s tithe was to show up man’s method of tithing. Man’s tithe started out as a tribute to a king. God’s tithe was a tribute to the KING of kings. By tithing in this way, the landowner’s assets increased. As the landowner’s wealth increased, so did the might of Israel in the eyes of their enemies. And, there was still more than enough of a portion to go around for a food program. Isn’t God’s concept of tithing a whole lot better than what we could dream up?

All assets were God’s until He allowed the landowner to have 90% of what was left. We have this idea that it’s all ours, and then we give ten percent to God. We’ve got it all backwards. It’s all His until He allowed them to have ninety percent. All He ever wanted was for His people to love Him, obey Him, and do what He asked. One of those things was to observe His blessing on the land. When He gave an increase from the year before, all He wanted was ten percent from that increase, (Deuteronomy 14:22). The only time this progression (from years one through six) was interrupted was because either the tithe cycle had run it’s course (year number seven, when the land rested), or the people disobeyed God and He’d had enough. It wasn’t a difficult concept to grasp. Where we got mixed up was when the clergy got a hold of the idea to present tithing their way and into the Institutional Church. This is where the business of “Church” began in Europe and America.

Today’s tithing concept benefits paid professionals we call, “pastors” or “priests.” Today’s ‘income tithe’ is what generally pays the bills of a business many call “the Church.” However, the church in the New Testament is always defined as people. It’s never referred to as a brick and mortar structure or a business organization. This difference in perception alone alters what Scripture teaches about the tithe.

In the Old Testament, there were many people who had different occupations. Many of these merchants and craftsmen possessed no inheritance of land; therefore they were not permitted to tithe as unto the Law. The Law stated that a tithe was to be derived from the “increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year.” Those who didn’t own land were prohibited from tithing. The tithe from landowners was split among the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widows in the third and sixth years of the seven year tithe cycle, (Deuteronomy 14:29).

The first, second, fourth and fifth years, the tithe was to be taken to a city where the LORD placed His name. There, the tithe would be celebrated (and eaten) in the time of harvest among family and friends. In the third and sixth years of the tithe cycle, the Levite, orphan, widow and stranger, who couldn’t own land, received the tithe within their city’s gates. In those years, the ‘tither’ would give all of his tithes away, consuming none for himself or his family.

Again, tithing was an Old Testament social food program to help the needy and disadvantaged. Today, the needy and disadvantaged, with everyone else in the “Church” are expected to tithe and support healthy capable men just because they have had the title of “pastor” conferred on them. If we think about it, if today’s “Churches” get their instructions on tithing from the Mosaic Law, then why don’t they tithe as prescribed by the Law? Do we see them tithe to certain people, in certain places, in a commanded tithe cycle, as did the Hebrew? Does the “Church” know any Levites to give a tenth to? Are we landowners and farmers within the boarders of Israel? No!

By observing a portion of the Law, and proclaiming that they are not under the Law, isn’t the “Church” guilty of breaking that law with their spiritual double-talk? Since when is the “Church” permitted to rearrange God’s Mosaic Law for their own benefit? This can only be the work of man. Men specifically dedicated to the upkeep and survival of a business entity. In this case, we’re talking about a business organization we know of as an Institutional Church. The men responsible for this income-tithing lie are the clergy. These are the ones who profit from it.

The idea that pastors be paid a wage from the church body is opposite of Paul’s instructions to the elders (a.k.a. pastors, bishops, and overseers) at Ephesus, (Acts 20). Paul calls the elders to the ministry, not any one man per assembly. These elders are to share in the teaching, feeding and shepherding of a local church body. The context of Acts 20 is found in verse 20, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.” The rest of this chapter Paul is speaking to elders (pastors). He says to them in verse 35, “I have shewed you [pastors] all things, how that so labouring ye [pastors] ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The only examples of ministers receiving money is what we today call, MISSIONARIES. Back then they were called, evANGELists. ‘Angel’ means messenger. Evangelists, like Paul went to areas where no churches existed, and preached the gospel. They gave the message of salvation in Christ to all that could hear. Only then did he established churches in people’s homes. NEVER is there an example or principle of PASTORS/ELDERS being paid to feed the flocks they ministered to.

As we can see from the above accounts, there is no bridge from the Mosaic Ceremonial law on tithing into New Covenant theology. Any assertion that promotes such nonsense is solely from man’s imagination. God never commanded a Christian Gentile people to tithe; nor did He assert that tithing is a “Biblical Principle” for His church body.

More details of some of what has already has been stated will follow so that we can see a clearer picture of tithing in today’s world.

2.) Was money intended to be the instrument used to promote God’s work?

It all depends on how we define “work.” In Christian circles, the word work has been used to describe the production of a brick and mortar structure, or the building up of a Para-Church program. In Jesus’ day the words, work, ministry, and church had to do with REAL PEOPLE. New Testament church building invested money directly into the lives of other believers and those in serious need of relief. We have abandoned this Biblical mindset and instead invest in buildings and payrolls. To put it another way, the early church spent money building people, whereas today we use people’s money to build buildings. Which is the better testimony? To give to people in need; or a building we don’t need? Modern day believers can’t give as the early church because their money is all committed to brick and mortar structures and paid professionals (a.k.a pastors). Only a very small percentage goes to clothe and feed those truly in need.

3.) Was Money used in Israel back when the Law was given?

As stated briefly in point number one, people claim that the tithe was from animals because there was no money in the Old Testament. This is not true. They did have money even as far back as Genesis; “he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.” ~ Genesis 23:16. The tithe was crops and livestock, of which God gave the increase. The tithe was never intended to be money. The only notable exception was when the tither’s load was too large to physically transport from one city to the other to celebrate the tithe.

In this case, the Bible says, if the trip was too far, or the tithe load was too large, the tither could exchange their tithe for money and then exchange the money back for crops or livestock after they arrived in the celebratory city where the LORD chose the Harvest to be celebrated. “… if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household.” ~ Deuteronomy 14:24-26.

We can see here that if our pastor wants us to follow Old Covenant tithing, it needs to be crops and livestock. We see here in Matthew 23, that the practice of tithing was still being followed. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Jesus told the Pharisee before His blood was shed and the New Covenant given, that they ought to tithe off of spices (seeds of the field), not money.

4.) Should we give more under grace than under the law?

Sure, but we should give to people, not support pastoral paychecks, and huge church building budgets. How much of what we give today through our church goes to needy people? Perhaps a tiny bit at most. What if we took all that we give and gave it to people around us in need? They would see our faith and lives would be changed. Christians would have influence and we just might see revival. Instead of church being the one who takes, we should be known as people who give to those in need in abundance.

5.) The early church sometimes met in the temple, so shouldn't we support church buildings with our tithe?

No. The church didn’t meet in synagogues to have church meetings or a love feast. In fact, there was no such thing as a "Church Service" as we know them today. They were using the synagogue as a field to sow the gospel and reap souls for God. Because of this, its safe to conclude that the early church had no intentions of taking up a collection or demand a tithe to pay for their own building to meet in. They were already meeting in homes. The “love feast” (Jude 12) is another name for the Lord’s Supper. It was an evening meal, which took place in a house, not a place of worship.

Of course, the religious establishment didn’t take this soul winning business lying down. Christians were soon kicked out of what the Jewish elders perceived as ‘their turf.’ The early church won souls outside of where they met and often went where lost souls were hanging out. The temple and synagogues were the social hubs of that day. This would be like us today going into a Muslim Mosque and telling everyone about Jesus. We might be able to get the gospel to some, but sooner or later the mosque’s leaders are sure to find out what we are doing and kick us out faster than we can say, ‘Ali Baba.’ This is what happened in Acts 5: “… when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people, they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus” ~ Acts 5:24-40.

6.) Didn't Melchizedek receive tithes from Abraham? (Genesis 14:20-24)

No. Melchizedek (king of Salem) received tithes from Abram. Abraham wasn’t yet established as the Father of Israel. And, he did NOT tithe off of His income. Again, Abram gave 90 percent to the king of Sodom, and 10 percent to Melchizedek (the best of the spoils of war). This is totally different than the tithe in the Mosaic Law. Abram (later known as Abraham) was not suggested or required by God to give a tithe. A historical search will reveal this was a pagan Gentile custom of the day. Furthermore, Abram’s 10% was nothing remotely close to what Jews practiced under the Law. To use Abraham as an example to establish precedence for income tithing is poor hermeneutics. Circumcision, and sacrificial altars are before the law and after the law as well. Should we observe those practices today?

There are three main components of the Law:

(1) Ceremonial laws: Temple, priest, Passover, circumcision, abstaining from certain meats (we are not bound by this anymore)

(2) Civil laws: These were judicial laws put in place for the land of Israel: For example: tithing for farmers (we’re not bound by this).

(3) Moral laws: This part of the law is base on God’s character, which never changes for example: Don’t lie, Don’t steal (this we still follow).

We have to consider that there are 612 (or 613) laws, depending on who one believes to be more accurate. In other words, there were plenty of laws to go around and be shared among the three divisions of the Law. A small fraction was reserved for all men, that being the moral laws. Even if we understood the civil and ceremonial portions of the Law, we here in America wouldn’t know what to do with them.

7.) Did Jesus tell the Pharisee to tithe in Matthew 23?

This is a verse that many people take out of context and say this is justification for tithing in the New Testament, Matthew 23, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Jesus was again talking to a Jew before the New Covenant was given. Remember, His blood was not yet shed at this point. The Jews still were under the Old Covenant until He died on the cross. When this happened, they no longer needed to tithe. What were they tithing? That is the real question we should ask. The answer? They were tithing off of spices, not their income! Magically superimposing money over spices as a tithe, and sighting Matt 23 as a proof text to carry on income tithing is wresting the Scriptures. Not only is it deceitful, but it stinks of Satan.

8.) What do I tell people who claim tithing came before the law?

Tithing today is observed in Mosaic Ceremonial Law idealism, but not in practice. The Institutional Church has made up their own tithing rules as they’ve grown into a social power. They’ve seemed to combine the ancient Gentile way of tithing with the Mosaic law on tithing. In essence, they have produced their own hybrid brand of the tithe. The clergy today are keeping people under the old covenant, while stating that we’re not under the law. Is anyone confused yet? It says in the Bible, “verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham” ~ Hebrews 7:5.

This verse shows us that tithing was part of Moses’ Law, but it does not predate Moses law. If tithes should be given to the Levite, why not give it to a Levite today? They will say there aren’t any Levites. All believers are the priesthood now, we have a new covenant, ”Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” ~ 1 Peter 2:5. The problem is that later on in Hebrews 7 the Scriptures teach that a new priesthood has replaced the old Levitical priesthood. The new Head Priest is Jesus, and He came from the tribe of Juda, of which Moses said nothing concerning the tithe. If tithing doesn’t apply to our new Head Priest because His heritage is from Juda (and NOT Levi), then it doesn’t apply to us as members of His priesthood. 

9.) Why didn't Jesus tithe or command His disciples to tithe?

The custom of the day was for a son to follow in the steps of His father. Jesus was a carpenter then (Matthew 13:55), not a farmer. The tithe wasn’t required of Him. He was never a landowner under the Old Covenant, but once His blood was shed we received a New Covenant, “this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” ~ Matthew 26:28.

10.) Did Jacob tithe?

No, he made a deal with God. It was conditional and we never see him fulfill it. “Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” ~ Genesis 28:22.

11.) Why wasn't the New Testament church told to tithe?

If tithing were so important why didn't they tell the new converts? It's clear what has happened here. We have put the traditions of man above the Word of God, “That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.” ~ Acts 15:29. There was no need to tithe under the New Covenant because believers met in homes and had no expenses to worry about. Men taught the Word of God because they wanted to, not because their paycheck depended on it.

12.) Didn't the tithe cross all dispensational time?

No. Tithing, as we perceive it was not established until Mosaic Law was given; then it was done away with at the cross. By the time Abraham comes on the scene almost half of earth’s history (2,500 years of time) had passed. Think about that. Almost half of the Bible’s timeline has no Mosaic tithing! Again, the New Testament bears out in the above verse from Hebrews that tithing was rooted in the LAW not a precedence set that pre-dated the Law with Father Abraham.

13.) Didn't the widow who gave her mite tithe?

”Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” ~ Mark 12:43. No, that was certainly not a tenth for her substance; it was ALL she had. What’s more, it wasn't required for her to give anything. She did willingly, not because she had to, but because she wanted to. This is what Jesus was teaching.

14.) When we attempt to redefine words and practices like the tithe aren’t we being dishonest and corrupting the Word of God?

“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:2. Anytime we take it upon ourselves to steer people on a wrong course using the Bible as a proof text is dishonest and corrupt. Let this not be mentioned once among us.

15.) Modern day tithing robs believers of the opportunity to give to the real church, (people in need), Doesn’t this rob us from following in the footsteps of the early church?

How often do we have to turn away a need in our own family to give our “tithe” to the “Church” building and its professionals? More times than not we are taught by good meaning men to forgo paying an urgent utility bill in the dead of winter in favor of paying the tithe.  Sure, it’s exciting to watch the Lord bail us out from under our own ignorance, but this cycle becomes very stressful after a while.

16.) Any time believers try to live under the Old Testament Law aren’t they placing themselves back into bondage?

Galatians 2:4, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:”

Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

17.) To tithe is a disgrace to grace. Jesus took all the ordinances “out of the way nailing them to His cross.” Why would one take off the cross that which Jesus crucified with Himself and place it on themselves?

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;” ~ Ephesians 2:14-15.

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross,” ~ Colossians 2:14.

18) What about Luke 6:38?

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

One of the famous ways today’s paid-professionals fleece the flock is by isolating verses from their context. Using this verse to acquire financial gain is another example of this. What is the context of this saying? I would suggest we consider the context: Luke 6 is a parallel passage to Matthew 5-7 (a.k.a. the Sermon on the Mount, specifically Matthew 7:1-2).

Secondly, to narrow down the thought more, back up to verse 27. Thirdly, notice verse 37. Notice it ends in a colon. This means the Holy Spirit is not yet finished penning His thought through Luke. This colon TIES verse 37 to verse 38. This approach to understanding the Scriptures is just and acceptable. According to Isaiah 28:10, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” God is saying whether we judge, condemn, or forgive (verse 37) our reaction is going to come back even more (verse 38). Just another way of saying, “we reap what we sow.”

19) What is the storehouse?

The storehouse was part of the temple that was built to keep the grain that Old Testament Jews were giving as a tithe to the poor, priest and disadvantage people. The temple was destroyed and is no longer needed since Christ died on the cross. The animal sacrifices were stopped along with Old Testament tithing, and the priests. Now we believers are all priests who can go to God without a priest as a mediator. We have to forfeit our own priesthood to accept the idea that the clergy should be performing (in part) as priests for us under the New Covenant.

20) Is the corporate business “Church” a Prostitute?

“The church is called the “Body of Christ” But “when a literal 'Body' becomes a Business, it becomes a prostitute. I'll explain... A bride loves her groom unconditionally with no thought of a return. A prostitute loves too, but for a price! When she doesn't get paid any longer, she stops the love. If the Institutional 'Church' model of Satan's imagination is money driven, then what we have on our hands, ladies and gentlemen, is a prostitute. We pay into it and it loves us back. The second we withdraw our financial support, the love goes away. If we are paying tithes to get the 'Church' to pay attention to us, then we are paying a prostitute-like, money-driven, business organization we wrongfully call a 'Church Body.' Selling a 'body' is called, prostitution. It is an enterprise for gain. The problem we suffer today is, well-meaning men, who were wrongly taught, are spewing this false doctrine on tithing out of ignorance.” - unknown.

“men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” ~ 1 Timothy 6:5.

We pray that these twenty questions will provoke us to ponder our stance on tithing, but also that it is used as a self-examination tool so that we can show others the truth established in God’s Word about the tithe, the church and our leaders.




*Sources cited from KJV Bible, My personal friends John Vuckovich (former IFB church leader) & Bobby Kmiec (writer of churchpros.blogspot.com) Visit faithwithlove.wordpress.com  or churchpros.blogspot.com  for more information about tithing and the New Covenant church.