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NASB | Malachi 3:9 "You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Malachi 3:9 "You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this whole nation! [Lev 26:14-17] |
Bible Question: Are you really going to be cursed if you skip every now and then paying your tithe. |
Bible Answer: Hi. While I understand the good intentions behind the response of Makarios (a response that I would anticipate reflective of the majority of American Christians), I would like to offer an alternative. Simply, the tithe is not a New Testament principle, it is not a law that somehow escaped into the new covenant, it has absolutely no binding authority on you whatsoever and is fundamentaly legalistic. Having made such a bold statement, here is some support to back it up. 1. Tithing is never taught in the New Testament. The only time Jesus mentions it is when he is angry with the Pharisees who would spend immense time and energy on keeping the tithe while neglecting the weightier matters - love, forgiveness, compassion, justice. If, as Malachi indicates, the lack of fulfilling the tithe carries a curse, and if this is still true for the New Testament believer, then you should find warnings and teaching throughout the New Testament. It doesn't appear once in any of Paul's epistles. The mention of the tithe in Hebrews is tied directly with the Levitical Priesthood, a priesthood which has passed away, and replaced by the priesthood of Melchizedek (who wasn't even an Israelite). Think about it; if tithing were a New Testament law (or 'principle' as some say to make it more palatable), then you should find it talked about everywhere in the New Testament. It is just not there. 2. The tithing that is commonly advocated today does not resemble the Old Testament breadth of tithing that is reflected there. How many sermons have you heard on Deut 14, where the people of God are commanded to take a tenth of everything, exchange it for money, travel to Jerusalem and have a huge party, spending it on 'whatever your heart desires' including strong drink. 3. The motivation behind tithing is most often fear (of a curse, for example) and guilt (not pleasing God). Neither of these has anything to do with faith and scripture is clear that, "Whatever is not of faith, is sin." If you understand the syllogism, this means that for many people, to tithe is to sin. 4. The law of the tithe actually prevents giving and promotes legalism. The New Testament is very clear that we are not under the Jewish law. Rather, Jesus has come to live inside of us and He is the greatest 'giver' of all. The wonder is this; how Jesus and you choose to give is entirely up to you. It is out of your union with Jesus that you give, not some external reference to an external law. That is the freedom Paul talks about in Galatians and Colossians. 5. We are no longer under the law - For us today, there is not much discussion or controversy about circumcision. We see it as old covenant. Tithing is our modern day equivalent of the issue of circumcision. Read through Galatians and substitute the word tithe for circumcision. If you want to be under part of the law, then you must obey the entire law flawlessly - good luck. |