Tithing: A mere Prosperity Gospel Hoax
Kizito Michael George
Dear editor, of late Ugandan Christians have come up openly to challenge the tithing heresy in newspapers, yours inclusive. Prosperity pastors are now trying to defend the heresy because they know that their prosperity ‘ponzi’ scheme is about to collapse like a sac of rotten potatoes. In the 3 –October -2010 edition of the Sunday monitor, one APOSTLE EDWARD SSEWANYANA ridiculously defended the tithing heresy. His defense echoes knowledge of ‘striptures’ instead of scriptures.
He first of all argues that Christians should tithe because Abraham and Jacob tithed. His arguments fail to take cognizant of the fact that the tithing of Abraham and Jacob is different from the tithing of Christians today. To begin with, Abraham tithed on war loot. He tithed 10 percent of this war loot and retained nothing. He never tithed money. Secondly Jacob’s tithing was conditional, he said he would only tithe on condition that God blesses him. Today, pastors tell the flock that tithing is compulsory and if you do not tithe, you receive curses. This is a very serious disconnect.
Secondly, he categorically argues that since the New Testament regards Abraham as, “the father of us all” (Romans 4:16), born again Christians should emulate his tithing lifestyle. This is a very weak argument because one could as well argue that since Abraham practiced circumcision of the physical body, born again Christians should also circumcise their bodies. He also argues that Abram or Abraham’s financial prosperity can only be traced to his tithing lifestyle but fails to back up this with scriptural evidence. Can he give us examples in the bible where Abraham did not tithe on war loot. Or where he tithed 10 percent and retained 90% . God promised in Genesis 12:2-3 that he was going to bless Abraham even before Abraham tithed in Genesis 14:20. God never said I will bless you if you give me tithes. Apostle Ssewanyana further contradicts himself by saying that Abraham was rich even before tithing(Genesis 13:2).
He also reiterated that the tithe should be given to Jesus Christ, the new Melchisedec . The million dollar question to him is ‘’How can Jesus from the tribe of Judah receive tithes’’? He fails to provide scriptural evidence to prove that the Early Christians tithed. Isn’t it surprising to note that tithing was not an issue at all in the Jerusalem council of Acts 15. This council resolved whether gentiles should keep the mosaic law. Among the resolutions tithing is conspicuously absent. Apostle Ssewanyana also ridiculously argues that Apostle Paul supported tithing.
He does not seem to know that Apostle Paul never told people to tithe but to Give. Giving and tithing are two different concepts. In fact in 2 Cor.9:7, Apostle Paul says categorically that giving must be from the heart and should not be coerced. It should be noted that today‘s prosperity pastors coercive people to tithe. We need to remember that the New Testament is a covenant of the heart and not of the flesh. That is why circumcision according to the New Testament is an issue of the heart.
There is absolutely no scripture in the bible where Apostle Paul or Jesus Christ told born again Christians to tithe. Christ taught giving (Luke 6:38). In Mathew23:23 Christ was taking to Pharisees and not Christians. Yes, they ought to have tithed because they believed in the Mosaic Law. Secondly, they ought have tithed because the New Testament period of grace had not come. Apostle Ssewanyana does not know that according to the New testament God no longer dwells in temples made with human hands(Acts 17:24). Born again Christians are the true temples of God(Corinthians 3: 9, 16 ). How can a temple of God pay tithes?? In addition the New Testament calls all born again believers priests (1 Peter 2:9, Rev. 5:10). How can a born again priest pay tithes?
Many pastors are knowledgeable about striptures (they read bits and pieces of verses that promote their greed) instead of scriptures. They have turned the gospel of grace into a gospel of greed. This tithing heresy is being perpetuated because of the failure of born again Christians to search God in his word. This heresy aims at sustaining the greed and luxurious life styles of prosperity Pastors. The tithing heresy is the foundation of the exploitative prosperity gospel. Once born again Christianity reject this hoax, the whole prosperity edifice will come crumbling like a sac of rotten potatoes.
Did you know that formerly tithes were eaten by the tither(thithing person) in the temple(Deu: 14:22ff). However, this temple was destroyed in 70A.D as predicted by our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 24: 1-2).Therefore according to New Testament Christianity God no longer dwells in temples made with human hands(Acts 17:24). Born again Christians are the true temples of God(Corinthians 3: 9, 16 ). How can a temple of God pay tithes?? Lastly according to the Old Testament money was not tithaible (Deut 7:11ff) therefore churches that tell people to tithe money are lying to you. Some pastors argue that according to the Old Testament people tithed the fruit of the trees, corn etc because there was no money back then. This is a lie, there was money back then, remember Abraham bought a field where he buried Sarah at 400 pieces of silver(Gen 23:13-16), do you also remember that Joseph was sold by his bothers for 20 pieces of silver(Gen 37:28). So, there was money back then. Therefore tithing money is just another big lie.
The author is the president of Watchman Africa Discernment Ministry
Tithing in the New Testament is not optional
http://www.monitor.co.ug/LifeStyle/Religion/-/689744/1021426/-/6gyx4s/-/index.html
Posted Sunday, October 3 2010 at 00:00
I fully believe that Christians are not justified by the Law of Moses and should not lean on it for salvation. However, tithing as a principle was practiced even before Moses received the commandments or Laws on Mount Sinai.
Abraham was the first example of a tither. Hebrews 7:6 mentions that Melchisedec, the priest of the Most High God, “received tithes of Abraham.” Though only one incident of Melchisedec receiving tithes from Abraham is mentioned (Gen14:20), we cannot rule out that Abraham gave tithes on other occasions too.
Abraham’s grandson, Jacob could not have come out to make a commitment to tithe on a consistent basis to the Lord if his grandfather only tithed once and stopped there. Jacob made a lifelong commitment to tithe when he told God that, “of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee,” Genesis 28:22.
Abraham and Jacob lived approximately 400 years before Moses the law-giver was born. Their tithing lifestyle cannot be ignored on the pretext that they were under the law since there was no law at that time at all. Since Abraham was the father of us all, as born again Christians, we have to emulate his tithing spirit. One of the benefits that Abraham received from his lifestyle of tithing was financial prosperity - “Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold” (Genesis 13:2).
Since the Old Testament tithing system changed with the establishment of the New Covenant, the recipient of the tithe also changed. Someone else took up the office of the priesthood of Melchisedec, “Even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Heb 6:20). Jesus now continues to receive the tithe from Abraham’s children, those who have believed in Jesus Christ for salvation (Heb 7:8).
In a practical sense, the tithe is received by Jesus Christ through the Church and especially through the church leadership that includes the apostles, prophets and pastors (Eph 4:11). Just like the Levites ministered in the temple and received tithes that were brought to the temple, that same right belongs to the church leadership today.
In Matthew 23:23, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for neglecting judgment, mercy and faith but at the same time commends them for being faithful tithers. Jesus clearly says that tithe is one of the things that a believer ought to do.
Behind the mask of being the “gallant defenders of the faith”, those who oppose tithe are actually bound by a selfish, miserly and stingy spirit that is inconsistent with the generous faith of the New Testament (Acts 4:34, 2 Cor 9:6-7). The motive that ought to prompt liberality in tithing as a service to God ought to be greater now than in Old Testament times, hence Christians ought to go beyond the ancient Hebrews in consecrating both themselves and their substance to God.
A Christian who does not tithe is not a non-believer but is a disobedient child of God who is actually opposing the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ through withholding resources over which God has made them stewards to further the preaching of the gospel through the church.
Apostle Edward Ssewanyana
