Tithing

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www.kluane.org www.jubileealliance.com spake@mindspring.com

Dr. Kluane Spake

ON RECONSIDERING TITHING

Can we question principles that have been firmly established inthe church?Rather than daring to go against the establishment, mostChristians back away in retreat, thinking it’s just not right toeven think about not agreeing with what has always beentaught. This of course, is exactly what religion wants them to do.Just keep quiet. Conform. In other words, don’t rock the boat.Ah, but here’s where we must ask again…Is it okay to question? Yes, with the right ATTITUDE, we can challenge the practices of the church -- even thoughthese standards have resisted change for centuries. Scripture gives us several examples ofeager questioners. Jeremiah wondered and then asked why the wicked prospered? Whatabout Habakkuk, who dared to ask God how long the violence would continue in Judahwithout God intervening? Mary asked, “How can it be?” Jesus didn’t object tostraightforward inquires -- such as, “Should we pay taxes?” or “What must I do to be saved?”Actually, believers are encouraged to earnestly examine the Scriptures and dig deeply intoGod’s magnificent truths. Questions don’t compromise or negate our acceptance of Biblicalinerrancy. Rather, our passionate need to find TRUTH reveals wondrous discoveries that Godalone can disclose.And so, I question the current practice of tithing and giving… because it seems that thechurch has suspended herself -- as if in resistance to impending hour of transition, hangingthere immobilized before she’s fully enabled -- caught up in tradition and need-orientedconformity.

Please let me make it clear

. When I talk about this subject, over and over again, I’veobserved how people misinterpret the idea and stop giving altogether!Over the last coupleyears, I haveseriously sought the Lord–as this was never my intention.Tithing is a basic principle of faith.Ihonestly think that Truth and freedom should cause God’s people togive more.I’ve always believed that the tithe

is the least we can do

.Old Testament God reveals truths through prophets and guaranteed them. Tithing was aschoolmaster – to teach us how to give while we are young. Obviously, the church stillneeds a schoolmaster in this area. Believers have not reached a place of maturity andstewardship to be financially faithful without a legal requirement.. That means you shouldgive without the law. BUT… if you stop giving when you step out of the law, YOU STILL NEEDA SCHOOLMASTER.

The OC is based on God’s promises if MAN would obey Him. If not – God would curse him. Inthe New Testament (based on our new and better promises), God’s promises are based onwhat He does – IN CHRIST JESUS.When we become free us from the law, we move into a place where everything we havebelongs to Him. That never means to stop supporting the local church! That’s ourresponsibility!When we graduate from school (become mature), we don’t need a Schoolmaster anymore!We know how to live without constant instruction. God takes the lifeless Law written ontablets of stone and rewrites it IN our hearts. He pours out His Spirit within us to teach ushow to walk in His way (Ez. 36:27-27). He takes the harshness of the Law and covers it overwith His LOVE.Jesus fulfilled the Law and purchased for us the right to surpass that rigid assignment byallowing us to enter into His rest. REST is creative and energized. Now our giving ismotivated by the inner joy of release and freedom. The Holy Spirit can now interpret thefulfilled Law and blows away the exacting precise obligatory payments and strict adherenceto duty. The Spirit of God breathes life into us concerning our charitable benevolence.Giving in the new covenant (having graduated from the schoolmaster) should be lifted up toa higher level than the Law.In the Old Testament 10% of what we have belongs to the Lord. In the New Covenant, 100%of what we have is His.Pharasies tithed (Lk. 18:14) as under the Law.. Jesus don’t rebuke them for it, but he calledthem hypocrites because they were whitewashed tombstones (Mat. 23:27) for beingsticklers to the “letter” of the Law while missing the point. Their exterior was painted overon the outside but they were rotten in motive and incentive for giving. Interestingly, this isthe last reference to tithing actually happening in the New Testament.Grace not works, Mercy and not law are pre-reqisite to entering into the new and better way.We who live in this fullness of times, hold a better priesthood. The Old covenant high priestentered the Holy place once a year with a blood sacrifice. A Levite priest usually had thisopportunity once in his lifetime.Jesus, our Great High Priest, shed His blood for us once and for all – and gave us His bettercovenant and He gave us a new priesthood like His. Now, we can stand as a Melchizedekpriest every moment before the throne of God.Are you grown up enough to not need the SchoolMaster? If not, you need to tithe. Do yougive with an expectation of return? Are you looking for a get rich quick scheme? Tithing isthe answer for you. Should we be in bondage to a Law of tithing. YES – if you are unable togive more without it.If you are mature, then your giving will exceed that of your childhood. Are you a goodsteward? Then you know that love and giving are interrelated.Jesus talked more about money than any other subject. Let’s go back and detail our study.Remember - I’m not trying to be contentious, divisive, or disrespectful about this topic, nor

to negate the sincere intentions of giving that have already been accomplished over thecenturies. I was a pastor for 14 years and our church depended totally upon tithes tosurvive. Although we never coerced anyone to give, we taught the standard of tithing and Ipersonally lived by that principle all my Christian life. Sooooo, I’ve been there too! But, I’mbeing transformed by the increased understanding of present truth.What is being questioned here is not meant to be flippant disregard for sacrificial giving.We’re not questioning the integrity of God’s Word. But, we are examining man’s motivesand heresies. We’re trying to expose today’s unscriptural methodologies frequently used toobtain funds – oops, another sacred cow!Now, I’m not asking that you agree with me, but will you consider these thoughts? If youdisagree – it’s simple -- just keep on doing what you’re doing! As you read this article, forgoodness sake, please continue to support your local church. Surely, we can all agree thatthe church requires substantial financial support for building payments, crucially neededstaff income, missions, etc. What we want to accomplish with his study, is to learn how toget out “from under” legalistic and manipulative demand.Disheartened believers tell me things like, “We have gone into deepest debt giving to thechurch in Tithes and Offerings and we just don’t understand ... We’re totally discouraged. Itseems that there must be more to this gospel than money.” Let’s ask again, “Could ourcurrent APPROACH to obtaining tithes and offerings be erroneous?”All too often we hear leaders accuse their members of not obeying the Bible when theydon’t give tithes and offerings. I’m sure you’ve heard these accusations and you’ve felt thepressure about “Robbing God of His tithe.” Perhaps you’ve even been told that you’ll “inherita curse” for not tithing! Like, you’d better not die owing back tithes or it’s the … grim reaper.“Well,” they shout, “Is He the God of your pocketbook?”Then, a couple weeks ago, there was that guy who called himself an ‘apostle” who said...well yes, he really did say that if we believed what he preached, then we were to come downand throw money on the carpet in front of him -- so that we could purchase that particularpromise for ourselves. And, as the people continually ran forward with great excitement … Iturned my head and wept...Time after time after time, I hear well-intentioned ministries say things like, “If you want toknow what your talents are (if you want your prophecy to come true, if you want yourhealing to happen, or if you want to be rich like me—“ etc.), just give. And according to theproportion of your faith (meaning the amount of money that you give) shall be your rewardof an answer.” Now, that’s preposterous! We can’t “buy” an answer from God with moneyany more than we can “buy” Indulgences (forgiveness) for our past sins.

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Beloved, we can release our faith without buying something! Jesus recognized thefaith of many who did not have to pay money to receive (Matt. 9:22, 29, 15:28, etc.).However, sometimes there were accompanying actions (i.e. take up your bed andwalk).For many these days, giving has become a technique or routine procedure used TO GETPERSONALLY BLESSED -- rather than a foundational principle of life. Can we, like Simon the

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cmlion.lamb3312

The Lord first started dealing with me on this subject when He stopped me from tithing to where I was giving and dealing with about where, when and to whom I was giving. I could never find any scriptures about tithing under in the New Covenant Church. Only on offerings and giving cheerfully. Then He lead me to the following: Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. (Thereby, if the priesthood and law changed, then God's instructions concerning tithing also must have changed...)

reply10 / 13 / 2008

opened my eyes to the power of tithing

reply01 / 22 / 2008