Thats Done Away! Tithe MY Way!

By Patricia Backora
I just KNOW he was preaching about us! Bill said as his wie !dna
i"ed his tie#
$ou%re just being o&er sensiti&e' she soothed# (he thirty)so*ething
*other o three heard the baby cry and hurried to pick hi* up#
!dna ca*e back into the bedroo*' carrying three)*onth)old +ake on
her shoulder#
(he pastor calls people like *e irresponsible' Bill gru*bled# I sla&e
,- hours a week at that darn sausage actory' and the only reason it%s
not ./ is they%re too stingy to pay o&erti*e# 0o I ha&e to *oonlight at
Prestole"# Not to *ention you doing part)ti*e at 1rickerson%s' clipping
coupons' selling Pickwick Products door to door# But we%re 0(I22 in
debt or 3ebbie%s new braces! (o think I used to be a bigwig at
1endigger 1inance' and you could stay ho*e and take care o the
kids# Bill looked like he could cry#
!dna s*iled sy*pathetically through sunken' tired eyes# It%s not your
ault +#K# 1endigger%s ir* got li4uidated by the 1eds# 5! was the one
con&icted o *oney laundering#
I *y luck gets any worse' !dna' I%ll be arraigned along with
1endigger! !&er since I started tithing' lie has been lousy! Bill
groaned# I%&e put in ap ater ap but nobody wants to hire a .,)year)
old has)been!
Please' Bill' stop being so negati&e! 6e*e*ber' pastor teaches us all
to ocus on the positi&e' and7
0ure he does' !dna! But it%s easy to stay positi&e when you don%t
ha&e to scratch out your own li&ing! Pastor%s ore&er griping about
8our% lack o aithulness and how we could be gi&ing and doing *ore to
pro&e our lo&e or +esus# Which +esus9 (he one who wears a 6ole" and
leeces widows on 0ocial 0ecurity9 +ust think! :ter all I%&e done or
hi*' Pastor Bunker threatens to ire *e o his inance co**ittee
unless I catch up on our tithing arrears! Well' I%&e got a good *ind to
tell pastor I%* tired o being rear)ended by his arrears rebukes!
(hey%re ringing in *y ears! :ll that *an does is *oan' *oan' *oan!
$ou work or ree in the nursery# ;arol coaches the choir# 0ue does
secretary work' or ree' o course# :rlene arranges lowers# 3e"ter
doctors pastor%s ta" records so he can cheat <ncle 0a*# Brenda
babysits or pastor so he can spend ti*e alone with his wie# We%re all
unpaid peons!
We%ll get paid in hea&en' dear' !dna said sweetly#
But !dna' e&en i our rent and utilities will get paid in hea&en' pastor
gets his in the here and now! We reely gi&e our ti*e and talents' but
he thinks gi&ing only *eans *oney! =oney is his deinition o lo&e!
Pastor would ha&e to pay through the nose or all these ser&ices i we
weren%t dopey dipsticks that belie&e we recei&e when we eed pastor%s
greed# +ust look how the bigwigs in the sinis7I *ean' ministry li&e!
(hey call us the 8laity% as i we%re the ones who lay around and do
nothing all day! But they%re the ones who get to lay on the beach
ha&ing un in the sun while we run our buns o!
!dna cautioned Bill about his blood pressure and said' $ou know
Pastor would be lost without you and all the other &olunteer sta at
church# 5e really does appreciate you' dear#
$eah' I bet he does# 5e should! :ll I do is sa&e 5I= *oney by
&olunteering ti*e I ought to be catching up on *y sack religion in 0t#
=attress Bedside ;hapel so I don%t drop dead o a cardiac! Pastor
wouldn%t bat an eye i I did die! :ll this guilt preaching to *ake us gi&e
*ore to pro&e our lo&e or +esus' while they%re the ones who spend it
on 5is behal to *ake their li&es nicer! (he sadistic ser*ons that warn
us we%ll burn in hell i we don%t cough up the cash! I hate to say it'
!dna' but it boils down to this> 0al&ation *ight be ree when you get
it' but you sure do ha&e to pay to keep it!
Oh' Bill' don%t say such a terrible thing! 3on%t be bitter# 0how a little
charity7
;harity begins at ho*e' !dna' and I%* right here at ho*e in need o
a little (2;! What *ore will that church s4uee?e out o *e9 Blood9 I
oughta gi&e that preacher a piece o *y *ind7
!dna ga&e hi* a light hug# I%* sure you%ll co*e up with a *ore
constructi&e solution than hurting pastor%s eelings' she soothed# +ust
speak the truth in lo&e#
Oh' I%ll speak the truth all right' Bill *uttered# Once I igure out
what the real truth is# I don%t know how *uch *ore I can take7or 5!
can take!
One week later' the sausage actory went on strike# Now Bill had e"tra
ti*e at ho*e# 5e had *ore i*portant things to do than walk the
picket line# Bill regretted the loss o earnings' but at least he was
ho*e to sa&e !dna%s nursery e"penses# (oday the two older kids were
at school# !dna was at work# Bill had just put the baby down or his
nap# Bill borrowed a big Bible concordance ro* a riend# 5e began to
research 0cripture to separate the *eat o the Word ro* the baloney
o *en# Bill kept this up until he had a*assed all the ino he needed#
(i*e or another church business *eeting# Bill was ready' ar*ed with
a older ull o notes# Pastor Bunker opened with prayer' then grabbed
the bull by the horns# (onight we%ll address the proble* o unpaid
tithes' and consider banning those who owe any arrears ro* ser&ing
on church co**ittees# Pastor Bunker looked slyly at Bill# I' ater
being subjected to such discipline' the guilty church *e*ber still
reuses to clear his past due accounts with the 2ord' he or she will be
ser&ed with a or*al written warning ro* church leadership# I the
guilty party still reuses to sub*it to church leadership by rendering to
church authorities all current and past due tithes' he or she shall be
publicly censored ro* this pulpit' sha*ed beore all the congregation
as inidels who reuse to pro&ide or the house o the 2ord# I that ails
to instill the ear o @od into such a &ile sinner' our inal disciplinary
*easure will be to publicly pronounce that the unrepentant *e*ber is
hereby e"co**unicated as an incorrigible apostate ro* the Body o
;hrist' and is ore&er se&ered ro* ;hrist as a dead branch#

(hat *ight see* a little harsh to so*e o you' the pastor said# It
*ay e&en sound like the 0panish In4uisition' but it%s high ti*e church
leadership le"ed its *uscle and e"ercised its rightul authority o&er
rebellious sheep# @od has called not only the leadership o this
church' but those in peripheral positions o responsibility to lead by
e"a*ple# : ew o you' and I WON%( :( (5I0 P:6(I;<2:6 (I=! N:=!
N:=!0' ha&e allen behind in tithes and oerings# @od depends on
your aithulness in this area# I you won%t pay +esus *oney you owe'
then why should 5e entrust you with greater treasures9
: certain si*ple *an in the back row raised his hand# :n usher
rushed up to hi* with a *icrophone#
$es' and *ay I ha&e your na*e' please9 the pastor called#
1estus 0anders# Brother Bunker' doesn%t 6o*ans A,>- say 8Owe no
*an nothin%' but to lo&e one another9%
I suppose it does say so*ething like that' Brother 1estus' but what
about it9
0ee*s to *e like i you%&e gotta pay the leadership tithes e&ery ti*e
you get your paycheck' that you 3O owe so*e other *an so*ething
besides lo&e#
Brother 1estus' i you%ll bother to read the second chapter o +a*es' it
will teach you that i you ha&e aith' you%ll show it by good works#
+esus N!!30 your tithe and he%ll punish you i you don%t pay it#
Well' pastor' I%ll gi&e +esus the shirt o *y back i it *eans I don%t
ha&e to go to hell# But it see*s to *e i +esus is up in hea&en' 5e%s
got plenty to keep 5i* out o po&erty# I 5e has a cash low proble*'
5e can sell one o the bricks in the streets o gold#
(he pastor was speechless# :ter a ew hearty chuckles ro* the
congregation' 1estus continued' 0ee*s to *e +a*es was *ostly
talkin% about eedin% poor widders' and how he didn%t want poor olks to
sit on the loor in church#
(he pastor coughed# (here was an unco*ortable silence#
: hand shot up in the third row# $es' 0ister 0*iley9
Brother Bunker' we all know there%s a recession going on with people
out o work' so *aybe i we cut a ew corners ###
0uch as9 Pastor Bunker *ade a ace#
Well' we could cut our water bill by letting the church grounds re&ert
to desert landscaping# We don%t need Kentucky bluegrass in ;actus
Balley#
Not on your lie! the pastor sole*nly intoned# 3on%t you reali?e how
*uch it would cost to co&er all this land in gra&el and prickly pear
cactuses9 :ny other suggestions9
We could run the central cooling on C- degrees instead o D-' 0ister
Be& suggested# !&erybody could just an the*sel&es while you
preached#
0o you could stew in the pews and I could pass out in the pulpit9
0ister' you want *e to sweat bullets while I%* up here preaching9
:bout the only use I could see or a hot church would be to enhance
*y ser*ons on hell#
Well' *aybe then you%d get a ew *ore sinners sa&ed! Be& blurted
out#
:nother hand went up# Brother Bunker' an elderly gentle*an said'
we could cut back on ah7ringe beneits or pastoral sta# :ll in
church leadership could contribute *atching unds toward their own
insurance policies# (here could be a te*porary ree?e on raises or
pastoral sta until ti*es get better#
(he pastor snorted# (hat%s appreciation or you! =y Bible teaches
that those who labor in the word are worthy o double honor' not
double peanuts! I any o you ha&e bothered to re&iew our personal
e"penditures o&er the past iscal period' you%ll know we%&e :26!:3$
tightened our belts till our buckle broke# We%&e *ade it a policy to shut
o all standby buttons on idle oice e4uip*ent# We only run our
sprinklers at night# (he church canteen uses Brand B 0weetener
instead o saer sugar substitutes# But we still need tithe *oney to
*eet the ollowing e"penses> Interior re*odeling needs to be
co*pleted in *y ho*e# Our walnut woodwork needs polishing# : ew
stained glass panels need replacing because birds uh7cough! I won%t
pursue that point# We just paid or liposuction or the wie so she%ll
look presentable by *y side and be a good testi*ony to the church#
We also need to be rei*bursed or new household urnishings'
including a ourteenth)century resco o Noah%s :rk# (hen there%s that
brand new guest house we tacked onto the horse stables# Not to
*ention those gold)plated pipes or the pool# =y wie%s hair stylist
and wardrobe consultant *ust re*ain on the church payroll' so she
won%t look like last year%s *eat loa# We just installed a brand'
spanking new :uto*atic (ithe)atron =achine out in the &estibule to
acilitate the transer o unds into our bank account# We need to be
rei*bursed or that purchase through your aithul tithes and oerings#
(he property ta"es on our ho*e ha&e shot through the roo# (hen
there%s uel and *aintenance or the stretch li*os which carry us to
conerences' plus insurance and *aintenance or the church jet# We
just installed a supersonic sound syste* so @od could hear our praises
better# (hen there%s *ore *undane *atters# <tilities such as water
and sewage ser&ing the church kitchen and restroo*s ha&e drowned
us in debt# I anyone%s tithing has allen into arrears' that indi&idual
shouldn%t be allowed to use the aore*entioned acilities without being
charged' like they do on a ew no)rills airlines# !"cuses won%t wash
with us! I propose that non)tithers pay an ad*ission ee o one dollar
per bathroo* &isit# 3o I hear a second on that *otion9
It was seconded by the assistant pastor' the church treasurer' and two
*illionaires who resented taking up the slack or poorer olks#
:ll in a&or9 Pastor Bunker asked the asse*bly#
(he *otion passed with a &ery narrow *ajority# (hose who elt sorry
or wo*en with weak bladders and poor parents o big a*ilies &oted
against the *easure#
It appears the 8ayes% ha&e it' said the pastor# 1ly with us' you pay
your own way# 2ater' we%ll discuss the particulars o how to enorce the
proposed restroo* ee# It will be done in conjunction with a new
(ither%s I#3# ;ard we%ll be issuing all aithul tithers in the co*ing
year# (his swipe card will contain a chip which co**unicates with our
co*puter data base# We%ll need to &eriy each *e*ber%s aithulness
in tithing beore they%re allowed to use church acilities ree o charge#
Now' any *ore suggestions or balancing our bulging budget9
I know! Brother Bentley &olunteered# $ou could rent out the church
jet when it isn%t in use! (here *ust be plenty o olks out there who%d
rather borrow a pri&ate plane than ly co**ercially#
(he pastor wrinkled his nose# $ou%&e been out in the heat too long'
Brother Bentley# 0eriously' would you trust just any co**on (o*' 3ick
and 5arry to borrow a *illion)dollar :irway jet i you couldn%t e&en
trust the* to return a paper plane in one piece9 (hink o the wear
and tear on the upholstery' the spilled be&erages' peanut shells all
o&er the place' the rayed carpeting' the s*ell!
:ter a ew *ore suggestions' the pastor said> I thought the
bathroo* ee idea was so good we%&e already &oted on that' and we%ll
also &ote on the other proposals presented tonight# But irst' Brother
Bill ;ook would like to address the asse*bly with se&eral other
suggestions#
Bill took the podiu* as the pastor sat down' acing the congregation#
Brothers and sisters' irst I%d like to *ake a *otion that we adhere
strictly to scripture as we *ake any urther iscal policies aecting this
church' and I also re4uest to be allowed to present all *y points until I
conclude e&erything @od ga&e *e to share with you# Bill heard the
pastor%s knuckles crack#
(he *otion was carried with no dissenters# (his would surely be Bill%s
inal appearance as church business coordinator' the pastor thought#
=ight as well be nice to hi* one last ti*e# 0urely he OW!3 Bill that
*uch# Who else would donate their proessional e"pertise to the
church ree o charge9
Bill began# Now or those who brought their Bibles with the*' please
turn with *e to Nu*bers A-' &erse E.
But the tithes o the children o Israel' which they oer as an hea&e
oering unto the 2O63' I ha&e gi&en to the 2e&ites to inherit>
thereore I ha&e said unto the*' :*ong the children o Israel they
shall ha&e no inheritance#
Brothers and sisters' I looked up that word 8inheritance% as originally
used in the 5ebrew# Inheritance *eans a possession' or property
which can be passed down ro* one generation to another#
Inheritance usually *eant real estate# (he 2e&ites o ancient Israel
owned no land to be4ueath to their descendants# Instead' they
recei&ed tithes o :@6I;<2(<6:2 P6O3<;! ON2$ ro* all the other
tribes in Israel# 2e&ites weren%t e&en supposed to own their own land#
But today we ha&e *en o @od clai*ing to be spiritual 2e&ites
entitled to ten per cent o e&erybody else%s wages' while at the sa*e
ti*e they own lu"urious ho*es on pri&ately owned real estate#
Brother Bunker says he needs tithe *oney to pay his personal
property ta"es# Now isn%t that a &iolation o scripture' i Biblical tithe
collectors weren%t e&en per*itted by @od to own real estate9
(hat particular 4ualiication or collecting tithes is done away' Pastor
Bunker interrupted#
Where in scripture is that 4ualiication 8done away%' Pastor Bunker'
and why don%t people still ha&e to be *ales descended ro* 2e&i in
order to take tithes9
It%s just co**on sense' Brother Bill# I there%s no 2e&ites let to do
the job' @od%s got to appoint 0O=!BO3$ to take up 5is tithe#
Is (5I0 done away' Pastor Bunker9 !&eryone turn with *e now to
3euterono*y chapter A.# Bill read the passage which speciied what
the tithe consisted o' and what was to be done with it# Wow! Bill
e"clai*ed# We read here about corn tithes' wine tithes' oil tithes'
ani*al tithes' and so on# But where%s the *oney tithes9 :ll o you can
clearly see what ite*s the 2ord restricted tithe)collectors to taking#
(hat%s done away! the pastor protested# @od keeps up with
changing ti*es! Now the 2ord wants *oney' and ON2$ *oney! !"cept
or gi&ing 5i* your heart' o course#
Where in 0cripture does it say the 2ord did away with what he wanted
tithes to be collected on and substituted green *oney or green
&eggies' pastor9
I just know in *y heart it%s done away' Pastor Bunker replied# @od
;ON(IN<!0 to re&eal resh secrets to 5is ser&ants# 2ine upon line'
precept upon precept# (he church has grown out o its inancy' and or
E'/// years @od has taught the church new things which aren%t
e"actly stated in 0cripture &erbati*' just strongly i*plied in &arious
conte"tual settings# (aking tithes on ruits and &eggies was @od%s
training wheels or tithing on *onetary wages# I you see a tree there%s
got to be a root underneath it' though you don%t e"actly see that root#
(ithing springs ro* an underlying 6OO( P6IN;IP2! o gi&ing ten per
cent o e&erything' although there is no e"press co**and ro* @od to
co*pel people to tithe on *oney' as such# !&en i you don%t read
about irst century ;hristians paying ten per cent o their paychecks' it
doesn%t speciically state in the Bible that they 3I3N%( do so# Plus'
there%s e&ery reason to belie&e @od has *odiied tithing to adapt to
changing ti*es and custo*s and a *ore intellectually *ature church#
@od is so&ereign# 5e can add new rules and regulations any ti*e 5e
eels like it# It%s been E/// long years since the Bible was written# $ou
don%t think our 5ea&enly King stopped issuing new decrees ro*
hea&en E/// years ago' do you9
: se*inary student seated in the second row raised his hand# Brother
Bunker' it states in Psal*s A,->E that @od has *agniied 5is Word
abo&e all 5is Na*e' so it see*s to *e 5is written Word should ha&e
the inal say to settle e&ery contro&ersy# What you said about @od
re*inds *e o go&ern*ent legislators *aking up lots o new laws just
to justiy the salary they draw or their job# I seriously doubt @od is
like that# $ou *entioned the 0panish In4uisition' which was run by the
;atholic ;hurch to orce olks to belie&e and obey whate&er church
authorities decided to teach# :nd our kind o church is no better# (i*e
won%t per*it *e to elaborate on all the spiritual torture you do instead
o the physical torture they practiced hundreds o years ago# :lthough'
I *ight say' withholding bathroo* pri&ileges ro* poor people could
be classiied as a physical torture#
Brother Bill! the pastor gasped# 5ow dare you co*pare our church
with the ;atholics9 =artin 2uther would roll o&er in his gra&e!
But Pastor' Bill argued' e&en i we disregard the historical act that
tithing was ne&er practiced by any ;hristian ;hurch until ;atholic
authorities introduced it in the =iddle :ges' you do share so*ething
signiicant in co**on with the ;atholics# (he ;atholic ;hurch still
belie&es in the doctrine o ;ontinuing 6e&elation' where @od keeps
8re&ealing% new doctrines not e"pressly stated in 0cripture# (his
strongly i*plies that the canon o the written Word o @od isn%t really
closed' but is continually e&ol&ing to adapt to *odern ti*es# (hat%s
what you see* to belie&e too# 3oesn%t a Biblical unda*entalist
consider that &iewpoint to be heresy9
No' it%s NO( hearsay' Brother 3a&id! the pastor said irritably# It%s
the truth' not idle gossip# @od is a creati&e god and 5e%s always
creating new solutions or new proble*s as they arise#
Well' what about 3euterono*y .>E' where @od warns people not to
add to or take ro* @od%s co**and*ents9 3a&id answered# 3on%t
tithe collectors add to @od%s co**and*ents by enorcing *onetary
tithing' which is nowhere co**anded in @od%s written Word9
Pastor Bunker looked *ad# Brother 3a&id' one *ore peep out o you
and you%re o the $outh 1ellowship ;o**ittee! $ou better watch your
step' son' or I%ll get you e"pelled ro* Barak Bible 0chool# I N!B!6
heard such an outrageous attack on our sacrosanct tithing tradition!
Bill gestured or e&eryone%s attention# I I *ay continue with *y
*essage' Pastor' we%ll take a resh look at 3euterono*y A.' &erse ED#
(his &erse tells you what @od wants you to do when your tithes pile up
so *uch you can%t haul the* to your place o worship# @od wants
you to sell those tithes' then guess what9 @od ;O==:N30 the tither
to spend any *oney gained ro* the sale o those ite*s on anything
he hi*sel wants to enjoy at his east o rejoicing# It could e&en be
wine or strong drink! 0o according to the Word o @od' it%s a sin NO(
to spend tithe *oney on yoursel!
I object! Pastor Bunker hollered# (hat%s done away! @od changed
5is *ind' and it is a blatant 0IN to spend tithe *oney on your own
personal use!
:re you encouraging tithers to disobey @od%s clearly stated
instructions' Brother Bunker9 I hope not# Now i it%s a sin or us to
spend so)called tithe *oney on oursel&es' then why is it okay or you
to spend it on beauty treat*ents or your ho*e and wie9
(hat%s =$ business! the pastor snapped# Now Bill' I%* showing a lot
o grace with you' but don%t push your luck!
With your per*ission' pastor' we%ll continue reading in 3euterono*y
A.' &erse EC' where the 2ord 5i*sel repeats that the 2e&ite is to
ha&e no part or inheritance a*ong the children o Israel# :nything @od
repeats *ust be i*portant! I%d say you and your a*ily possess *uch
*ore inheritance in this land than the poorer worshippers o this
church# :nd as or @od changing 5is *ind about what 5e states in 5is
own Word' $O<%6! the one always challenging us to be true to the
inerrant Word o @od! $O<%6! the one who preached last week that
@od ne&er changes' and +esus ;hrist is the sa*e yesterday' today
and ore&er#
Brother Bill' you%re out o order! the pastor barked# I don%t
re*e*ber last week%s ser*on' and it wasn%t recorded' so you%&e got
no concrete e&idence I e&er e&en preached that *essage! I *ake a
*otion that this *eeting be adjourned at once!
(he *otion was seconded by the assistant pastor' but when it was put
up or a &ote it was soundly deeated#
Pastor' said Bill' we WI22 go on until tonight%s business is concluded#
I%* the one presiding o&er this business *eeting' because you
appointed *e yoursel# :N3' I%* holding e&eryone' including you' to
their pro*ise to let *e inish *y *essage# :re you a *an o your
word or not9
(he pastor sat there' glaring and chewing his nails#
Bill said' with holy boldness> Now we%ll continue with 3euterono*y
A.>E-> :t the end o three years thou shalt bring orth all the tithe o
thine increase in the sa*e year' and shalt lay it up within thy gates#
;ontinuing with &erse EF> :nd the 2e&ite' Gbecause he hath no part
nor inheritance with thee'H and the stranger' and the atherless' and
the widow' which are within thy gates' shall co*e' and shall eat' and
be satisiedI that the 2O63 thy @od *ay bless thee in all the work o
thine hand which thou doest#
!&ery three years the tithe was to go to eed the poor people o
Israel' and that included the 2e&ites! Bill e"citedly said# (oday%s
spiritual 2e&ites would put the real ones to sha*e' what with their
walnut woodwork' swi**ing pools' planes' and jewelry! I did urther
research that pro&es that e&ery se&enth year the land was allowed to
lie allow so no tithes could be taken ro* it at all# (hat passage is in
2e&iticus EJ>A through C' or those who are taking notes and want to
look it up later# (hereore I propose to all asse*bled that ro* now
on' we take up scriptural tithes only on garden &egetables or li&estock#
(hese tithes are to be eaten at a big thanksgi&ing east in the church
ellowship hall' with the re*ainder to be stored in our ood pantry#
!&ery three years :22 the tithe is to be used to eed poor widows'
orphans and down)and)outers# :N3 e&ery se&en years' tithers get a
whole year o ro* tithing just like they did in the Bible# I these
guidelines aren%t ollowed to the letter' then the church stands in
blatant &iolation o @od%s clearly stated rules on how to properly keep
5is tithing law! (he 2aw o =oses is a package deal# $ou can%t just pick
and choose just one law out o DA, ordinances and throw out all the
rest# @alatians J>, taught *e this> Pick one law' you pick it all' and
you%re in debt to do the rest#
(ithing is the last law *entioned in the Book o 2e&iticus' the book o
the 2aw gi&en to I06:!2' not the church' by =oses' as it states in
2e&iticus EC>,/),.# ;hurch' i you don%t keep :22 @od%s tithing rules'
including consu*ing the 0econd (ithe at @od%s esti&als' and reser&ing
the (hird)year tithe or the poor' and gi&ing ON2$ tithes o what is
grown or raised ro* the ground ON2$ to *en descended ro* 2e&i'
you%ll bring the ;urse o the 2aw down on your heads or i*perect
2aw)keeping! (hat%s what @alatians ,>A/ teaches# :nyone under the
2aw is also under its curse# 0ince I started keeping the 2aw o (ithing
I%&e had all sorts o bad things happen to *e# But once I disco&ered
the real truth and repented o keeping *an*ade traditions' a big
weight rolled o *y shoulders# (he weight o all the DA, laws o
=oses#
(ithing predated the 2aw! the pastor objected# Bill' you know your
Bible well enough to know :braha* and +acob paid tithes beore
=oses! :nd those tithes weren%t necessarily on ood!
$ou%re right about one thing' pastor# :braha*%s tithe was on other
things besides ood# It was taken ro* other people%s belongings' stu
stolen ro* the wicked city o 0odo* by kings who attacked 0odo*
and carried its people away into capti&ity# :braha* ought a hard
battle to set his nephew 2ot and other citi?ens o 0odo* ree#
:braha* rescued their possessions as well# (he source o 0cripture%s
&ery irst tithe was wicked 0odo*#
: collecti&e gasp broke out in the congregation# $ou can ind that
story in @enesis ;hapter A.' Bill added# :lso' you%ll ind urther
e&idence in 5ebrews chapter C' &erse . that :braha*%s tithe was not
taken ro* his own personal inco*e or property' but ro* the loot he
reco&ered# No other incident o tithing is attributed to :braha* by
0cripture# :nd' i you%ll read @enesis E->AD through EE' you%ll disco&er
that +acob%s &ow to tithe to @od was ;ON3I(ION:2 and BO2<N(:6$#
Only :1(!6 @od has done certain things to help +acob will +acob pay
@od tithes# Now i +acob had been brought up to keep tithing as a
binding obligation' then how could +acob ha&e been in any position to
bargain with @od with a tithe debt he already owed 9
+acob was just restating his de&otion to @od' the pastor said# (he
act re*ains +acob 5:3 to ha&e heard about the tithe ro*
0O=!BO3$' probably his dad Isaac# 5! *ust ha&e kept the tithing
law!
(here was BO2<N(:6$ tithing beore the 2aw' pastor' but @od did not
*ake tithing a 2:W until =oses ga&e it at =ount 0inai# Proo> In
3euterono*y J> &erses E and , =oses has this to say to the nation o
Israel' the Israelites o his OWN ti*e> (he 2O63 our @od *ade a
co&enant with us in 5oreb# (his co&enant' which included keeping the
written 2aw gi&en by =oses' did not e"ist prior to =oses day' pastor#
(hat law included tithing' as we disco&ered earlier# 3euterono*y J> ,
goes on to say> (he 2O63 *ade NO( this co&enant with our athers'
but with us' who are all o us here ali&e this day# =oses% own
state*ent pro&es that his oreathers did NO( keep tithing as a law! I
you read Psal*s A.C &erse E/' you%ll ind that @od did NO( put the old
law to any other nation but Israel# (hat *eans we don%t ha&e to keep
their tithing law#
:nd as or Isaac' pastor' there%s not ON! e"a*ple o hi* tithing to
anybody' and i you%ll search your e"hausti&e concordance you%ll know
it# :s or tithing predating the 2aw' the sa*e can be said o
circu*cision' polyga*y and ani*al sacriices# I don%t hear any
preacher orcing (5O0! things on ;hristians# :lthough we 3O ha&e
serial polyga*y here' what with all the di&orce and re*arriage going
on' but then I won%t na*e na*es7
(hat%s a cheap shot' Bill! the pastor thundered# (hat last di&orce
was 5!6 ault! 2ola let hersel go to pot and looked like a sack o
doorknobs! (he 2ord knows *y ra*e' that I%* only dust#
Hes got a lot of room to talk, Bill thought' looking at the pastor who
ate out nearly e&ery night# Bill si*ply said' We won%t belabor that
point' pastor# 2et%s put a *otion beore the business co**ittee right
now> 5ow *any o you want to go back under the 2aw o =oses and
ha&e to keep ani*al sacriices' circu*cision' ood regulations' and
hundreds o other laws' and stand conde*ned beore @od or ailure to
keep those laws perectly9
But +esus set us ree ro* those laws! a lady in the ourth row
protested#
(hat%s just what I%* saying' sister' Bill replied# (he law%s a no)go
?one or us# 6o*ans D>A. tells us we%re not under law' but grace#
+esus didn%t die to set us ree ro* all the laws o =oses e"cept or
tithing' the big *oney*aker# It states in ;olossians E>A. that +esus
nailed the handwriting o ordinances' or the written 2aw o =oses' to
5is ;ross#
(hat%s done away! Pastor Bunker barked# We%re 0(I22 the spiritual
2e&ites' and e&erybody else owes us their tithe *oney on ten per cent
o their gross paychecks# 1urther*ore' it%s gross o you to appeal to
+esus to try and wiggle out o it!
I you%re the 2e&ites' Pastor Bunker' then what are W!' that we owe
you our gross ilthy lucre9
$ou%re the sheep who gi&e us the wool and the *eat' like Paul the
apostle asked or in I ;orinthians F>C# (hat *eans you%&e gotta pay
your tithes' brother!
Pastor' I%ll gi&e you a ?illion dollars right now i you can show *e just
ON! scripture where Paul speciically asked or tithes ro* other
;hristians' or e&en i you can show *e ON! scripture where +esus sent
5is disciples through the crowd with &el&et bags to take tithes' or e&en
reewill oerings' at 5is *eetings# ;an you ind such a scripture9
Not e"actly' but Paul =!:N( *oney tithes when he talked about
ha&ing the right to consu*e the products o the lock' and you know
it!
5ow do $O< know what Paul was thinking' pastor9 Paul said in I
(i*othy D>- he%d be satisied just with ood and clothing# In I
;orinthians F>. he talked about eating and drinking' not attening his
big bank account# (he only thing that aects us today is what Paul
speciically stated in the Word o @od' word or word' not what you
speculate what Paul *ay ha&e been thinking# 3id you know' pastor'
that the job description o *odern pastors and preachers is *uch
*ore analogous to the elders and prophets o ancient Israel' than to
the 2e&itical priesthood9 Prophets and elders o Israel did not ha&e any
right to take tithes ro* the people' only sons o 2e&i' as stated in
5ebrews C>J#
Be that as it *ay' we%re still the 0PI6I(<:2 2e&ites who li&e under a
ar better co&enant' so we ha&e a right to take your tithe and kick you
out o the church i you don%t pay it! the pastor shouted#
2et *e inish' pastor! (he 5oly 0pirit placed *e in the Body o ;hrist
and only @od has the right to take *e out o it' and I don%t think that
will happen in a *illion years! :s I asked beore' brothers and sisters'
i the leadership o this church are so)called spiritual 2e&ites' then
what are we9 +esus didn%t die to turn us into cash cows to be *ilked
dry' then bled dry' leeced and skinned# (urn with *e to I Peter
chapter E' &erse i&e> $e also' as li&ely stones' are built up a spiritual
house' an holy priesthood' to oer up spiritual sacriices' acceptable to
@od by +esus ;hrist# :nd in &erse nine we read> But ye are a chosen
generation' a royal priesthood' an holy nation' a peculiar peopleI that
ye should shew orth the praises o hi* who hath called you out o
darkness into his *ar&elous light#
Peter says we oer up unto the 2ord 0PI6I(<:2 sacriices# (oday%s
preachers want ;hristians to oer up 2I(!6:2 sacriices o *oney to
(5!=# New ;o&enant P6I!0(0 oer up spiritual sacriices unto the
2ord' just like Old ;o&enant P6I!0(0 oered up literal sacriices# I%ll
ha&e you know' brethren' that !B!6$ON! present who truly belie&es
on the 2ord +esus ;hrist is a *e*ber o @od%s 6oyal Priesthood#
Brother Bunker calls hi*sel a spiritual 2e&ite# Well' did you all know
that the 2e&ites weren%t the head honchos o the tribe o 2e&i9 (he
2e&ites were 0!6B:N(0 o the actual 2e&itical priesthood# Old
(esta*ent priests did NO( pay tithes# 3id you know that I ;orinthians
D>AC declares that we are one spirit with ;hrist 5i*sel9 We are actual
*e*bers o ;hrist%s Body on earth# 5ebrews ;hapter - speaks o
;hrist being the ON2$ 5igh Priest o the New ;o&enant# ;hrist%s
priesthood is an unchangeable priesthood because 5e li&es ore&er#
We are spiritually joined to ;hrist by aith# 0o what right do proessing
2e&ites' ser&ants o an obsolete priesthood' ha&e to ta" New ;o&enant
priests ten percent o their wages and kick us out o the church i we
eed our a*ilies with our own earnings instead o paying it to the
church as a ta"9 !&en *ore i*portantly' i we%re *e*bers o ;hrist%s
Body on earth' what right do preachers ha&e to ta" +esus 5i*sel9
Preachers clinging to an old law syste* ha&e no right to ta" the 2ord
o the New ;o&enant or any *e*ber o 5is Body! Old (esta*ent saints
who ar*ed or raised li&estock 5:3 to tithe under the Old 2aw# But
Old (esta*ent saints were not *e*bers o the Body o ;hrist as we
are' sitting with 5i* in hea&enly places' as it states in !phesians E>D#
We%&e been set ree ro* the Old 2aw# Not just ro* *ost o it but :22
o it!

(hat%s done away! Brother Bunker roared# Bill' you *ight be up
there in the air' but I%* bringing you back down to earth right now!
I= the only priest o 5appy ;hapel! $ou%re ired ro* our inance
co**ittee! I need greener bills than you in *y pasture#
K K K K K
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