Wednesday, February 1, 2012

False arguments on Tithing

Pastors often mention Jesus affirmation of tithing to the Pharisees. However this overlooks a crucial fact - Jesus was under the law just like the Pharisees.
He observed the Sabbath, Passover and even at his baby dedication, sacrifices were offered.
In Acts 15, at the council at Jerusalem, it clearly says the law does not apply to us any more. This is also in Colossians 2:15 where the law was nailed to the cross. In Galatians, Paul is angry with the 'foolish' Galatians because they want to practise the law.
I have heard pastors and leaders preach things like: 'one must give at least 10%', 'give knowing that it is all God's', 'how much should God get for giving His life for me?'
Certainly it can be a personal principle but in churches today, it is closer to a command.Yet they overlook a simple fact - why wouldnt the Holy Spirit simply say through Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:6 and the other Bible authors in the other books, 'give at least the tenth of your income to your house church'? Yet, He didn't. So aren't today's leaders adding to God's Word things that are not there?