Watch the video below by Steve McVey, Christian Religion Lie #66 “You Will Be Blessed Because You Tithe” and my crazy comments follow as always…
It doesn’t matter what you think, what you’ve heard preached… if you believe this lie… then you’re wrong!
The idea that tithing will get you God’s blessings is an old testament idea.
I think Steve McVey makes a great point by saying that we all read scripture with a certain “lens” over our eyes. And that Churches and Church leaders CERTAINLY read scriptures about tithing with the lens of…
“We need some money!”
Don’t you think?
I’m not accusing any one church or church leader of being unscrupulous, it’s just 99.9% of Christians treat scripture study like this:
- Form an opinion (or have one formed already) about a certain issue
- Go to scripture to find support for their opinion (this is the “lens” I was talking about — their viewpoint is what they view scripture through)
- Don’t consider what the scripture actually means, but only look for support for their viewpoint…
(And we’re all guilty of it at one time or another, it just seems that the tendency for church leaders to do this is strong when there’s money on the line.)
Onward!
The common lie you hear is…
“You owe God 10 percent of your income!”
When really if you go back in the Old Testament where the tithing laws are found for the nation of Israel, and you add up all they’re really giving you find out it was more like 22% (According to Steve McVey, I must admit I haven’t researched this myself)
But preachers, teachers, and leaders love to beat people over the head with these verses from Malachi 3:8-10:
“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’
“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
In an effort to get people to “dig deep” and give money to the Church.
So do you owe God money?
NOPE!
I’ll say it straight out. You don’t owe God a dime. He gave everything to you as a GIFT!
But… In truth, you owe God EVERYTHING.
It’s called Grace for a reason!
But no one tries to pay back God for everything He has given you. You can’t. That’s why it’s called “GRACE” because you can’t DO anything to get God’s favor.
You can’t DO anything to get God’s blessings.
You are blessed simply because God is totally and completely powerful and UNILATERAL. Which means God gives for no reason, He gives only because He IS love, He doesn’t care what you do — He’s going to be God regardless.
So then, is it ok to tithe?
YES!
Of course, it’s always ok to GIVE. Because it’s ok to love. And part of loving is giving. Giving your gifts. Giving your time.
Giving out of LOVE though is the key.
So, keep in mind the reason that you are tithing. You’re NOT tithing to “get God’s blessings”.
NO! You’re tithing in response to how much Love… how many blessings… how much grace… how much mercy God has given you that you honestly feel you can’t contain it all. This is the TRUE meaning of “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
God does not respond to you. You respond to God…
The Bible says that we Love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19) EVERYTHING we do is a response to God. It doesn’t work the other way around — God does not respond to us.
So don’t believe this lie anymore that God will bless you because you tithe.
Instead, believe that God loves you… believe that God blesses you… believe that God pours out His love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, goodness and everything else that is pure and noble and awesome. (believe all this because it is true)
And then, in response, because you are so thrilled with what you’ve received — give generously with no care as to what you’ll “get in return”. This is the way you tithe fora great Christian life!
With Love 
Caleb
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Russell Earl Kely 07.30.08 at 6:08 pm
Although money was common in Genesis and essential for sanctduary worship it was never included in any of the 16 descriptions of tithes as only food from inside Israel. Therefore nobody really tithes today.
The blessings and curses of tithing and rain in Malachi 3 are the same as those in the Law from Deuteronomy 28 and 29 and Leviticus 26:1-4. In order to be blessed because one tithes, one must also obey the other 612 commands of the Law. That is what Paul taught in Galatians 3:10-13.
Russell Earl Kelly
calebo 07.30.08 at 7:11 pm
Hi Russell!
I can see you’ve done your homework on tithing!
And you’re correct, it’s insane how many people today are what I call, “Cherry Pickin’ Christians” meaning they pick out the parts of laws, commandments, rules and regulations from scripture and say you have to follow them to make God happy…
… while completely ignoring the rest!
Like James says, if you’re guilty of breaking just one part of the law then you’re guilty of breaking all of it.
Thank God that we are no longer under any laws anymore except the law of 1.) Love God and 2.) Love your neighbor!
With Love
Caleb
Kat 08.04.08 at 6:09 pm
Caleb,
My husband and I researched tithing and indeed we are not under the “law” of tithing. We give wherever we are able to meet a need (single mom struggling with grocery money, homeless people who need to have food, clothing, fellowship–we give as God shows us…not only to those who make up the body of Christ, but also others who don’t know Him) But for many, many years, we struggled under the condemnation of feeling like we were letting God down if we didn’t “sacrifice” to put money in the collection plate. What’s sad is you always hear “God don’t need your money” but the next sentence is “but if you don’t give it to Him anyway, He will allow Satan to curse your finances…He’ll get His money somehow..it’s up to you to choose how He gets it…willingly, with a cheerful heart……..or grudgingly, under a curse that He will allow” I’m sick at heart over all the lies that we have swallowed and it has kept us immobile, fearful, distrusting and completely manipulated by the traditions of men. Thank GOD that His Truth is made clear as we seek after Him and break those chains!!
God Bless you and thank you for your postings that continue to resonate in my heart and spirit!!!
Things I Totally Dig:
1)Being married to my soul mate and best friend for 20 years.
2)Having 5 amazing, wonderful children
3)A Christ Centered journey that is constantly BLOWING MY MIND
4)A GOD that pierces my heart with HIS INCREDIBLE SUPERNATURAL LOVE
5)Websites like yours that help me to understand that I am NOT CRAZY…..only experiencing a continual paradigm shifting by My Beloved Creator and Lover of my Soul.
Blessings!!!
calebo 08.04.08 at 10:39 pm
Kat!
This is great:
“… experiencing a continual paradigm shifting by My Beloved Creator and Lover of my Soul.”
Because that’s EXACTLY what every day is as we dance with and discover more about our creator… our lover… our God.
With Love
Caleb
Deacon & Usher 08.10.08 at 11:45 am
Amen, Amen & Amen – Deacon & Usher
http://deaconandusher.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/pastor-pastor-oh-wont-you-tell-me-please/
Amy 10.31.08 at 2:48 pm
Ok, I believe what you are saying..but I have one problem. The Word says that God never changes….He is the same…right and Christ said He did not come to abolish the law…..
The reason I was researching is because I wanted to give my tithe to my mother in law who is out of work…I do not have an “offering” available so I am praying about giving it to her…Please advise
Amy
calebo 10.31.08 at 3:33 pm
@ Amy: Christ said He did not come to abolish the law because He came to FULFILL it. Christ’s death, burial and resurrection were the complete fulfillment of the law — so you, me, the rest of the world are no longer under it.
Quick EXAMPLE:
– The LAW in your state says you have to pay $100 this week or go to jail.
– Guy comes along says “I can’t abolish this law — but I can fulfill it for you — for now and for the rest of your life so it no longer has any hold over you and you no longer have to think about it, talk about it, worry about it, or relate to it in any way in the future. I’ll pay it for you, I’ll fulfill it for you.”
– BAM! You’re in the same position. Get it?
That being said, it’s “OK” to tithe. You’re just not required to do it. You’re not required to do anything but Love God and Love People.
So don’t feel guilty if you can’t help your mother in law who is out of work to tithe… but if you can help her… if you can show her some love by helping her in this situation… than by all means do it!
You’re in the “right” either way you go — your heart condition is what is most important — not adherence to any external law or guidelines (especially a law you are dead to).
With Love
Caleb
Venson 12.19.08 at 3:48 am
Sometimes I think that alot of the churches today at least alot of the evangelical ones that I’ve been in, have this agenda like:
“You’re sick…you know that, right? well today’s your lucky day!! I just so happen to have the cure.”
So we buy it, and everything is all good, until at the end of the sermon they’re like. “don’t forget…you’re still a little sick ya know, so make sure you come back next week or you’ll get sick again.”
Kinda twisted if you ask me, especially when Christ has healed us once and for all from the only sickness that could even hurt us (sin).
I don’t know… I just think that tithing is one of those little tools “they” use to manipulate believers into giving and coming to church.
I do however, attend a church….and give for that matter (not always in monetary form), but the reason I do so isn’t because I HAVE to…It’s cause I love God and I love people…
But, whatever, I just thought I would share some of the thoughts in my head…I really like this site and have found that “the exchanged life” teachings have changed my life and identity forever.
PEACE
V
Shawn 08.19.09 at 8:59 am
Thanks for this site/blog. I am really trying to grow more and more in Christ. The last several years of my life have been disastrous. Part of the disaster has been financial. I often feel that I am under some type of curse. I am scared and want to have prosperity – not only financial, but personal, emotional, career-wise, etc. Part of my fear has led me to the tithing question. I have never really tithed – but have given at church and beyond. When things once again became really bleak about two months ago, my Pastor asked me whether or not I was tithing. I found/find this strange, and felt a little like I was being manipulated. I am still not sure what to think. How am i to be sure that not always tithing, but trying to fulfil other financial obligations and get myself out of the morass in which I find myself will not result in total ruination – because I am not being obedient to God?
calebo 09.08.09 at 3:13 pm
@ Venson: Right on!
@ Shawn: You are definitely not cursed! And God won’t “destroy” you financially because you’re not being obedient to Him.