GIVE OUT OF LOVE AND NOT OUT OF OBLIGATION
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from the Afrikaans Version: Gee uit liefde en nie uit dwang
Translator: Lynda Botha
A Pastor sent me a letter regarding the two letters I wrote about tithing, in which he implied, when I read between the lines, that he does not agree with me, or does not completely agree with me.
Below I would like to share my answer I sent to him with you.
I begin my statement which I mentioned in my previous letter to you.
Nowhere, and I reiterate nowhere, does the New Testament in the Word of God mention the word tithing and that we as Christians have to give a tenth of our money or mention anything similar where it states that I am obligated to give.
Also, nowhere, absolutely nowhere, in the New Testament is there a command or something similar that can be used to proof:
"Here it says that a Christian is obligated to give a tenth of their money or to give anything else."
Let's take a look at the sections of the Word of God which this pastor, let's call him John, sent to me:
1 COR 9:11-15
11 “Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?”
12 “If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.”
13 “Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.”
14 “In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.”
15 “Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.”2 COR 12:13 “The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!”
Then John explains the parts that he sent me as follows:
“Paul asked forgiveness for the unjust things he had done to them. That he had acted wrongly not to burden them with regards to the financial support needed for the church.”
I have never and will never be so foolish to say that the church congregation and the rest of the church members should not financially support their church.
What I am saying and what the texts also supports is that we should not force people to do something that is not proclaimed in the Word by the Lord or His writers of the New Testament.
In other words – do not say to your church members that they are obliged by our Lord to give a tenth of whatever because it is a lie, and all lies originate from the heart of satan.
As it is written:
JOHN 8:44 “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
From your letter to me it seems as if there might have been confusion between offer / offerings and tithing / tenth.
The HAT (Advanced Dictionary of the Language Afrikaans) describes the word “offer” as follow:
"Offer: What has been offered as homage to God, offerings. What is offered. What is sacrificed. "
With regards to the word “tenth” the HAT says the following:
"Tenth: Each of ten equal parts into which anything is divided."
There is still a word in the HAT that I want to share with you, which many denominations apply to Jesus’s children, who, according to me, are evil because it's not applicable to Jesus' children and therefore are to me a lying fabrication and it is – I will give the word with the explanation provided by the HAT –
"Tithing duty" Obliged to pay a tenth.
The closest I got to tithing duty in the Word of God, and it is about as far as the East is separated from the West, is what I have mentioned in one of my daily devotional letters which are as follow:
2 COR 9: 7 “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
With regards to “you are obliged to give your tenth” which are expected by some denominations from Jesus' children and are backed up with arguments to force their church members to do so, of course just the money part. Therefore, you will normally find the following scenarios:
Very, very few people who give their tithes to our Lord, really give a tenth in other words they give something they lie about.
What a terrible insult to our Lord.
Other examples of how some people debate tithing are:
Some people give what they considered to be a tenth but after deductions, knowingly or unknowingly, in my opinion is a lie when they call it a tenth.
Others give what they called a tenth, before deductions, but with the notion that now our Lord is going to bless them. In other words, if you cut to the bone, now I bought our Lord's favour.
Yet another group gave what they called a tenth, so that our Lord can leave them in peace and not punish them if they don’t give their tenth.
How absolutely tragic, they all gave their “tenth”, and only a "tenth", where it’s all about money of course – In other words, the tenth that revolves around the god mammon.
MAT 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
How absolutely tragic that there are leaders or shepherds who hammer on the 'tenth' and then of course just the money part of it, while placing their congregation under the Mosaic Law, and wilfully forget:
JAMES 2:10 “For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.”
What a sad state of affairs, when you force people to give their tithing, of course just the money part, although giving a tenth is not really part of our Christian religion.
Many denominations do not allow you to serve on the council if you do not give your tithe. A tithe is of course the tenth of your money.
You may give one or two tenths of your knowledge, willingness and time but if you want to serve on the council of either an elder or deacon, you must give a tenth of your money, even if you are lying a little bit about the exact amount of you tithe.
How utterly tragic this is.
Fortunately, there is still another group who will talk with our Lord openly, with sincere love and honesty with regards to their money, or whatever else for that matter and says to Him:
"Lord, this is what I have, and what I would love to give you because I love you and not because I am forced by a person, law or human institution. All that is forcing me to give you this amount what I have discussed with you, is my love for you! "
The Amplified Bible translation puts it this way:
2 COR 9:7 “Let each one give (thoughtfully and with purpose) just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift).”
It must not be under duress, in other words, a 'tithe' also from my money, must not be forced out of me.
No oh no!
It should be a glorious offering, or rather a homage, which I decided in my heart to give out of love.
2 COR 9:5 “So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.”
So, if you want to give to our Lord, give what you want to give with heartfelt love for Him.
Perhaps it is money.
Maybe it's your time.
Perhaps it is in which you are trained.
It can be a tenth of these, but it can be less or more.
Whatever it is, do or give them as more than what you have decided with true love in your heart. Because you know and live by:
2 COR 9:7 “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
Also:
2 COR 9:5 “So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.”
Greetings,
Sakkie