This study is not about paying a minister his/her salary. As Pastor of the Church of Honesty, Respect & Love, I personally know how hard Altar work is. I do it as a labor of love; however, those that earn a living from the Altar are in their right. This study is about keeping God’s Word pure.
Through this study we have learned the truth; that the Tithe is not cash. It is best for us to blindingly accept God’s Word in faith, then to lean on our own understanding. Only, “then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32.
Many of today’s Church Members are being told to tithe cash and have faith in a future economical victory. For many of these Christians, the years go by without the promised financial windfall and if they question the promise of opened monetary floodgates they are told they just don’t have enough faith.
Dear Friend, God did not establish a cash-tithe. The idea of putting a cash-tithe burden on His Children never crossed our Lord’s mind. Instead He said, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.
Don’t be afraid, you have a Counselor and concerning the requirements of the Law, He left you this written message, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.” Acts 15:28-29
This study can go on and on because the Bible has much evidence and many examples of an edible tithe and the use of available currency. I have written these few chapters because I know that the truths here contained can set free the lives that so desire freedom. Yet, if you require more information or a deeper explanation contact me.
May God bless and prosper you.
Pastor Amós
Monday, February 26, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Misuse of Parables
A Biblical Parable is a short story used to illustrate a Spiritual truth.
Ministers use Biblical references concerning Stewardship to allege that their interpretation means Christians should give money to the Church or they will become bad stewards. Ministers quote these Scriptures while affirming a cash-tithe, thus using them as further evidence for a cash-tithe.
The Bible speaks of Stewardship in a few places, however, most ministers get this idea of stewardship from two of Jesus’ Parables; the Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-14) and the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30).
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager is for Managers. In other words, Jesus was talking to the Spiritual Leaders of the time. This Parable has nothing to do with the lay-members (although to some extend even lay-members are called to manage) of the Church except to say that if this Parable was to truly be applied to their lives then no one should ask them for money because dispensing or handing over of money is not the same as managing money. This Parable does not say give, it says manage and it ends by telling the Spiritual Managers of the time that, “you cannot serve both God and Money.” Luke 16:13b. We learn in Luke 16:14 that the Spiritual Managers of the time did not like it, “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.”
The Parable of the Talents is meant mainly for those in charge of the Church (multi-talent) but also for lay-members (one talent). Matthew 25:14KJV, “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.” Jesus is the man that traveled to the far country, aka Heaven and He called His servants (the Christians) and gave them all a Spiritual Gift they must put to work.
In Bible times a denarius was equal to a day’s wage and a talent was equal to a lifetime’s wages. Jesus did not give us a cash-talent, but He did give us all at least one talent; although most of us are spiritually multitalented. When Jesus returns He will ask us to give an account of what we did with the Talent(s) that He gave us and this has absolutely nothing to do with money.
Another of Jesus’ Parables that is being used to obtain money is the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-9. The appalling thing about this practice is that not even in metaphoric form is the Bible referring to money. In fact, the word money (in any shape or form; talent, gold, etc,) does not appear in this Parable!
Again, the idea about sowing a seed of money is unbiblical! Not even in figurative speech does this Parable mention anything about money. Later, Jesus makes it clear that the seeds are the heard message of His Kingdom, Matthew 13:19.
These Parables are not about how much money we give to the Church. These Parables are saying that as God’s Stewards we manage a Spiritual Property known as the Kingdom of Heaven and we use our Spiritual Talents to sow the seeds (message) of the Gospel in anticipation of the Harvest.
Ministers use Biblical references concerning Stewardship to allege that their interpretation means Christians should give money to the Church or they will become bad stewards. Ministers quote these Scriptures while affirming a cash-tithe, thus using them as further evidence for a cash-tithe.
The Bible speaks of Stewardship in a few places, however, most ministers get this idea of stewardship from two of Jesus’ Parables; the Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-14) and the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30).
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager is for Managers. In other words, Jesus was talking to the Spiritual Leaders of the time. This Parable has nothing to do with the lay-members (although to some extend even lay-members are called to manage) of the Church except to say that if this Parable was to truly be applied to their lives then no one should ask them for money because dispensing or handing over of money is not the same as managing money. This Parable does not say give, it says manage and it ends by telling the Spiritual Managers of the time that, “you cannot serve both God and Money.” Luke 16:13b. We learn in Luke 16:14 that the Spiritual Managers of the time did not like it, “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.”
The Parable of the Talents is meant mainly for those in charge of the Church (multi-talent) but also for lay-members (one talent). Matthew 25:14KJV, “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.” Jesus is the man that traveled to the far country, aka Heaven and He called His servants (the Christians) and gave them all a Spiritual Gift they must put to work.
In Bible times a denarius was equal to a day’s wage and a talent was equal to a lifetime’s wages. Jesus did not give us a cash-talent, but He did give us all at least one talent; although most of us are spiritually multitalented. When Jesus returns He will ask us to give an account of what we did with the Talent(s) that He gave us and this has absolutely nothing to do with money.
Another of Jesus’ Parables that is being used to obtain money is the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-9. The appalling thing about this practice is that not even in metaphoric form is the Bible referring to money. In fact, the word money (in any shape or form; talent, gold, etc,) does not appear in this Parable!
Again, the idea about sowing a seed of money is unbiblical! Not even in figurative speech does this Parable mention anything about money. Later, Jesus makes it clear that the seeds are the heard message of His Kingdom, Matthew 13:19.
These Parables are not about how much money we give to the Church. These Parables are saying that as God’s Stewards we manage a Spiritual Property known as the Kingdom of Heaven and we use our Spiritual Talents to sow the seeds (message) of the Gospel in anticipation of the Harvest.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Abraham’s non-edible Tithe
Genesis 14:18-20, “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
Hebrews 7:1-4, “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!”
As we learned in Malachi 3 and Deuteronomy 14, the tithe that God had established was (among other things):
A requirement of the Law of Moses
One hundred percent edible
From the increase of the Promise Land
Required land ownership
For the Atoning of sins
Conducive of Peace
Abraham’s tithe, on the other hand, had none of these qualities. Therefore, Abraham’s tithe can not be used as an example for demanding a cash-tithe.
Abraham was a wealthy man even before his encounter with Melchizedek. Genesis 13:2, “Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.”
So… Why didn’t Melchizedek tell him, ‘dear Abraham, this spoils of war tithe is good, but what about tithing from your wealth?’
Answer: Because Abraham’s tithe was of his own accord. It was not demanded as is being done in today’s churches. Abraham had not robbed God by not tithing from his wealth.
Abraham’s example tells us that we need not tithe our wealth or our increase. However, if we go to war (which I do not recommend because we are called to Peace) and win, then we can tithe the spoils of war like Abraham did.
Again, we’re not about to send members out to war just to get spoils to tithe.
Colossians 3:15a, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”
1st Corinthians 7:15b, “God has called us to live in peace.”
Some might say; But Abraham was a man of faith and we are his children by faith, Romans 4:16, “Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.”
Therefore, shouldn’t we tithe by faith? No, because Abraham didn’t use faith to tithe. He already had the war victory. It wasn’t a matter of faith. It was a matter of freewill and gratitude.
Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Tithing was never done by faith. The Israelites got the increase first, and then they tithed.
If you are holding cash in your hand than it is not a matter of faith because you can see it. You don’t need to hand it over to the church to have faith.
What you really need to do is use the money to take care of your family. In fact, if you don’t use your money to take care of your family first you are more than lacking in faith. 1st Timothy 5:8, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Hebrews 7:1-4, “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!”
As we learned in Malachi 3 and Deuteronomy 14, the tithe that God had established was (among other things):
A requirement of the Law of Moses
One hundred percent edible
From the increase of the Promise Land
Required land ownership
For the Atoning of sins
Conducive of Peace
Abraham’s tithe, on the other hand, had none of these qualities. Therefore, Abraham’s tithe can not be used as an example for demanding a cash-tithe.
Abraham was a wealthy man even before his encounter with Melchizedek. Genesis 13:2, “Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.”
So… Why didn’t Melchizedek tell him, ‘dear Abraham, this spoils of war tithe is good, but what about tithing from your wealth?’
Answer: Because Abraham’s tithe was of his own accord. It was not demanded as is being done in today’s churches. Abraham had not robbed God by not tithing from his wealth.
Abraham’s example tells us that we need not tithe our wealth or our increase. However, if we go to war (which I do not recommend because we are called to Peace) and win, then we can tithe the spoils of war like Abraham did.
Again, we’re not about to send members out to war just to get spoils to tithe.
Colossians 3:15a, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”
1st Corinthians 7:15b, “God has called us to live in peace.”
Some might say; But Abraham was a man of faith and we are his children by faith, Romans 4:16, “Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.”
Therefore, shouldn’t we tithe by faith? No, because Abraham didn’t use faith to tithe. He already had the war victory. It wasn’t a matter of faith. It was a matter of freewill and gratitude.
Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Tithing was never done by faith. The Israelites got the increase first, and then they tithed.
If you are holding cash in your hand than it is not a matter of faith because you can see it. You don’t need to hand it over to the church to have faith.
What you really need to do is use the money to take care of your family. In fact, if you don’t use your money to take care of your family first you are more than lacking in faith. 1st Timothy 5:8, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Monday, February 5, 2007
The penalty for not tithing Leviticus 27:31
Although we have learned that God’s established Tithe is edible, there were people that did bring Cash (plus a 5th part penalty) in place of their Tithe to God’s Temple.
Leviticus 27:31, “If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it.”
The key word is ‘redeem’; which means to buy back; to pay the price. For example, we are redeemed by the Blood of Jesus. Galatians 3:13a, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law…”
The Jewish farmers in the Promise Land could redeem (buy back) the tithes of their crops and cattle, with cash plus the added penalty of one fifth of the value.
In other words, if a farmer wishes to keep his tithe of grain worth $1,000, he can pay the cash amount of $1,200. [To get a fifth of the value you break the whole into five parts; therefore, a fifth of 1000 is 200.]
God and Moses did not want cash, but for those that insisted in keeping the tithe, they would do so at a cost to them of a fifth part added on to the monetary value of the tithe.
This being so, it is highly unlikely that any Israelite would want to bring cash to the Temple, no matter how rich of a man he was. It would truly cost a lot more for them to use cash as a tithe. Nevertheless, because we see it in God’s Word, chances are there were those that preferred to pay the penalty and they did so because cash was available to them.
This was a penalty for keeping the tithe and this also prevented many of the Israelites from substituting Cash for the Tithe!
This Scripture (Leviticus 27:31) would make no sense if the tithe had been cash or a form of currency. This Scripture also proves (yet again) that cash was available enough to have a cash-tithe if God had wanted it that way.
Why this penalty? Why would Moses allow for this cash penalty if God didn’t want the tithe to be cash?
Because the Israelites’ hearts were harden.
The same thing happened in the case of divorce. Moses allowed the divorce that God never wanted. Matthew 19:8, “Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.”
In the same way many modern hearts have become harden due to lack of faith in God’s Word.
Leviticus 27:31, “If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it.”
The key word is ‘redeem’; which means to buy back; to pay the price. For example, we are redeemed by the Blood of Jesus. Galatians 3:13a, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law…”
The Jewish farmers in the Promise Land could redeem (buy back) the tithes of their crops and cattle, with cash plus the added penalty of one fifth of the value.
In other words, if a farmer wishes to keep his tithe of grain worth $1,000, he can pay the cash amount of $1,200. [To get a fifth of the value you break the whole into five parts; therefore, a fifth of 1000 is 200.]
God and Moses did not want cash, but for those that insisted in keeping the tithe, they would do so at a cost to them of a fifth part added on to the monetary value of the tithe.
This being so, it is highly unlikely that any Israelite would want to bring cash to the Temple, no matter how rich of a man he was. It would truly cost a lot more for them to use cash as a tithe. Nevertheless, because we see it in God’s Word, chances are there were those that preferred to pay the penalty and they did so because cash was available to them.
This was a penalty for keeping the tithe and this also prevented many of the Israelites from substituting Cash for the Tithe!
This Scripture (Leviticus 27:31) would make no sense if the tithe had been cash or a form of currency. This Scripture also proves (yet again) that cash was available enough to have a cash-tithe if God had wanted it that way.
Why this penalty? Why would Moses allow for this cash penalty if God didn’t want the tithe to be cash?
Because the Israelites’ hearts were harden.
The same thing happened in the case of divorce. Moses allowed the divorce that God never wanted. Matthew 19:8, “Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.”
In the same way many modern hearts have become harden due to lack of faith in God’s Word.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Jesus’ Thoughts on the Tithe Matthew 23:23
Wouldn’t it be great to have Jesus’ thoughts on the tithe?
Well His thoughts on the tithe can be obtained by analyzing the words of Jesus on the subject of the Tithe.
Matthew 23:23, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” KJV
Jesus was talking to men that were well-off, if not rich. So why did Jesus say it was okay to tithe spices? Shouldn’t Jesus have told them to tithe cash-money from their riches?
Jesus was not confused about what a tithe is and He clearly identifies the tithe as being edible and not a form of currency. Therefore, Jesus knows that the tithe is edible, even when the person tithing is rich.
Why were these rich men tithing spices and herbs?
You could only tithe something that you grew from the Promise Land. The Scribes and the Pharisees were not about to give up their prestigious careers and take on farming.
To tithe, all they had to do was plant an herb garden and bring 10% of the spices to the Temple.
God established an edible tithe. In the past, there were no refrigerators or cans to preserve foods. Yet today, while we have many ways of preserving food (which the world of antiquity would never have dreamed of) we insist on demanding a cash-tithe.
Alas, just as the Scribes and Pharisees in the time of Jesus, today’s ministers have forgotten the more important things of our faith; Honesty in God’s Word, Respect for the Sacred things of God and Love for those God has placed in our care.
Well His thoughts on the tithe can be obtained by analyzing the words of Jesus on the subject of the Tithe.
Matthew 23:23, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” KJV
Jesus was talking to men that were well-off, if not rich. So why did Jesus say it was okay to tithe spices? Shouldn’t Jesus have told them to tithe cash-money from their riches?
Jesus was not confused about what a tithe is and He clearly identifies the tithe as being edible and not a form of currency. Therefore, Jesus knows that the tithe is edible, even when the person tithing is rich.
Why were these rich men tithing spices and herbs?
You could only tithe something that you grew from the Promise Land. The Scribes and the Pharisees were not about to give up their prestigious careers and take on farming.
To tithe, all they had to do was plant an herb garden and bring 10% of the spices to the Temple.
God established an edible tithe. In the past, there were no refrigerators or cans to preserve foods. Yet today, while we have many ways of preserving food (which the world of antiquity would never have dreamed of) we insist on demanding a cash-tithe.
Alas, just as the Scribes and Pharisees in the time of Jesus, today’s ministers have forgotten the more important things of our faith; Honesty in God’s Word, Respect for the Sacred things of God and Love for those God has placed in our care.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Ministers Playing the Word Game Ephesians 4:14
(Change the Word and throw the focus on something else.)
Are Tithes a part of the Law of Moses?
The discussion of the Law and Tithes is just double talk that takes the focus away from the tithe being food.
If someone wants to keep the Law they should do so by tithing the food that the Law demands.
You see the law is a matter of faith. Believers honor their faith and others should respect it even if it is a mixture of the Law and Grace.
We can choose to follow the Law or Grace in accordance to our faith, but removing the word ‘food’ and adding the word ‘currency’ in Malachi 3:10 is not a matter of faith; it is a matter of theft!
We have to ask ourselves, why would someone remove the word ‘food’ in Malachi 3:10 and add the word ‘currency’? The only answer that I’ve been able to come up with is: for the love of money.
This is why learning God’s Word is so important, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” Ephesians 4:14
Are Tithes a part of the Law of Moses?
The discussion of the Law and Tithes is just double talk that takes the focus away from the tithe being food.
If someone wants to keep the Law they should do so by tithing the food that the Law demands.
You see the law is a matter of faith. Believers honor their faith and others should respect it even if it is a mixture of the Law and Grace.
We can choose to follow the Law or Grace in accordance to our faith, but removing the word ‘food’ and adding the word ‘currency’ in Malachi 3:10 is not a matter of faith; it is a matter of theft!
We have to ask ourselves, why would someone remove the word ‘food’ in Malachi 3:10 and add the word ‘currency’? The only answer that I’ve been able to come up with is: for the love of money.
This is why learning God’s Word is so important, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” Ephesians 4:14
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
What is a tithe? Malachi 3:10
Malachi 3:10 “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 this Scripture, God has given us a clear and informative interpretation of what tithes are. God Almighty uses the words, ‘storehouse’ and ‘food’ to identify what He is being robbed of. Nowhere on this verse has God used the words, money, cash, gold, silver or any other form of currency to describe or to define tithes!
I am totally aware of the argument that alleges there was no actual currency at the time and thus people (being farmers) used food as a form of currency. We are going to learn just how big of a lie that allegation is in just a moment, but before we do, we have to understand that whoever dares to add or take anything from God’s Word will have God to scuffle with. “God will add to him the plagues described in this book and God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city.” Revelation 22:18b & 19b
It is okay for us to view history as a source for understanding God’s Word; however, this is not a valid option when the subject of history that we are talking about is already found in the Bible. If the availability of currency has already been recorded in God’s Word (which we will get to in a moment) then we should accept it. To get out of God’s Word and view what is obvious in our minds is to lean on our own understanding.
The Bible teaches in Malachi 3:10 that God’s Tithe was food and we should honor His Word because it also includes the fact that there was plenty of cash-currency available to have a cash-tithe if He had wanted it that way.
Here’s the proof:
Proof that currency was so well known and used during the time of Abraham that it even fluctuated, Genesis 23:16b, “four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants.”
Proof that trade (which goes hand in hand with currency) had been an ancient business even during Biblical times. 1st Chronicles 4:22b & 23a, “These records are from ancient times. They were the potters.”
Proof that merchants and traders were abundant enough to be considered a source of monetary revenue for kings, 2nd Chronicles 9:14a, “not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders.”
Proof that hundreds of thousands of Israelites did have access to and used currency as explained below.
According to Deuteronomy 14:24-26, the Israelites that lived far from God’s chosen place of sacrifice would change their tithe into silver so they could travel lighter and once at the place of sacrifice they were to use the silver to buy their tithe back. According to Exodus 12:37, 600,000 men followed Moses out of Egypt to go and settle the Promise Land. A conservative percentage of those that lived too far from the place of Sacrifice to carry their tithe would be about 50% or 300,000 men. From the start 300,000 men were following God’s orders to use currency and this number would grow with each passing year. God gave 300,000 of His children the command to use currency to travel; therefore the Bible teaches that currency was abundant and available. Knowing this should make us suspicious on anyone who looks towards ‘history’ and claims there was no currency.
These are just a few Biblical samples of the abundance of a money currency. There are many more samples; like the one in Exodus 30:11-16, in which every male (over 600,000 of them) needed to be atoned for with money! Sounds unbelievable? Read Exodus 38:26 and see that 603,550 men participated in the census and paid the half shekel!
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