Read the reaction of Pastor Mazino Egbuwoku to the article titled, “Did Christ apostle pay or receive tithe?” written by TheNewsGuru.com publisher, Mideno Bayagbon, and published on this website on the 13th of October, 2017.
RE: Tithing: Is it a new testament command? – Egbuwoku
The subject of tithing has been a very controversial one though it really ought not to be. Tithing is strongly and traditionally rooted in many churches, such that any argument against it, is usually frowned at, often times viciously. However, every Truth seeker must desire to always go deeper in the knowledge of God.
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Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving (going beyond) the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (maturity, a deeper place)..
Scriptures are quite clear on everything, for God has given us ALL things pertaining to life and godliness, but we must seek prayerfully for His knowledge.
2 Peter 1:3
According to as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue…
There is a need to address this topic now, in light of the “spirit jesus’”, threats of perdition, and strict laws of tithing imposed by many churches today. For me, if there were no threats and bondage of legalism associated with this subject, ordinarily, I might not have seen the need for addressing it with urgency, in the same way Jesus saw tithing as a less important matter of the law, or for the same reason that the Apostles never mentioned it once as a new testament command, nor nearly with the monumental place of importance it has been elevated to in todays church age.
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I have studied quite widely on the reasons why tithing is imposed on the new testament church. The three major arguments are: Jesus told the Pharisees that tithing was good; Tithing was a practice before the law, particularly by Abraham, who tithed to Melchizedek who was a type of Christ and the “there and here” reference of Heb 7:8; tithing opens the windows of blessings for Christians. If anyone has any other bible based reason, I’ll be humbly glad to learn of them so I do not run in vain.
I want to briefly submit my doctrine on this matter. I am open to superior DOCTRINAL not “heaven or hell” revelations on this matter, if any.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, AND HAVE OMITTED THE WEIGHTEIR MATTERS OF THE LAW: judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Jesus told the Pharisees to tithe because they were still under the law as at that time: “these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone”. It is no different from Him telling the lepers whom He had healed, to go and show themselves to the priests, which was the standard practice of the law. This in no way makes tithing commanded in the new testament.
And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
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Today, even though Jesus told the lepers to show themselves to the priests as the law demanded, no one need go show themselves to any priest after being healed because we are no longer under the laws of Moses.
Part 1 continues…
Part 1b
Abraham tithed to Melchizedek who was a type of Christ (a good topic for another day) and did it before the coming of the laws of Moses. Melchizedek was typified in comparison with Christs endless priesthood and the levitical order to receive tithes as priests. In other words, Melchizedek like the Levites, received a one time tenth part (and never again repeated) of the “spoils” of Abrahams victorious war against the kings – confirming His priesthood, but beyond that he had no genealogy of days to his priesthood – just like Jesus. The allegory or simile of Melchidek and Jesus was not to establish the ordinance of tithing, but the endless eternal priesthood of Christ. As we see, JESUS NOR HIS DISCIPLES NEVER ONCE COLLECTED A TITHE and if at all anything, it was a MITE that caught Christ’s attention. (Mt 12:41-44).
Abraham did give “a tenth part of the spoils of war” once, but also entered into something higher than giving a tenth, called the covenant seal of circumcision: all these before the laws of Moses. Circumcision was the biggest ordinance, sign or seal of covenant from Abraham to Moses and until Christ, yet we know that now, circumcision is nothing in Christ. If circumcision is nothing, is tithing something greater?
1 Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Galatians 6:13-16
For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Clearly in Christ’s view, the Pharisees should have understood that truth or judgement, mercy or love, and faith or absolute trust in God, were more important according to the spirit of the law, than tithing. They knew the letter but not the spirit of the law, but thank God for Jesus, because in Christ we now walk knowing the mind of God or knowing the substance of what was once revealed by it’s shadow.
Romans 7:6
But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
lease stick with me till the end before you tune off, as you might see things a little clearer and this will help us test and prove all these “christs” appearing in the deserts and secret chambers, threatening non-tithers with hell fire. This is one way to prove which spirit is speaking and which doctrines Christians are imbibing, and also whether or not we are being bewitched and falling from grace.
Matthew 24:24-26
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Israel was governed by the 10 commandments which were enforced through the law of ordinances. They were respectively known as the moral and ceremonial laws of Israel. One major effect of the redemption we have in Christ, is that He has delivered us from ALL the ceremonial laws of Isreal, even circumcision and the Jewish ordinance of Passover, which were the “highest” ceremonial practices of the Jews, as they represented Israel’s seal of covenant with God at various times. Again, ALL the hundreds of ordinances in Israel, (not the 10 commandments), have been blotted out by Christ on the cross…ALL!
>Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days..
Part 1 continues…
All ordinances are gone and done away in Christ, therefore “let no man judge you in meat, drink, holy day, sabbaths etc”. In other words, let NO MAN JUDGE YOU ACCORDING TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW OF ORDINANCES.
Ephesians 2:15
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace..
In the new covenant, God no longer forces men to do His will, rather gives us a new conscience by which we can draw near to Him. The ordinances of the old testament were IMPOSED ON PEOPLE until the time of reformation.
Hebrews 9:8-10
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, IMPOSED ON THEM UNTIL THE TIME OF
REFORMATION.
In Christ, we have been reformed to a new man, who is a new conscience in strong affinity with Gods Will. In other words, God NO LONGER forces or imposes His wishes on people, but works though their hearts to make them desirous of seeking to do His will. As they desire Him, they become equipped to do His Will by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 9:13-14
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
So, what is tithing?
Malachi 3:8-10
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to
Sadly, most people quote Malachi 3:8-10, but omit or overlook verse 7.
Malachi 3:7
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from MINE ORDINANCES, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
Tithing was an ORDINANCE of the old testament and has been abrogated in Christ. In fact, as we go forward in this study, you will see how tithing is contrary to the spirit of the new testament, and undermines full development into true Christlikeness and prevents many from becoming entirely Spirit controlled Christians.
Colossians 2:20-22
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
SO IT IS CLEAR THAT TITHING WAS AN ORDINANCE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND A SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME IN THE REFORMATION OF CHRIST. ALL ORDINANCES, INCLUDING THE TOP TWO OF ISRAEL UNDER MOSES (CIRCUMCISION AND PASSOVER) HAVE BEEN CANCELLED IN CHRST.
It is actually dangerous to seek to practice any ordinance, because scriptures teach that if we must practice one, we have to practice all. Some zealous brethren were trying to impose circumcision on the Galatian church, and the implications were far reaching. Many of us need to properly read the book of Galatians. THE MAJOR PROBLEM FOR WRITING TO THESE CHRISTIANS WAS THE IMPOSITION OF ORDINANCES ON THEM. THIS IS A SIN CALLED LEGALISM. IT IS NOT JUST A SIN, BUT A CURSE UPON ANY HUMAN OR EVEN ANGEL WHO TRIES TO TAKE THE CHURCH BACK TO LEGALISM. NO ANGEL FROM GODS THRONE WILL ATTEMPT SUCH, THEREFORE, IT IS ONLY DISGUISED ANGELS OF LIGHT WHO WILL APPEAR TO PEOPLE IN A BID TO TAKE THE CHURCH BACK TO ANY LEGALISTIC PRACTICE. TITHING IS LEGALISM.
Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, CURSED IS EVERYONE THAT CONTINUETH NOT IN ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW to do them.
Galatians 5:3
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
