Chapter 17: Myth—Giving 10% Is A Tithe

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Myth—Giving 10% Is A Tithe

The tithe was a method in Old Testament Israel to fear God and take

care of people. Nowhere in the Bible is it used to make ministers rich. If you tithe, you live under a curse.

You might not realize that fact [you live under a curse] until Jesus

Christ tells you someday to be gone “you who practiced lawlessness.” It is another way of telling you that you never did live in faith and therefore could not please God. No, you chose to live under an old covenant and not Christ’s new covenant. Guess what? You failed to keep “all of the Law” as

instructed for those who live under it.

Instead of making your pastor a multi-millionaire by giving 10% of your income, you would be better off giving directly to God and His Son as I discussed earlier. That would be at least get you close to what the tithe was

intended to accomplish. It would show your fear of God, your obedience to Him and your willingness to care for others—even if it was no guarantee of personal health, wealth and success.

There is very good little booklet called “The Tithing Dilemma” 4 written by Ernest L. Martin, Ph D, a biblical scholar who is now passed away. You may want to get a copy for additional tithing study. Here are some notable excerpts worthy of being mentioned in this chapter.

Christ Was A Poor Man!

P335 — “Christ did not concentrate on getting money. While

he was preaching he admitted he was so poor that ‘the Son of man hath not where to lay his head’ (Matt. 8:20). Throughout his ministry he was in poverty. ‘Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might

be rich’ (II Cor. 8:9). And poor he was! He did not have enough money to pay the half shekel for the upkeep of the temple (Matt. 17:24-27). The Bible shows he never had an over abundance of financial support … P34— Both he and Peter

were so ‘broke’ that a fish had to fetch a Shekel in order for them to meet their financial obligations to support the temple.”