Chapter 17: Myth—Giving 10% Is A Tithe

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Myth—Giving 10% Is A Tithe

MEMO: If you do join a church, make sure you read its constitution

and by-laws along with its statement of faith. This should include their Articles of Incorporation and whether or not they submit to government censorship as an IRS 501(c) (3) tax-deductible corp.12 Such entities are restricted from telling you the truth about political candidates and parties. In

exchange for tax-deductible gifts, they have agreed to keep silent on issues important to believers. If you are going to accept their membership criteria, you should know what the church stands for. I know of one very large ministry that has no membership criteria according to their website. Just

show up with your tithe money. Yet verily I say unto you, if you only show up with your money and don’t ask questions, you might find yourself in a satanic church. If you don’t think they have some criteria, you will find out differently when you ask to see their Articles and By-Laws. You may even find out that you do not have true voting rights. You might also be shown

the door because you ask too many questions. What would that tell you?

True believers really want to do what is right in God’s eyes. The

illustration earlier about the angst some Christians feel over whether we should be worshipping God on a Saturday vs. Sunday is a good example. We can get close enough to God to really desire to do what is right in His eyes even if we don’t fully understand what is needed. That is why we will

rely upon the shepherd of the church we are in. It is also the reason why God makes it clear that many of these shepherds are devils in disguise. He will deal with them in His time. Verily I say to you that payback is coming.

The issue of tithing is no different. I remember vividly a distressed young wife who raced into the office where I and other ushers were counting the money given in the offering that morning. She was in tears and stated that she had the check for the tithe in her hand, but if she gave the money to

us the family would not be able to pay their bills. Her husband might even leave her if she “gave away their bill payment money.” Here was a believer who just wanted to do what was right. I remember praying with her that God would lead her to the right decision. Yet the anxiety she felt over the

tithe and the family’s inability to pay bills is felt in many homes across the country. For every one of these extortions, God will repay the teacher.