A CLOSER LOOK AT TITHING
EXPOSING THE ERRORS
By: Victor T. Stephens
"People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up."
~ George R.R. Martin
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND TITHING
Man’s traditions should never exceed the authority of Scripture. Unfortunately, Catholicism has a different perspective. Leaders in Catholicism have asserted:
"It is an article of faith from a decree of the Vatican Council that Tradition is a source of theological teaching distinct from Scripture, and that it is infallible. It is therefore to be received with the same internal assent as Scripture for it is the word of God." (Attwater, 1961, Page 41)
"Whereas much of the teaching of Scripture could not be determined without Tradition; Tradition would suffice without Scripture; it is the safeguard of Scripture." (Attwater, Page 42).
"Catholic theologians maintain that as a source of truth, tradition is superior to Scripture. Scripture is after all, incomplete; it not only requires interpretation, but it required tradition in order that it might be recognized and established.... Scripture is not a textbook; in a sense, it is a dead word which must be brought to life in the living voice of tradition." (Brantl, 1961, Page 162)
That is an abhorring routine. Ranking man's tradition on a par with Scripture or appointing it superior to Scripture dishonors and undercuts the authority of God's Word. Moreover, referring to Scripture as
"a dead word" is a deliberate insult to God. For many years the Catholic Church exploited and manipulated the Word of God in an attempt to defend the indefensible.
"So, what does this have to do with tithing?" someone might ask. Well, pro-tithing teachers would like you to believe that the church has always paid tithes. Factually, there are no indications from Scripture to validate such an assumption. There is not the slightest substantiation in the New Testament to demonstrate that the early church adopted a monetary tithing system. Tithing for the new covenant church was not just absent from the New Testament, but it was also not imposed for about 700 years after the church began.
Over time, the enlargement of churches, accompanied by their development of secondary ministerial administrations, led to mounting operating costs. Due to these expenses, the Catholic Church admittedly employed a forced means of giving by illegally reinstating the Old Testament tithing law and refashioning the regulations to suit their needs. In the late 19th century, this new modified tithing doctrine crept into mainstream churches.
"As the Church expanded and various institutions arose, it became necessary to make laws which would insure the proper and permanent support of the clergy. The payment of tithes was adopted from the Old Law....The earliest positive legislation on the subject seems to be contained in the letter of the bishops assembled at Tours in 567 and the [canons] of the Council of Macon in 585." (The Catholic Encyclopedia)
"No law of tithing is found in the New Testament, although the principle of church support is laid down in Matt. 10:10 (see also Luke 10:7) and echoed in 1 Corinthians 9:13-14." (Roman Catholic Encyclopedia)
Justo L. Gonzalez, author of the book “The Story of Christianity” stated that Charlemagne (742-814)
"… enacted laws that there be preaching in the language of the people, that Sunday be kept as a day of worship and rest, and tithes be collected as if they were a tax." (HarperCollins: 1984, Vol.1, page 268)
So, there we have it. Many years ago, tithing was illegally smuggled into the church by power-hankering bishops and priests. Not only did these corrupt leaders conveniently alter the legislations of biblical tithing, but they also discounted new covenant grace principles along with the new priesthood of believers. This unauthorized enactment has channeled tithing into a human tradition at best and false doctrine at worst.
THE WORD-FAITH PROSPERITY MESSAGE AND TITHING
Some church leaders are genuine, loving, and use monetary donations for honorable purposes. Some of these men are former tithing proponents but humbled themselves to godly correction. Unfortunately, we have many self-appointed, egocentric ministers and false teachers promoting tithing for financial gain. These individuals are insatiable businessmen and motivational speakers. Employing smooth-talking oratory, they appear to be very spiritual, sincere, and caring. Let us recall Judas Iscariot:
"Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. (John 12:4-6)
Judas lived with and followed Jesus for three years. He ate with Jesus, discussed the kingdom of God with Him, prayed with Him, witnessed His ministry and His numerous miracles, and obtained personal instructions from Jesus. However, as the treasurer for Christ and the other disciples, Judas exercised this position for exploitation. He pretended to be concerned about the poor while he was in tandem stealing money from Jesus. Judas’ regard for the needy was nothing more than a charade exhibited to cloak his love for money.
Within the Christian Church today, we have those who possess comparable attributes to Judas. They pretend to care for the Church, but their motives are to deceive and fleece the body of Christ. Some of these individuals superciliously refer to themselves as "The Lord's Anointed." Employing smooth talk and captivating appeal, they present themselves as seemingly godly and scripturally superior to their supporters, using their followers' compliant minds to direct them towards self-seeking, preplanned objectives. Those who resist their established schemes and counter their false doctrines are often tagged as "rebellious" and "wicked," alleging that some people are attempting to forfeit their lawful right to be paid monetary tithes for teaching the gospel. In the words of Word-Faith teacher, Rod Parsley:
"I just love to talk about your money. Let me be very clear. I want your money. I deserve it. This church deserves it." (Rod Parsley, "An Empire of Souls," p. 35)
While false teachers are to blame for abusing God's people and spreading false doctrine, some blame belongs to the people who follow and finance their false ministries. Consequently, false churches are often permitted to persevere; as Paul foretold:
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."
(2 Tim. 4:3-4)
Many professing Christians will persecute genuine ministers for alerting them that tithing is a fictitious doctrine or that their "man of God" is a false teacher. Such a response, however, depicts their malice and contempt for the truth of God's Word. True Christians would never exalt man above the authority of Scripture.
Unfortunately, many of these spiritual impostors have been using tithing to savagely attack and rape many well-meaning believers out of their hard-earned money. They do not watch over our souls, but rather, they watch over our resources.
Under a veil of pretense similar to that of Judas, Word-Faith teachers employ unlegislated double-dealing tactics (Psalm 12:2-4) involving theft by deception. These false church leaders are some of the most charismatic and eloquent orators yet the most notorious offenders of tithing. Their point of view is that faith promotes tithing, and tithing creates prosperity ranging from restored health to 100-fold returns on the money that believers give to their ministries. It is supposedly the "first spiritual law of prosperity."
In their ambitious efforts to prove and promote their gospel of wealth, many Word-Faith teachers often announce with trumpets how God has prospered them with financial and material riches.
"We are King’s Kids!"
they boast. They claim they are prosperous because they pay their tithes and give much to the ministry in addition to those in need. And like the Pharisees, they exhibit their works to make themselves appear sacrificial and spiritual (Luke 16:14-15).
Their prosperity, however, does not come via God's blessings but by the satanic strategy of fleecing the flock (James 5:1-6, 2 Peter 2:1-3). They donate a portion of money and resources to the poor while grasping an unwarranted amount for themselves to build their kingdoms and maintain a life of luxury. In the words of Benny Hinn:
"Years ago they used to preach, 'O we are going to walk on streets of gold.' I would say, 'I don't need gold up there. I've got to have it down here. '" (Benny Hinn, TBN, April 2, 1991)
Sadly, Hinn's followers stand and shout approval to this style of ungodly oratory, incognizant they are jammed in a web of deceit.
Word-Faith preachers make use of several passages of scripture to further their tithing-prosperity message. For example:
1) "Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Phil. 4:18-20)
According to Word-Faith advocates, God guarantees that those who pay tithes and give sacrificial offerings will receive riches "according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus," which typically suggests divine health and wealth. As Fred Price puts it,
"Tithing is God's primary way of materially and financially blessing His people." (Fred Price, High Finance: God’s Financial Plan, p. 69)
In addition to paying tithes, Word-Faith teachers push general offerings, which they maintain are over and beyond ten percent. By spotlighting these forms of giving, they manipulate their congregants into giving large sums of money to their "ministries." And to justify their extravagant lifestyles, they focus on Paul’s statement, "Indeed I have all and abound. I am full."
Philippians 4:18-20, however, is not a guarantee that ministers should have an abundance of material possessions, including money. To add balance to God's Word, consider Paul’s statement in Phil. 4:11-12, where he says,
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (Phil. 4:11-12)
Here, Paul tells us that there were occasions when he had plenty and occasions when he was in need. Furthermore, Paul states that whatever condition he finds himself in, he has learned to be content. That refutes the notion that there is a promise of large quantities of wealth for ministers as marketed by Word-Faith teachers. These individuals are not content with basic living needs. They believe they are entitled to million-dollar homes, aircraft, expensive automobiles, and the list goes on.
It is wrong to accept that God promises all believers much wealth if they pay tithes and offerings. God said that He promises to bless us according to our needs, not our greed. That means that the Lord will meet our basic needs such as food, water, clothing, and other essential needs.
2)
"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
(Matt. 6:31-33)
This passage says that if we seek God first, He will take care of our central needs. However, false teachers within the Word-Faith camp attempt to use this passage to champion their prosperity gospel. They focus solely on the last verse. The scheme is to equate giving tithes, offerings, and sacrificial offerings to their ministries as "seeking his kingdom first" with the promise that God will bless us with the desires of our hearts.
Such an interpretation expresses poor hermeneutics. That is a common practice for Word-Faith proponents and other false teachers. If we read the prior verses, it is easy to see that the context is basic living essentials rather than a promise of great wealth.
These two scripture references are just a diminutive sample of aberrant doctrines that are taught within the Word-Faith camp.
