Standing Fast In The Truth
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage." Gal. 5:1. "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?" Gal. 4:21
The heart of the Apostle Paul was broken because the Galatians, among whom he had spent much hard and patient labor, had been beguiled by certain legalistic teachers, and had been led away from the simplicity of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. In his epistles to the Galatians, which he wrote to correct such a grievous error, he spoke in no uncertain terms.
He called the Galatians FOOLISH in being misled from the truth.
"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth., before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you," Gal. 3:1.
And he also said to them:
"I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel," Gal. 1:6.
And in his denunciation of the legalistic teachers who had confused them he did not use sugar-coated words.
He said of them,
"I would that they were even cut off which trouble you," Gal. 5:12.
He also pronounced an anathema upon them. He said,
"If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which ye have received, let him BE ACCURSED," Gal. 1:9.
Many of the brethren think that I have gone off the deep end in my opposition to the preaching of the law among us today. Some are greatly offended because I have come out so plainly against the legalistic doctrine which is advocated by so many of our preachers today. It is not I, but those preachers, who have departed from the truth. I am standing just where I stood 40 years ago. I am standing where practically all of the Association brethren stood when I lined up with them 36 years ago. I left the ranks of the Convention people because they were seeking to follow the Seventh Day Adventists. I read the writings of the leading Association brethren and talked with some of them and I found out that they did not preach tithing, so I decided I was with the wrong bunch, and left the Convention people and joined with the Association group, and they paid me more than the tithing group.
As an example as to who has changed I could name a certain Association preacher who 10 years ago denounced the Convention church in the same town where he lives for advocating tithing. Now he is on the bandwagon with the tithing preachers, and that same Convention Church now has a pastor who is opposed to the preaching of tithing to the churches. So who has departed from the truth? It is not I, but those who think I have gone off the deep end.
Now just what did Paul have in mind when he told the Galatians to not be entangled again with the YOKE OF BONDAGE? He was speaking of the law.
This is seen by reading Gal. 4:21-31:
"Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants; the one from mount Sinai, WHICH GENDERETH TO BONDAGE, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children . . . Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what sayeth the scriptures? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. STAND FAST therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage," Gal. 4:21-5:1.
From the above passage we see that Agar, the bondwoman, represented the covenant which was given at Mount Sinai, which Paul said genders to bondage. So when he admonished them to not be entangled again with the yoke of BONDAGE, he was admonishing them to not become entangled again with the things which belong to the old covenant which was given at Mount Sinai. He asked them "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, DO YOU NOT HEAR THE LAW?" v. 21. Then he went on to show that the law covenant which was given at Mount Sinai brings BONDAGE.
Now let us see something about the law concerning tithing. We shall find that it was given at Mount Sinai, and was only given to the children of Israel.
"And all the tithe of the land, whether the seed of the land, or the fruit of the tree, it is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord . . . And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord . . . These are the commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses for THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN MOUNT SINAI," Lev. 27:34.
From this we see that the command to give tithes was a part of the covenant given to Israel in Mount Sinai. In Gal. 4:24 Paul makes it plain that Abraham's bondwoman represented the covenant which was given at Mount Sinai, and he said it gendereth to BONDAGE. Lev. 27:30-34 makes it plain that the command concerning tithing was given in Mount Sinai.
That which was given at Mount Sinai belongs to the old covenant, and genders to bondage, Gal. 4:24.
The command given to Israel to tithe was given in Mount Sinai, Lev. 27:30-34.
Therefore the command to tithe belongs to the old covenant, and it genders to bondage.
But someone says that tithing was practiced before the law was given to Israel. So was fleshly circumcision practiced before the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. See Gen. 17:9-25.
In Gal. 5:3 Paul makes it plain that fleshly circumcision was part of the law.
"I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a DEBTOR TO DO THE WHOLE LAW."
Not only does this show that circumcision was part of the law, but it shows that when a person obligates himself to keep one part of the law he thereby obligates himself to keep all the law.
Circumcision was practiced before the law. See Gen. 17:9-25.
But Gal. 5:3 shows that circumcision was a part of the law.
Therefore, the practicing of circumcision before the law was given at Sinai does not prove that circumcision was not a part of the law.
Moreover:
Abraham paid tithes before the law given at Mount Sinai. Gen. 14:20.
But the command to Israel to pay tithes was given at Mount Sinai, and the old covenant is connected with Mount Sinai. Lev. 27:30-34 and Gal. 4:24.
Therefore, the obligation to tithe was part of the covenant given to Israel at Mount Sinai, which Paul says genders to bondage.
*****
The obligation to tithe was placed upon Israel at Mount Sinai.
Paul said that the covenant given at Mount Sinai genders to bondage. Gal. 4:24.
Therefore to place the obligation to practice tithing upon the New Testament believer is to place him under a yoke of bondage.
When some were trying to place the Gentile believers under the law Peter said,
"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear," Acts 15:10.
So to put the Gentiles under any part of the law is to TEMPT GOD. Is it pleasing to tempt God? Well this is exactly what the preachers are doing who place the obligation to tithe upon the believers today. They are tempting God. They shall see when they stand before the judgment seat of Christ that they have been building wood, hay and stubble, to be heaped up in the day of the Lord Jesus.
The word "Tithe" is found only three times in the four gospels. It is found in Matt. 23:23. It is found in Luke 11:42 and Luke 18:9-12. I ask the reader to read these passages and see if Jesus was not speaking directly to the unbelieving, hypocritical Pharisees who were under the LAW. In Matt. 23:23 Jesus said:
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithes of mint, anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the LAW (See this word), judgment, mercy, faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
Here Jesus was not speaking to His disciples, but to the unbelieving Pharisees, who were under the LAW. But the believer is not under the LAW:
"For
ye are not under
the LAW, but under GRACE:"
Rom. 6:14.
It is a gross misapplication of the word of God to take what was spoken to people under the law and make the application to people who are not under the law, but under GRACE.
"We know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the LAW:” Rom.3:19.
It does not say that to those under GRACE. It looks like the tithing preachers do not know that yet. In Matt. 23:23 Jesus had tithing as a matter of the LAW.
Let the tithing teacher
find where Jesus ever said
to His disciples "These
ought ye to have
done" speaking of tithes. He just cannot find it for Jesus
never
spoke such words to His disciples. One man said he would not condemn
what Jesus
commended. Neither will I. But where is the place Jesus ever commended
the
giving of tithes in His disciples? Where can it be found that Jesus
ever used
the word "Tithe"
when He was
talking to His disciples? The tithers have been asked to find the place
and
they have to admit that there is no such place to be found in the
ministry of
Jesus. Since they cannot find where Jesus ever commanded His disciples
that
they should observe tithing, then the proof cannot be found that the
teaching
of tithing is in the great commission.
The great commission reads:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the
name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching
them to
OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU."
To obligate the churches to practice tithing the preachers will have to find where JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO OBSERVE TITHING. This they cannot find. Therefore Jesus did not commission His church to teach those they baptize to observe tithing.
We do not have to assume that Jesus taught them to observe the Lord's supper, (Luke 22:19-20). We do not have to assume that he taught them to BAPTIZE, Matthew 28:18-20. But when it comes to the observance of tithing preachers can only get it into the great commission by ASSUMPTION. I ask is it safe and sound policy to go on assumption, when there is no command to do that thing? Does this not lead us away from the word of God to human reasoning, which is fertile soil for modernism? In 1 Peter 4:11 we read:
"If any man speak, let him speak as the the oracles of God."
In I Tim. 6:3-5
Paul said:
"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words,
even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is
according
to godliness; he is proud, KNOWING NOTHING, but doting about questions,
and
strife of words, whereby cometh envy, strife, railings, evil
surmisings,
perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the
truth,
supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."
I asked a certain tithing preacher if he could answer what I had in my book on "Freedom from the Law and Spiritual Growth," He said maybe not, but he had found out that he could get more money by preaching tithing, and he was going to continue preaching it. This looks like he thinks that gain is godliness. I would like to ask the question, is God more concerned about how much money we raise, than He is in the way we raise the money?
But some say I think it is a good system to follow. If that is so, then why did not Jesus teach His disciples that it would be a good system to follow? It is not a good system to follow, because it is legalism, and we are not under the law. It is not a good system to follow because Israel failed under the system, and brought a curse upon that whole nation.
In Mal. 3:7-11 we read,
"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.
(This title is only used in connection with Israel)
But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and in offerings. Ye are cursed with a CURSE; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
(ISRAEL)
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now wherewith, saith the LORD OF HOSTS,
(THE EXPRESSION LORD OF HOSTS IS NEVER CONNECTED WITH THE CHURCHES)
if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your
(Israel's)
ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, said the Lord of host. And all nations shall call you (Israel) blessed:
for ye shall be a delightsome land."
Anyone
should be able to see that these words were addressed to the nation of
Israel,
and not to the churches. They should also see that the command to
Israel to
tithe brought a curse upon the whole nation. This is enough proof that
tithing
is a command which belongs to the law, and that it brought a curse. Let
us read
Gal. 3:10,
"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, CURSED is every one that continueth not in ALL THINGS which are written in the book OF THE LAW TO DO THEM."
The
nation of Israel did not continue to keep that part of the law which
commanded
tithing. They had robbed God in TITHES and offering (animal sacrifices,
see
Mal. 1:78), and God had cursed that whole nation. Why? Because the law
of
tithing brings a curse on all who do not keep all the law. No wonder
Peter
said,
"Why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither OUR FATHERS nor we are able to bear?" Acts 15:12.
Failure to keep the commandment concerning tithing had brought a CURSE on the whole nation of Israel, Mal. 3:8-9.
That which brings a CURSE belongs to the works of the LAW. "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 written in the book of the law to do them," Gal. 3:10.
Therefore tithing, which brought a CURSE ON ISRAEL, IS ONE OF THE WORKS OF THE LAW. It is legalism.
Moses taught his disciples to TITHE. "These are the commandments which the Lord commanded MOSES FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN MOUNT SINAI."
Read Lev. 27:30-34 where the command concerning tithing was given.
Christ nowhere taught His disciples to observe tithing. If so, in what chapter and verse can we find it? Give proof is you can.
Therefore tithing was for the disciples of Moses, and not for the disciples of Christ. "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," John 1:17.
Christ did not teach His disciples to tithe. He taught them GRACE AND TRUTH, John 1:17.
Moses taught the law, and he taught his disciples to tithe, Lev. 27:30-34 and John 1:17.
Therefore those who preach tithing, have left the ground of GRACE AND TRUTH, and are following Moses, and not Christ.
Please find in the Bible
where God ever pronounced
a CURSE on those under GRACE, or where
they were ever called thieves and robbers. I
read and hear of preachers trying to browbeat God's redeemed children
by
calling them thieves and robbers. Christ never called them that. The
apostles
never called them that. So why should you? You make a gross
misapplication of
scripture by taking what was spoken to Israel under the law, and
applying the
same to those under GRACE. Why do you not learn to rightly divide the
word of
truth? Don't you know you are sowing error and confusion by applying
what
belonged under the law to those under grace?
You are trying to place God's children under BONDAGE AGAIN. Paul said,
"Ye have not received the spirit of BONDAGE AGAIN to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father," Rom.8:15.
Please notice the words BONDAGE AGAIN. Paul said they had NOT RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AGAIN.
"If the Son therefore shall make you FREE, YE SHALL BE FREE INDEED," John 8:36.
How dare you to try to place one in BONDAGE AGAIN whom the Son of God has made free? Listen to me young preachers, (and some older ones too). DON'T you know that you are doing insult to the spirit of GRACE when you preach tithing to God's freeborn children? You are doing insult to those the Son has made free.
A few days ago, a deacon of
a church in our
county, and a very devoted and faithful member for over 30
years, said he was
getting tired of hearing these young preachers who are not yet dry
behind the
ears telling him that he is a thief if he does not practice tithing.
(He is a
liberal giver, but he does not like to be put under the law.)
Listen young preachers. Who are you to seek to drive God's freeborn children as slaves by the whip lash of the law? The motive of service under GRACE is LOVE, not the fear of the law.
Paul said,
"The LOVE OF CHRIST constraineth us."
Again he said
"In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh BY LOVE." Gal. 5:6.
A few years ago I was talking to
three tithing preachers, and I
said "Under grace the impelling motive must be LOVE." They replied,
"Love won't get the job done." Bro. Tom Walker was listening to the
conversation, and can verify what I say. Paul evidently thought that
LOVE would
get the job done for he said,
"Charity (Love R.V.) NEVER FAILETH."
He also said
"The love of Christ constraineth
us."
The preacher who would have his
people to do anything for
Christ through any other
motive than LOVE, not only cheats that person out of a
reward for what he does, but he himself will get no reward for what he
preaches. These were tithing preachers who made that remark. They seem
to have
no spiritual discernment. No wonder Paul said,
"But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ," II Cor. 3:14. "But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart," II Cor. 3:15.
We who are under grace are not driven to service by what the law says, but our service is Spirit led, and Spirit directed.
"If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under law," Gal. 5:18.
If we are under law then it follows that we are not being led of the Spirit.
Now let us go back to Mal. 3:7-11 which the tithers seem to love so well. That passage was written to Israel which was under the law. When we accuse tithing preachers of preaching law, they will deny it, and then they will go right back to Mal. 3:7-11, and other like proof texts under the law to prove their tithing doctrine for today. They do not know how to distinguish between what belongs to Israel, and what applies to the churches. They do not know how to distinguish between law and grace.
In the same connection where God told Israel that the whole nation was cursed with a curse, He also said
"From the days of your fathers ye are gone away from MINE ORDINANCES, and have not kept them."
Hear Col. 2:13-14 in the connection.
"You, being dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all your trespasses; 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."
So Jesus nailed to the cross the ORDINANCES from which Israel had gone astray, from the days of their fathers (Mal. 3:7); Sabbath keeping, animal sacrifices and other things which were against them. This shows that the ORDINANCE concerning tithing was taken out of the way when Jesus died on the cross. It was against Israel for it had brought them under a curse.
The offerings mentioned in Mal. 3:8, where God said Israel had robbed Him in tithes and offerings, has no reference to a money offering they were due to give above their tithes. By reading Mal. 1:7-8 we find that is has reference to animal sacrifices, which were to be offered on the altar of sacrifice.
" If ye offer the blind FOR SACRIFICE, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil?"
How often we hear preachers when taking up the regular collection say, "Let us honor God with our tithes and OFFERINGS." Instead of just making a blind stab at this passage, the preachers, if they would, could study the book of Malachi, and find out how Israel had robbed God in their offerings as well as tithes. But ignoring the fact that God was speaking to Israel under the law, and not to us, they just make a blind stab, and come up with the idea that we today owe God a tenth, and money offerings above that. I heard such as this a thousand times while I was with the Convention people, and now Association Baptists are following in their steps.
Few preachers really study the connection in a passage. They just take what some leader among us has said and follow him blindly without studying for themselves. God's word tells us to
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good," I Thess. 5:21.
If we have been robbing God in tithes and offerings, as did Israel in Mal. 3:8, then have we been taking lame, blind, and sick animals to an altar of sacrifice? Are these tithing preachers going to get us back to offering burnt offerings on an altar? Their blindness on the tithing question has led them into this error. Truly Paul said that those who would be teachers of the law "understand neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm," I Tim. 1:5-7.
Every preacher should study the notes on the book of Exodus by C. H. Mackintosh, a great English preacher of the last century. (The books may be bought from our book store in Little Rock). I studied his notes years ago. On pages 262-63 in his notes on Exodus he has this to say:
"How could we admit the thought that
those whom God had
received in grace he would rule by law? Impossible . . . Both the Jews
who had received
the law, and the Gentiles who never had, were now to be saved through
grace. And not only were they saved by grace, but they were to stand in
grace
(Rom. 5:2) and to grow in grace, (II Pet. 3:18). To teach anything else
was to
tempt God. Those Pharisees were subverting the very foundations of the
Christian faith; and so are all those who seek to put believers under
law.
There is no error or evil more abominable in the sight of the Lord than
legalism."
End of quotation. I
quote again from Bro.
Charles
Halff:
"According to the New Testament, born again believers are led by the Holy Spirit. We are not led by the preachers in the pulpit or by a denominational machine. We now have the Spirit of God dwelling in us to convict us of things that are wrong and to comfort us when we are walking in the steps of our Lord and Master. When we believe on Christ we receive a new teacher - one who not only can teach us what to do, but one who can give us strength to do it as well. Listen to this scripture.
'For the grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, TEACHING US that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world," Titus 2:11-12.
Bro Halff goes on
to say,
"The law IS NOT THE RULE OF LIFE (my caps) for He redeemed us from the law; so today we have a new teacher, GRACE."
End of quotation.
This has been exactly my position for over 40 years. I studied these things out before nine tenths of our tithing preachers were ever born. We neither got life through the law, nor is it to be the rule by which we live after being saved. The old Jew had to turn away from the law to be saved. Then why should he have to turn back to the law after being saved to promote his spiritual growth, or to regulate his service?
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so WALK YE IN HIM: rooted and built up in him, stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."
Paul asked the Galations
"This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Gal. 3:2-3.
We certainly do not receive the Spirit through observing the sabbath day nor by tithing. We are to continue in Christ in the same way we received Him, which is by faith and the leadership of the Spirit, and not by trying to observe any of the precepts of the law.
We received Him by FAITH through the enabling power of the Spirit. Even so must we walk in Him, grow in Him, and serve Him by FAITH, through the enabling of the Spirit.
This is why Paul could say in II Cor. 5:17,
"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have PASSED AWAY; behold ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW."
If old things have passed away, then animal sacrifices, Sabbath keeping, and tithing which were observed under the old system have passed away. ALL (not a part) THINGS ARE BECOME NEW. We have a new life. We have new standards of service. We have a new standard of giving. Every man, yielding himself to the Spirit is to give
"According as he purposeth in his heart." See II Cor. 9:7.
That was not the way the old Jew, under the
law should give. Each
Jew, both saved and unsaved, was under a direct command to bring in his
tithe.
But those were the old requirements. That has passed away for the man
who is in
Christ. For him ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW.
How often we hear preachers say this
principle and that
principle of the law has been carried over
into this DISPENSATION.
Tell me then what Paul meant when he said, "ALL THINGS ARE BECOME
NEW"? How could the old unsaved Jew, who was required to give tithes,
and
a Spirit filled, born again person, serve under the same principle?
Impossible.
Their motive of service was fear. Our is LOVE. This new principle of
LOVE is
planted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Rom. 5:5. The old Jew under
the law
did not have this indwelling Spirit. The Spirit led person does not
need the
commands
"Thou shalt not kill," "Thou shalt not steal," "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
The indwelling Spirit drives out of his heart such desires.
"Now the end of the COMMANDMENT is charity (love) out of a pure heart, and of good conscience, and of faith unfeigned," I Tim. 1:5, "The law is not for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them which defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers," I Tim. 1:9-10.
The kind of people mentioned above are the ones for whom the law was made. In fact it was given to pronounce such guilty before God.
"What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth might be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God," Rom. 3:19.
The law only speaks to those
who
were under the law, not those under grace. The one under grace has
already had
all his guilt removed. He no longer needs the law to pronounce him
guilty
before God. Grace has already come in and has pronounced him justified
before
God for his faith in Jesus Christ. If we yield ourselves to the Spirit,
and
live in the center of God's will, we need no law to tell us to give, or
how
much to give. The Spirit of God will lead us to give freely of our
means.
Here I wish to
quote from Dr. W. L.
Pettingill in his notes on the Second Book of Corinthians.
"The contrast is apparent between this New Testament giving and the almost universal practice among us in financing of God's work. The emphasis upon tithing, and pledging, and budgeting, and pleading, and urging, and begging, tends to rob giving of its pleasure. Christian giving should be spontaneous. Christian giving should be free. It should be joyous. Christian giving should be "Out of the abundance of the heart." . . . "If all Christians could be induced to tithe their incomes through pressure for co-operative programs, denominational enlargement, etc., it would still be hateful to God unless those tithers were motivated by LOVE . . . Get the people in love with God, there will be no lack of money, there will be no need of human schemes to raise money." See Dr. Pettingill's notes on Second Corinthians, pages 76-77.
Recently an old acquaintance
of ours, who is now an
independent missionary in Brazil, and his family came by and spent most
of a
day with us. My heart was moved as I heard him relate how he and two
others
went out by faith, with no board, or associational committee behind
them. They
went to Brazil about eight years ago. I saw the pictures of the great
baptizings they have been having, out in open streams, and in lakes.
They are
doing a great work. He only had the endorsement of the church where he
holds
membership. When he resigned that church in Owensburg, Ky., and had
paid all
his bills he owed, he only had a $10 bill and some change in his
pocket. He and
his wife and two children started on their way to the airport in
Florida, not
knowing where the passage money was coming from. But he said by the
time he
arrived at the airport he had sufficient money to buy their tickets and
have a
few dollars left over after arriving in Brazil. From day to day, from
week to
week, the money has come in to supply their needs, and now they have
more
children to support.
He said he had rather have it that way than to have a promised salary. He said it is a great joy, and it brings great spiritual blessings, just to see how the Lord provides from unexpected sources. For years I have found this so in my experience. My wife and I have often started on a 5,000 mile trip (round trip) with not a penny promised to us. By the time we get back home our expenses have been more than paid. I accept invitations from small churches, and from larger churches. Usually the small churches give the most, and the largest offerings come from people who are not tithers.
Too many preachers want to walk by sight, and not by faith. Paul said
"We walk by faith and not by sight.”
If we will trust God, and not the
people, nor the churches, nor
leaders, in some way God will provide. And our joy will be all the more
abundant when we see how He is able to provide. Several years ago I got
an
invitation to hold a meeting with our church in Oklahoma City. I had
already
held one for this church and received $100. I got a letter from them
asking me
to return on a certain time for another Bible school. But I already had
promised
to teach one in a small church, worshipping in an old school building
with a
young pastor. He had already told me the church was weak, and would
probably
not be able to pay much. But I had given them my promise so I declined
the
invitation from Oklahoma City. I went to the small church, feeling sure
I would
not get over $50 at the most. When the school was over they paid me
$120. Of
course I was more than satisfied with the offering, but the joy that
little
church got in making that offering was the best part of the whole
thing. And
they did not have a pastor who preached tithing.
While I see no scriptural ground for
dividing the law into
the moral part and ceremonial part, yet how often we hear preachers say
the
ceremonial part has passed, but the moral part remains. The scripture
teaches
that the law stands or passes as a whole,
not in parts. Jesus said,
"One jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled," Matt. 5:18.
If any of it has passed then all has
been fulfilled
and has passed. Jesus said He did not come to destroy the law, but to
fulfill,
Matt. 5:17. I ask did He do what He came to do? When he died on the
cross He
said
"It is finished."
On the eve of His
crucifixion He said to the Father,
"I have FINISHED the work which thou gavest me to do," John 17:4.
So then He
completely fulfilled ALL the law, and He set it
aside. In Heb. 10:9-10 it is said,
"He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will (or covenant) we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
So all the law
covenant with its sacrifices, its holy days, its
feast days, its Sabbath day observances, and its tithing obligations
has
forever passed for every believer.
"Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth," Rom. 10:4. "For ye are not under the law, but UNDER GRACE," Rom. 6:4.
We cannot mix law and GRACE. It must be one or the other. It cannot be both. Under the law the Israelites were considered servants.
"For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt," Lev. 25:55.
This position they occupied until Christ redeemed them from under the law.
"When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the LAW, to REDEEM them that are under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son," Gal. 4:4-7.
When Christ redeemed believing Jews from the LAW, they no longer occupied the place of servants (Lev. 25:55), but of SONS. Let the reader study this closely. It will help him to understand the case of the UNPROFITABLE servant in Matt. 25:30, who shall be cast into outer darkness. He will see that he will be a Jew, who refused the redemption which is in Christ. He will still be occupying the place of a servant (Lev. 25:55), and has never become a SON, as in Gal. 4:4-7. The unprofitable servant said to his lord, that he was a hard man. Indeed the LAW is a hard taskmaster. It is a YOKE OF BONDAGE. But to all such Jesus offers a yoke that is easy, and burden that is light.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my YOKE upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your soul. For my YOKE IS EASY and my burden is light," Matt. 11:28.
Why will men insist on wearing that old yoke on their necks which Peter said,
"Neither our fathers nor we were able to bear," Acts 15:10?
Why will they listen to the legalists who wish to keep them under a heavy burden, and under the yoke of the law which they are unable to bear, when Jesus offers to remove that heavy burden, take away that galling yoke, and give rest. He says His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. On the other hand the yoke of the law is a heavy one. It is a yoke of bondage. Just why will men insist on being under that yoke again? Why will they exchange their freedom in Christ for the old law yoke of bondage?
In Deut. 10:1-5 we find Moses telling about receiving the ten commandments, written in stones. In II Cr. 3:6-11 Paul contrasts the ministration of the Spirit with the ministration written and engraven in stones. In v. 5 he said,
"The Spirit giveth LIFE".
But in the 7th verse he calls the ministration engraven in stones (10 commandments) the ministration of DEATH. In the 9th verse he calls the one written in stones the ministration of CONDEMNATION. WHILE HE CALLS THE MINISTRATION OF THE SPIRIT (GRACE) THE MINISTRATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THEN IN THE 11th VERSE HE SAID,
"FOR IF THAT WHICH IS done away BE GLORIOUS, much more that which REMAINETH is glorious."
Here we find contrasted the
ministration of the
Spirit (grace) with that of the law (10 commandments). One gives life.
The
other brings death. Does the Spirit bring life or death? Does the law
bring
death or life? Does the ministration of the Spirit bring righteousness
or
condemnation? One has been DONE AWAY, and one REMAINS. Has the
ministration of
the Spirit been DONE AWAY or does it remain? Does the ministration
written in
stones (the 10 commandments) remain, or has it been DONE AWAY? To say
that the
10 commandments written in stones remain is to say that the ministration
of the Spirit has been done away, because, according to the 11th verse,
one has
been done away, and one remains. To say that the ministration of the
Spirit
remains is to take the position that the ministration written in stones
(10
commandments) written in stones has been done away. This writer takes
the
position that the ministration of the Spirit remains, while the
ministration of
the law (10 commandments) written in stones has passed away.
Now of you who say that the ceremonial part of the law has been done away, while the moral part remains, I ask were the 10 commandments the moral or ceremonial part? So something else about the law besides the sacrificial part has been done away. The part containing the 10 commandments, according to II Cor. 3:6-11, has been done away. In fact it has all been done away for the believer, the 10 commandments, Sabbath keeping, the observance of holy days, feast days, animal sacrifices and TITHING.
But you say tithing was not part of the law. Heb. 7:5 says that it was.
"The sons of Levi who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people ACCORDING TO THE LAW."
Now just where did they receive that
commandment to receive
tithes of the people? They received it in Mount Sinai, where the
law was given. Proof:
"and all the tithe of the land, whether it be
the seed of the
land, or the fruit of the tree, it is the Lord's: it is holy unto the
Lord. And
if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto
the fifth
part thereof. And concerning
the tithe of the herd, or of the
flock, even whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy
unto the
Lord. He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he
change
it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof
shall be
holy; it shall not be redeemed. These are the commandments which the
Lord
commanded Moses FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN MOUNT SINAI," Lev.
27:30-34.
That
which is connected with MOUNT SINAI belongs to the old COVENANT and
genders
bondage.
"But he who was born of the bondwoman was born after the FLESH, but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the TWO COVENANTS; the one from the MOUNT SINAI, which gendereth to BONDAGE, which is Agar," Gal. 4:23-24.
This leaves no room for argument. Gal. 4:23-24 definitely connects the LAW with MOUNT SINAI. And Lev. 27:30-34 positively shows that at MOUNT SINAI Israel received a command to TITHE. Men may say that tithing does not belong to the law. But the Bible proof shows that it does. It belonged to the law in Heb. 7:5 and Lev. 27:3-34. When the law was abolished then tithing was abolished. It belonged to the OLD SYSTEM of the LAW. If old things passed away for those in Christ, and ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW (II Cor. 5:17), then for the one in Christ tithing has passed away.
"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." Why? Because for the one in Christ "ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW."
"There is verily a DISANNULLING of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof," Heb. 7:18.
Just why was the commandment concerning tithing unprofitable? Because it brought a CURSE ON ISRAEL.
"But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and in offerings. Ye are CURSED with a CURSE; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation," Mal. 3:8-9.
Why would God take out of the old covenant a commandment which was unprofitable, and which brought a curse, and bring the same unprofitable command over into the new order of things? In Gal. 3:13 we read,
"Christ hath redeemed us FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW."
This being so, He redeemed His people
from that which
brought a CURSE. Tithing brought a CURSE, Mal. 3:8-9. Therefore the
believing
Jew is redeemed from the old law of tithing. Just why would He place
one back
under something from which He redeemed him by His death on the cross?
This is
as weak and
inconsistent as the false doctrine that after a child of God has been
saved he
can be lost again.
In the case of Abraham giving a tenth to Melchisedec the tithers think they can prove their point. The argument is all against them.
First, the book of Hebrews was not written to the churches, but to the Hebrew people who wanted to go back under the old law system. In this very chapter in which the writer speaks of Abraham giving a tenth to Melchisedec the writer says,
"The law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did."
I have shown that tithing belonged to the law. Well, when this better hope was brought in, then the law, which was not so good as this better hope, passed away. Tithing was part of it. Proof:
"The sons of Levi, who received the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people ACCORDING TO THE LAW, that is, of their brethren, though they came out of the loins of Abraham," Heb. 7:5.
So when the law passed away, and the better hope came in, then tithing which was part of the law passed away.
Second,
notice the words "Out of the loins of Abraham" (v. 5), and "Out
of his loins" in v. 10. It was the Hebrew people, not the Gentiles who
came out of the loins of Abraham. Tithing only concerned Abraham, and
those who
came out of his loins. The children of Israel to whom was given the
command at
Mount Sinai to give tithes (Lev. 27:30-34) came out of the loins of
Abraham.
Why is it that the word "TITHE" is not found one time in letters to
the churches? Why is it that nowhere in all the Bible the word tithe
can be
found in connection with any people but Abraham, and those who
came out of his loins?
Third, they claim that Melchisedec is a type of Christ, and that proves we are to tithe today. I ask the question was Melchisedec a type of Christ in His relationship to the churches, or in His relationship to Israel, and His reign as priest and king on David's throne in Israel? Why is it that the name Melchisedec is not found a single time in the letters to the churches? His name is only found in Gen. 14:18; Ps. 110:4 and in Hebrews. It is found in the 110th Psalm in connection with a prophecy of Christ's return in battle to overcome Israel's ENEMIES, and rule on His throne over that nation. The words "King of Salem means "King of Peace." See Heb. 7:2. Christ is not now KING OF PEACE. In fact He said in Matt. 10:34,
"Think not that I am come to bring peace on earth."
Not until He sits on David's throne in Jerusalem will He be King of Peace, and bring peace to this earth. See Isa. 9:5-7; Jer. 3:17-18 and Micah 4:1-8. Not till then will he reign as "KING OF PEACE". Then He will be a KING and PRIEST on his throne, as was Melchisedec. See Zech. 6:12-15. So Melchisedec is not a type of Christ in His relationship to the churches, but in His relationship to Israel, those who came out of the loins of Abraham. I Cor. 16:1-2
This passage has reference to
an emergency, or
relief offering for the impoverished saints in Judaea, and nothing
else. Some
try to make a play on the Greek word "Titheto" found in
the second
verse. But this word is never used in connection with tithing. The word
for
"Pay tithes" in Matt. 23:23 and Luke 11:42 is
"Apokekatoute." The word for "I tithe" in Luke 18:12 is
"Apodekato." The word for TENTH in Heb. 7:4 is "Dekatan."
The word "TITHETO", translated "Lay by" in I Cor. 16:2 is
the word Jesus used in inquiring about Lazarus. He asked "Where have ye
laid him." The same Greek verb is found in John 13:4 where it says,
"He riseth from supper and LAID ASIDE his garments." Neither the word
"Apodekatoute" (Pay tithes), nor the word "Dekatos" meaning
a TENTH is found in I Cor. 16:1-2. There was no certain specified per
cent they
were commanded to lay by in I Cor. 16;1-2.
I Cor. 9:13-14 "Do ye not know that they which minister about the holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel."
In this place Paul is not speaking of tithes which were given to the Levite, but about the PRIESTS, who ministered at the altar where the sacrifices burned, eating certain parts of those animal offering.
"The priests shall burn the fat upon the ALTAR:
but the breast
shall be Aaron's and his sons'. And the right shoulder shall ye give to
the
priest for a heave offering of your peace offerings. See also Lev.
7:1-6. "Every
male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy
place."
Tithing is not under consideration in I Cor. 9:13-14.
The
Church at Ephesus
In
Acts 20:27 Paul said to the elders of the church at Ephesus
"I have not shunned to declare unto you ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD."
It evidently is not part of the counsel of God
to teach tithing to the
churches for Paul did not teach this church to support preachers with
tithes.
He said to them,
"I have coveted no man's silver or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered to my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring (as he had done) ye ought to support the weak, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive," Acts 20:33-35.
Since Paul worked
to support himself and his preaching
companions then the Ephesus church did not support them with tithes.
They did
not build church houses until the 3rd century. See Dr. Newman's Church
History,
page 295, vol. I. If they paid a tenth it could only have gone to
support the
weak. Tithing churches today do very little in supporting the weak.
They let
the welfare do that. So this is one church Paul did not teach to
support the
preaching of the gospel by giving tithes.
The
Church at Thessalonica
The church at Thessalonica is a second example of a church Paul did not teach to support the gospel with tithes.
"For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us:
for we behaved
not ourselves disorderly among you; neither did we eat any man's bread
for nought;
but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be
chargeable to any of you," II Thess. 3:7-8.
This proves that this church did not support him with
tithes.
The
Church at Corinth
This is the third church Paul did not teach to pay tithes. He said to them,
"Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and we have no certain dwellingplace: and labour, working with our hands," I Cor. 4:11-12.
Why did he not preach
tithing to them? Because he
said in II Cor. 3:6 that God had made him an
able minister of the NEW
TESTAMENT, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter
killeth, but
the Spirit giveth life. Tithing belonged to that of the letter, the old
covenant, which did not bring life, but bondage.
Now let the tithers bring just one example where Paul taught tithing to a church. I have brought three examples of churches to which he did not teach tithing. There is evidence that he did not teach others to tithe. In Phil. 4:15 he said,
"Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, NO CHURCH COMMUNICATED WITH ME as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only."
Sometimes Paul was supported, and sometimes he was not. In Phil. 4:12 Paul wrote,
"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."
But Paul did teach giving to support preaching. Yet there is no evidence that he taught tithing. In Gal. 6;16 he said, "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. In II Cor. 9:7 we read,
"Every man according as he purposeth IN HIS HEART, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
Do you not think when a man is yielded to the Spirit, and fully surrendered to God, that the Spirit will put in his heart to give, how much he should give, and to what he should give? One thing today we are called upon to give to things which are not pleasing to God. The Spirit condemns the pleasure loving spirit in His people, and we are called upon to give to build gymnasiums. This is conforming to this world which God's word forbids.
No man need tell me that
our leaders were led by
the Spirit to build gymnasiums. Such as that grieves the Spirit and
cultivates
in the minds of the people a love of worldly pleasures which God's word
condemns.
"Be not conformed to this world," Rom. 12:2.
In building gymnasiums we
are falling into a pit
the modernists dug for us, in order to capture all
religious schools for
modernism, and we are already going that way at a rapid pace. We are
trying to
be like other schools. The Devil has us sleeping in the lap of Delilah
while he
shears us of our spiritual strength.
We need to stand up
and be counted. We need
more men like Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego who will dare to stand
for the
truth even if it endangers their lives. We need to let the world know
that we
need none of their standardization plans, and we will get ours out of
the
Bible. We need more Spirit led giving, and less law led and preacher
led
giving.
Spirit led giving
always honors God, and
promotes scriptural things. Law giving and preacher led giving too
often caters
to the desire of the flesh. Spirit led giving never surrenders to the
spirit of
this world. Many, many times law led and preacher led giving is for the
purpose
of keeping step with what world schools are doing. I hear someone say
we have
to do these things to gain credit before those who set the standards of
accreditation. If we have to surrender to this world's standards to
have
Christian schools, we will have Christian schools in name only. Instead
of
being a blessing to God's cause they will be a drawback to God's cause.
I am 75 years old,
and have gone to two
colleges, and hold a degree from one of them, and one by one I have
watched
Christian schools slip into the folds of modernism, and turning out
hundreds of
preachers who are worldly minded, and not sound in the faith. Their
chief aim
is to get a church which will pay them a fat salary. Where is the old
time
spirit of self denial?
We do not have to have these houses of pleasure. We have them because we want them. As we read in Jer. 5:31,
"My people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof." "Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
No, I am not too narrow but many are
too compromising, and
too loose. When
I was a young preacher no Baptist preacher would have
thought of rushing through with a religious service so that the church
members
could go to a ball game. But that very thing is being done now, and I
have
proof. Then the churches would not have had a youth revivalist who
would gather
up the young people after the service at the church, and ride all over
town,
and go to the picture show, and call it YOUTH FELLOWSHIP. We are fastly
becoming a pleasure loving, world conforming group of people. We are
sleeping
in the lap of Delilah.
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."
Our schools are trying to mix worship and PLAY.
"What will ye do in the end thereof," Jer. 5:31.
*Taken from Identified With Christ A Book of Sermons by G. E. Jones PRINT See also Jones’ Is There A Difference In the Churches?and The Sabbath Day & Questions for Tithers and "FREEDOM FROM THE LAW of Moses and Spiritual Growth in CHRIST."