You're Cursed If You Don’t Tithe: Debunked!
Tithing is a big deal but if you look closely in the NT, the Lord Jesus never commanded the church to tithe.
Find one Scripture in the NT where Christ commanded you to tithe.
But doesn’t 2 Timothy 3:16 tell us that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and instruction for righteousness…”
Nice try.
Let’s look at Malachi 3:8-10.
“Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the LORD of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.”
First, the Book Of Malachi was written to Israel around 444 BC about 71 years after their exile, so the church wasn’t even around.
Robbing God is equivalent to robbing the nation of Israel so Israel was cursed, not the church.
Besides Galatians 3:13-14 (NKJV) says…
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Some will argue that this curse in Malachi 3 is different from the curses listed in Deuteronomy chapters 27 and 28, but did you notice Deuteronomy 14:22-29?
What’s “the blessing of Abraham?”
When Abraham believed God for a son, it was counted to Abraham for righteousness.
When we believe or place faith on Christ alone, we exchange our sin for Christ’s righteousness (see Romans 3:21-22). This is called reconciliation or being brought back into favor with God by His grace and abundant mercy. Because God, through Christ's expiatory sacrifice was an exchange (reconciliation). Our sin for His righteousness.
Therefore, His righteousness has nothing to do with money, wealth, prosperity, or physical health but "...forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ."
Second, because after the Babylonian captivity of 70 years, Israel became lethargic and slothful in fully worshipping God and supporting the work of the Levites.
This would be known as the beginning of the 400 year silence of God between the OT and NT.
So the nation neglected the command to tithe.
The Scripture said “Will a man rob God…”
You’ll argue, it didn’t say “Will Israel rob God.”
Nice try but reading comprehension demands us to determine who is that “man.”
The Book was written to Israel, not to every man on earth including the church.
Besides that, the command to tithe was given to Israel in Numbers chapter 18 for what purpose?
The Levitical priesthood had no inheritance and the Lord commanded the people of Israel to bring tithes to supply the Levites with food so that they wouldn’t have to do the service of the tabernacle and tend the field to live at the same time.
Third, the Lord told them to bring tithes into the storehouse that there would be “food” in His house. Not money. Food was to be brought to the Levites not money.
Don’t you think that if it were about money that the Lord would have been smart enough to mean money?
Then you have Malachi 3:11-12 (NKJV).
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the LORD of hosts;
“And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the LORD of hosts.”
These are the two threats used by false pastors to compel Christians to tithe.
You're cursed if you don’t tithe and
The devourer is coming to punish you if you don’t tithe.
Question, since we’re not under the curse because of Christ being made a curse for us, how will the devourer destroy us?
Another question would be for what purpose was the devourer sent?
Judgment on Israel not the Christian.
Israel, not the church, neglected to supply the Levitical priesthood with food and it was equivalent to robbing God and the nation.
Therefore, for the neglect of God’s command to bring tithes into His storehouse, God brought judgment on Israel.
So should a Christian bring tithes?
A Christian can put in the church offering anything and in any amount whatever they want as they're led by the Lord. The NT governs the way that Christians are to give to a local church.
Acts 4:32-37 (NKJV) "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
And great grace was upon them all.
Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet."
Notice what Peter said to Ananias and Sapphira.
Acts 5:1-4 (NKJV) "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control?
Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
You're in control of what, who, and when to give so never be pressured by coercion and manipulation to give.
We're allowed to be skeptical and to scrutinize every pastor and their motives. We don't blindly obey everything that they say.
Be careful of preachers and their evil motives for money.
1 Peter 5:1-4 (NKJV) "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."
Titus 1:6-7 (NKJV) "For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money..."
Even if they say that they're a profit (intentionally misspelled) for God.
Here's your heart attitude when it's time to give in a local church.
2 Corinthians 8:12 (NKJV)
“For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.“
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NKJV)
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
False teachers love to use this Scripture to brow beat people not to be stingy. If you've already have made up your mind or the Lord put it into your heart to give a certain amount, never be coerced to exceed your budget. It's not wisdom but foolishness.
God will never instruct you to use your credit card. If you choose to use your credit card, that's your business. A preacher should never coerce you to go into debt. "Owe no man anything except to love one another..." , the Bible says in Romans 13:8.
God knows that you have bills to pay and other necessary fiduciary responsibilities and the Lord is aware of your every need before you ask Him (see Matthew 6:32-34).
Finally, the Lord Jesus said "It' is more blessed to give than to receive" (see Acts 20:35).
Notice that He didn't say "It is more blessed to tithe than to receive."
This reference is regarding supporting the weak and not giving in a church service, although it's ministering to the needs of those that's in Christ as we saw in Acts chapter 4.
So if you want to tithe, nothing in the Scriptures prohibit a NT believer to tithe and give offerings. Or if a believer chooses not to tithe, they're on safe ground. You're not cursed with a curse and the devourer will not punish you for not tithing.
Giving freely is the rule, not giving by coercion when a false pastor egregiously misuses Scriptural to exploit you by covetousness to compel God's people to give.
Therefore, you're cursed with a curse if you don't tithe is DEBUNKED.
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