SIMPLY SCRIPTURE: THE GREAT TITHE

BY RANDY J. CAMPBELL
VOL ONE
ISSUE 2
8/16/2001


I have a good friend who has a kind heart that discusses with me the great things that are in the bible. We often disagree, but in our disagreements, we often help each other grow. My friend recently stated that they needed to find me a church, not because they wanted to change my thinking, but simply because they kindly think that I might be an asset to them. Which was real nice for them to state.

My friend sent me a page on the net about there church, so that I might join them. My friend also stated that the view that my friend held was in some cases very different since they thought for themselves. I find that a great thing. I was reading it over, and many things came to mind and many things stood out to me. And Controversies are hardly talked about in the Churches today. I can understand that, it's really a business in a lot of cases, and with out parishioners there is no profit. With that statement, the great tithe is simply scripture. But does it profit us today.

In this research, the church that was offered to me to join used the following passages to prove their insistence on tithing:

Genesis 14: 18-20 18: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19: And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him TITHES OF ALL.

Malachi 3:10 10: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I Will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of The law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! For ye tithe mint and rue and all manners of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

1 Corinthians 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they, which wait at the altar, are partakers With the altar?
14: Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 16 : 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

2 Corinthians 9:6-9 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

Hebrews 7:1-10 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2: To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3: Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4: Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5: And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive 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 come out of the loins of Abraham:
6: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7: And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8: And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9: And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10: For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

If I read these scriptures by them selves, surely my money would be on the table waiting for the basket or the collection plate to pass by me so that I would fulfill my obligation in the requirements that was presented to me as a Christian. But in truth, we have something far more reaching than these verses to take hold of us and teach us what we should do.

2 Timothy, chapter 3: 15: And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

What does this verse Scream to us all, but very few hear it? All scripture is equally important an is of God, whether it be printed in red spoken by Jesus, or printed in black spoken by God through man. The printing it self is a man made high light to make you think one verse is more important than the other is. And is not scriptural correct. Now that we all know that the verses written all carry the same weight. We know that one person speaking does not have more authority over another because it **ALL** comes from God.

If all is equal, how then can we know what is for us today. We simply follow scripture: we take what is from the past and we learn from it. And we take in context whom it was written to and why.

We certainly can not claim the scriptures of the past were written to us, but for us and our learning.

So lets look at the past and see what we can learn from it.

Lets look clearly at what this church has presented for its reasoning to take a tithe from its people. And on the way through we will often stop at other places till we get to the present requirement.


Genesis 14: 18: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19: And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
21: And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
22: And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God,
the possessor of heaven and earth,
23: That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
24: Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take Their portion.

I don't see how this helps the churches of today in acquiring tithes. Certainly this was a one time tithe,

On our way to the next verse we will stop at Leviticus 27:

30: And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.
31: And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.

32: 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.

This was a land tithe.

Numbers 18: 21: And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

This is the first tithe. Notice whom the tithe was given to. The Levites, do we have any Levites Preaching in our Assemblies. Or do we go to a tabernacle?

Deu 14: 22: Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year

This is the second tithe, and it's for the land. We can see that the Israelites had more than on tithe to give. Not only this, every three years they had an additional tithe. Lets ad this up. You have a tenth, and a tenth, and every three years you have another tenth. Israel paid 20 percent of their belongings all the time and on the third year they paid 30percent of their belongings.

Deu 14:28: At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
29: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

Now what do we do, we have been paying the Lord way to little, if were going to make what was for Israel belong to us. 23 and 1/3rd percent a year then is our requirement. This was the LAW.

Malachi 3:6: For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7: 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. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9: Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

As I read these verses, how can I help but notice words like " ye sons of Jacob" and "days of your fathers" and finally "even this whole nation". What do all these words have in common. They belong to Israel. And as in the beginning of these requirements, they were given to the Levites as an inheritance by Law.

And did these requirements of men of Israel change?

Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Lets see if in the kingdom gospel the requirements of tithing changed.

Matthew 19: 16: And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17: And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18: He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19: Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20: The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21: Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22: But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23: Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24: And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

In the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, Jesus states clearly to sell all that you have. And was this not a requirement at Pentecost that so many of the Assemblies today shout out as the start of the Church, the body of Christ.

Acts 2: 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43: And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44: And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45: And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.


And again at

Acts 4: 34: Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35: And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

This became the requirement, not just give 23 and 1/3rd percent, but all your possessions. And what happened when you kept the least bit.

Acts 5: 1: But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2: And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3: But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4: Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5: And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6: And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7: And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8: And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9: Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10: Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

No more tithes were required in the kingdom gospel, all your possessions were to be sold and shared.

Have you sold every thing you own to day? I would say probably not, for the preachers in the assemblies today no better. They no for certain that this was done away with when there became another change.

Does this stop men today from preaching a 10 percent tithe given to them? And what assembly shall we give this great tithe to. To the Baptist, to the Methodist, to the Pentecostal, to the Roman Catholic? I see no glorified assembly in heaven, nor a command in the scriptures to tithe to any assembly. Do you?

But how Jesus Loves us. Yes. And adoring love, that he came to us whom were called gentiles, the uncircumcision, and gave us pure freedom to love him and gave us the Gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ through Paul.

And Paul clearly Points out in Romans that even if the laws and ordinance were still abound, there not to us for we are dead with Christ and Risen with Christ, and the law only gave affect till death.

I say again, we have so much freedom to love Jesus that nothing stands if front of us blocking our view.

Looking at the next verse the assembly of my great and wonderful friend, which is written in thegospel of grace:

1st Corinthians 9: 13: Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the alter are partakers with the alter?
14: Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Certainly this is true, the word is live. How many 10 percent tithing that is asked for would be enough for those preaching in one assembly to live on. Does it call for massive amount of money so that we can build huge buildings, and I must say very beautiful buildings? Buildings that become altars and of worship, than Christ himself. The word tithing is just not here is it. It is good that a man live of the gospel. The gospel that Paul calls my gospel, the gospel of grace. Which gospel are you putting your self under? The kingdom gospel, that requires total giving, or Paul's gospel.

I keep on reading after verse 14, and so should you.

15: But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

16: For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
17: For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18: What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

Wow. Sincerely. Notice Paul charges nothing, for this gospel is of grace. Which is freely given.


Romans 8: 32: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Our Father has given us every thing we need freely, at no charge.

Romans 12: 3: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath DEALT to every man the measure of faith.

In this age we receive freely faith, grace, justification, reconciliation at no charge. Our Father through his Son has done it all. Nothing else required, he gives it to us.

And we give freely in this gospel of grace

Romans 12: 5: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6: Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7: Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8: Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9: Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10: Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11: Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12: Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13: DISTRIBUTING TO THE NECESSATY of saints; given to HOPITALITY.
14: Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15: Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16: Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17: Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18: If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20: Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21: Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

And more clearly:

2nd Corinthains 9: 6: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10: Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11: Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12: For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14: And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15: Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

I say wow again, Thanks to Our Father, for we don't have to worry about the law, nor about requirements.

We can give freely in kindness with out any other thought. Because we love HIM, and we love them.

Our Poor can have benefit and give thanks to the Father through Jesus, for these gifts. Can tithing given underlaw or under requirement give thanks to any one. Do you thank the Tax collector when he comes a calling? Even the suggestion puts you in a place where you don't belong. We can give freely to our Pastors whom preach the gospel of Grace any amount we feel is right for there needs.

In conclusion, it is very clear that all scripture is important for us to learn so that we can decipher rightly what our Pastors or preachers are saying for us to do. Being that all scripture being equal and being through God, we then can know how to study it properly. That all things written are not to us, but are written exclusively for our learning. We can then follow:

2nd Timothy 2: 15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We take what is written for Israel and leave it there, we don't tithe. We take what is for the Kingdom gospel and leave it there, we don't go out and sell all our possessions. We take what is for the Grace gospel given through Paul, and we stand on it for it is clearly for us today.

Certainly many brethren use Acts 2 as there position, for baptism, or sign gifts, and leave the balance there. If one is taken then all is yours. If you take one part of the law, it's all yours.

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.
11: But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12: And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Give freely because it's simply scripture. I thank my friend for their great kindness toward me, and appreciate there friendship very much.




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