Tithes & Offerings
Two Lies The Devil Needs You To Believe
Gtcotr/ss091403
I am not the tithing police. I am a teaching priest.
Today we will end up in The Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 34
Key Scripture: Malachi 3:10 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.
This week I came across a recent survey on tithing: On May 19, 2003, Barna Research Group posted the results of their most recent research on tithing. You can get more information at www.barna.org
The results were boiled down to a headline:
Tithing Down 62% in the Past Year
A better understanding of their findings can be found in their published statement:
"The proportion of households that tithe their income to their church – that is, give at least ten percent of their income to that ministry – has dropped by 62% in the past year, from 8% in 2001 to just 3% of adults during 2002." Barna Research – May 19, 2003
During the research, depending on how individual adults answered questions, they were placed into different categories for identification purposes. Three main groups were labeled as follows:
Christian
Those who identified themselves as being Christian.
Born Again Christian
“Born again Christians” were defined in these surveys as people who said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life today and who also indicated they believe that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as “born again.”
Evangelical Christian
“Evangelicals” are a subset of born again Christians in Barna surveys. In addition to meeting the born again criteria, evangelicals also meet seven other conditions. Those include:
1. Saying their faith is very important in their life today
2. Contending that they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs about Christ with non-Christians
3. Stating that Satan exists
4. Maintaining that eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not works
5. Asserting that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth
6. Saying that the Bible is totally accurate in all it teaches
7. And describing God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today.
Tithing Research Results In Brief:
Christians (as a whole group nationwide)
Tithing down from 8% in 2001 to 3% in 2002
3 out of every 100 Christians tithe
Born Again Christians
2000 - 14% (14 out of 100)
2001 - 12% (12 out of 100)
2002 - 6% (6 out of 100)
Evangelicals In 2002 - 9% Tithe (1 out of every 11)
Here at GTCOTR we have always enjoyed being the leader and examples of what Christians and Churches should be. Our statistics have always been well above the national average and as a result, we have been afforded the opportunity to do more than other Churches could do in local outreach and world missions.
The most recent figures I previously had are over 12 years old. At that time I understood that 20% of Evangelicals tithed to their local church. For years we were almost double that.
My research this week unveiled some interesting things to me. We are still well above the national average. If only 9% of Evangelicals nation wide give ten percent as a biblical tithe to support their church, we, as a whole, even only seeing 20% tithers, out perform the national average by more than 200%.
Yet, even though we are above the national average, we are still well below the biblical responsibility.
I. Two Lies The Devil Needs You To Believe
A. Lie #1
“Tithing was instituted as a part of the Law of Moses which, as New Testament Christians, we are no longer expected to follow.”
B. The Truth Is
The Old Testament Contains So Much More Than Just The Law
1. Genesis 14:20 Abraham gave ‘tithes of all’, more than 500 years before the law.
2. Genesis 26:12ff Isaac enjoyed the blessings of the Covenant of Abraham at least 450 years before the law.
2. Genesis 28:20-22 Jacob vowed to tithe on all of his increase over 430 years before the law.
3. Leviticus 27 & Numbers 18 teach and explain tithing during the law which period lasted for approximately 1500 years.
Tithing not a part of the 10 suggestions/commandments
Under 1st Cmdt - No other Gods - Luke 18 YRR
Can’t serve God & money - Love … root of all evil
The law established sin, grace became a pardon for sin.
Point # 213. A pardon ‘for sin’ is not a license ‘to sin’.
4. Kings and prophets from Hezekiah to Nehemiah, Amos and Malachi re-instituted the tithe and rebuked people for not tithing.
5. Malachi 3 declared God’s children robbers and thieves who were financially cursed, not by the law but by the breaking of covenant, because they did not bring the tithe Jacob promised.
6. Galatians 3
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:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Jesus removed His followers from the curse of the law, not from the responsibilities of the covenant.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Tithes and Offerings Are Not Issues Of The Law, But Tenants Of The Covenant.
B. The Second Lie The Devil Needs You To Believe
“A person can give their tithes to anything or anyone they desire.”
C. The Truth Is God originated and designated the tithe for the basic support of your local church.
Offerings, not otherwise directed by God, are given on a freewill basis from discretionary sources and can be designated to other individuals or enterprises. (political campaigns, missionaries, televangelist, social programs, extended family needs, humanitarian organizations, church projects, other non-profit community & world efforts, etc.)
God does not consider it a tithe when it is does not meet His criteria and accomplish His goal. The tithe is Holy unto the Lord - dedicated.
Mark 7:10-13 God is not easily swayed by our reason or logic.
Key Scripture: Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in Mine house …
God already has a plan and He likes His plan best.
II. God Instituted Divine Dependency (we see it in the body)
Ezekiel 34 (and in relationships)
1 ¶ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
A. The Shepherd’s Duty
1. Feed the flock
2. Know them and minister to their needs
3. Love them and lead them
B. The Sheep’s Duty
1. Produce and yield meat, milk & wool
2. Follow the shepherd & not the stranger John 10:4-5
3. Reproduce more sheep
C. Those who do not feed the sheep should not milk the sheep.
D. It’s wrong to fleece another man’s sheep.
Note: If sheep are not milked and fleeced they will not be healthy and will never reach their productive potential.
You can pick up a printed copy of the conclusion of this message at the information desk in the foyer immediately after service.
Conclusion
It is God’s order and will that each head of household bring a sanctified one tenth of all of the households increase to their church. It God’s order and will that this money be used first as pay for the ministers and servants of that church and then as financial assistance for those poor and needy, especially to those in the church and then to those outside the church, who are without Christian family members to help them.
It was seldom a biblical consideration that a person or family would not have a local church that they were a part of like a sheep who knows their shepherd and is a part of a certain flock. Even then, these living too far from an established congregation were to set aside their tithe for God’s dedicated purposes. The building and care of the church, as well as support for local and world missions projects, has historically been funded by special offerings as witnessed throughout the bible.
Our View:
Every Christian should bring all of their tithe to the church they are set in.
Our Purpose:
To take the resources contributed and provide as much Jesus as possible, first to the sheep of this pasture and then in ever increasing concentric circles to the utter most parts of the world. We wish to make our church important to God.
Our Impact:
We have already reached several of our local communities and over 100 other countries with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a real and vital way. We have built churches, bible schools, grammar schools, feeding centers, medical clinics, supported orphanages and funded seminars, workshops and crusades, drilled water wells and provided counsel, covering and correction to people of all nations, races, tribes and languages, all without charge. We have equipped saints and provided opportunities for them to be proficient witnesses to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, sending them out to the lost, in prisons, hospitals, on the streets, at festivals, on beaches, in schools and daily life adventures, seeing a harvest of souls numbering into the hundreds of thousands, both in America and throughout the world. We are steadily advancing and enhancing the Kingdom of God and with each passing day pray for greater doors of utterance and the resources to make the most of those opportunities.
Our Need:
The fields are white and ripe for harvest. We need only laborers. We need you to abandon your own way, come to Christ, bring your tithes and offerings, be discipled and give yourself to the work of the church. Discover your purpose and pursue your destiny. Learn Jesus and make a living, make a life and make a difference. Take the dare.
