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In each generation there have been various ways and means used to secure the attention of sinners so that they may be shown the truth and then led into a saving knowledge and true relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a fact that man is a creature of habit. He loves form, doesn't like things to change "too quickly," and he clings to tradition. Unfortunately (for man), God is no such person. Though something has never been tried before, God simply does not care. His only concern is that it is the wisest and most direct way of accomplishing His desire.

This of course, threw the children of Israel into many a panic. "What's God doing now?" If there was a big sea in the way, no problem, He just split it. If there wasn't any water, snap! A drinking fountain from a rock. Food running low? Presto! It'll rain bread in the morning. And Jesus had the same way of dealing with things. When His disciples were far from shore, it didn't matter; Jesus just strolled over the waves. Problem with the weather? "Shut up wind!" And so it went.... (Exodus 14:21-22, 16:4, 17:6,; Matt. 14:25; Mark 4:39).

Now as you can see in the Bible, God had a lot of problems with man and his traditions. Just take a look at the Jews - how they loved their temple, their sacrifices, their Sabbath - too bad they didn't care much for their God. And Jesus ran up against the whole stubborn lot of them. "Did you see that? Why, He healed on the Sabbath!" (Luke 13:14) At every turn, Jesus tried to show them the truth, using the wisest reasoning and the best example, but they kept getting hung up on His methods - touching lepers, raising the dead, hanging out with sinners, whipping moneychangers - it scared them to death! (Matt. 8:2-3, 9:11; John 2:15, 11:43-44) Their religion was basically peaceful, very solemn and quiet. But Jesus...why Jesus had the whole town in an uproar at least once a week! You can see why He bothered them; He distributed their nice little religion...with the truth! (John 8:44-45)

It is obvious that God anoints men and women who are completely yielded to His Spirit. He also anoints methods and tools that we use - meetings, tracts, books, music, witnessing, preaching, etc. - when they are also full submitted to Him in faithfulness. But there is a great danger when man (or even God) designs a tool to be used for God's glory, and then as time passes, people's attention starts to be fixed on the tools itself, rather than on the glory of God (which it was originally designed to promote). (See II Kings 18:4 - Because it had now become an idol, King Hezekiah had to destroy the same bronze serpent that Moses had made in Numbers 21:8, which was used to stop the plague of death among the Israelites. This is the same bronze serpent referred to by Jesus in reference to Himself in John 3:14)

The following is a list of just some of the tools, methods, and concepts that I believe have become so much a part of presenting the modern gospel, that they have become just about inseparable from it. In fact, they are to such an extent considered necessary, that if many of them are left out of an evangelistic meeting, Christians can hardly believe that anyone can be saved there.
 

Some Inventions of Man That Have Become Essential Parts of the Modern Gospel

The Term and Concept of "Personal Savior."

 I find it very disturbing when something unnecessary is added to the Gospel. The use of the term "Personal Savior" isn't very harmful in itself, but it shows a kind of mindset that is willing to "invent" terms, and then allow these terms to be preached as it they were actually found in the Bible.

But why must we do this? Why must we add needless, almost meaningless things to the Gospel? It is because we've taken so much out that we have to replace it with "spiritual double talk." That's right, double talk! Would you ever introduce your sister like this: "This is Sheila, my personal sister"?! Or would you point to your navel and say, "This is my personal bellybutton"? Ridiculous! But nevertheless, people solemnly speak of Christ as the personal Savior, as if they've got Him right there in their shirt pocket - and as if when He returns, he will not have two, but three titles written across His thigh: King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Personal Savior! (See Rev. 19:16) This is only one example of how a non-biblical term can be elevated to reverence by the Church, as if to say, "Well even if it isn't in the Bible - it should be!"

The Altar Call.

Imagine if you can, Jesus having people bow their heads after hearing the Sermon on the Mount, and then very slowly and softly (while Bartholomew plays "How Great Thou Art" on the accordion) saying to the crowd, "While your heads are bowed and your eyes are closed, if you really want to be My disciple tonight, if you really want to show My Father and I that you truly mean to follow this sermon I have given, then I want you to slip your hand up slowly, so that I may see it. There now...yes...yes...I see that hand...and that one...and the one way back by the fig tree...yes! Now, please, while Bart plays another chorus, I'd like you to start moving down through the center of the crowd...yes, those who raised their hand. I want to know if you really mean business. I'd like to lead you in a prayer..."

I realize that there are some who will see such an illustration as sacrilegious. And that's just the point. They think that making fun of the "altar call" is making fun of God. But it isn't. Traditions die hard, because they take so long to form. Once I received a very intense letter from the pastor of a church who had sponsored me in a city-wide concert in his area. He was upset that I had "let several hundred souls go ungathered" because I had not given an altar call. He said, "It seems you have no burden for souls." (Nothing could be further from the truth.) But because I had not given the recognized "official invitation," this pastor could see no value in my presentation of the Gospel. Or as Tony Salerno (director of "The Agape Force") recently remarked, "If you don't give an altar call, they think you have committed the unpardonable sin!'"

The Gradual Altering of the "Altar Call"

Believe it or not, the altar call was invented only about 150 years ago. It was first used by the American evangelist, Charles Finney, as a means of separating out those who wanted to talk further about the subject of salvation. Finney called the front pew "the anxious seat" (for those who were "anxious" about the state of their souls) or "the mourner's bench." Finney never "led them in a prayer," but he and a few others would spend a great deal of time praying with and giving specific instructions to each, one by one, until finally, everyone was sent home to pray and continue seeking God until "they had broken through and expressed hope in Christ," as Finney would say.

The early Salvation Army, going a bit further on Finney's innovation, developed what they called "the penitent form" or "the mercy seat." After a rousing time of singing and preaching, they would invite any sinner present who wanted to confess his sins to God and repent, to come to the front, and they would be prayed for individually. I have met a few older Christians who used to attend some of these early meetings, and they said that sometimes people would stay there all night, and on a few occasions, even a few days, weeping and confessing their sins with broken hearts. There were always some who would stay right there to instruct them further, encouraging them to make a clean sweep of sin from their lives.

This is what the early "altar call" was like. But gradually, it began to become a fixed part of every meeting, and like all other traditions, it began to lose its original spirit. The "coming forward" part started to be more important than the "sorrow, confession, repentance, and instruction" parts. Eventually, anyone who would "come down the aisle" was excitedly proclaimed "a new believer in Christ!" No matter how they felt, they still were told, "Your sins are forgiven, brother! Rejoice in Christ!" How many a miserable, defeated, and confused person has come away from a meeting like this? (Jer. 6:14). See Repentance

The Sinner's Prayer.

Can you also try and imagine this scene where Jesus is leading some new "disciples" in the "sinner's prayer"?

"Wow! There are so many that came forward for salvation tonight!" (The multitude applauds.) "Now, it's very simple. You just repeat this little prayer after Me, and then you're a Christian! Now it doesn't really matter whether you fully understand the prayer...it works just the same. Now ready? Repeat after Me... Dear Jesus...Come into my heart..." and so on...

As you can see, when we try to picture Jesus Himself using our modern methods of evangelism, it seems completely foolish. I think this is a very good test for any method. "Could I see Jesus doing this?" or "Could I see Jesus preaching or teaching this?" Since the Bible tells us, "Walk in the manner that He walked" (1 John 2:6), we should always try to compare our actions and message to the Master's.

It is obvious that there is no "set" sinner's prayer. There are many variations, with different lengths, different wordings, different endings, etc., but the contents are usually the same. The prayer usually includes phrases like, "Dear Jesus," "Come into my heart," "I admit I have sinned" (at least the better ones contain this last statement - there are some who do not even like to mention sin in their "sinner's prayer"), "Fill me with Your Spirit," "In Jesus' name. Amen." Extremely harmless...nothing wrong with a prayer like that, right? Wrong! It isn't the wording that's important, it's the state of the heart of the one saying it.

I believe that a true "sinner's prayer" will gush out of anyone who is truly seeking God and is tired of being enslaved to sin. (Matt. 5:6) The very act of "leading someone in a prayer" is utterly ridiculous. You will find nothing even remotely like it in the Bible, or among the writings and biographies of those in Church history. It completely savors of crowd and peer pressure tactics, and (please forgive me) brainwashing techniques. I do not believe that Jesus wants to have his disciples "repeat after Me," I believe He wants them to follow after Him! (Matt. 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 16:24, 19:21; Luke 9:59; John 12:26, 21:19,22; 1 Peter 2:21; Rev. 14:4.) Also See Is The Sinner’s Prayer Effective?
 

Premature Death

As with the altar call, the practice of having someone repeat a prayer with the minister probably originated from the best of intentions. And no doubt, there are those who have "followed through," continuing to pray and walk with God, entering into the path of righteousness through God's infinite grace. But also, like the altar call, the so-called "sinner's prayer" is one of those tools that make it alarmingly easy for someone to consider himself a Christian, when he has absolutely no understanding of what "counting the cost" (Luke 14:28) really means.

The greatest reason I believe that God can be grieved with the current use of such tools as the "altar call" and "sinner's prayer" is because they can take away the conviction of the Holy Spirit prematurely, before the Spirit has time to work repentance leading to salvation. With an emotional splash that usually doesn't last more than a few weeks, we believe we're leading people into the Kingdom, when really we're leading many to hell - by interfering with what the Spirit of God is trying to do in a person's life. Do you hear? Do you understand that this constitutes "spiritual abortion"? Can't you see the eternal consequences of jumping the gun, trying to bring to birth a baby that isn't ready?

We are so afraid that we'll see a "big one that got away," that we'd rather rush someone into a shallow decision, and get the personal gratification of seeing him "go down the aisle," than take the time to fully explain things to him, even it if takes long hours and nights of travailing prayer for his soul. We just don't "have the time" to do things God's way anymore. (In contrast to this, look at the amount of time and effort Jesus took to explain salvation to one mere Samaritan woman - John 4:3-42.)

But God would rather see one true convert than an ocean full of "decisions." Oh, can't you see what a mess we're in? What we've done to the Gospel? And when those "converts" no longer want to fellowship with us, when they want to go back to their old friends and their old way of life, we have the nerve to call it "backsliding," when we stood in the very way of them ever "front-sliding" toward the cross! Oh, it breaks my heart to think of that awesome day, when God will judge those who have "stumbled one of these little ones." (Mark 9:42).
 

Other Man-Made Methods That Have Made
The Gospel Very Shallow, And Therefore Unbiblical

Quick and Easy "1-2-3 Steps-to-Salvation" Booklets. I certainly cannot fault the intentions nor the integrity of the men and organizations responsible for these little tools. One of the best known of these booklets has been printed in over 30 languages, and has over 100 million copies in circulation. With that in view, it is even more urgent for me to say that unless these or any other "gospel" booklets contain the same message that our Lord preached (and commanded His disciples to spread "to every kindred and nation"), then they are worse than "inadequate tools," they are wicked!

For the Bible says in Proverbs, "Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the unfaithful messenger to him who sends him." (Proverbs 10:26) Paul said that if we are really Christians, then we are "ambassadors of Christ" (2 Cor. 5:20) - we are God's sole representatives in this foreign land called "the world."

With that analogy in mind, consider what a president would think of an ambassador to a foreign country, say Russia, who is told to deliver an extremely urgent message that will involve the peace of the whole world. And that ambassador (even with the best intentions) gives only a small part of the message, in such a way as to make a very different impression - in fact, the exact opposite impression - than what the president wanted to make. What do you think that president will do to the ambassador when he finds out the damage done?

Booklets like these usually mention a "sort-of" repentance like, "you must turn from your sins, to Jesus." But they rarely explain what "turning" really means. This is also true of such other vital terms such a "Lord" - they usually refer to Jesus as "Lord," but again, they seldom define "lordship" - and people go their merry way, believing they have the full right to continue running their own lives as long as they call Jesus "Lord." (See Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46.) See Repentance

I don't care how many letters I get saying how much good has been done by such and such a ministry, or how many have been "saved" through such and such a booklet. Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits" (Matt. 7:16) and in another place He said that "Your fruit should remain" (John 15:16), which means it should last! I believe we shall see in that great day, when God spreads out the lives of men in judgment, how many were truly converted by the efforts of these ministries, and how many were turned aside from the path of righteousness - being led to believe the pleasant half-truths contained in these shallow and false epistles that have been printed to the ends of the earth by people with "the best intentions, and the highest integrity." (Matt. 23:15)

The "Poor Jesus" Syndrome. This is the form of preaching that misuses the Scripture in Rev. 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock " How many evangelists have used that Scripture to paint a pathetic picture of Jesus standing outside a door, waiting, knocking, knocking, waiting, for the sinner to open up and let Jesus in? Sometimes these preachers go on and on, until it starts to sound like, "Aw, poor Jesus is out there in the cold, shivering, waiting for someone to let Him in. Won't you go ahead and let poor Jesus into your heart?"

What a line of reasoning! First of all, this statement by the Lord in Revelation is not to the unsaved, it's to the Church in Laodicea (see Rev. 3:14). The picture is truly pathetic. Jesus is standing outside of His own church, knocking for them to let Him in! (Sound familiar?) And if there's any doubt left as to whom He's talking to, look at verse 22, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."

Second of all, the truth of the matter for sinners is the exact opposite. Jesus is not outside of their world, knocking to come in - they are outside of His kingdom! And they can knock all night like the five foolish virgins (Matt. 25:11), but Jesus will never let them in unless they meet the requirements: a humble and contrite heart, and a complete disgust for sin. Then, and only then, will God deliver them from their slavery to sin - and transfer them by His grace to the Kingdom of His loving-kindness. God will never repent for someone - He will take every step possible to make the sinner see the folly of his ways, but the final move is up to the individual himself. Each person must make the final surrender, the desperate gasp of "I am a fool to run my own life! Lord, show me the way to Your door, and I'll knock and knock, and beg forgiveness ... I'll do anything, anything, anything You say!" Then, and only then, will God save a sinner. (Psalm 34:18, 51:17; Isaiah 66:22; Luke 18:14; James 4:10) See Salvation

Bumper Stickers, Cheap Clichés, and "Christian" Slogans.

It pains me to see the beautiful truths of Scripture being plastered about like beer advertisements. Many think it is wise to "get the word out" in this way, but I believe that we are really just inoculating the world with bits and pieces of truth - giving them their "gospel shots." (And we're making it hard for them to "catch" the real thing!) People become numb to the truth when we splash our gaudy sayings in their eyes at every opportunity. Do you really think this is "opening them up to the Gospel"? Or is it really just another way for us to get smiles, waves, and approval from others in the "born-again club" out in the supermarket parking lot, who blow their horns with glee when the see your "Honk if you love Jesus!" bumper sticker?

What about those "other sayings"? You know, the quasi-biblical ones, like "Please be patient, God isn't finished with me yet," which can really be a horrible replacement for "I'm sorry." (And besides, it puts the blame on the wrong person - "The reason I'm such a creep is because God isn't finished with me yet.")

And if you really want to play "Stretch the Bible" there is that other fabulous excuse that absolutely ends all quests or expectations for holiness: "Christians Aren't Perfect Just Forgiven!" Ah, how convenient. You might just as well say, "Christians aren't moral, just forgiven!" or what about "Christians aren't nice, just forgiven!" How about the ultimate? "Christians aren't saved...just forgiven!" (That might be a little too deep.) What we're saying by this glorious piece of prose is, "Madam, you cannot trust your teenage daughter with my Christian son, you'd better keep your eye on him...he's not safe...he's just forgiven!"

Maybe I've gone a little too far to make a point, but I think the world is completely sick to its stomach with our sayings and "witnessing tools." It's time for us to be expressing the truth with our lives, and then the whole truth of God with our lips!

"The Follow-Up Program."

There is one last great mistake being committed in the name of evangelism. It is rightly called "follow-up." I say "rightly called" because it is following up the same miserable and incomplete gospel with a miserable, incomplete, and false replacement for what the Bible calls "discipleship."

Our "follow-up" usually consists of a "packet of literature," which almost always includes a complete list of all church services and functions. This "packet" also may include many "essential" items like a complete Bible study on "tithing." Also enclosed is usually at least one tithe envelope. (It's amazing that this is one "principle" that nearly every new believer learns right away!)
 

See Tithing Were one to ask most teachers of tithing to cite a passage of Scripture supporting the practice, a few verses--I like to call them "the usual suspects"--can be rounded up. Frequently, only parts of Scripture passages are cited, and usually they are rendered out of context.

In my studies of the life of Jesus, it has amazed me that He never had "a follow-up program." It was usually His habit to let people "follow Him up." He never had to go door to door, looking for that fellow who He healed last week, wanting to share another parable or two. He always seemed to have the attitude of, "If they want life, then they'll have to come and follow Me." [See Seeker Friendly, Church Growth Failures in The Bible]

Can't you see what fools we are? We preach a man-made, plastic gospel. We get people to come forward to "the altar" by bringing psychological pressures that have nothing to do with God. We "lead them" in a prayer that they are not yet convinced they need to say. And then to top it all off, we give them "counseling," telling them it is a sin to doubt that they're really saved!

Conclusion

And now we come to the end of this "Bible study." Yes, that's just what is has turned out to be. I hope you will take the time to look up each of the Scriptures given, and see for yourself what God had said in His Word about all these things. I realize that these articles will step on many toes, and some might even be deeply offended, but that is not my intention at all. My only prayer is that through this little effort, many will begin to take up the cross and preach the good news of our salvation with the same power and anointing that Jesus promised and gave to the early Church, and that when we ministers stand before Him on that great day, we will be able to say with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith I have fully preached the gospel of Christ" (2 Tim. 4:7; Rom. 15:19), so that we may hear those sweet words from our King's lips, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matt. 25:21)

Beloved family, the world around us is going to hell. Not because of communism, not because of television, not because of drugs, or sex, or alcohol, or the devil himself. It is because of the church! We are to blame! We alone have the commission, the power, and the truth of God at our disposal to deliver sinner after sinner from eternal death. And even though some are willing to go...into the streets, the prisons, foreign lands, or even next door, they are taking a watered-down, distorted version of God's message, which He has not promised to anoint. That is why we are failing. And unless we admit that we are failing, then I'm afraid there is no hope for us or the world around us. We have the choice between causing eternal tragedy for our whole generation, or bringing our beloved a whole family full of "good and faithful servants." See Section The Contemporary Church

  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. Act 2:44-45

Part I

Preliminary Stuff

A difficult subject to contend with is the issue of money, its place in the Christian's life, and the believer's responsibility when it comes to giving. A related subject, often inseparable to the subject of money (and giving) in the minds of many Christians, is the matter of tithing. Usually, the issue of tithing is itself a non-issue for many believers who have been taught that tithing is a command of God for Christians today.

Were one to ask most teachers of tithing to cite a passage of Scripture supporting the practice, a few verses--I like to call them "the usual suspects"--can be rounded up. Frequently, only parts of Scripture passages are cited, and usually they are rendered out of context. For example, have you ever heard that The tithe belongs to the Lord, or Will a man rob God? or The house of the Lord is neglected?

A familiar passage of Scripture frequently used in challenging Christians to greater spiritual, and sometimes material, reward is Malachi 3:8. Will a man rob God? is an often repeated "battle cry" delivered from pulpits across America. Unfortunately, this passage of Scripture is most often encountered during annual stewardship sermons or when a project or building needs financing. One thing seems relatively certain these days; a predominance of teaching from the prophet Malachi will often accompany a squeeze upon the pocketbook. When believers buy in to the bad teaching offered from the commonly misrepresented words of Malachi, they are often prevented from enjoying true Christian stewardship.

In Part I of this paper, I will examine the primary scriptures used to finance American Christianity. In Part II I will offer a scriptural pattern of Christian stewardship that opposes modern pulpit appeals. Along the way, I'll refute common arguments used to persuade believers that tithing is biblically required. One goal of this commentary is to liberate the Christian from mechanical, legalistic, and often coercive giving; however, the primary goal is to open evangelistic opportunities as individual believers learn to heed more closely biblical instruction by channeling their resources to places where need is greatest. Evangelistic opportunities will open when Christians develop habits of stewardship that follow scriptural patterns.

This exposé comes as a result of numerous questions over the past several years regarding the issue of tithing. The matter was brought to my attention by friends and acquaintances so many times that I decided to write this brief paper in an attempt to provide some clarity.

The most common--though not all--defenses of tithing are examined in this work and a liberating, more rewarding challenge to Christian stewardship is offered.

The Offensive Nature of Truth
Truth often offends those who believe they already have it. Keep this in mind as you read this exposé. It's not uncommon for those who believe they already know what the Bible teaches about a given subject to be offended (sometimes even angered) about an alternative. Challenging certain teachings that have been accepted as true tends to be agitating. This is sometimes true of many Christian leaders--in virtually any capacity--who generally don't appreciate challenges (cordial or otherwise) to doctrines they sincerely believe and have taught for years. Thankfully, sincerity and time have no effect on scriptural truths. Keep in mind that with regard to all matters of faith and practice the only standard for believers is the Bible.

Some Words About Tradition
Because certain practices have grown to reflect man-made traditions instead of biblical truths, it is important to remember that tradition is good only when it complements Scripture. The old saying: "What's popular isn't always right; what's right isn't always popular" is appropriate here. For many, the subject of tithing is sensitive, hotly contested, and deeply passionate. It is, therefore, important to remember that what we strive for in this endeavor is scriptural truth.

Ground Rules
The ground rules for this study are quite simple. Basic rules of biblical interpretation [1] (the plain meaning of Scripture) [2] is utilized in this work to examine the most common scriptures used to defend modern teaching. If the reader would like to learn about biblical interpretation, a few helpful books are worth mentioning. How to Read the Bible for all its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, Protestant Biblical Interpretation by Bernard Ramm, and An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics by Walter Kaiser and Moisé Silva are excellent resources. Fee and Stuart's text is an excellent primer on biblical interpretation, Ramm's work is a time-tested introduction used at seminary level as is the text by Kaiser and Silva.

Scriptural Gymnastics
The interesting things that are done to scriptures commonly used to support a "thou shalt tithe" doctrine are actually quite abusive. These abuses stem from either an ignorance of basic interpretive rules, or a perceived need to manipulate people. I'm sympathetic to the ignorance that often comes with tithing doctrines but not the outright deceit that comes with manipulation. Manipulating people into following modern tithing doctrines seems to be motivated or inspired by one or more of the following: 1) greed; 2) the financial obligations or poor management of a given church or ministry; 3) the pride, ego, or need for recognition of the teacher (usually a pastor), e.g., the "kingdom building" sometimes associated with bigger buildings and flashy programs, and; 4) misplaced faith, i.e., faith in money or faith in a clever teaching to accomplish certain goals rather than faith in God.

Adjusting Causes Agitation
One thing that seems common regarding the matter of tithing is that people who have been manipulated into following modern teachings have the most difficult time adjusting to biblically liberated stewardship. This is generally because they have been manipulated or persuaded into believing something that has no scriptural support. Sadly, the manipulation or persuasion often comes from people they respect who utilize poor Bible interpretation, and weak--but sometimes clever--arguments. Incidentally, those who have been truly manipulated into practicing a tithing doctrine won't know they've been misled, but if they come to realize it, sometimes anger results. This is understandable.

Let's begin our "journey to liberated stewardship" with a definition and history of tithing; then, we'll examine the most common arguments used to defend modern practice.

A Brief Definition and History of Tithing

The predominant concept of tithing today involves the giving of money to one's local church. It is often regarded to be the same as the Old Testament Jewish practice of giving first fruits.

Briefly expounding upon first fruits will offer some help in clarifying exactly how confused the matter of tithing has become. While it is not within the scope of this work to comment on every Scripture pertaining to either first fruits or tithing, it is important to note that an examination of God's Word reveals that first fruits and tithes were not likely the same thing. Contemporary believers equate the giving of tithes as being the same as first fruits. This, however, is disputed among scholars. Nevertheless, biblical evidence seems to support the notion that first fruits and tithes were different.

That being said, both first fruits and tithes, to the Jew, were the edible provisions from God that were produced of crops and herds. First fruits were primarily agricultural (with a noted exception below) and included produce "in the raw state (grain and fruit); those prepared for use as food (wine, oil, flour, and dough), including wool" [3] (Ex. 22:29; 23:19; 34:26; Deut. 18:4). Offerings of first fruits were to be the choicest portions (Num. 18:12) and the amount of the offering was apparently left to the discretion of the giver. According to Nelson's Quick Reference Bible Dictionary:

The law ordered in general that the first of all ripe fruits should be offered in God's house. It was an act of allegiance to God as the giver of all. No exact quantity was commanded, but it was left to the spiritual and moral sense of each individual. [4]

First fruit offerings were the "perquisite of the priests" [5] (Num. 18:11; Deut. 18:4). In other words, the Temple priests received part of their wages (or, perks) in the form of edible provisions or commodities, e.g., wool; first fruit offerings were one means of this support. Tithing, on the other hand, while eventually serving some of the same purposes as first fruits, e.g., the support and provision for priests, was different from the giving of first fruits. The portion of an individual's first fruits was at the discretion of the giver--the amount could vary--while the amount of a tithe could not.

The Antiquity of Tithing
Many Christians are unaware that tithing was not first practiced by the ancient Jews. It was an ancient practice to be sure, but it was exercised in many cultures. [6] Even prior to the earliest biblical record of tithing (Gen. 14:20), it was a custom practiced by several people groups as noted by Christopher Hill in his Economics of the Early Church:

The system of appropriating 10 per cent. [sic] of the produce of the community to the maintenance of a priest is of great antiquity. It existed not only among the Jews, but also in many pagan tribes. [7]

And, according to Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible:

the institution of offering tithes of the fruits of the field and of the flocks is one which dates back to a period greatly anterior to Israelite history. A tenth of the flocks, fruits, and possessions of all kinds, as well as of the spoils of war, was given to their gods [referring to pagan tithing] by many peoples. [8]

The widespread practice in the ancient world of tithing by giving a portion of one's profit or spoils of war extended from Greece to China. Donation of a tenth portion was common apparently because most people "counted in tens, based on ten fingers." [9]

The word "tithe," it should be noted, actually means "tenth." The word's history is tied to "the old ordinal numeral in English." [10] Phonetic changes in the prehistory of the English language are responsible for the word looking very different from the word ten.

The Concise Evangelical Dictionary of Theology says that tithing is the "practice of giving one-tenth of one's property or produce to support religious institutions." [11] This is quite an interesting definition since it allows two ways to understand the word "produce."

Misleading Definition
In Elwell's definition above, the word "produce" could easily be understood to mean fruits and vegetables or that which has been produced for the expressed purpose of exchange, e.g., wages or money. [12] The definition allows both an ancient and modern understanding of tithing. [13] It accurately reflects modern practice as long as "produce" is understood to mean "money," but it fails to adequately represent the Old Testament contextual institution of biblical tithing.

More History
Don't forget, tithes and first fruits were items of consumption, i.e., the yield of crops or herds. Biblically, tithes--as well as first fruits--didn't involve money per se. While the giver never actually submitted money as a tithe, transporting a tithe could be very difficult for some people living great distances from where the Lord desired tithes to be submitted. So, the Deuteronomic code provided relief from the burden of transporting large numbers of animals and produce by permitting the farmer to sell the tithe, then use the money to buy what was needed for the feast when he arrived to the designated place (Deut. 14:24-26). [14] Later on, this "place" was the temple at Jerusalem. This appears to be the only instance where money actually had anything at all to do with tithing, and it certainly doesn't support modern practice.

It's important to note that the Old Testament instructed tithes to be brought to the "place where the Lord chose to put his Name" (Deut. 12:5-6; 14:23). In other words, the chosen center of worship, i.e., the Tabernacle or Temple, was the place where the Jews were to bring their tithes. The required tithes (possibly three different tithes) [15] were submitted in anticipation of a festive meal and were ultimately used in providing for the Levites and priests (Nu. 18:21) as well as "aliens, the fatherless and widows" (Deut. 14:27-29; 26:12), i.e., those in need. Tithing, as it was prescribed and followed in Old Testament times, evolved into a sort of theocratic welfare system; it really grew to be a ten-percent tax. Today, many preachers make the application (from Old Testament passages) that the modern "place where the Lord chooses to put his Name," is the local church and that priests have been replaced by today's pastors.

Tithing was a practice that failed to enjoy consistency throughout Jewish history. However, during some episodes of neglect, certain reforms became necessary whereby tithing was reintroduced (II Chron. 31:4-5). In some instances, special officers were appointed to take charge of the storerooms (storehouses) that were established within and about the Temple area to secure the supplies of goods (31:11-20, Ne. 12:44). Today, a forced application drawn from such passages is that individual churches are "mini storehouses," or "temples."

Unger's Bible Dictionary aptly describes the symbolism inherent within the Jewish institution of tithing, but it's questionable that it describes most contemporary practice. Tithing "constituted a practical confession and acknowledgment that all possessions belonged to God and that it is he who confers them upon those who enjoy them." [16]

There is little doubt that many who pay tithes today regard their giving as acknowledgment that everything belongs to God. However, it seems that most tithing is done mechanically, out of obligation, and with little thought. In fact, modern practice often resembles a mindless act of habit or an exercise performed under the pressure of coercion rather than the thoughtful and loving pattern of Christian giving outlined in the New Testament.

While directives for tithing are found in the Old Testament, there are only a couple of references in the New (we'll explore these later). A reading of New Testament passages reveals that tithing was indeed a practice followed in Jesus' day (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42), but there is an absence of any directive that designates tithing being required of today's Christian. The Revell Bible Dictionary states the case a little stronger when it says:

there is no indication that a tithe is required. This is partly because the tithe was a unique expression of God's ownership of the land of Israel, but it is also because the NT lays out new principles of giving (emphasis added). [17]

Though there is an absence of New Testament directives to tithe, there is, however, a challenging doctrine of Christian stewardship in the New Testament that offers greater satisfaction and reward than present practice.

The Early Church and Tithing

Some people wonder if the early Church Fathers taught tithing. The answer to this somewhat depends on what is meant by "the early Church." [18]

As far as the earliest early Church is concerned, neither the Apostles nor their disciples (the early Church Fathers) taught that tithing was a Christian obligation.

Prior to tithing gradually becoming a mainstay in some corners of the early Church, "there was no support of the clergy by a systematic giving of a tithe." [19] In time (several centuries after the Cross), "the tithe came to be regarded generally after the pattern in the Jewish synagogue." [20] Up to this time, tithing was simply a suggestion that apparently generated more and more support as the power of bishops and presbyters grew.

As the power and position of Church leaders grew to reflect Temple era priests and the provisions that supported them, the Church eventually prescribed a tithe that included "money, clothes, and all your possessions," [21] something generally not taught today and which is conspicuously absent in contemporary practice. [22] Tithing in the early Church (ca. 4th Century) was supported by an appeal to passages like Matthew 10:10 that says "the worker is worth his keep" (cf. Luke 10:7), and First Corinthians 9:11 that says "If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?" Some early Church leaders, however, "(like Irenaeus and Epiphanus) showed the argument drawn from these texts was not valid. Rather, freedom in Christian giving was emphasized." [23]

By the 6th century, the practice of tithing had adopted numerous man-made regulations which included certain portions to be designated for priests and parishes. This practice reflects common notions that Old Testament tithing directives regarding priest and temple maintenance have counterparts to church leaders--usually pastors--and church buildings. This belief in parallelism is shared by many Christians, and even has the support of numerous Christian leaders today.

After covering a brief history of tithing, it's now time to turn to the common arguments used to defend modern practice. We'll start with Genesis and work our way through the commonly mishandled scriptures regarding tithing, beginning to end, but not before we take a look at a few scriptures that will no doubt be eye-opening. Let's start with a frequently cited passage that's often used as an introduction and summary to tithing sermons.

Malachi:
Will a Man Rob God?

Malachi 3:8-10 and some related passages are the most popular scriptures used as a foundation for many elaborate tithing doctrines. Malachi is usually used to generate large doses of fear and personal introspection during fund-generating campaigns. Christian teachers often use this challenge from Malachi as an attention-grabber; after all, what Christian would ever want to rob from God? The robber-of-God tactic is, quite simply, an easy way to capture a listener's attention. The subtle effect is that one asks himself consciously or subconsciously: Good heavens! What must I do to avoid being one of those dreaded "robbers of God?" The answer: Subscribe to the teacher's tithing doctrine, of course.

Teaching from Malachi is, quite honestly, often loaded with a measure of guilt. Too often a teacher will indiscriminately repeat what he's been taught while utilizing tired, faithless, and unbiblical arguments to generate funds. This is sometimes done with noble, though ignorant, intent as churchgoers are encouraged to reap the blessings of God through the teacher's tithing doctrine. Unfortunately, sometimes the teacher knows these tired arguments are unbiblical, yet he still uses them to open the wallets of the saints. When this occurs, it is plainly dishonest. Taking a closer look at the Will-a-man-rob-God approach reveals that this Scripture passage can't be applied in the manner so frequently offered.

Context, Context, Context
Malachi 3:8-10 says:

Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Unfortunately, we don't normally receive the historical context of this passage when it's delivered during a tithing sermon. The greater context of verses 8-10 is that the Jewish people, having returned to the Promised Land from Babylonian captivity, failed to maintain the order and reforms implemented by Nehemiah, a contemporary of Malachi. Nehemiah played a crucial role in overseeing the rebuild of Jerusalem as well as the Temple upon the return of the former captives. One of several reforms implemented by Nehemiah was that of helping the poor (Ne. 5:2-13). The poor were being financially taken advantage of at the time and Nehemiah insisted that the abuses cease. The book of Malachi was written after the city's rebuild as well as Nehemiah's return to royal service in Persia, and his subsequent return to Jerusalem. Upon his return to the city after a thirteen-year absence, he discovered the numerous failings of the people (Ne. 13:7-31). It was the sins of the Jewish people during this time that were encountered by Nehemiah and which were addressed in the prophet Malachi's words.

Now, with the help of historical context the reader is in a better position to determine what God meant when he chastised the Jewish people and accused them of robbing him. This will help in applying the passage to our own lives. Let's back up a few verses in Malachi. Reading from 3:5 to verse 12, it says:

So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me, says the Lord Almighty.

I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty.