Diary of a young Minister
By Pastor Dele Osunmakinde
OF TITHES, TITHING AND ALLIED MATTERS!
Please consider this as my humble contribution to the existing body of accurate teachings of the word in this regard and please carefully read through with an open mind and let scripture interpret itself in deed and in truth.
1. The controversies though needless about tithing are not new! As far as one chooses to look within church history here and there groups emerge and teachings are done with the aim of rubbishing the concept of tithing; in other cases to say it is an old testament practice with no relevance in the new. Some even dared to say every pastor who receives tithe is a thief! And so on and so forth…
2. In every generation it is a recurring thing that when folks are about to veer off the doctrinal tangent they take on the issue of tithing and condemn the act and practice…in recent church history many of them came back later to apologise for ‘being misled’.
3. There are 2 streams of tithing in scripture…
The first and the original is rooted in the Abrahamic step of faith as told in Genesis it was a covenant confirmed by God in Christ. Scripture tells us that the law that was 430 years later CANNOT annul this…thus everything within the faith value-chain as manifested by Abraham came before the law
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men. Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but to your Seed,” who is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the law,which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Please notice two important elements of the Abrahamic faith…IT IS CONFIRMED AND IT CANNOT BE ANNULLED.
4. The second stream of tithing is the on the basis of the law that was added because of transgression till the SEED should come who is Christ.
5. So there is tithing before the law as seen in Abraham and there is tithing as an integral part of the Aaronic priesthood. These are 2 separate streams that must not be mixed as the bases for establishing both are so different. We will get into this later!
6. Under the faith stream every practice cannot be annulled because they are confirmed in Christ according to Hebrews 9:17
7. Under the law stream nothing is permanent as there are faults and the purpose of Christ is to bring forth the blessing of Abraham to bear as the basis of a better covenant established upon better hope and promises. This is the basis of the new covenant according to Galatians 3:13
8. Having established the 2 streams it is important to state here that the order of melchizedek was the original order and Christ also came as an high priest after this same order
9. So the idea is as Melchizedek was the high priest over Abraham in his days so also is Christ today is the high priest over the believer
10. The priesthood of Melchizedek was a type and shadow of the priesthood of Christ
11. So far it is evident that to discontinue the practice of tithing as seen within the Aaronic priesthood is very okay as it does not concern the new creation on Christ but to discontinue the same as an act of faith and honour rooted in the order of melchizedek is to try to annul what is confirmed and CANNOT be annulled…this is the original fountain of tithing an act of faith rooted in grace without any compulsion…freely given to the priesthood that is a type and shadow of Christ.
12. The idea again is what Abraham did with Melchizedek is what the believer ought to do with Christ
13. Within this original order of priesthood there are two important elements COMMUNION (BREAD AND WINE) offered by the priest and a TITHE of all given in response by the believer as seen in Abraham
14. As communion was served, tithe was given!...you cannot accept one and neglect the other
15. You cannot receive communion, teach the importance of the communion and condemn tithing…they are both from the same stream
16. So Christ as an high priest after the order of Melchizedek established communion for us in the gospels and the only time He spoke about tithing never for once condemned the practice even for the hypocritical Pharisees….Christ never condemned tithing.
17. Now to Hebrews 7 …this where tithing is established as a new testament practice.
If you read Hebrews 7 from verses 5 to 10 you will see the 2 distinct streams of tithing established.
1. The sons of Levi who receive the priesthood and have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law.
2. He (talking about Melchizedek) whose genealogy is not derived from them who received tithes from Abraham and blessed him…the tithing stream for people of faith)
18. Hebrews 11:8 is the juice of the entire chapter notice the key words used in the verse they are HERE and THERE...pls study it!
19. The idea is that the same priest Christ who established for us communion also established for us tithing according to Hebrews 7:11…HE AROSE AS A PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK AND HE LIVES TO RECEIVE TITHES THE SAME WAY MELCHIZEDEK DID…HE BRINGS FORTH BREAD AND WINE AS MELCHIZEDEK DID
20. The basis of the priesthood is the power of an endless life...not only is it confirmed, cannot be annulled but it is also on the basis of an endless life…it cannot end!
21 Some said there is no scripture in the new testament that tells the believer to tithe!...Hebrew 7 is that entire chapter establishing tithing in the new testament beyond Aaronic priesthood and if you do not agree with this I also say THERE IS NO SCRIPTURE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT TELLS THE BELIEVER NOT TO TITHE!
22. Yes if a believer does not tithe He cannot be said to be cursed! Yes not cursed but only tithers can enjoy the blessing of tithing just like if you are not a soul winner you cannot enjoy the blessing of soul winning.
I Will continue this next week as we deal with the specific issues raised by those who don’t believe in and condemn tithing. We would look at Malachi and co…
We will also look at the doctrinal excesses of tithing among believers .
Thanks!
Dele Osunmakinde is the Senior Pastor and Founder, The Baptizing Church
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