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Ten Reasons Why the Apostle Paul Never Taught Tithing
1. Mandatory tithing nullifies the good news of our Lord.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the Good News to the poor." (Luke 4:18)
The Gospel of Grace is Good News to the poor. But mandatory tithing is oppression to the poor. The original tithe that God established for Israel was to benefit the poor, not hurt them. Giving in the early church was voluntary and it benefited the less fortunate. Here's the problem. The rich can always afford to tithe, the poor can't. When ministries demand money from the poor, it's the spirit of greed, not the Spirit of Christ.
2. Mandatory tithing nullifies the unconditional love of our Lord.
"For, I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. (Romans 8:38,39)
The modern church is full of people attempting to earn what they already possess in Christ. We are now loved, valued, accepted and forgiven forever on the basis of the blood alone. Christianity is not a do-it-yourself religion. It's not about our faithfulness. It's about God's faithfulness!
3. Mandatory tithing nullifies the finished work of our Lord.
"Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us… He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross…so let no one judge you in food or in drink or regarding a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath." (Colossians 2:14, 16)
No church has the right to demand your money. Every demand is ought, and every ought is law, and every ought was nailed to the cross and buried! They can never hold us in bondage again! We never see Christians tithing in the New Testament for the same reason we never see them sacrificing goats and bulls to cover their sins - It's Old Testament. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus endorsed tithing -- for the Old Testament only!
4. Mandatory tithing nullifies the acceptance and forgiveness of our Lord.
"Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears my Word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." (John 5:24)
Jesus was condemned and punished so we would never have to be. Jesus said we shall not come into judgment. In God's Kingdom there is no judgment for not tithing. Believers have already been judged and declared not guilty! God's verdict: I will never find you guilty, and I will never stop loving you!
5. Mandatory tithing nullifies the abundant grace of our Lord.
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (11 Corinthians 8:9)
How do we attain Kingdom rights and riches? By simple grace! Grace plus nothing! Whenever we reduce Christianity to the level of our own self effort, we set ourselves up for a fall. In the New Testament church, generous giving is in and has never been out. But mandatory tithing is out and has never been in!
6. Mandatory tithing nullifies the abundant provision of our Lord.
"He who did not spare His own son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
God freely gives us all good things! When we give money to a ministry, we do not automatically activate the law of sowing and reaping. Why? The things we do, that God has not specifically told us to do, are nothing but dead works! Paul instructed us to give generously as we determine, not as someone else determines for us (11 Corinthians 9:7) It's called being led by the Spirit!
7. Mandatory tithing nullifies the redemption of our Lord.
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law." (Galatians 3:13)
What's this I hear, I will be cursed if I don't tithe? You must be kidding me! Tithing does not redeem me, Christ has redeemed me. I am redeemed by grace, not by works. (Ephesians 2:8, 9) I am now blessed and not cursed. (Ephesians 1:3)
8. Mandatory tithing nullifies the liberation of our Lord.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
The truth will always liberate us (John 8:32). Tithing is a man-made litmus test for discipleship and a high-pressure means to support a modern church system that is seriously out of order, worldly, and competitive. We are called to liberty, not tithing. (Galatians 5:13) Tithing is strictly religious. Religion kills, but grace gives life!
9. Mandatory tithing nullifies the righteousness of our Lord.
"For, if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign as Kings in life through the one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)
I reign as a King in life because of God's abundant grace and His gift of righteousness. God declares all believers righteous! When we enter God's Kingdom we start out at the top. We do not work our way up. We do not tithe our way up!
10. Mandatory tithing nullifies the restoration of our Lord.
"and you are complete in Him." (Colossians 2:10)
Christianity is not about do, do, do. It's about done, done, done! You are complete in Christ. Beware of the Church that attempts to make you "more complete". Religious activity, such as tithing, will always produce bondage. But Praise God, Jesus came to take the pressure off! There remains a rest, not a tithe, for the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9)
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