“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.” Mal. 3: 8-9.

Extortion! (Exposing…) is for me an uncomfortable way to begin this article and was only supposed to serve as the working title, as I had planned to change it to something just a tad more euphemistic before I hit the “publish” button, but surprisingly I sensed a “check” in my spirit to leave it as it is. Similarly, a final edit would serve to round off some edges on certain statements throughout the text, hopefully making them somewhat more congenial, but again, as if the subject matter now requires sharpness or the extra emphasis of an embedded exclamation point, STET.

To a spiritually compromised person or people, the extending of God’s grace (unmerited favor) and patience can be misconstrued to be thought of as His acceptance or even validation of something that should otherwise be addressed or repented of. This idea is somewhat captured in Eccl. 8:11 “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” which, for the Christian can easily transmogrify into “since God has not harshly chastised me, my “such and such” must be OK.” However, as is often the case, your “such and such” is not OK, you are living in a grace window – that period of time where God, through the many means which he has at his disposal, lovingly, patiently and often firmly brings one to repentance.

Grace is the triumph of God, even the Old Testament with its Law, severity, and judgement, is filled with God’s Grace. “In the beginning God…” extended grace, as The Lamb was “slain from the foundation of the world.” God’s magnanimous, patient, super-abundant saving grace, that fundamental element of God providing for our eternal salvation, is patient with our errors… to a point, then there’s a reckoning. And if you’re still imposing a legalistic, obligatory, Old Testament styled, Malachi 3:8 doctrinal commandment, while imputing sin and unrighteousness except that the people pay tithes, you are living somewhere in that slow-closing window of grace, lovingly or otherwise, correction will come.

Who’s robbing who?

Have you ever had the privilege of sitting in a church service while being battered about the head and neck with a Malachi 3:8 (above) styled “invitation” to “give”? “YOU’RE ROBBING GOD!!! they bark. “It’s no different than walking up to Jesus with a loaded .38 and demanding his wallet!!!” they say. OOF! who wants to do that? “YOU ARE CURSED WITH A CURSE”!!! 😲 “God help me! Here just take it all!!!💲💲💲”. (Al Sharpton would be impressed with such a takedown). What this scenario somewhat comically, but sadly depicts in my opinion, is an errant and all-too-common act of Christio-religious EXTORTION.

Extortion: the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats. (Manipulation is a form of force). Not unlike the taxation of a national government, O.T. tithing could not be considered extortive in its day because it was in fact God’s Law for the nation of Israel. Similarly, and as a matter of civil law under the threat of prosecution, American income earners pay taxes on their income, and with biblical admonition (Mar. 12: 14-17, Rom. 13: 6-7). However, if an organized crime operator demands a “tax” from a business so that nothing happens to the proprietor or his business (aka- “it would be a real shame if your building burned down”), a stereotypical mafia “protection” racket, this is extortion. Likewise for the church to cite the O.T. Law of the nation of Israel, especially the threatening and intimidating Mal. 3: 8-9, as a bludgeon to extract a tithe, is extortive in nature. And perhaps even more of a violation, “paying” tithe, in the O.T. model, is a “work” of the bygone Law of Moses. Perhaps this is why the apostle Paul, ever the champion of New Testament liberty from the Law, who taught ministerial support, ministering to the saints, giving to the poor, etc., avoided mentioning the tithe.

Racket: a dishonest or fraudulent scheme, enterprise, or activity. a usually illegitimate enterprise made workable by bribery or intimidation. The “racket” definition does not completely apply to most tithing “racketeers” simply because they are not being dishonest or willfully fraudulent as the definition reads, nor are they trying to be tricky, as they are true believers, faithfully “holding the tradition of the elders”, for with their parents, grandparents, etc. tithing was, is, and always will be The Law. Some years ago, a senior fellow (legacy holder) church attendee, thinking that they were making a positive observation, mentioned that tithing seemed to be the only thing that all churches and church denominations could agree on, even Apostolics. I then mentioned that this was NOT necessarily a good sign; thankfully Apostolics do not measure, nor seek affirmation for their salvation doctrine from the Christio-religious denominal world.

These terms, “extortion”, “racket”, more commonly used to describe the business practices of the world’s organized crime element, may seem somewhat harsh and provocative. However, concerning the imposition of the O.T. tithing law onto the N.T. church, what may have started out as a sincere, but errant or even careless interpretation/manipulation of the scripture, like an unchecked flirtation, has grown into a full-blown illicit relationship like “adultery”, How’s that for a harsh term?

Tithing vs. Truth

I was present at an informal social gathering of pastors, preachers, and ministerial types several years ago when I overheard one of the attendees (who seemed to be somewhat) mention to another that he had recently completed a study of IICorinthians chapters 8 and 9, where Paul discusses certain details of something he calls “…the fellowship of the ministering to the saints” IICor. 8:4., of which our “somewhat” ministerial fellow concluded, and I quote, “There’s tithes all through there”. Now, me being a novice at the time and a little unsteady on my feet in such circles, knowing I would be dismissed out-of-hand, I remained respectfully silent. However, though a beginner I was an avid Bible student and for the life of me I couldn’t recall any mention of tithes anywhere in IICorinthians at all, nor ICorinthians, nor for that matter anywhere in the New Testament but for very limited references (Matt. 23:23, Lk. 11:42, Lk. 18:12, Heb. 7: 2-10) alluding only to the tithing law of Moses and the singular “giving” event between Abraham and Melchizedek some 500 years before the Law. These verses are not contextually sufficient to authorize or even support a tithing mandate in the N.T. church, as such an O.T. tithing styled commandment should not be taught or practiced as New Testament doctrine, and for good reason, it’s simply not in there. However, if you read through these 2 chapters (IICor. 8 & 9) with a tradition-laden predisposition towards tithing, then yes, you may find “tithes all through there”. However, an unfiltered reading of the chapters will reveal that giving is in there, receiving is in there, “ministering TO the saints” and supplying “the want of the saints” is in there, ministerial support is addressed in ICor. 9: 6-14, but tithing in the Old Testament legalistic requirement to pay 10% of your income (increase) model, is NOT there. In fact, “…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.” IICor. 9: 6-7. IS IN THERE, with “giving”, not “paying”, being the operative term, and “sparingly” or “bountifully”, not 10%, being the regulating rule. However, notice that tithing is not discouraged nor disqualified (more on this later), but neither is it enjoined from the law, nor insisted on, nor is it even mentioned.

This brings us to the true crux of the matter which is, challenging the N.T. practice of O.T. influenced tithing ultimately is not about money, but it is about biblical doctrinal truth. As with all things concerning the church, Bible doctrine must be the final arbiter of what is true. It’s telling, but not completely surprising, that even Apostolics and especially traditionalists, being human, are not immune to engaging in a little selective scriptural manipulation, particularly when money is involved, however this is not the only doctrinal issue that receives such treatment. I observe that as truth prevails and impure traditions wane, there will be a growing number who feel increasingly uneasy with the full-throated command to yield up the 10% or else, Moses and Malachi notwithstanding.

Here’s an interesting observation…

ICor. 14:34 “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” (indicating that it is a carry-over from the Law). Paul’s (the Bible’s) position on a women’s role in the church (see also ITim. 2: 11-14) is well known and unambiguous. However, as a result of the incremental effects of a devil-inspired, 150 year-long feminist movement deeply rooted in American/western society and its deteriorated culture, today’s church doesn’t seem too overly concerned with Paul’s clear, Law-enjoined, New Testament command concerning women. However, the opposite is true with today’s practice of Malachi 3: 8-9 inspired tithing, even though Paul does not directly address the subject, nor does he appeal to the Law, yet gauging by the tithing practice of today’s Christian churches you would think that “Let your churches receive the tithe, as also saith the law” is written in every book of the New Testament.

And another…

As referred to above, Paul addresses New Testament ministerial support in ICor. 9: 6-14 “Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? (7) Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? (8) Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? (9) For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? (10) Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (11) If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (12) If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. (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.” 

It’s very interesting to note here that Paul’s O.T. reference to substantiate his teaching on ministerial support is not the forceful and intimidating Malachi 3: 8-10 tithing threat, but it is Deut. 25:4 “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” Also, the very common but unfortunate tactic of referring to ICor. 9:14 which says “…they that preach the gospel should live of the gospel” (which is certainly true btw), but then ignoring its wider context (above), opting rather for a quick shift to the Mal. 3: 8-10 shake-down is extortive, an abuse of the scripture, and embarrassingly disingenuous at best. In the above Bible text (ICor. 9: 6-14), Paul makes reference to soldiering, vineyard work, shepherding, sowing and reaping, and a Law reference about ox plowing, but curiously nowhere does he specifically mention tithing. How could Paul possibly say “…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? and not even mutter the word “tithe”?

(To be continued)