Are we obligated to give tithes even during a pandemic crisis? Is the pandemic a wake-up call for tithers? What is the truth about tithes?
Tithes or not to tithes, does it matter these days anymore?
What is the truth in giving to rich people playing church, then making ourselves enjoy life and do good things? Does hearing false teaching and not rebuking it make us an accessory and commit the same sin? Why was giving tithes for many years second to salvation when it came to preaching?
Fear becomes part of our upbringing in the church, and salvation is at the front. You sin, go to hell, give, and get back many folds in return; you give more, and you receive more. You help in fundraising; it doesn’t count on giving tithes. Giving pledges is the same thing that is like giving on the side.
Why are church leaders, if not most, scared to take advantage of other people’s money? Even those seniors who are not making enough money to buy something they want are being taken for granted. Why are they not getting advice from the leaders to keep their social security money and buy what they want?
Seniors are vulnerable and easy to give up with fear-implied preaching. Prosperity preaching is in losing ground for a few years now, and they are back to salvation preaching. But, unfortunately, it’s too late, as the followers made them rich and some super-rich and left them behind when the promised prosperity did not happen. Some remain struggling to make ends meet, some are probably still paying their debt, and maybe some go bankrupt.
Going to a big church doesn’t mean receiving more attention from Heaven. Attending a fully decorated church doesn’t mean more abundant blessings. But, listen to your heart and the conviction of your conscience, and your soul will humbly submit to His Holy Spirit, and you might find the truth about tithing.
When it comes to asking for a donation, that’s the job of the second-ranking member, and when it comes to bringing more new members, that’s the ministry’s job, which involves the members they delegated to lead. So more members they encourage to join the possible collection will be more.
When it comes to financial matters, only a few know it, but when planning to solicit something involving money, they are very transparent. The church’s role is to help the poor and widows, which is clearly stated in the Bible. One of the golden rules of the church and when the church has the financial capacity and ignores it, the members can ask, why?
Suppose the church reports that they are helping by giving financial aid to others. In that case, it’s either a half-truth, or some go only to their favorite ministry and not directly to proven missionaries with integrity.
Giving is part of our godly work, and it doesn’t need to be a brain scientist to figure out how you can do it. The Bible said to help your relative that is in need before anyone else, or you are worse than unbelievers.
Relatives help their relatives; that is the main point. Imagine when you help a relative finish school and that relative gets a job and does the same thing; that is godly work.
There is a saying: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” If you give a man food for his hungry stomach, he will be hungry again, and you may see him again. Feeding the poor as a mission will not change their world, but teaching them how to acquire some skills is smart.
With this pandemic, many lost their jobs. Does your church extend its helping hand to help the members in need? That is what the tithes’ purpose was during the Old Testament’s Law of Moses to bring the first fruits of the land to the storehouse as their tithes. It has nothing to do with the money given to God. It’s called the law of the harvest.
Before Moses, Abraham and his grandson Jacob promised to give tithes but with the condition. Can we give our tithes with condition with our Pastor or Priest? When tough times are like this pandemic and some challenging times, is the church ready to help members temporarily?
Abraham was losing the war; he vowed to give 10% of the spoils of the war if he won. While Jacob; asks for food and clothing. “All that you will give me, I will surely give the tenth to you.” The tithe was carried over to the church generation (Christian era), preaching “that Christians are not under the Law of Moses but under grace and yet tithes never ceased in preaching.”
How can someone justify the church not taking any money out of the savings to help the members in this crisis or give up their salaries, one of their mansions, and luxury cars? Why, with this crisis, are some churches still asking for donations? Why are churches even bringing lawsuits to the states for distancing policies when it is only protecting the safety of their citizens? Is it about money?
Maybe fear that they might lose members when the members feel more quiet time, comfort, and experience with the presence of God one on one.
How would our earth look like when we help one another?
Does fear of going to hell will be the preaching of the past, and it may come to pass, and we would not be able to remember what hell means, and salvation is as assured as before?
The absence of sadness is happiness, so the absence of hell is the presence of Heaven. Money cannot buy our salvation, and our relationship with our LORD, our Almighty Father, who created us in His image and likeness, does give us the gift of salvation.
Our Lord Jesus Christ will be our brother, and from his word, he said: “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Therefore, when we all live together in one accord and one spirit, the kingdoms established by the King of kings and Lord of lords will be one United Kingdom, in the new Heaven and new earth under the government of God.
May we all pray to God that this pandemic is defeated sooner and heal our lands? Acknowledge Him as our all in all, and He will acknowledge our prayers.
Let us pray:
Father, into your hand, we submit to you the pain brought by the fear of this pandemic; we are sorry for offending you and ask you to forgive us and strengthen us for all these challenges. Let our politicians move by your power to have unity for the good of the country. Protect our loved ones, relatives, and friends; for others, we include all health responders. Heal our land, oh LORD of Host. You alone are our God and no one else besides you. Thank you for everything.
To God be the Glory.
Amen.