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Little CCCO Sister
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Date Posted: 11:33:55 11/29/03 Sat
In reply to: He Redeems 's message, "Tithing is a false doctrine, please read." on 10:16:51 11/29/03 Sat

Do Christians Have To Tithe?

When I first became a Christian and started going to church I learned about the doctrine of tithing. I heard various teachings on the subject. They didn't all agree but they all had one thing in common; if you wanted to be an "obedient Christian" you had to tithe. The problem was, I didn't know what commandment I was being obedient to, nor could I reconcile this tithing doctrine with the New Testament's teaching on giving. I have not taken this issue lightly and after much study and prayer I have come to the conclusion that we are not required to tithe. I also believe it is wrong for anyone to use any method of persuasion to try to get us to tithe. I believe that what the "religious people" of our day call tithing is a false doctrine and the following explains why.

First of all, what people call tithing today doesn't have anything to do with what God called tithing in the Bible. Under the law tithing had nothing to do with money and everything to do with food.

Leviticus 27:30: ""'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD."
Leviticus 27:31: "If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it."
Leviticus 27:32: "The entire tithe of the herd and flock --every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod-- will be holy to the LORD."

Once a year they were to take a tenth of all that their fields produced and a tenth of their flocks and eat them in the place God chose. If they couldn't carry it all they were to exchange it for silver and buy whatever they wanted when they got there, and then eat it themselves.

Deuteronomy 12:17: "You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts."
Deuteronomy 12:18: "Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose --you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns-- and you are to rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you put your hand to."
Deuteronomy 12:19: "Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land."

Deuteronomy 14:22: "Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year."
Deuteronomy 14:23: "Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always."
Deuteronomy 14:24: "But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away),"
Deuteronomy 14:25: "then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose."
Deuteronomy 14:26: "Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice."
Deuteronomy 14:27: "And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own."

Deuteronomy 14:25-26 refutes the argument that the only reason food was used as a tithe is because no one used money in those days. People had been trading with silver for years. (When Jacob sent his sons to buy grain during the famine they used silver.) God could have accepted the silver that they traded their crops for but that's not what He wanted. He wanted them to eat and rejoice in His presence.

Every three years they were to set aside a tenth of their crops and store it in their towns to feed the Levites, the aliens, the widows and the fatherless.

Deuteronomy 14:28: "At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns,"
Deuteronomy 14:29: "so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands."

The tithe was given to the Levites for the work that they did. They in turn gave a tenth of the tithe to the priest. God accepted this as if they grew it themselves.

Numbers 18:24: "Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.'""
Numbers 18:25: "The LORD said to Moses,"
Numbers 18:26: ""Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord's offering."
Numbers 18:27: "Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress."
Numbers 18:28: "In this way you also will present an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord's portion to Aaron the priest."

I believe that tithing under the law was about celebrating God's goodness and provision.

Psalm 34:8: " Taste and see that the Lord is good."

Since tithing was part of the law, and the law was nailed to the cross, we don't have to tithe the way the Israelites did. Yet some people still say that we have to tithe. Instead of giving food, we are instructed to give a tenth of our income. This is what is now referred to as a tithe by the church. There is no scriptural basis for this change from food to money. The pastors of today believe that they are entitled to collect the tithe from you because they represent the Levites of the Old Testament. They also believe that their church represents the Temple. They are wrong on both counts. The Levitical preisethood has been done away with. We are under a new covenant and Jesus is our high priest. The Bible says our bodies are the temples where God dwells now. If a man wants to consider himslef a Levi then he needs to be collecting food (not money) and sharing it with the poor around him. Is you pastor doing that? Nowhere in the New Testament can I find a command that says Christians should tithe. There are a lot of passages that say we should give, and give generously, but nothing about tithing. Paul writes about giving, but even he doesn't command anyone to tithe.

2 Corinthians 8:8: "I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others."

I've heard it said that tithing is a spiritual principle that carried over into the New Testament. I don't agree. There is a spiritual principle laid out in the New Testament but it has nothing to do with tithing. Paul lays out the principle of sowing and reaping:

2 Corinthians 9:6: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."
2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

He could easily have put a number on it but he didn't. He says that we should give what our hearts tell us to give and not under compulsion. When the church took up a collection for other believers Paul still didn't tell them how much to give.

1 Corinthians 16:1: "Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do."
1 Corinthians 16:2: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made."

Here they were collecting money (and they weren't calling it a tithe) to give to other believers. It didn't even stay in their church. I think that these passages make it plain that we should give, but that we don't have to give a certain amount. Some people say these passages refer to offerings above the tithe. Since tithing was part of the law that we don't have to follow, I don't see how that can be the case. These verses stand on their own and should be taken at face value.

There are several other arguments that I have heard in the defense of tithing so I'll list them and answer them here.

The most common, is that tithing predates the law because Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek. There is great spiritual significance here between Abraham and Melchizedek. I believe that Melchizedek was actually Jesus or he was a man who was a foreshadow of Jesus, who was to come.

Hebrews 7:1: "This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,"
Hebrews 7:2: "and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace.""
Hebrews 7:3: "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever."

Abraham gave Melchizedek a plunder tithe. It was a common practice in those days to give the King or whatever god they worshipped a tenth of the plunder won in battle. I believe the whole purpose of this passage is to illustrate how great Jesus is (who is being represented by Melchizedek), because even though the king of Sodom was standing right there, Abraham gave the tenth to Melchizedek. After this symbolic gesture Abraham made sure the men with him got a share and gave the rest back to the king of Sodom. He kept nothing for himself, so he could not have been tithing on an increase.

Hebrews 7:4: "Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!"

This was not a tithe in the sense that people use the word today. Abraham was a rich man by this time and he didn't give Melchizedek anything that he already owned; only a tenth of what he won in a battle. Somehow this one time act by Abraham was twisted into this doctrine that the church calls tithing.

Jacob promised God that he would give a tenth.

Genesis 28:20: "Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear"
Genesis 28:21: "so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God"
Genesis 28:22: "and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.""

It's interesting to note that Jacob's "tithe" was conditional. He said that he would give God a tenth if He would watch over him and give him food to eat and clothes to wear. This is a little different than what preachers tell you today. They say just the opposite: God will bless you after you "pay your tithes." All you have to do is read the story of Jacob to see that God proves that theory wrong. God provided abundantly to Jacob and He did see him safely home. The Bible doesn't say how Jacob gave the tenth to God. Perhaps he gave it to the people around him in the form of food, or maybe he and his household ate it and rejoiced in the Lord's presence. At any rate, Jacob and Abraham decided on their own to give, God did not command them to. It was only commanded under the law, which was nailed to the cross.

If we have to tithe because tithing predates the law, then what about circumcision? Circumcision also predates the law. Paul had a lot to say about people who preached circumcision. Here's one example:

Galations 5:12: "As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!"

This was such a serious subject that Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles and elders to get their opinion on the matter. The letter that they sent back was directed to the Gentile believers (of which I am one).

Acts 15:28: "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:"
Acts 15:29: "You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell."

I assume they prayed about this because they said it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to them. This would have been a perfect time for them to tell the church that they were required to tithe, but they didn't. If Jesus wanted everyone to tithe wouldn't He have told the Apostles? Wouldn't they have passed this bit of information on? I believe it was a non issue.

Some people use these passages to prove that Jesus did say that we should tithe.

Matthew 23:23: ""Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."

Luke 11:42: ""Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone."

This passage has no bearing on Christians (unless you consider yourself a Pharisee!) The Pharisees were required to tithe because Jesus had not yet gone to the cross, and taken the law with Him. This passage is more about getting your heart right, than it is about tithing. The Pharisees followed the law so well that they tithed on even the smallest herbs (food once again), but their hearts were not right. God wants our hearts more than anything.

Luke 18:10: ""Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector."
Luke 18:11: "The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector."
Luke 18:12: "I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'"
Luke 18:13: ""But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'"
Luke 18:14: ""I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.""

You'll notice in the above paragraph that it wasn't the tither who was justified. His works didn't amount to anything. It was the humble man who was justified. He wasn't justified by any works; only by what was in his heart. The same is true today.

A lot of people like to use Malachi 3:8-10 to try and prove that we must tithe and to show us that there are serious consequences (God will send down curses on us) if we don't. It's also used to try to convince people to give the whole "tithe" to the local church. This a scare tactic and blatant manipulation considering that this, once again, has to do with the law that Jesus redeemed us from.

Malachi 3:8: ""Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings."
Malachi 3:9: "You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me."
Malachi 3:10: "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."

Nehemiah 10:38 says:

Nehemiah 10:38: "A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury."

This passage refers to the tenth of the tithe that the Levites brought to the priest to be stored in the temple. I believe the tithe they are referring to in Malachi is the tenth of the tithe that the priest collected from the Levites. I also believe that this passage in Malachi is referring to a specific situation taking place during the time of Nehemiah. There was a man living in the room that stored the tithe so the people of that time were not bringing the tithe to the temple, as commanded under the law, and the temple was being neglected.

Nehemiah 13:4: "Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah,"
Nehemiah 13:5: "and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests."
Nehemiah 13:6: "But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission"
Nehemiah 13:7: "and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God."
Nehemiah 13:8: "I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah's household goods out of the room."
Nehemiah 13:9: "I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense."
Nehemiah 13:10: "I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields."
Nehemiah 13:11: "So I rebuked the officials and asked them, "Why is the house of God neglected?" Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts."
Nehemiah 13:12: "All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and oil into the storerooms."

Even if the verses in Malachi have nothing to do with the situation in Nehemiah it still does not apply to us. This is about tithing ("that there may be food in my house") under the law. The people of that time were under a curse for not following the law. We are under a curse if we try to follow the law now that Jesus has redeemed us from it.

"All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." ... Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."" (Galatians 3:10-13)

Some people actually try to use the example of Ananias and Sapphira to try to prove their point. I think it proves that we don't have to tithe.

Acts 5:1: "Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles feet. 3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." 5 When Ananias heard this he fell down and died.

The amount they gave to the Apostles had to have been well above 10% of the price of the land. They were trying to pass this money off as the full amount they got for the land. I assume that the Apostles knew what land was worth because Barnabas had just sold some land prior to this and gave them the money (Acts 4:36-37). The amount Ananias gave could not have been the problem. Verse four says that the land belonged to them and so did the money after they sold it. His sin was not that he kept some of the money. His sin was that he lied about how much he got for the property. I actually read a page on a church's website that said there were conseqences for not tithing. They used the example of Ananias and Sapphira to insinuate that God will kill you if you don't tithe. They actually left out verse four but included verse five. This shows you what length people will go to in order to get your money. These people are being more deceptive then Ananias and Sapphira. I emailed them and asked why they left out verse four but included verse five. They never answered my email because they have no defense for their deceptive ways.

Sometimes the word firstfruits is used synonymously with the word tithe. The Bible says that this is two separate offerings. The following passage refers to firstfruits and tithes.

Nehemiah 12:44: "And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered."

According to the interlinear Bible at Crosswalk.com, the word used often for firstfruits in the Old Testament means:

1. firstfruits
a.) the first of the crops and fruit that ripened, was gathered, and offered to God according to the ritual of Pentecost
b.) the bread made of the new grain offered at Pentecost
c.) the day of the first-fruits (Pentecost)

Firstfruits is referring to food once again. This was separate from the tithe.

Since the Bible makes it plain that we are not saved by any works, people will resort to trying to make you feel guilty if you don't tithe. They will say that it is an indication of where your heart is. What they are saying is that if you are "right with God" you will tithe. As if they are qualified to judge that! Only God can see into your heart. It's insulting. We don't prove we are right with God by following any other part of the law. If you are tithing because you think God will curse you if you don't, per Malachi 3:8-10 then you are following the law. The following passage was written to address circumcision, but I believe it can apply to tithing as well, since tithing was part of the law.

Galatians 5:4: "You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace."

Just in case anyone is under the impression that we still have to follow the law; these verses should clear up that misunderstanding. There are many more where these came from too. Read the book of Galatians.

Colossians 2:14: "having cancelled the written code, with it's regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross."

Ephesians 2:15: "by abolishing in his flesh the law with it's commandents and regulations..."

Romans 10:4: "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."

Galatians 3:25: "Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law."

Romans 6:14: "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."

Hebrews 7:18-19: "The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God."

Galatians 5:18: "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."

Jesus FULFILLED the law. To fulfill means to "to meet or satisfy, as requirements; to complete." The Bible says the law was nailed to the cross. Jesus DIED for us, and when He died on that cross the law died with Him. Only JESUS was resurrected. We are saved by faith in Jesus alone. What an insult it is to the shed blood of God if we try to be made right with Him with "filthy lucre."

Ephesians 2:8-9: " For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast."

If our hearts are right with God we will give, but it will be an amount that we decide, not an amount that someone else decides for us. Read 2 Corinthians 9:7 again.

2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Since we don't tithe the way the Israelites did under the law, and since nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to give a tenth of our income to the church, what is this doctrine of tithing? I believe it is a man made tradition. Here is one thing that the Bible says about man made traditions.

Colossians 2:8: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

I believe this tradition is doing great harm to Christ's Church. I know unsaved people who will not even give Jesus a chance because of it. How many of you reading this know people who think the church is just after their money? Where do you think they got that idea? I know of Christians who are in bondage to it. I challenge everyone who believes in tithing to examine where your beliefs came from. Most Christians I have talked to who believe they have to tithe admit that they never studied the issue. They believe in it because that is what they were taught. They just assume that the Bible says Christians have to tithe. It doesn't. The Bible says that we are saved by faith. Why are some people adding on works?

Galatians 3:1-3: "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to obtain your goal by human effort?"

One thing that I have heard over and over is that God will not bless you if you don't tithe. "You're robbing yourself of a blessing", they like to say (Jacob already disproved this theory you might remember). Now Read Romans 3:8.

Romans 3:8: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we were still sinners Christ died for us."

Jesus was willing to SUFFER AND DIE for liars, thieves, murderers, idolaters and blasphemers. He died for us while our backs were turned to Him and we were deep in sin. Does it make sense that now that we have been made holy in His sight (Col 1:22) that He will only bless us if we give 10 percent of our income to the pastor of a church? Will we get half a blessing for 5%? A double blessing for 20? According to many people God's blessings are on sale, for 10 cents on the dollar. We are richly blessed already. We are children of the living God! We need to appreciate what we have and work on being a blessing to others.

A lot of people defend tithing because they don't think their church can survive without them. I heard someone say that without tithes they would be meeting in a Walmart parking lot. What kind of faith is that? Jesus said:

Matthew 16:18: "...on this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

I would say that if a church can't survive on the freewill offerings of the people than perhaps God isn't part of that church at all.

Some preachers like to say that if you don't tithe (to his church naturally) you're robbing God. If I give money to an organization that helps persecuted Christians in another country or I give money to a needy person I know, instead of giving it to a local church, am I robbing God?

1 John 3:17: "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"
1 John 3:18: "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

It is my responsibility to prayerfully decide what to do with the money that God has given me. Why should I pass that off on someone else? Doesn't the same Holy Spirit live in me? Shouldn't I seek His guidance in every area of my life? I won't mindlessly throw money into a plate anymore. There are Christians in other countries who are being persecuted and need our help. Are they our family or not? Shouldn't we use some of our money to help them? Just because they aren't sitting next to you in the pew doesn't mean that they are not part of the Church. The True Church of Christ has nothing to do with that building that you sit in on Sunday. The Church is not made up of bricks, or of a particular denomination. It's not one of the several huge religious systems, that lays claim to the "one true church" as revealed by one of their "prophets." It's not exclusive to people who speak in tongues or baptize in the name of Jesus only. The True Church of Christ is made up of all true believers from all over the world. It's not something that you can see; Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is within us.

Luke 17:20-21: " Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

I wrote this article to try to convince you that Christians do not have to be in bondage to this false doctrine called tithing, but I don't want you to just take my word for it. You may have been taught to tithe by well meaning people who actually believe in it. Don't take their word for it either. You may have been manipulated into tithing by people who are selling the Gospel for profit. Don't take their word for it. Pray earnestly to God, your Father, and see what He has to say about it. Study His word with an open mind. I am convinced that if you sincerely want to know the truth and seek God on this subject He will open your eyes to the truth about this false doctrine called tithing. He will also show you where He wants you to use your money to help further His kingdom. Don't be a slave to the law. The Bible says that when the Son sets you free you are free indeed!

I have spent a lot of time searching the scriptures and praying about this subject. This matter is settled in my mind and I am at peace with my beliefs and with God. I think that Romans 7:6 says it all:

"But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." (Romans 7:6)

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>Do Christians Have To Tithe? > > When I first became a Christian and started going to >church I learned about the doctrine of tithing. I >heard various teachings on the subject. They didn't >all agree but they all had one thing in common; if you >wanted to be an "obedient Christian" you had to tithe. >The problem was, I didn't know what commandment I was >being obedient to, nor could I reconcile this tithing >doctrine with the New Testament's teaching on giving. >I have not taken this issue lightly and after much >study and prayer I have come to the conclusion that we >are not required to tithe. I also believe it is wrong >for anyone to use any method of persuasion to try to >get us to tithe. I believe that what the "religious >people" of our day call tithing is a false doctrine >and the following explains why. > >First of all, what people call tithing today doesn't >have anything to do with what God called tithing in >the Bible. Under the law tithing had nothing to do >with money and everything to do with food. > >Leviticus 27:30: ""'A tithe of everything from the >land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the >trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD." >Leviticus 27:31: "If a man redeems any of his tithe, >he must add a fifth of the value to it." >Leviticus 27:32: "The entire tithe of the herd and >flock --every tenth animal that passes under the >shepherd's rod-- will be holy to the LORD." > >Once a year they were to take a tenth of all that >their fields produced and a tenth of their flocks and >eat them in the place God chose. If they couldn't >carry it all they were to exchange it for silver and >buy whatever they wanted when they got there, and then >eat it themselves. > >Deuteronomy 12:17: "You must not eat in your own towns >the tithe of your grain and new wine and oil, or the >firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you >have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or >special gifts." >Deuteronomy 12:18: "Instead, you are to eat them in >the presence of the LORD your God at the place the >LORD your God will choose --you, your sons and >daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the >Levites from your towns-- and you are to rejoice >before the LORD your God in everything you put your >hand to." >Deuteronomy 12:19: "Be careful not to neglect the >Levites as long as you live in your land." > >Deuteronomy 14:22: "Be sure to set aside a tenth of >all that your fields produce each year." >Deuteronomy 14:23: "Eat the tithe of your grain, new >wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and >flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the >place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so >that you may learn to revere the LORD your God >always." >Deuteronomy 14:24: "But if that place is too distant >and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and >cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the >LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away)," >Deuteronomy 14:25: "then exchange your tithe for >silver, and take the silver with you and go to the >place the LORD your God will choose." >Deuteronomy 14:26: "Use the silver to buy whatever you >like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or >anything you wish. Then you and your household shall >eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and >rejoice." >Deuteronomy 14:27: "And do not neglect the Levites >living in your towns, for they have no allotment or >inheritance of their own." > >Deuteronomy 14:25-26 refutes the argument that the >only reason food was used as a tithe is because no >one used money in those days. People had been trading >with silver for years. (When Jacob sent his sons to >buy grain during the famine they used silver.) God >could have accepted the silver that they traded their >crops for but that's not what He wanted. He wanted >them to eat and rejoice in His presence. > >Every three years they were to set aside a tenth of >their crops and store it in their towns to feed the >Levites, the aliens, the widows and the fatherless. > >Deuteronomy 14:28: "At the end of every three years, >bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store >it in your towns," >Deuteronomy 14:29: "so that the Levites (who have no >allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, >the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns >may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the >LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your >hands." > >The tithe was given to the Levites for the work that >they did. They in turn gave a tenth of the tithe to >the priest. God accepted this as if they grew it >themselves. > >Numbers 18:24: "Instead, I give to the Levites as >their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites >present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said >concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among >the Israelites.'"" >Numbers 18:25: "The LORD said to Moses," >Numbers 18:26: ""Speak to the Levites and say to them: >'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give >you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of >that tithe as the Lord's offering." >Numbers 18:27: "Your offering will be reckoned to you >as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the >winepress." >Numbers 18:28: "In this way you also will present an >offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive >from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give >the Lord's portion to Aaron the priest." > >I believe that tithing under the law was about >celebrating God's goodness and provision. > >Psalm 34:8: " Taste and see that the Lord is good." > >Since tithing was part of the law, and the law was >nailed to the cross, we don't have to tithe the way >the Israelites did. Yet some people still say that we >have to tithe. Instead of giving food, we are >instructed to give a tenth of our income. This is what >is now referred to as a tithe by the church. There is >no scriptural basis for this change from food to >money. The pastors of today believe that they are >entitled to collect the tithe from you because they >represent the Levites of the Old Testament. They also >believe that their church represents the Temple. They >are wrong on both counts. The Levitical preisethood >has been done away with. We are under a new covenant >and Jesus is our high priest. The Bible says our >bodies are the temples where God dwells now. If a man >wants to consider himslef a Levi then he needs to be >collecting food (not money) and sharing it with the >poor around him. Is you pastor doing that? Nowhere in >the New Testament can I find a command that says >Christians should tithe. There are a lot of passages >that say we should give, and give generously, but >nothing about tithing. Paul writes about giving, but >even he doesn't command anyone to tithe. > >2 Corinthians 8:8: "I am not commanding you, but I >want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing >it with the earnestness of others." > >I've heard it said that tithing is a spiritual >principle that carried over into the New Testament. I >don't agree. There is a spiritual principle laid out >in the New Testament but it has nothing to do with >tithing. Paul lays out the principle of sowing and >reaping: > >2 Corinthians 9:6: "Remember this: Whoever sows >sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows >generously will also reap generously." >2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each man should give what he has >decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under >compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." > >He could easily have put a number on it but he didn't. >He says that we should give what our hearts tell us to >give and not under compulsion. When the church took up >a collection for other believers Paul still didn't >tell them how much to give. > >1 Corinthians 16:1: "Now about the collection for >God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to >do." >1 Corinthians 16:2: "On the first day of every week, >each one of you should set aside a sum of money in >keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I >come no collections will have to be made." > >Here they were collecting money (and they weren't >calling it a tithe) to give to other believers. It >didn't even stay in their church. I think that these >passages make it plain that we should give, but that >we don't have to give a certain amount. Some people >say these passages refer to offerings above the tithe. >Since tithing was part of the law that we don't have >to follow, I don't see how that can be the case. These >verses stand on their own and should be taken at face >value. > >There are several other arguments that I have heard in >the defense of tithing so I'll list them and answer >them here. > >The most common, is that tithing predates the law >because Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek. There is >great spiritual significance here between Abraham and >Melchizedek. I believe that Melchizedek was actually >Jesus or he was a man who was a foreshadow of Jesus, >who was to come. > >Hebrews 7:1: "This Melchizedek was king of Salem and >priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from >the defeat of the kings and blessed him," >Hebrews 7:2: "and Abraham gave him a tenth of >everything. First, his name means "king of >righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king >of peace."" >Hebrews 7:3: "Without father or mother, without >genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, >like the Son of God he remains a priest forever." > >Abraham gave Melchizedek a plunder tithe. It was a >common practice in those days to give the King or >whatever god they worshipped a tenth of the plunder >won in battle. I believe the whole purpose of this >passage is to illustrate how great Jesus is (who is >being represented by Melchizedek), because even though >the king of Sodom was standing right there, Abraham >gave the tenth to Melchizedek. After this symbolic >gesture Abraham made sure the men with him got a share >and gave the rest back to the king of Sodom. He kept >nothing for himself, so he could not have been tithing >on an increase. > >Hebrews 7:4: "Just think how great he was: Even the >patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!" > >This was not a tithe in the sense that people use the >word today. Abraham was a rich man by this time and he >didn't give Melchizedek anything that he already >owned; only a tenth of what he won in a battle. >Somehow this one time act by Abraham was twisted into >this doctrine that the church calls tithing. > >Jacob promised God that he would give a tenth. > >Genesis 28:20: "Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God >will be with me and will watch over me on this journey >I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes >to wear" >Genesis 28:21: "so that I return safely to my father's >house, then the LORD will be my God" >Genesis 28:22: "and this stone that I have set up as a >pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give >me I will give you a tenth."" > >It's interesting to note that Jacob's "tithe" was >conditional. He said that he would give God a tenth if >He would watch over him and give him food to eat and >clothes to wear. This is a little different than what >preachers tell you today. They say just the opposite: >God will bless you after you "pay your tithes." All >you have to do is read the story of Jacob to see that >God proves that theory wrong. God provided abundantly >to Jacob and He did see him safely home. The Bible >doesn't say how Jacob gave the tenth to God. Perhaps >he gave it to the people around him in the form of >food, or maybe he and his household ate it and >rejoiced in the Lord's presence. At any rate, Jacob >and Abraham decided on their own to give, God did not >command them to. It was only commanded under the law, >which was nailed to the cross. > >If we have to tithe because tithing predates the law, >then what about circumcision? Circumcision also >predates the law. Paul had a lot to say about people >who preached circumcision. Here's one example: > >Galations 5:12: "As for those agitators, I wish they >would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!" > >This was such a serious subject that Paul and Barnabas >went to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles and elders >to get their opinion on the matter. The letter that >they sent back was directed to the Gentile believers >(of which I am one). > >Acts 15:28: "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to >us not to burden you with anything beyond the >following requirements:" >Acts 15:29: "You are to abstain from food sacrificed >to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled >animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well >to avoid these things. Farewell." > >I assume they prayed about this because they said it >seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to them. This would >have been a perfect time for them to tell the church >that they were required to tithe, but they didn't. If >Jesus wanted everyone to tithe wouldn't He have told >the Apostles? Wouldn't they have passed this bit of >information on? I believe it was a non issue. > >Some people use these passages to prove that Jesus did >say that we should tithe. > >Matthew 23:23: ""Woe to you, teachers of the law and >Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your >spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected >the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy >and faithfulness. You should have practiced the >latter, without neglecting the former." > >Luke 11:42: ""Woe to you Pharisees, because you give >God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of >garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of >God. You should have practiced the latter without >leaving the former undone." > >This passage has no bearing on Christians (unless you >consider yourself a Pharisee!) The Pharisees were >required to tithe because Jesus had not yet gone to >the cross, and taken the law with Him. This passage is >more about getting your heart right, than it is about >tithing. The Pharisees followed the law so well that >they tithed on even the smallest herbs (food once >again), but their hearts were not right. God wants our >hearts more than anything. > >Luke 18:10: ""Two men went up to the temple to pray, >one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector." >Luke 18:11: "The Pharisee stood up and prayed about >himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other >men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this >tax collector." >Luke 18:12: "I fast twice a week and give a tenth of >all I get.'" >Luke 18:13: ""But the tax collector stood at a >distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but >beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a >sinner.'" >Luke 18:14: ""I tell you that this man, rather than >the other, went home justified before God. For >everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he >who humbles himself will be exalted."" > >You'll notice in the above paragraph that it wasn't >the tither who was justified. His works didn't amount >to anything. It was the humble man who was justified. >He wasn't justified by any works; only by what was in >his heart. The same is true today. > >A lot of people like to use Malachi 3:8-10 to try and >prove that we must tithe and to show us that there are >serious consequences (God will send down curses on us) > if we don't. It's also used to try to convince people >to give the whole "tithe" to the local church. This a >scare tactic and blatant manipulation considering that >this, once again, has to do with the law that Jesus >redeemed us from. > >Malachi 3:8: ""Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. >"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and >offerings." >Malachi 3:9: "You are under a curse--the whole nation >of you--because you are robbing me." >Malachi 3:10: "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." > >Nehemiah 10:38 says: > >Nehemiah 10:38: "A priest descended from Aaron is to >accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, >and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up >to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the >treasury." > >This passage refers to the tenth of the tithe that the >Levites brought to the priest to be stored in the >temple. I believe the tithe they are referring to in >Malachi is the tenth of the tithe that the priest >collected from the Levites. I also believe that this >passage in Malachi is referring to a specific >situation taking place during the time of Nehemiah. >There was a man living in the room that stored the >tithe so the people of that time were not bringing the >tithe to the temple, as commanded under the law, and >the temple was being neglected. > >Nehemiah 13:4: "Before this, Eliashib the priest had >been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of >our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah," >Nehemiah 13:5: "and he had provided him with a large >room formerly used to store the grain offerings and >incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of >grain, new wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, >singers and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions >for the priests." >Nehemiah 13:6: "But while all this was going on, I was >not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of >Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. >Some time later I asked his permission" >Nehemiah 13:7: "and came back to Jerusalem. Here I >learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in >providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of >God." >Nehemiah 13:8: "I was greatly displeased and threw all >Tobiah's household goods out of the room." >Nehemiah 13:9: "I gave orders to purify the rooms, and >then I put back into them the equipment of the house >of God, with the grain offerings and the incense." >Nehemiah 13:10: "I also learned that the portions >assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, >and that all the Levites and singers responsible for >the service had gone back to their own fields." >Nehemiah 13:11: "So I rebuked the officials and asked >them, "Why is the house of God neglected?" Then I >called them together and stationed them at their >posts." >Nehemiah 13:12: "All Judah brought the tithes of >grain, new wine and oil into the storerooms." > >Even if the verses in Malachi have nothing to do with >the situation in Nehemiah it still does not apply to >us. This is about tithing ("that there may be food in >my house") under the law. The people of that time were >under a curse for not following the law. We are under >a curse if we try to follow the law now that Jesus has >redeemed us from it. > >"All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, >for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not >continue to do everything written in the Book of the >Law." ... Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law >by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed >is everyone who is hung on a tree."" (Galatians >3:10-13) > >Some people actually try to use the example of Ananias >and Sapphira to try to prove their point. I think it >proves that we don't have to tithe. > >Acts 5:1: "Now a man named Ananias, together with his >wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With >his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the >money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at >the apostles feet. 3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is >it that Satan so filled your heart that you have lied >to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of >the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it >belong to you before it was sold? And after it was >sold wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you >think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men >but to God." 5 When Ananias heard this he fell down >and died. > >The amount they gave to the Apostles had to have been >well above 10% of the price of the land. They were >trying to pass this money off as the full amount they >got for the land. I assume that the Apostles knew what >land was worth because Barnabas had just sold some >land prior to this and gave them the money (Acts >4:36-37). The amount Ananias gave could not have been >the problem. Verse four says that the land belonged to >them and so did the money after they sold it. His sin >was not that he kept some of the money. His sin was >that he lied about how much he got for the property. I >actually read a page on a church's website that said >there were conseqences for not tithing. They used the >example of Ananias and Sapphira to insinuate that God >will kill you if you don't tithe. They actually left >out verse four but included verse five. This shows you >what length people will go to in order to get your >money. These people are being more deceptive then >Ananias and Sapphira. I emailed them and asked why >they left out verse four but included verse five. They >never answered my email because they have no defense >for their deceptive ways. > >Sometimes the word firstfruits is used synonymously >with the word tithe. The Bible says that this is two >separate offerings. The following passage refers to >firstfruits and tithes. > >Nehemiah 12:44: "And at the same time some were >appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the >offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather >into them from the fields of the cities the portions >specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for >Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who >ministered." > >According to the interlinear Bible at Crosswalk.com, >the word used often for firstfruits in the Old >Testament means: > >1. firstfruits >a.) the first of the crops and fruit that ripened, was >gathered, and offered to God according to >the ritual of Pentecost >b.) the bread made of the new grain offered at >Pentecost >c.) the day of the first-fruits (Pentecost) > >Firstfruits is referring to food once again. This was >separate from the tithe. > >Since the Bible makes it plain that we are not saved >by any works, people will resort to trying to make you >feel guilty if you don't tithe. They will say that it >is an indication of where your heart is. What they are >saying is that if you are "right with God" you will >tithe. As if they are qualified to judge that! Only >God can see into your heart. It's insulting. We don't >prove we are right with God by following any other >part of the law. If you are tithing because you think >God will curse you if you don't, per Malachi 3:8-10 >then you are following the law. The following >passage was written to address circumcision, but I >believe it can apply to tithing as well, since tithing >was part of the law. > >Galatians 5:4: "You who are trying to be justified by >law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen >away from grace." > >Just in case anyone is under the impression that we >still have to follow the law; these verses should >clear up that misunderstanding. There are many more >where these came from too. Read the book of Galatians. > >Colossians 2:14: "having cancelled the written code, >with it's regulations, that was against us and that >stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to >the cross." > >Ephesians 2:15: "by abolishing in his flesh the law >with it's commandents and regulations..." > >Romans 10:4: "Christ is the end of the law so that >there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." > >Galatians 3:25: "Now that faith has come, we are no >longer under the supervision of the law." > >Romans 6:14: "For sin shall not be your master, >because you are not under law, but under grace." > >Hebrews 7:18-19: "The former regulation is set aside >because it was weak and useless (for the law made >nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by >which we draw near to God." > >Galatians 5:18: "But if you are led by the Spirit, you >are not under the law." > >Jesus FULFILLED the law. To fulfill means to "to meet >or satisfy, as requirements; to complete." The Bible >says the law was nailed to the cross. Jesus DIED for >us, and when He died on that cross the law died with >Him. Only JESUS was resurrected. We are saved by faith >in Jesus alone. What an insult it is to the shed blood >of God if we try to be made right with Him with >"filthy lucre." > >Ephesians 2:8-9: " For it is by grace you have been >saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it >is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can >boast." > >If our hearts are right with God we will give, but it >will be an amount that we decide, not an amount that >someone else decides for us. Read 2 Corinthians 9:7 >again. > >2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each man should give what he has >decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under >compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." > >Since we don't tithe the way the Israelites did under >the law, and since nowhere in the Bible are we >commanded to give a tenth of our income to the church, >what is this doctrine of tithing? I believe it is a >man made tradition. Here is one thing that the Bible >says about man made traditions. > >Colossians 2:8: "See to it that no one takes you >captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which >depends on human tradition and the basic principles of >this world rather than on Christ." > >I believe this tradition is doing great harm to >Christ's Church. I know unsaved people who will not >even give Jesus a chance because of it. How many of >you reading this know people who think the church is >just after their money? Where do you think they got >that idea? I know of Christians who are in bondage to >it. I challenge everyone who believes in tithing to >examine where your beliefs came from. Most Christians >I have talked to who believe they have to tithe admit >that they never studied the issue. They believe in it >because that is what they were taught. They just >assume that the Bible says Christians have to tithe. >It doesn't. The Bible says that we are saved by faith. >Why are some people adding on works? > >Galatians 3:1-3: "You foolish Galatians! Who has >bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was >clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn >just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by >observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are >you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are >you now trying to obtain your goal by human effort?" > >One thing that I have heard over and over is that God >will not bless you if you don't tithe. "You're robbing >yourself of a blessing", they like to say (Jacob >already disproved this theory you might remember). Now >Read Romans 3:8. > >Romans 3:8: "But God demonstrates His own love for us >in this; while we were still sinners Christ died for >us." > >Jesus was willing to SUFFER AND DIE for liars, >thieves, murderers, idolaters and blasphemers. He died >for us while our backs were turned to Him and we were >deep in sin. Does it make sense that now that we have >been made holy in His sight (Col 1:22) that He will >only bless us if we give 10 percent of our income to >the pastor of a church? Will we get half a blessing >for 5%? A double blessing for 20? According to many >people God's blessings are on sale, for 10 cents on >the dollar. We are richly blessed already. We are >children of the living God! We need to appreciate what >we have and work on being a blessing to others. > >A lot of people defend tithing because they don't >think their church can survive without them. I heard >someone say that without tithes they would be meeting >in a Walmart parking lot. What kind of faith is that? >Jesus said: > >Matthew 16:18: "...on this rock I will build my Church >and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." > >I would say that if a church can't survive on the >freewill offerings of the people than perhaps God >isn't part of that church at all. > >Some preachers like to say that if you don't tithe (to >his church naturally) you're robbing God. If I give >money to an organization that helps persecuted >Christians in another country or I give money to a >needy person I know, instead of giving it to a local >church, am I robbing God? > >1 John 3:17: "If anyone has material possessions and >sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how >can the love of God be in him?" >1 John 3:18: "Dear children, let us not love with >words or tongue but with actions and in truth." > >It is my responsibility to prayerfully decide what to >do with the money that God has given me. Why should I >pass that off on someone else? Doesn't the same Holy >Spirit live in me? Shouldn't I seek His guidance in >every area of my life? I won't mindlessly throw money >into a plate anymore. There are Christians in other >countries who are being persecuted and need our help. >Are they our family or not? Shouldn't we use some of >our money to help them? Just because they aren't >sitting next to you in the pew doesn't mean that they >are not part of the Church. The True Church of Christ >has nothing to do with that building that you sit in >on Sunday. The Church is not made up of bricks, or of >a particular denomination. It's not one of the several > huge religious systems, that lays claim to the "one >true church" as revealed by one of their "prophets." >It's not exclusive to people who speak in tongues or >baptize in the name of Jesus only. The True Church of >Christ is made up of all true believers from all over >the world. It's not something that you can see; Jesus >said that the Kingdom of God is within us. > >Luke 17:20-21: " Now when He was asked by the >Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He >answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not >come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' >or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is >within you." > >I wrote this article to try to convince you that >Christians do not have to be in bondage to this false >doctrine called tithing, but I don't want you to just >take my word for it. You may have been taught to tithe >by well meaning people who actually believe in it. >Don't take their word for it either. You may have been >manipulated into tithing by people who are selling the >Gospel for profit. Don't take their word for it. Pray >earnestly to God, your Father, and see what He has to >say about it. Study His word with an open mind. I am >convinced that if you sincerely want to know the truth >and seek God on this subject He will open your eyes to >the truth about this false doctrine called tithing. He >will also show you where He wants you to use your >money to help further His kingdom. Don't be a slave to >the law. The Bible says that when the Son sets you >free you are free indeed! > >I have spent a lot of time searching the scriptures >and praying about this subject. This matter is settled >in my mind and I am at peace with my beliefs and with >God. I think that Romans 7:6 says it all: > >"But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been >released from the law so that we serve in the new way >of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written >code." (Romans 7:6)
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