The Tithe Conversion (Part 2)

by John Holler

Perfect Standards

The truth of the matter is this; the standard is not lower in the New Testament - it is higher. The standard is beyond “purity of action.” God’s objective is, and always was, “purity of nature.” It is not good enough, for example, not to commit adultery. You must not even look at someone with lust in your heart.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Matthew 5:27-28

The requirements of the New Testament are not limited to righteous actions. They supersede the action and require purity of nature. In reality, the law is just as impossible for carnal and unregenerate people to keep in the New Testament as it was in the Old Testament because the standard in both is perfection. The law did not change. God’s method of cleansing did. No longer is the blood of animals sufficient to cover sin. The blood of His own Son removed sin, the nature which was opposed to the law of God. The only way to truly keep the law is to receive and live by the new nature given through Christ.

The New Testament and Tithes and Offerings

With this in mind, we can look at the result of the new nature in the New Testament through the fruit we see in those who we know were fulfilling the law as God intended.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any [of them] that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid [them] down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, [and] of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold [it], and brought the money, and laid [it] at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 4:32-37

Here we see the effect of the new nature – a complete renunciation of worldly possession. The requirement to give to God did not diminish from One Testament to the other. Rather, the sin nature was destroyed and the letter of the law was replaced by life through the Spirit, who is the ultimate giver. The righteous requirement of the law, to give as God gives, was fulfilled in these believers. They relinquished ownership of everything they owned to the use of God. They shared freely of the things God put in their hands because nothing they owned was considered their own. The selfish nature, which tithing exposes, was so completely eradicated that 10% was not enough. They gave everything to God.

Let’s be honest. The people who teach this false doctrine, and the people who cling to and perpetuate it, own their money. Their money is their own, their house is their own, their bodies are their own, their future is their own… they belong to themselves and don’t want to give God what is His (which is much more than 10%). The sickness of this sin goes much deeper than their money. The sin nature of self-preservation and self-love corrupts all their acts (which they profess to be righteous under their perverted version of the law of liberty) because they own themselves. They are not bought with a price. They are not redeemed. They are bound to their possessions and their wealth. They are a slave to their riches. They prove their sinful nature by their desire to do away with, rather than to fulfill the law which Jesus came to establish.

Stay tuned for Part Three of The Tithe conversion in the coming days! If you would like a copy of this short book, send us a message on our Facebook page with your email and we would be happy to send it to you! Thanks for reading!