Topic: MAN-MADE TITHE AND OFFERING AUTHOR – Faithwheel.com – 20 June 2021
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MAN-MADE TITHE AND OFFERING AUTHOR
The Roman Emperor Constantine’s Influence on the Christian Church is not the work of God, but of man. The Church money tithe and offerings we are paying today is not Biblical and not of God but invented by the Roman Emperor called Constantine. Many Christians are deceived by their Pastors’ who are quoting Malachi 3:8-10 to them to falsely justify why they should pay their man-made invented money tithe and offerings. They probable sensed that many Christians don’t read the Bible and some don’t understand what they read from the Bible and apart from these, many Pastors’ desperately need the money more than the truth of God’s Word. They used the word the work of God to have people pay this man-made invented tithe and offerings, they won’t tell people the truth, and voluntary offerings doesn’t exist in Church anymore, because of so much uncanny emphasis on giving of money using God’s works. Take a brief look at what was done by Constantine that influenced the Church, he wasn’t sent or told by God but just the work of his flesh to further his political reign and influence.
Over the centuries, Christianity has been exposed to the pull and push of societies, governments and individuals. One person who markedly influenced Christianity was the Roman Emperor Constantine. He became the Western Emperor in 312 A.D. and the only Roman Emperor in 324 A.D. Constantine was also the first emperor to accept Christianity. Some scholars question the sincerity of his conversion. In fact, many historians now debate whether “The first Christian Emperor” was really a Christian at all. “Some see him by reason of his deeds and conducts as unprincipled power seeker. What religion he had, many argue, was at best a blend of paganism and Christianity for purely political purposes.” However, only God knows the heart. Now, let’s look at four ways Roman Emperor Constantine influenced the practices of many Christians today.
First, Pastors’ were unsalaried for some three hundred years after Christ’s death on the cross. They were volunteers who largely supported themselves by their work as did Christ and His Apostles; however, they did accept free-will gifts. Emperor Constantine paid the clergy from imperial and municipal treasuries. Salaried clergy cannot be found in the New Testament. Christ was a carpenter (Luke 8:3), and the Apostle Paul was a tentmaker (Acts 1:31.) Peter, James, and John were fishermen, and Matthew was a tax-collector. Emperor Constantine, however, decided to pay clergy (bishops) handsome salaries, making them (Pastors’) “professional” vendors of the gospel of Salvation through Christ. Under him, the clergy had many advantages. In addition to being paid salaries, they were also exempt from serving in the military and from paying taxes. Constantine saw the Christian ministry as a job, not as a “calling” from God.
Second, Constantine launched a huge building program, constructing magnificent cathedrals in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Constantinople, and other places. In the early fourth century Emperor Constantine decided to build a basilica in ancient Rome. Construction of the basilica started between 319 A.D and 322 A.D. It was finally completed around 349 A.D. The church had a 279 foot-long nave with four aisles and a spacious atrium with a central fountain, enclosed by a colonnade. No doubt, many poor Roman slaves and beggars sat in the shadows of this grand edifice.
One historian writes: “The middle-classes were increasingly squeezed out of existence and many farmers and laborers were transformed into serfs.” Remember, Christ was born in a humble stable! “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (See 1 Samuel 16:7.)
Third, in order to pay for these extravagancies office buildings and pastoral salaries, Constantine abandoned the practice of free-will giving by Christians after the cross and levied a 10% tax, tithe, on the citizens. This tithing plan he, no doubt, lifted from the Mosaic laws, which were annulled by the death of Christ. Many Churches today require their members to pay a tithe tax rather than continuing the plan of free-will giving taught and demonstrated by Christ’s life, His disciples’ lives, and the theme of love demonstrated in the parable of the Good Samaratine.
Fourth, Constantine wrote the first Sunday law, which was contrary to the teaching of the fourth of the Ten Commandments (See Exodus 20). You will recall that at creation, God sanctified the seventh-day as the weekly Sabbath, which means “rest.” (See Genesis 2:2). Emperor Constantine’s Sunday Law of 321 A.D., reads, “On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed.” This Sunday law was an obvious injection of pagan sun god worship into Christianity.
Therefore, Constantine began the practice of,
(1) Paying the Christian clergy a salary from the man-made money of tithes and offerings he invented, of
(2) Building extravagant cathedrals by the man-made money of tithes and offerings he invented, often at the expense of the working poor and slaves, of
(3) Reinstating the practice of tithe, but not of the farm products (Biblical), but of money tithing tax (man-made) into the church, and of,
(4) Writing and enforcing the first Sunday law, requiring certain people to abstain from labour on their (Roman sun god day) “venerable day of their sun god.” Therefore, a pressing question that we Christians must ask ourselves is, “Has Constantine had more influence on various Christian practices than Christ and His apostles?” If the answer is, yes, do we continue following Constantine, or do we return to our Creator and the teachings of His prophets, His Apostles, and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ?
HOW TITHE CAME ABOUT (THE ORIGIN OF TITHE)
Dearly beloved, the word Tithe was not mentioned in the Bible from the days of Adam’s to the days of Noah’s, until it came to the days of Abraham. In Genesis chapter 14, the scripture told us of the war or battles between Kings of the nations of the earth, and during these wars, Sodom and Gomorrah were invaded and led into captivity, of which Abraham’s cousin called Lot who lived in Sodom was also taken captive. And when Abraham heard such, he equipped himself and his servants and went to war against those Kings or nations that took his cousin captive. It was when he was returning from the slaughter of Kings that he met Melchizedek king of Salem (peace) who is the High priest of God, who blessed Abraham on his return from wars and gave Abraham bread and wine. And in thanksgiving, Abraham gave him one-tenth from the spoil of the war not from his personal properties or riches but only from the war spoils.
This is the root of tithe in the Bible and it is how it came about. Abraham paid it as thanksgiving not by any law or constraint. It was out of his appreciation of what Melchizedek did to him (that is, he blessed him, gave him bread and wine), that made Abraham gave him one tenth, and let us see what the scripture said concerning Abraham and Melchizedek whom he paid the first tithe to that brought about tithing in the Bible. It is written in Hebrews 7:1-12,
“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”
My beloved, it is important that you know the origin of tithe in the Bible, I know many Pastors’ have misinterpreted and distorted what happened in Genesis 14 about tithe to manipulate people to pay it. Abraham has already being blessed and established by God (See Genesis 13:2) before paying tithe not as a law but as appreciation and thanksgiving to the High priest of God. You will see Pastors lies when you get to the place. The book of Hebrews 7:1-12, is a point to prove the greater priesthood between that of law and of grace. Abraham paid tithe to the High priest of God which is Jesus Christ (See John 8:56). Tithe was an optional thing then, before God instituted it as law to compensate the Levites who were chosen as His priests of the sanctuary and they were given tithe as their inheritance for not having land inheritance among their brethren (See Numbers 18:20-26). God or Melchizedek never forced Abraham to pay tithe as some Pastors’ are forcing their congregations. Abraham was already blessed by God, and Melchizedek blessing was an additional blessing it wasn’t because of tithe as many Pastors’ are lying looking for excuses to convince the ignorant Christians to be paying their man-made money tithe.
Abraham paid his tithe out of appreciation and thanksgiving to the High priest of God who in all form is Jesus Christ. Tithe was a free will before it was passed into the Levitical priesthood laws. Many Christians are doing the money tithing in tears, pains, and sorrows, even when it is not God’s law but the precept of men as prophet Isaiah said it is what the ministers of God are now using to teach people the fear and love of God (See Isaiah 29:13). Under law, the tithe was a required thing but was not necessary to please God and get justification and acceptance from Him. Under grace, the tithe is not required and not necessary, what is in the Church is just the works of men, even though some ministers of God really need financial help to spread the gospel but not by the precept of men, it should be done voluntarily. Don’t offered to God anything forced out from you, offer God anything you want to Give Him with a joyful heart like Abraham did. Money tithes and offerings began in the 3rd century under Roman Emperor Constantine; God is not the author of tithe and offering in the Church.
BIBLICAL TITHES AND OFFERINGS (THINGS TO PAY THEM)
Dearly beloved, the truth is what many Christians do not know, that is why they are being deceived by those trusted or believed to be ministers of God, believing them that they are telling them the truth. Many Christians believe that anybody called Pastors’ that they know the truth about God’s Word but they are ignorant of the truth that many Pastors’ are also ignorant of the truth. Many Christians are not really reading or studying the Bible and they are not questioning what they hear in preaching and searching the scripture like the Bereans (See Acts 17:11) to see if those things they have heard are so. Apostle Paul told the Church of Thessalonians, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”—1Thessalonians 5:21. Many Christians don’t care or question themselves if what God said should be used in tithing in the Bible is what we are using to tithe and pay offerings. They won’t ask, if they are not, why are we using non-Biblical approved things to pay tithe and offerings? God is never the author of confusion, but many Pastors’ lusts for money and their ignorance are making some Christians to see God as the author of confusion concerning certain things such as tithe and offerings paid in the Church by money which is contrary to the Biblical. Any offering outside the law was done voluntarily not by constraining anybody and such offerings are the ones they are using to do general sacrifice, to build God’s house or maintain it and such was the one the widow in Luke 21:1-4 paid. It wasn’t that of the Levitical priesthood which God commanded all Israelites to be paying. Below are some Biblical facts about tithing and offerings.
Biblical Types of Offerings
Biblical offerings were paid with agricultural products not with money, not because money wasn’t existing in those days as some pastors’ are lying or saying, but God knows the love of money will put many of His ministers outside His will as it has put many outside His will from the 3rd Century when money offering was born by Emperor Constantine till now
1. Burnt offerings (See Leviticus 23:12, 18, 37; Numbers 10:10; Exodus 10:25; 20:24; 24:5): See the scripture verses and see what God said they should use in paying it
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2. Peace offerings (See Deuteronomy 27:7; Numbers 29:39; 15:8; 10:10; Leviticus 22:21; 17:5; 10:14; Exodus 29:28): See the scripture verses and see what God said they should use in paying it.
3. Free-will offerings (See Leviticus 22:18; 23:38; Deuteronomy 12:6, 17; Numbers 29:39): See the scripture verses and see what God said they should use in paying it.
4. Meat offerings (See Exodus 29:41; 30:9; 40; Leviticus 2:4; Numbers 7:13, 19, 25, 31, 37; 29:28): See the scripture verses and see what God said they should use in paying it.
5. Drink offerings (See Leviticus 23:18, 37; Numbers 29:11, 18-19, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 37,39; Deuteronomy 32:39): See the scripture verses and see what God said they should use in paying it.
The Truth about Biblical Tithe
Biblical tithe is God’s appointed and approved tithe and that is not the tithe the Church is paying, but the man-made tithe of money. Tithes are paid with farm or agriculture products not with money, not because money wasn’t in existence in those days but God knows the love of money will put many of His ministers outside His will as it has put many outside His will from the 3rd century when money tithe was born by Emperor Constantine till now.
1. The Levites are the only people entitled by God to collect tithe (See Numbers 18:20-26; Nehemiah 10:38): Who gave Pastors’ the right to be collecting money from Christ flocks when they are not Levites?
2. Money is not among the things that are to be tithe (See Deuteronomy 12:17; 14:24-26): Emperor Constantine created tithe is what we are paying not God’s appointed and approved tithes, and some Pastors’ distorted Deuteronomy 14:24-26, lying that God said we should turn tithe into money, but the ignorant believed this lie.
3. Tithe is not stored in bank but store house (See Deuteronomy 14:23; 12:5-7, 17-18; 15:19-20): This is why Malachi 3:8-10 is invalid and it shouldn’t be quoted to force people to tithe their money. See, the store house is where the agriculture products people tithes are stored not bank. See Nehemiah 10:38, also see Nehemiah 13:10 to know and see what leads to Malachi 3:8-10. Ask your Pastor where is the store house in Church? Bank and store house are two different things, bank is for money saving and store house is for farm products and other physical goods.
4. Tithe paying was a yearly thing not every Sabbath (See Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:22; 12:6, 17; Nehemiah 10:37): The difference between God’s made and man-made is very clear. Every Sunday or Saturday money tithe are paid in Saturdays and Sundays Churches, but Biblical tithe is once in a year, these truth you are reading here reveal the darkness in money tithe and prove God is not the author. People paying it or not is not what I am after neither am I writing to encourage you to keep paying it or stop it, that is your choice not mine, but that they should know it is not God’s invented and shouldn’t look to it to find acceptance to God and justification from God, and that your confidence toward God shouldn’t stand in this man-made rituals or precept of men. You can’t please God when you don’t know the truth.
5. Only Pastors’ are consuming money tithe (See Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:24; Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12): It was what Emperor Constantine setup that is still found in the Church today. The Biblical tithes were eaten or shared with the widow, poor, and needy, it was eaten and shared among people who have need or are less privileged. People eat their tithe in the temple or house of God. But money man-made tithe is far from this Biblical truth.
6. Tithe is not the only gate of blessings (See Deuteronomy 28:1-13): Many Pastors’ are saying many foolish things because of money they are longing for, and just to drive Christ flocks to give out their money. To say things God never said to convince people to do their lusts for them is sin. Some Pastors’ are saying if their congregation doesn’t pay tithe they won’t enter heaven, and Bishop David Oyedepo said in 2017, when Daddy Freez brought the issue of this man-made tithing the church is paying, that, “Any of his church members who refused to pay this money tithe will remain a permanent beggar.” Did God say such a thing in the Bible concerning His appointed tithe? What spirit is responsible for what such a highly respected man of God said? That is the darkness of Satan and what the love of money can cause.
Biblical Types of Tithe see all the Biblical things they used in paying tithe or they give tithe of and look and see whether you will see tithe of money.
“And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.”—Leviticus 27:30
“Tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.”—Leviticus 27:32
“Tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand.”—Deuteronomy 12:17
“Tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks.”—Deuteronomy 14:23
“Tithe first-fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field.”—2Chronicles31:5.
“Tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.”—2Chronicles 31:6
“Tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries (Store house).”—Nehemiah 13:12
“Tithe of mint and anise and cumin.”—Matthew 23:23
These are truth many Christians doesn’t know neither will their Pastors’ ever tell them the truth that will make them free from the precept of men. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law (See Galatians 3:13), but many Pastors’ are still talking about curses to threaten Christians if they don’t pay their man-made money offerings and tithes. I pray that God have mercy upon them and deliver them in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Many pastors’ quoting Malachi 3:8-10, are trampling upon the blood of Jesus Christ, and they are ignorant of this truth, because if Malachi 3:8-9 has any effect on Christians, then Galatians 3:13 and Colossians 2:14 are useless to Christians. And it also speaks that Christ blood has done nothing for us.
Writer: EDOBOR AUSTIN EDOBA