Pragmatism within the House of Faith. By F.Martin
An approach to philosophy which holds that the truth or meaning of a statement is to be measured by its practical (i.e., pragmatic) consequences.
A man stands within the confines of his office looking out at the gathered multitude. He is perplexed and not understanding why more have not come this Sunday. The more people the more successful and blessed as a team they would become. He ponders for a moment and comes to the conclusion that he must emphasize the importance of support from those who attend. It is why he feels strongly that if more attend, more can be gained. After all it is for a good cause. These that attend would like to see a wonderful building here in the midst of them. They would like to be proud of the place they come to cheer and laugh and be with like minded people who share the same loves and spirit. He wonders what he can say to incite the people to action on this premise of giving to the common cause. He fears within that without their support, that which was built previous would not stand. He fears that without the correct words of encouragement there will be abandonment in great proportions. That exodus would lead to major changes and quite possibly an end to the entire operation. The man stands and exits his office and out to the conference room which parallels the 50 yard line. There civic leaders have come to discuss a bond issue that would likely keep the team in town.
For a moment did you imagine this story to be about a church and a Pastor? The sad thing is it could very well be. Churches across the nation are bombarded with requests from leaders to give in the hopes of obtaining bigger buildings, paying off older buildings, building wings to add on, as well as a variety of other additions that a church building may need. In this country this has taken on a competition aspect between denominations and as well as leaders of those denominations. Who has the most Bentley’s, who has the private jet or the mansions? I hold these few men in no ill light. It is my hope to awaken the brethren to the truth that sits so freely before them. It is clear that if the body of Christ would read His word, the lifeblood of these charlatans would be extinguished and the true faith would rise like cream to the top. I am speaking primarily about the tithe that permeates our church and our spiritual culture. We are not talking about giving. Giving is definitely taught to the Church. Tithing, on the other hand, is a mandatory 10% of your gross income given to your church. We are also not asking if tithing is a good idea. There are many good ideas in the church today that are not necessarily scriptural. The question is not if it is good; we want to know if it is God! Baptism is scriptural. Prayer is scriptural. Loving God and your neighbor is scriptural. But what about tithing? Did Jesus teach it to His Church? Did the Apostles teach it to His Church? If they did, then that would make it a principle that we all should obey. But if they did not teach this Old Testament law to the Church, then not only would it be improper to hoist this mandate on the necks of the Believers (Acts 15:10), it could actually be fraudulent, exploitive and even blasphemous. I believe that if we were to examine with an open heart we would find tithing to actually be a shackle to the believer. On the one hand a believer may begin to feel puffed up or superior because of the amount of their giving as it pertains to their brethren. They may also obtain this feeling from the privileges bestowed upon them by their legalistic giving through man made tradition. Also if a believer fails to meet the 10% criteria, there is a feeling of guilt and fear attached that comes from today’s pulpits. You may have at one time or another heard this scripture;
Malachi 3
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Wow! That sounds like serious business. But was Malachi written to the Church or to the Jews under the Law? Malachi 1:1 says it was, "the burden of the word of the Lord to Israel". Notice it does not say, "The burden of the word of the Lord to the Church". We are not under the Law, but under the New Covenant of Grace. The Law no longer has a hold on us.
Hebrews 8
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Now we start to establish a foundation where we begin to upset those who hold on to the law and look to intermingle it with grace. They become upset because of the realization that without this yoke, there may be a change that is uncertain on the horizon. It is the same fear possessed by those who in history have been in authority. That the freedom of the masses threatens their place in the synagogue or the level of respect from those who look to them for leadership. The word instructs us clearly that there is no division.
Matthew 23
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
So let us clearly define what it is we speak of when it pertains to tithing. Examine it fully from the historical, spiritual and present perspective. Firstly historical;
The tithe was first brought to light in the book of Genesis. Abram had gone to rescue Lot and armed his servants and pursued those that had taken Lot captive. He was victorious and retrieved all the goods that were taken from Sodom where Lot resided. Upon his victorious return, Abram was met by the king of Sodom as well as Melchizedek who is described as King of Salem and the priest of the Most High God. Many people today use this scripture to proclaim tithing as part of the faith established in Abram. We must take note that Abram did not tithe what he had, but what was retrieved from the victorious battle.
Genesis 14
And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
So the first principle was established of Godly integrity. Abram refused to be seen as rich from the spoils of war. Furthermore he exclaimed clearly that he only wanted to be made wealthy from the hand of God and not from the hands of men. Which brings to light the scripture that speaks well of integrity;
Romans 14
Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
This scripture evokes a checks and balance system God has always imparted unto us. We must be balanced in both our lives and the following of His commandments. One preacher may believe that having a private plane to fly around the world as an evangelist is justification for the 40 million dollar plane. Yet by reading the word of God, it seems that by planting the foundation of a church elsewhere and then raising brethren up to care for that church is Godly gain and the way in which Paul instructed us by Christ Jesus.
We move on to another historical perspective of tithing in the word of God. This occurs later in the history of the children of Abraham. Abraham has only the one instance in which he tithed, and be reminded he tithed of items he did not possess. Nothing of his own was given.
Genesis 28
So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
From the text it appears as if Jacob was bargaining with God. Have we ever been taught to let God know if He does the thing we want, we will then give unto Him? Nevertheless God moved on Jacob’s behalf.
This is the beginning historically of the tithing system Moses would later fully establish in the law. Why was Moses commanded to establish this system? What was God’s reason for bringing this to the people of Israel? This is the portion in which we examine the spiritual or Godly aspect of tithing.
Tithing is best understood when bringing forth the full complement of tithes and how they were used, consumed and expressed. Today we operate under the notion brought forth from the pulpit that 10% of what we acquire through our labor in terms of money is to be presented to the church which is therefore a faithful expression towards God. Furthermore we are expressing a support for the very body Christ has blessed. This is a wonderful notion. Let us fully understand the law of tithing and how it was presented to the people during the Mosaic covenant.
The people of Israel were made up of twelve land-holding tribes and within their borders existed a thirteenth tribe (Levi) that was dedicated to God, that is, they ministered to the other twelve tribes concerning the things of God and they didn’t have a land allotment for themselves. The priests were taken from within a subset of that thirteenth tribe, (descendants of the sons of Aaron).
So those that were the ministers of God did not have the means of making a living as the other twelve tribes did, so they were dependent upon the giving of a tithe (tenth) by the other tribes. In this way the other tribes showed their love for God by giving to God through Levi, (the tribe that was dedicated to God).
All that sort of fits nicely, doesn’t it? What I mean is that the twelve each gave a tenth to the one and so everyone had the right amount. The plan was setup by God so that Levi would have a little more than the others, but that was fitting for the tribe that ministered for God.
Tithing as taught today is modified and NOT the same as Biblical tithing.
God gave the tithes to the Levites as an inheritance in return for their service and to compensate them for having no personal inheritance of land. The Levites gave tithes to the Priests from the tithes they received. Christianity has no agrarian (agriculture) system, no Levites and every Christian is now a priest, the temple and co-workers with Christ. [2 Peter 2:5 & 9, Rev. 1:6, 5:10, 20:6] Every Jew was required by the Levitical law to pay three tithes of his property:
(1) one tithe for the Levites;
(2) one for the use of the temple and the great feasts; and
(3) one for the poor of the land. [Numbers 18, Deuteronomy 14]
Given the above, it is clear that any church mandating tithes should be spending AT LEAST ONE THIRD of their income on the poor since that is what was required under mandated law tithing. How many churches come close to this? It’s all of the law or none of it.
James 2
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Tithing CAN’T be practiced as it was in biblical times because the law, the agrarian system, the agricultural system, sacrifices, debt cancellation, Year of Jubilee and other interrelated factors are all abolished. Plus, today’s churches have no "law" in place requiring them to fulfill the communal responsibilities and resource distribution of the agrarian law based tithing system. Present day ministers fail to express that the second tithe was to be brought to the temple and consumed before the Lord. It was a rejoicing in the face of God for the harvest God had blessed. So in fact we should take that portion, bring it to the church and eat it right there! Instead we have not only rebuilt that which was torn down by the sacrifice of Christ, we have further modified it to meet traditional needs.
Galatians 3
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Galatians 4
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
So unless there has been error provided here, we have established that God’s word was to provide for a faction of His people that by duty could not provide for themselves. It should also be stated here that at no time did God mandate for the poor to tithe. A portion of the three tithes mandated stated to cover those within your gates of poor estate. Also at no time was money used to tithe. Even though they bartered and sold their goods tithing was never done by the worth of those goods but by the tenth of the goods themselves. By doing so God ensured that the community of God had no lack. His vision was to leave no one barren or destitute. What has transpired today is that the few receive abundance while the majority lack. We have preacher’s talking openly about how a Bentley or two was provided to them by the church body. Again the blame is not upon the charlatan, but those willing to sit in the pews and not search the scriptures and speak the truth in love to those in error.
Let us now come to the conclusion of the matter which faces us in the present perspective. If one was to teach tithing to anyone as a mandate for giving today they would have to reconcile three very exact questions;
A) Even though the planting of several churches was accomplished by Paul and his fellow servants in the Lord, to include the first church gathering, not once was there expressed a mandate to tithe. How could Paul address all matters pertaining to the house of faith save one? Quite frankly Paul was very clear about building or rebuilding the matters of the law torn down by the sacrifice of Christ. The New Testament is NOT at all clear on amounts and percentages. Paul does NOT say to give according to a percentage and he was certainly familiar with tithing. Several times Paul compares voluntary giving to fruit and burnt offerings. Paul’s use of Old Testament tithing terminology [i.e. fruit and burnt offerings] without the mention of tithing could NOT have been an oversight given Paul’s Jewish background. The Bible teaches to give "as God has prospered us," and "according to our ability and means." [2 Corinthians 8: 11, 2 Corinthians 9: 5-13, Acts 11:29] The word for "means" is the Greek signifying possession and ownership. That means what you are giving is fully yours, not credit or lien based. So the first question to reconcile would be; how is it that tithing is not mentioned by anyone involved in the forming and evangelism of the early church? Furthermore between Jesus and Paul the word was mentioned only once even though both had been taught to obey and follow strictly the laws of the Mosaic covenant from youth, how could that be?
B) Why would present day churches only bring forth a portion of the tithing law and discard the others? Have you noticed that it is rare to hear a sermon on the subject fully explained?
C) If the word tells us that we are under grace and no longer under the law, if we are told we are under a new covenant, can we faithfully intermingle parts of the law with justification by Faith through Christ? Will this be an attempt to rebuild the partition Christ tore down in sacrifice?
Ephesians 2
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
We can discuss truthfully the history, spiritual meaning and present day perspective of this practice but it truly comes down to faith. Giving is important and essential to the body of Christ. Legalism is boundless, and that lesson was taught to us by the pharisaic order. Once we allow one legal tradition it will lead to rules that state that if you do not tithe you cannot teach, lead or attend. We will then mandate other items such as dress and our human nature will once again corrupt the truth of God.
Mark 7:7-9
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
It will come down to that fateful day when our savior will be within our midst and we will not recognize Him. We will not because we have rebuilt the wall of partition with tradition and legalism and we cannot see Him through it. Prayerfully that will never come to pass again. Pragmatism is simply looking at the results and drawing conclusions. Yet when you possess true faith you cannot move in this fashion. You cannot look upon your circumstances and determine what God has done for you based on that notion. Otherwise Daniel would look into the lion’s den and imagine his God disliking him. Paul would look upon his imprisonment, capsizing and lashes and determine he was being punished. Job would think God despised him. Hugh Hefner with his misogynist views and exploitation of women would take his wealth to mean that God approves of his labor. Muslim princes with their 25 Rolls Royce’s and mansions have never claimed Christ but pragmatism would define their wealth as favor from a God they knew not. Our fruit is the only evidence of our true faith. Looking unto Jesus as the Author and finisher of that faith is what makes it true. He will recognize us as well as we will recognize each other for the love we have one to another and not for any works.
Stay encouraged and in His will. fm
