Tithing
When God chose Moses to instruct the Israelites in his holy ways, he handed him a set of laws and commandments that could lead mankind to the knowledge of God. The main purpose was to bring some order, as the Israelites had been in bondage and captivity for more than four hundred years in Egypt, and they did not know what they worshipped.
There are many similarities between the journey of the Israelites to the promised land and the journey of repentance back to God from the captivity of sin and the spirit of this world (Acts 26:16-18).
One of God's great commandments was obedience, and for this reason people were asked to share part of their worldly goods as a show of an offering to God (Numbers 18:6). As explained earlier in the page 'Speaking In Tongues', the spirit of this world (Satan) and Antichrist has copied just about everything imaginable from the word of God and tithing is no exception.
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word 'maasrah' was used, while in the New Testament they used the greek word 'dekatoo'. Both of them meant to give or take a tenth.
For the last fifty years, many false prophets have sprung up and have used tithing for their own personal gain to create multi-million dollar empires. Electronic media too, has been very profitable for them. You can watch them every day on your 'so-called' religious TV channels.
Please note there are literally millions of false prophets that are deceiving the people of this world through their ministries. They are referred to in the Bible as harlots (1 Cor. 6:15), with the Catholic Institution as the Mother of Harlots (Rev. 17:5). Please read the chapter 'The Mystery Babylon' in the book A World Deceived for more information.
They come to you in sheep's clothing and use great swelling words to gain your sympathy. Most of them use the pitiful plight of the people in Africa (famine and hunger) as a means to get you to donate money to swell their own coffers. Little do they know that famine and world hunger is the workings of Satan, the spirit of this world and he (the natural spirit of man) is the cause of all of the world's problems and the false prophets are the servants thereof (John 8:34).
Some of them sell handkerchiefs and so-called holy water and convince people that by simply touching these, they would be healed from all their diseases. It is sad but true, and believe it or not, they make millions on the sale of such items. Even though nobody ever gets healed, people still do not want to believe in Christ's message of repentance as they would rather follow after a false Christ, prefering darkness over light (John 3:19).
Recently we came across a web site of former members of the Worldwide Church of God, a ministry formed many years ago by Herbert and Garnet Ted Armstrong. We encourage anyone reading this page to visit www.hwarmstrong.com and contact those that have listed their testimonials (click on Horror Stories) and whose lives have been ruined and destroyed.
As part of our research into the history of the Mormon Church recently we learned of three websites dedicated to help former members in their recovery process from the conditioning, brain-washing and the emotional and mental distress of Mormonism. For those that wish to speak to former members, the websites are www.exmormon.org – www.exmormomonfoundation.org – www.post-mormom.org
It does not take a lot of intelligence to understand that the devil came to steal and destroy, after spending a few minutes on the web site that former members of the church have created to warn others (John 10:10). The sad part is that there are still thousands of people that are being mislead through their man-made doctrines and commandments (Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7; Col. 2:22).
On the bottom of every web page or booklet handed out by the WCG it reads "The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by the tithes, offerings and donations freely given." The Armstrong's built themselves a lavish multi-million dollar empire over a fifty year period, but thanks be to God as it is coming down faster than it took them to build.
We are living in a time of history when God is bringing his judgment upon the nations, as he has many times before throughout the history of mankind. God will bring all of the false prophets and their ministries to naught as the people do not want to listen to those that he has sent with a message of repentance. For this reason, God will show them that they follow after false prophets and apostles, who transformed themselves into the apostles of Christ (2 Cor. 11:13,14).
It is similar to the millions of sex scandals that have followed the Roman Catholic Church and many other churches. While billions of dollars have been spent to settle law suits (see the 'Current Events' page of this web site), the members of these churches still cannot grasp what spirit they are of as a result of their spiritual blindness and the powers that keep them in bondage.
This morning we read in a local paper, how hundreds of teenage boys had been expelled or felt compelled to leave a polygamous settlement in the USA. Believe it or not, to be a member of any religious organization is of the same spirit and if you were to repent (changing of spirits), God would reveal to you what spirit by nature you are of (Luke 9:55). This reading has been removed from some translations as mankind did not understand its meaning.
Now, let us go back to the title of this page and the word Tithing and what Christ had to say about this subject, as he spoke to the scribes and the Pharisees (religious folks) in Matthew 23:13. "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer (allow) ye them that are entering to go in."
And hear now what He had to say about their doctrine of tithing in verse 23: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe and mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
You can find similar words in Luke 11:42. We also encourage you to read all of chapter 23 of Matthew. If Christ was to address the religious leaders of this world today, his words would be the same as they were spoken two thousand years ago. Jesus Christ was the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
The scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees truly thought they knew God and that they served Him, his laws and his commandments. But they did not know that they were still separated from God and under the power of Satan and the spirit of this world. So, when he came in the Name of Jesus Christ and dwelt amongst them, they crucified Him.
It is no different today as people still do not want to accept God's message of repentance and turn from darkness to light and the power of Satan unto God (Acts 26:16-18).
Today, God is only interested in one offering and that is to offer and present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (repent), that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:1,2). Trust us when we declare that the true and living God is not interested in 10% (tithing) of your money.
Acts 7:48 — Howbeit the most High dwelleth NOT in temples made with hands; as says the prophet.
Acts 17:24 — God says: God made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is the Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth NOT in temples made with hands.
John 4:24 — God is a Spirit: and those that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. God wants to dwell within you and be an integral part of your life. This is why we come to inform you that you should repent (Mark 6;12): turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God (Acts 26:16-18).
For a better understanding of what it means to repent, we encourage to read the book 'A World Deceived' with an open heart, in the hope that you will accept Christ's message of repentance (Mark 1:4).