11/07/2022
TITHES: CREFLO DOLLAR CANNOT BE CORRECT.
- Bishop Enobong Etteh
It’s no more news that another Senior Clergy has been sucked in. The highly respected Rev. Creflo Dollar has recanted on all his teachings and writings on tithing. He is entitled to his beliefs but on this matter, Creflo is clearly in error. I write this for the sake of the innocent minds, young minds and the versatile minds in the Church of Christ who should not be misled.
Creflo, apparently, is on an O.S.A.S. (Once Saved Always Saved) Mission. They push populist doctrines that are clearly “another gospel”. Sad that even the very elect has been deceived and is in error yet he believes the opposite.
Be careful of preachers who preach the OSAS doctrine. Their doctrine is to wipe out anything in the New Testament that will stir up guilt for sin and fear for the consequences of sin. Their doctrine of grace is what is tagged: EXTREME GRACE. It connotes once saved always saved. We must be careful.
Any attack on tithing or other sources of revenue of the church is an attack on the economy of the Church. Giving is the primary source of revenue for the Church. Tithe is one of the heads of giving. Let’s look at the exegesis of tithing.
THE EXEGESIS OF TITHING
Tithing is not of a mosaic law origin. Once that point is made their new doctrine is bursted. Both tithing and faith preceded the Law of Moses. Strictly speaking, the OT is the Old Covenant, Old Testament, Old Will. The New Testament is the new Covenant or new Will. The OT is the embodiment of the Law of Moses. It is the opposite of the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. The Old Testament driven by works but the New Testament is driven by faith. The Old Testament was governed by law (the law of Moses) but the New Testament is governed by grace. This is dispensational. Note this: the dispensation of the law did not start until Moses. Furthermore, the priesthood which governed the OT dispensation is called the Aaronic priesthood. The Aaronic or Levitical priesthood and the dispensation of the Mosaic law gave way for the Priesthood of Jesus after the Order of Melchizedek. What Jesus came to institute included salvation, redemption, challenge of the law and change of priesthood. (Supporting scriptures: Romans 4-8, Hebrews 6-10 and Galatians 3).
The preacher correctly captured the origin of tithing in Abraham and the priesthood the original tithing served. The preacher further got it right regarding the purpose of tithing but failed to relate the truth to the following:
1). The faith of Abraham is what we are practicing.
2). Jesus came to baptize the Gentiles into the Abrahamic covenant not the mosaic covenant.
3) Jesus paid the price by becoming the curse under the Law that the blessing of Abraham or the covenant of Abraham which preceded the Covenant of Moses might come to the Gentiles.
4). Jesus came in the priesthood in the Order of the Melchizedek priesthood in order to fulfill and replace the Levitical Priesthood.
5). Abraham, the father of faith, paid tithe to Melchizedek. That Melchizedek was Jesus Christ just as that Rock was Jesus Christ. Since His (Jesus’) dispensation was not due(it was the Father’s dispensation at that time) both Jesus and the Holy Spirit would come in for specific purposes and pull back.
6). The spirituality of tithing post Mosaic Law is underscored by the fact that under Moses, the priests and levites (men that die) received tithe but under the Priesthood of Jesus, that Melchizedek who has no beginning and no ending, that Melchizedek who liveth forever, receiveth the incense of our tithe.
In conclusion, we pay tithe today to Jesus, our High Priest, our living Melchizedek, unlike those who paid tithe to human Priesthood, which priesthood has been phased out.
Hebrews 7:1-24 KJV
_”[1] For this Melchisedec, 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 Melchisedec 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 Melchisedec, 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. [13] For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. [14] For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. [15] And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, [16] Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. [17] For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. [18] For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. [19] For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did ; by the which we draw nigh unto God. [20] And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest : [21] (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) [22] By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. [23] And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: [24] But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”
Why then do we pay tithes:
1). In acknowledgment of God as our Source and our Provider.
2). We pay from the blessings drawn from the blessing of Abraham.
3). We pay tithe to God, in acknowledgement that He is the Possessor of Heaven and Earth and that all blessings are of Him, from Him and by Him.
4). We pay tithe as a covenant matter.
5). We pay tithe as an expression of our faith in the Author and Finisher of our faith unto whom we look up to for prosperity.
6). We pay tithe as a grace matter. As God made provision for the economy of the Levitical priesthood, so also, we pay tithe to Melchizedek who brought us grace through Christ Jesus as one of the sources of revenue in the economy of the Government of the church today. Other sources of income in the economy of the Church Government include offerings of all kinds, seed faith, covenant seeds, project seeds.
7). We pay tithe because of the blessings that tithe attracts as stipulated by God Himself through the mouth of His Prophet, Malachi. The purpose and blessings of tithe stipulated in Malachi are of general application.
Finally, under grace, everything is by choice. Any giving must be by freewill. Any giving must be done cheerfully to attract divine acceptance. But it is God who works in us both to will and do of his good pleasure if we allow Him.
