You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Galatians 3:1-5
John’s question to Pastor Moses is a simple one: Does God bless us and provide for us because we observe the law of tithing, or because we have believed what we heard about Christ and him crucified?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
RE: Tithing: I believe that tithing is a basic Bible principle of sowing and reaping (Luke 6:38). Tithing does not only refers to material things that you are giving but it can also be your time invested in the Kingdom of God, doing ministirial work not grudgingly but cheerfully. It is also God's grace bec. we are blessed to be a blessing to others. Giving/ tithing should be a natural thing for a believer. God did not withhold His precious possession from us – Jesus, it is only but fitting for us to respond by giving, though we cannot out give God. Also the act of giving is an outflow of our relationship with Jesus, our Saving Grace.
Hi Evelyn, I think that 'giving' is a grace that we can enjoy partaking in, along with all the other spiritual gifts God freely gives us, but 'giving' does not mean 'tithing'. Tithing is an old covenant law, and as Christians, we are not obligated to any of the old ceramonial laws (or any other laws) that tithing was a part of.
Let us give freely and wildly, but let it be giving that comes through the grace on our lives, and not because we are yoking ourselves to an old covenant law that will only stir up fear and condemnation among believers.
Just my thoughts…
@Jason… nothing is wrong with giving money… But not everybody that is asking you for it should be given it… Especially not those teachers that preach circumcision: which for Paul and Peter (Acts 15… He is not only talking about circumcision here, since he says that they themselves 'could not bear it') included every Old Testament law – including tithing. Only
Jesus, only Jesus, now!
It's a message of freedom. The law has been accomplished. It is finished > in the Greek > It is accomplished. Hallelujah!
@Yannick: So basically, because God doesn't tell us we "have to" give our money to fuel His work here on earth, that means that doing so is wrong? Someone's gotta pay for the gasoline that the vehicles carrying the Bibles run on, you know.
nothing wrong with a tithing message.. we preach one about once every 4 years to share the blessing of being a tither and its benefits.. The problem comes when people start saying you will be cursed if you dont tithe, or when the pastor uses the guilt card…
That doesnt mean we neglect teaching on the significance of tithing as well… =)
@mel yeah, but his was written before the cross. + jesus never asked the tithe of his disciples (he addresses pharisees here). there is no tithing in the new covenant… + historians have found out that there was no tithing in the first 400 years of christianity (reference: Frank Viola – Pagan Christianity + you find no tithing reference in any of the letters in the Bible (early church history) + acts 15 clearly shows us that tithing is especially not necessary for gentiles. I personally believe it is not necessary for Jews either because all have been made one according to Paul + tithing doesn't make sense in the light of what the message is about: we have been made perfect in christ apart from works… I could go on and on, but it's always best to ask God for yourself… Cause he lives, breathes and sent the Holy Spirit, thank you Jesus! He is never slow to answer.
Lord!! What must we do now? There are too many foolish Galatians in town…. Oops… have I just become one?
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things." Matthew 23:23 (after the Law was written)
<> Gen 14:18-20 (centuries before the Law was given)
Brother Mick, I really love that one. Awesome message. You dont need a whole message to make a point man. Thats so true. Oh foolish Galatians, trying to be blessed by what they do, if we have free access to be blessed by what the almighty God did ones and for all in the finished work of Jesus. Good preaching bro.
Ha!
Amen, preach it!
This is precisely my experience as well.
It never ceases to amaze me that even the most legalistic, "charismatic" churches will preach on "oh foolish Galatians" – without realising that Paul was addressing them as well! Every church has its own take on what constitutes a "foolish Galatian" today, as well as what constitutes the "leven of the Pharisee". As you have shown – even religious churches can "talk the talk", using even "grace-speak", but then contradict it with something completely the oppositey. No wonder the church is so confused!