FLOYD, RONNIE: TITHING REBUTTAL

Errors in Ronnie Floyd’s Article on Tithing, 9-15-15

By Russell Earl Kelly, PHD

1. He gives zero Bible texts. This is wrong.
2. He defines tithes wrong. While money was common, HOLY tithes (as the word is used by Moses, Nehemiah, Malachi and Jesus) were always only food from inside God’s holy land. It could not come from outside Israel, from Gentiles, or from non-food items (Lev 27:30-34; Num 18:20-28; Mal 3:10; Mt 23:23)
3. He says tithing is not taboo. Yet openly discussing tithing is a taboo subject inside SBC schools and churches. Proof: Floyd and other pastor will not enter comprehensive extended dialogs. It is only a bully-pulpit subject.
4. He says that tithing is a “very important part of the Christian life.” Yet,The SBC Faith and Messasgedoes not contain the word and there are no tithing commands to the church after Calvary.
5. He says that generosity is the amount beyond the first tenth. The post-Calvary grace and faith giving principles for the church include sacrificial and generous giving (2 Cor 8, 9).
6. He says that greed is practiced by non-tithers. Yet greed is evident when so-called tithe recipients also own property and amass wealth contrary to O.T. tithing principles (Num 18:20-28).
7. He equates firstfruits with tithes. However, firstfruits are never the same thing as tithes in the Bible. Firstfruits were small token offerings while tithes were last-tenths counted only the full count of food and animals (Deut 26:1-4; Lev 27:30-34).
8. He says that tithing is for everybody, but HOLY biblical tithes could only be given by food producers inside Israel. Jesus, Peter and Paul did not qualify as tithe-payers.

For 4 views see: Perspective on Tithing, 4 Views, Broadman and Holman

Comments on FLORIDA BAPTIST WITNESS Article

Comments on FLORIDA BAPTIST WITNESS Article
http://www.gofbw.com/news.asp?ID=11572
Undertaking stewardship education for the SBC

NASHVILLE (SBT)—There’s no denying that Southern Baptists individually, corporately, and as a denomination are lagging in exercising stewardship of God’s resources. While the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force recommends shifting primary responsibility for Cooperative Program promotion and stewardship education to state conventions, chairman Ronnie Floyd is counting on local pastors to teach individual Christians to honor God through tithing.
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Comment: Right. The responsibility should have never been otherwise according to the nature and purpose of the SBC.
Wrong. True biblical holy tithes were always only food from inside God’s holy land of Israel which He had miraculously increased. Although money was common even in Genesis and essential for sanctuary worship, money was never a tithe-able item. Jesus did not qualify as a tithe-payer and neither did all who lived outside Israel.
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“Remember, the only people who ever get offended with the declaration of biblical stewardship are the ones who give little to nothing at all to your church,” Floyd stated said in the news conference that followed the release of the task force interim report Feb. 22.
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Comment: This is an outright lie! The early church flourished without a tithing doctrine by using freewill grace giving principles. From Martin Luther to our times there are many top theologians and Bible schools which flourish without teaching tithing.
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“Christians need to repent of the sin of not honoring God with at least the first -tenth of their income,” Floyd said.
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Comments: Floyd is guilty of twisting scripture. In God’s Word the firstfruits and tithes are never the same thing. Firstfruits were very small token offerings per Deu 26:1-4 and Neh 10:35-37. Tithes were tenth-fruits counted after the full harvest or from every 10th animal (whether good or bad) per Num 18:21-28 and Neh 10:37-38. The first income of a Christian should be used to buy essential medicine, food and shelter per First Timothy 5:8.
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“Can you imagine the spiritual revival that would consume our churches if God’s people would obey God in giving? Can you imagine the opportunities of advancing the Gospel regionally, nationally, and globally if God’s people would obey God in giving?”
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Comment: Can you imagine how the church would be blessed if it obeyed God’s NT post Calvary principles of giving instead of Law principles?
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Seeking to discover “how Southern Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission,” the task force analyzed the means of funding that effort and reaffirmed the Cooperative Program as the preferred means of giving.
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Comment: The Great Commission brings the gospel to the Gentiles in the name of Most High God for all nations. The tithe was never used to convert OT Gentiles.
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Floyd added … encouraged pastors and churches to be unashamed in the teaching and preaching of biblical stewardship. . “Stand on the authority of the Word of God and call the people of God back to Him through the giving of the first tenth and additional offerings to your local church.”
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Comment: Again, OT tithes were never used for mission work to convert Gentiles. God commanded OT Israel NOT to intermingle with the Gentiles. In other words, POST CALVARY TITHING DOES NOT STAND ON BIBLICAL AUTHORITY. Nothing, absolutely nothing about OT tithing is followed by any church today. Numbers 18:21-28 is ignored. Pastors own and inherit property and they do not KILL those attempting to enter the sanctuary and worship God directly.
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“From the time I did my doctoral dissertation in the area of biblical stewardship until now, I have been astounded by the selfishness of God’s people,” Floyd said, recommending that every pastor preach a series of messages on biblical stewardship annually and reaffirm such principles in small group studies.
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Comment: I invite Floyd to enter into an extended in-depth dialog with me on the subject of tithing. He says he has already done the research for his doctorate.