JEREMIAH, DAVID: TITHING REBUTTAL

DAVID JEREMIAH REBUTTAL

NOTE: This article is not intended to be a rebuttal of any other doctrine taught by David Jeremiah and I wish him God’s blessings to the extent he preaches the gospel according to God’s Word in other areas of doctrine. I simply request dialog on tithing.

David Jeremiah should not teach tithing. He should know that it is a false doctrine because he earned his M. A. at Dallas Theological Seminary. The book, Major Bible Themes, by Dallas founder Lewis Sperry Chafer and John Walvoord, definitely does not teach tithing and it is quoted in great detail in my own book. Succeeding presidents of Dallas Theological Seminary like Charles Swindol also have not taught tithing either.

David Jeremiah of Turning Point program is pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego [Baptist] and is chancellor at San Diego Christian College. He is famous and rightly so.

However, when it comes to tithing, like other tithe-advocates, Dr. Jeremiah suddenly forgets everything he has ever learned about bible hermeneutics.  He ignores the context and simply declares his convictions without biblical exegesis.

Jeremiah wrote, “Why should we tithe? We should tithe because if we don’t, we are disobeying God. God has given us everything we have, but He wants us to be obedient and give 1/10 of it back to Him. He doesn’t need our money, but He does require our obedience (see Malachi 3:8-10).”

(1) Malachi was addressed to dishonest priests (1:6; 2:1; 3:1-3) in the context of the Old Covenant law (3:7; 4:4).

(2) “We” Gentiles and Christians cannot possibly disobey for by not tithing because “we” were never under the Old Covenant Law and “we” never affirmed the blessings and the curses of  that law.

(3) For an extended discussion of Malachi see my essay or my book which is a free download. www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com

http://www.turningpointonline.org/hot_topics/2005_hot/jan05/ht5_JAN05.html

Tithing and Christian Stewardship-Time, Talents  and Treasure

What is a tithe? Is that what a Christian should give?

“The Old Testament tithe is based on a percentage—giving ten percent of what you receive back to the Lord by law. In the New Testament, we go from the concept of percentage to the concept of proportion. We start with a tithe and then evaluate God’s blessing in our lives, and give in proportion to His blessing. His grace motivates us to go beyond the letter of the law and out of our hearts say, “Lord, here I am. You have been so good to me. I want to give back to You.” When we give part of ourselves to God out of love, He will honor us. And our giving will be an act of worship, a response to His goodness.”

(1) “The Old Testament tithe is based on a percentage—giving ten percent of what you receive back to the Lord by law.” This is only partially true. The Old Covenant tithe was only food, only from the holy land of Israel, only from Israelites and only given to Levites and priests who could not own or inherit land. Churches ignore this truth. The tithe was also only from the increase which God miraculously provided through crops and herds. It was not from the product of man’s craft and ingenuity. Therefore craftsmen and traders did not qualify as tithe-payers.

(2) “In the New Testament, we go from the concept of percentage to the concept of proportion.” This is an obvious play on words which means absolutely the same thing in practice. The desired result from the preacher is the same.

(3) “We start with a tithe and then evaluate God’s blessing in our lives, and give in proportion to His blessing.” This is the basic LIE that is being spread especially by Baptists and charismatics. It ignores the real definition of tithe as food. It ignores the fact that the tithe was a product of God’s miraculous increase and not man’s increase. Tithe-teachers want everybody to think that every Israelite BEGAN his giving at the 10% level which was only true for farmers and herdsmen. They assume that the early church instantly stopped tithing to the Temple and started tithing to church leaders. This is historically wrong (Acts 21:20).

(4) “His grace motivates us to go beyond the letter of the law.” The “minimum starting point” LIE is again implied here. While it is true that many Christians should and can give more than 10% it is also true that the percentage is totally irrelevant in the New Covenant.

1 Tim 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Acts 20:35 I have shown you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

2 Cor 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up [store up] for the parents, but the parents for the children .

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

David Jeremiah, like Dave Ramsey, wants us to ignore the Word of God through the Apostle Paul and give to the church even if it means doing without basic necessities of life. Deacons were created in Acts 6:1-6 to provide for the needy in the church and they have reversed God’s Word. Because of events in life which many of us cannot control such as untimely death and illness many gifted Christians simply cannot afford to tithe or even give offerings. Those should not be made to feel cursed or unwelcome in the church. Paul told the elders of Asia Minor to follow his example and work to help the needy.

For a more detailed discussion see my essay and book.

Mr. David Jeremiah, my friends and I would appreciate a rebuttal/reply in order that we may engage in a dialog with you concerning this important matter of God’s Word.