Before his death Larry Burkett was a popular radio talk show host.  He was a Christian financial advisor and author of many books.  He was a proponent of the tithe and many refer to him as the expert on whether Christians should tithe or not.  When I started to voice my concerns about the tithing doctrine at Hydesville Church a Larry Burkett tract / pamphlet was given to me.  The pamphlet is called 'Giving and Tithing' and is put out by Christian Financial Concepts.  It is a window into the tithe preacher's methods.  When you read the pamphlet you assume the reason it exists is that it contains scriptural evidence on how the tithe applies to the Christian but upon reading it you will be disappointed.  Larry gives one paragraph of how Abraham tithed and this was pre-law and so we should too.  Then, Larry is off and running about how to apply this great scriptural truth, and apply it he does, in just about every situation he has the answer.

In his simplistic, the tithe applies, approach he tells us the will of God for our lives concerning our finances.  Tithing applies to the gross of your income, tithe your profit from everything…are you receiving alimony?  Tithe it.  Did you profit from the sale of your home?  Tithe it.  Does your business run at a profit?  Tithe it.  Have you been widowed and receive a life insurance payment?  Tithe it…  It is very convenient that Larry has outlined the will of God for our financial lives but…the Bible takes issue with this simplistic law entrapment.  There is a huge flaw in the tithe doctrine logic it does not apply to the New Testament believer.

Just because Abram gave tithe once on his spoils of war and then consequently gave the rest away, does not set a mandate for the Christian life. In the Bible we never see Christ tithe.  Instead, on the two occasions when he is talking about the Old Testament tither, He is rebuking them.  We never see the apostle's tithe.  We never see tithing in the New Testament Church, period.  On the other hand, we do see a whole new relationship with God.  In the New Testament, we see that the veil has been torn asunder.  The One Mediator between man and God, the Man Christ Jesus has opened a brand new door.  The Old Testament ordinances have been abolished and a new relationship has been made possible.  We can be born again and enter into a new life with God.  In this new life we can find eternal purpose and Gods direction for the rest of our lives.  Contrast this with the Old Testament believer.  Unless they were of the ancestry of Aaron they could not get near God’s presence.  They could only know God’s will for their lives through the ordinances and precepts given through the Mosaic Law.  There was no personal knowledge of God’s leading in their lives unless a voice spoke from the sky.  The Old Testament believer’s walk with God was totally dependent upon the Law of Moses.  Moses said it, they did it or they were in sin.  In the New Testament, ‘the law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ’ grace and truth are available.  In the New Testament relationship with God the believer can seek and find Gods personal will for their lives.  This includes giving.  It is a convenient religion that allows someone to just go to a priest and find out what God wants him or her to do.  You don’t have to seek God, pray, read the Bible, etc.  Just ask the priest he will tell you what God wants.  The New Testament preaches the priesthood of all believers.  This is not so convenient.  The believer must get before God and find Him daily.  In developing this relationship with God the believer can know divine affirmation in the choices of his / her life.  This includes giving.  Whether it is 0% or 100% He can lead you to know his good, acceptable will.  The prayer of the apostle was ‘that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding’.  A pamphlet telling someone how to administer their finances has two glaring problems.  What do you do with those who don’t do as is spelled out and can God lead someone totally contrary to the pamphlets doctrine?  The first problem is simple, you can judge the person, and you judge the non-tither as a God robber and in sin.  They are not abiding by the dictates of the pamphlets standards, woe unto them.  The second problem is more difficult because it deals with the largeness of God.  Well, on one hand we say God can do anything He wants but on the other hand if He leads someone to give less than the tithe, He has violated the box we have put Him in.

The bottom line conclusion, the Christian has been freed.  Freed from the Law.  Freed to do God’s will and empowered to do it.  Just because it is convenient to revert to a law, don’t.  Whatever your financial dilemma / situation, seek God in it.  He will make known His glorious will; He will show forth His marvelous might.  After all, ‘if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?’ it is His responsibility to direct His children and if they are willing to listen He will be heard.