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The Tested Leadership Model – Is the Teaching on Tithing Still Relevant for the Church Age Believer?
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The Tested Leadership Model – Is the Teaching on Tithing Still Relevant for the Church Age Believer?
Are you ready to find another aspect of the tested leadership model? For many years, I never knew why there was such disparity in doctrinal views from church to church. As we’re learning in this study, much of it concerns the what and where verses are taken from, i.e., the Old or New Testament. The book of Matthew is the first reference that will help us find the next trait.
Suggested Readings: Matthew Chapters 21-23
Jesus spoke at different times to various groups of people (e.g., the multitudes, the scribes, the chief priests, the Pharisees, and the disciples).
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
This particular instance concerned religious Jews, who were meticulous in tithing to the minutest detail but were very far away in giving attention to the other principal points of the Law, such as judgment, mercy, and faith, with the same precision. Jesus was telling them they should be as scrupulous in judgment, mercy, and faith as they were in paying their tithes.
The Mosaic Law was divinely ordained for the Jewish people, and Jesus didn’t say that tithing was no longer in effect. Neither did he say that any of the other observances of the Law were no longer in effect, such as (e.g., offering animal sacrifices, observing the 7th day Sabbath, observing the four major yearly feasts, continuing to circumcise male children, etc.). The unveiling of truths of which the New Testament saint was to operate wasn’t revealed yet. Whether they should observe some or all of the Law would be divulged during the following dispensation, the Church Age.
Jesus, however, did make it clear that whosoever believed in Him in the upcoming dispensation would receive another member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39). Following the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came and indwelt the disciples, the protocol for the New Testament saint, i.e., concerning financial giving, would be revealed over many years to the apostles and prophets. These new truths would be written down and taught in the assemblies.
Continuing in the realm of financial giving, please go to the book of Acts.
Suggested Reading: Acts 2:14-47; 5:12-18; 8:1-4
Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Initially, the newly converted Jewish saints met daily in the temple for public worship and prayer. They didn’t separate themselves from their Jewish brethren or the Old Testament tenets of the Law. Christian outlook, prayers, the breaking of [bread, prophesying, speaking] with tongues, and the apostolic teachings- were supplemental to the temple service.22
Acts 2:38, 41 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
The apostles’ message to the gathered Jews at Pentecost was that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, and they needed to repent and believe in Him to receive the promised Holy Spirit. This declaration was responded to favorably by about three thousand of them.
As time went on, the message that Jesus had been raised from the dead, that He was the One of whom the prophets of Israel spoke, who they rejected, and that by repenting and believing in Him, they would receive His blessing of the Holy Spirit was received by the ordinary Jew, but not by most of the hierarchy (e.g., the priests, the Sanhedrin, etc.). Eventually, the apostles’ message wasn’t welcomed in the Jerusalem temple and the surrounding synagogues.
Acts 5:16-18 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
The Jewish hierarchy, upset about the miraculous healings that were taking place, set out to capture Jewish Christians and put them in prison.
Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Many Christians because of persecution chose to depart from Jerusalem and were scattered abroad throughout Judea and Samaria. This resulted in the gospel being presented all over these regions, not only to the unbelieving Jews but also to the unconverted Gentiles. House churches began to spring up everywhere. The churches were now composed of Jews and Gentiles, and issues involving the observances of the Mosaic Law began to surface. Decisions needed to be made to understand how much of the Law was to be followed.
With this in mind, please turn in your Bibles to the book of 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 16:1-3
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
At this time, persecution was intense, and the Christians in Jerusalem needed financial assistance. What also became apparent to the leaders of the early church were changes regarding when they would meet for worship and the conditions for financial giving.
So, the early church decided to meet on the first day of the week in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.23 This day wasn’t considered Sunday, but according to Jewish chronology this was the first day of the week following the 7th day or weekly Sabbath. In the early days of the Messianic Community, many of the Jewish believers continued to observe Shabbat (Saturday) as a day of rest and met for Messianic worship in the evening after it was over.24
In respect to giving money, each believer was asked to set aside a missionary offering at home and then bring it to the assembly on the first day25 as God had prospered them (as much as each person could spare; all that one’s prosperity may permit). In this instance, it’s believed that the apostles might have followed a practice of the Jewish synagogue, i.e., concerning the collection for the poor.
It was a regular custom among the Jews to make their collections for the poor on the Sabbath day so they might not be without the necessities of life. To make this provision, they had a purse, which was called [‘Arneqiysheltsdaqaah,’] “the purse of the alms,” or what we’d term the poor’s box. This is what the apostle seems to mean when he says, Let him lay by him in store - let him put it in the alms’ purse, or in the poor’s box.26
What we could deduce is that the concept of financial giving under the New Covenant had changed. What else transpired in respect to obeying the Law? Let’s find out by going to the book of Galatians.
Suggested Reading: Galatians 3:1-29
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
The Apostle Paul asked this question of the believers in the church at Galatia. Are you so foolish (irrational)? Having begun in the Spirit (of the initial entrance of the Holy Spirit into the hearts of the Galatian Christians when they put their trust in the Lord Jesus27), are you now made perfect (advancing to the state of spiritual maturity) by the flesh (using self-effort in an attempt to obey an outward legalistic system of works28)?
Unfortunately, these believers were turning away from the teaching and the reality of the ministry of the Spirit and were attempting to adhere to a religious system, the Mosaic Law, that kept them busy with ceremonial performances, observance of days and festivals, [the] distinction of meats, and other matters of ceremonial prescription.29
What I wanted you to see is another significant change that’s being expounded. That spiritual growth isn’t based on obeying the Mosaic Law but on learning to rely on the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s take a look at one more significant change that took place in the early church in respect to the Law.
Suggested Reading: Acts 15:1-30
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
While residing at Antioch, certain men (Jewish Christians) contended with the Apostle Paul and Barnabas, teaching that except a believer in Christ was circumcised, they couldn’t be saved. So, both of them went to Jerusalem to discuss this matter with the apostles and elders.
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
After much discussion, it was concluded that an epistle should be written and given in the care of four men, Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas, who would go to the churches of Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia and read this to them. It would inform them that the Gentile believers didn’t need to be circumcised to be saved, and neither did they have to keep the Law of Moses.
This brings us to a section of Scripture that tells us the protocol for financial giving under the covenant of grace. We’ll proceed to the book of 2 Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
The Apostle Paul was sending men to the church in Corinth to receive monies for the support of their fellow believers in the Jerusalem church. He makes it evident how the money would be given by the Corinthian believers. Let each one give as they purposeth (the consent of free will) in their heart (thoughts or mind). They were not to do this grudgingly (regretfully, out of pain), or of necessity (imposed by duty; coercion) but as a cheerful giver (joyful willingness). This brings us to be able to formulate the next component of this model.
The Tested Leadership Model Characteristic
Believers are to give financially as they choose, freely, and with a joyous spirit. As the early church grew in number, revelations (new truths) concerning the covenant of grace was being transmitted to the apostles and prophets by means of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Significant changes were being instituted that constituted salvation and sanctification under a new law, the law of liberty (James 1:25). (Matthew 23:23, Acts 2:14-47; 5:12-18; 8:1-4, 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, Galatians 3:1-29, Acts 15:1-30, 2 Corinthians 9:1-13)
The Mandated Leadership Model Response - Rebuttal
As the Jews in the Old Testament were obligated to tithe, so this form of financial giving is still in effect for the New Testament believer. (Malachi 2:1-17; Malachi 3:6-11)
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
This contribution was not the typical form of financial giving. It was considered an offering to assist fellow believers in the church at Jerusalem. The traditional form of giving was tithing.
Now that we’ve found another trait of the tested leadership model, we’re ready to find another one. But before we do, I’d like to tell you about a couple of different stories concerning money.
After graduating from Bible college, I worked for an affiliate branch ministry, where I was initially hired to assist in the operation of its Christian day School. As time passed, I took over the responsibility as principal for one year. Because there wasn’t enough money coming in from tuition to meet the school’s financial obligations, a joint partnership emerged with another church in the area, which agreed to relocate the school to one of their buildings, thus taking over all responsibility from staffing to financing.
During that time, the Bible college was amidst of a tumultuous court case. It was alleged that a particular church member over time had been coerced out of about six million dollars by the Bible college president’s undue influence. The court proceedings were being held in the city where I was born, and although I couldn’t attend any of the trial, I was pretty surprised at such an allegation.
However, I remember some financial rumblings when attending this institute. Apparently, at least one family was living on campus as a result of giving all of the monies they had received from selling their home. An agreement was made that in exchange for their financial contribution, they’d be able to live rent-free on the campus for life. For whatever reason, they decided they no longer wanted to live there and asked for some of their money back. It was determined that no money was going to be returned to them, which was cause for much vocal dissatisfaction by the family until the time when they eventually moved away.
And there were other instances of indiscretions involving money. Some who owned real estate were asked on more than one occasion to sell their property and give the proceeds to the church. It was inferred that by selling such, not only would the ministry benefit but they’d be more apt to respond to a request to go on missions.
If the outcome of the trial was such that the allegation of the church member was considered valid, then to make restitution, the entire campus would probably need to be liquidated, which included a chapel, girls’ and boys’ dorms, a cafeteria, a softball field, a facility used for live radio, and various buildings that were for staff housing. Finally, a verdict was rendered, and undue influence was found to have caused the member to give varied financial gifts of almost six million dollars. As insinuated, the campus closed down, and any monies from its sale were used to pay back the amount due to the victim. The church’s headquarters was eventually relocated to another state, changed its name, and has continued to this day as a worldwide ministry.
After the Christian day school was relocated to the facility of another church, I was hired to help train new teachers who would assist in implementing the curriculum. I worked at this location for one year and then left because I secured a teaching position in a public school in another part of the state. As the years went by, a door was opened for me to oversee a Christian Fellowship that initially met twice a week. I had my hands full preparing the music and messages for the gatherings of believers, collecting financial offerings and keeping records, advertising, visiting the attendees, etc. After about four years, one of the church members, who had been encouraged to be the main speaker on various occasions, accused me of taking money from the offerings for my personal benefit.
During this time, I had undertaken the task of writing and publishing my first book, and the accusation was that I took money from the offerings to pay for its publication. I can’t tell you how hurt I was. Before this allegation, I made it a practice at the beginning of each month to hand out a financial statement for the previous month that included income, expenses, and an updated balance.
I had done a pretty good job of not only keeping records but also disclosing the financial picture to the assembly, so this charge took me by surprise. I decided to make copies of all the receipts since the inception of the fellowship and offered to give them to this person so that they could go through them personally. I also told them that I had copies of the three prior years if they wanted to see them. Surprisingly, they chose not to take any copies but asked me a second time if I’d taken money from the treasury to pay for the book’s publishing. When I replied that I hadn’t, they said they were satisfied with the answer.
Sometime later, this person left the assembly, and the few remaining people weren’t consistent in attending the fellowship gatherings. I began praying to God for direction as to whether the fellowship should continue. Within a short time, it was disbanded.
I said all this because the financial giving from an assembly isn’t to be taken lightly. Those in leadership have to be very careful about the words they use to facilitate the giving of such. There’s also the need to not only keep exemplary records but also to have a system in place that ensures that all of the monies given are accounted for.
You can never please everyone in the assembly. There will always be those who might think adversely about something that’s going on. And, by the way, there should be nothing wrong with this. Those in leadership should be open to discussing these concerns and ensure they aren’t providing the fodder, which provokes adverse reactions from the assembly members.
Endnotes
22The Pulpit Commentary.
23The Bible Exposition Commentary.1989, 08 November 2014
˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.
24Jewish New Testament Commentary PC Study Bible version 5, 1992, 09 November 2014 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.
25The Bible Exposition Commentary.
26Adam Clarke’s Commentary.
27Weust.
28Weust.
29Weust.
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