Giving, Tithing, & Stupid Religion

By Michael Bunker editor@lazarusunbound.com Want to discuss it? Try the Forum

February 24, 2002 — I write this article for three purposes:

1. To defend our position on giving, tithing, marketing and the state of “religion” today. Many people tell me “Michael, don’t defend yourself, the Gospel needs no defense”. I respectfully disagree. Paul defended himself emphatically in the letters to the Corinthians, and I believe we should be ready to defend our position so that our detractors will stand rebuked, and the Body of Christ will be edified.

2. To clarify to those people who have been lied to by the Religious cult all of their lives exactly how free they are, and exactly what their obligations are to the Body and to the Gospel.

3. To serve notice to the enemies of the Gospel that we will never again be brought into your manipulative service, nor will we take our liberty as an opportunity to abuse the Grace freely offered unto us by our Master, Jesus Christ. We will stand against you and ALL servants of the enemy so that our lives will be a living epistle to all those who will fairly judge the fruit of our service.

First let me say that I have written and taught fairly extensively on this topic. We have a taped debate that is available where I debate one of the foremost proponents of “tithing” live on the radio. I also have written an article which is available in our archives entitled The Principles of Giving in the Underground Church, and most of this article is reprinted in my new book, A Perilous Time: True Christianity in the Crosshairs.

Although I will revisit many of my arguments in this article, my main purpose is to put in one article a handy “reference” work for all those who seek to know what my position is on giving as it is required of us by Jesus Christ and the through His apostles. I will reprint here what I wrote in my book that specifically deals with “tithing”. I know now that this was insufficient, so I will expound on this position later. First, I think that you should read what I have already said on this topic:

“I am pro-giving, but I am for BIBLICAL giving – not manipulative shakedowns by corporate fat-cats. The tithe (which means tenth) is a biblical precept that goes back to the time of the Levitical priesthood. The Levites (Gods chosen priests of the line of Levi) were not given an inheritance like the other eleven tribes of Israel. Because they were contracted to serve God in the temple and perform the sacrifices for themselves and the other eleven tribes – the Levites were banned from ownership of property. In order to feed, clothe, and support this group of people and their families (1/12th of all of Israel) God instituted the tithe so that each of the other eleven tribes would support the Levites from their own increase. When Christ came (as the GREAT High Priest) and gave his life as a ONE TIME sacrifice for all the sins of the world (past, present and future), he ended the sacrificial system by which, in prior times, sin was only temporarily washed from those in Israel. When Jesus prophesied that the temple would be destroyed (and subsequently all the records of the Levitical line were too) and the people would be scattered (in 70 A.D.), he was demonstrating the END of the Levitical system of sacrifice. Due to the one-time sacrifice made by THE HIGH PRIEST, a sacrifice made for all believers for all time, the Levitical priesthood was no longer necessary. The “tithe” as a mandated minimum of giving is FINISHED.

“The New Covenant concept of giving was even MORE interesting. In the first century, the believers sold EVERYTHING THEY HAD!!! After Pentacost, when 3000 new believers came to Christ, the new, young sect decided to stay in Jerusalem. Everyone sold all their posessions and took care of the needy. They gave freely unto the disciples who distributed the gifts to the widows and the orphans and those who needed a place to stay. They all WORKED and gave as the Lord directed so as to provide for the needs of the people. I have heard people call this communism! That is absurd on its face, and it uncovers the abject ignorance that faces us today – in and out of the church. Communism is a system whereby the GOVERNMENT takes what the people own by force (or the overt threat of force) and redistributes it as the government sees fit.

“Communists always perpetuate GOVERNMENT first.

“Communism is the belief that the State has preeminence over the needs of the people. Christianity is antithetical to (the opposite of) Communism. Christians are (at least they ought to be) against BIG GOVERNMENT.

“The churchstate racket now becomes ever clearer to the naked eye. The “pastors” preach a twisted message that implies that believers are still under the Levitical system and are compelled to tithe to the state-controlled corporate church (for a tax break). Many churches are now holding seminars in which they compel parishioners to sign OATHS (which are strictly forbidden to believers) to themselves and the church that they will faithfully tithe to the organization. Even worse, now in many churches you will be asked to sign a form when you join that allows the church to DIRECTLY WITHDRAW your tithe from your checking account! If the church is participating in the cashless society, which may ultimately lead to the “Mark of the Beast”, then who will stand against it?

“Why is the church perpetuating the Levitical myth, while not subscribing to it in its entirety? If your pastor wants to subject you to Levitical tithing, why do you not require that he sell everything he has and stay at the temple to give sacrifice unto the Lord? Is your Pastor a slaughterhouse employee? I doubt it. The Levitical priest was FORBIDDEN from owning ANY property. Does your pastor own property? A car? A home?

“In fact, the New Covenant standard of giving was far higher than the Levitical standard. The New Covenant giver was compelled to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and give honestly and joyfully as directed. The New Covenant giver was compelled to be obedient to God without withholding of his increase. This New Covenant giver was to give discreetly without desire for recompense (tax breaks), and he was to give directly where he uncovered a need.

“The New Covenant system was a higher standard. It allowed for the needs of the widow and the orphan and the needy to be met WITHOUT the opening for manipulation by corporate organizations bent on self-preservation. The churchstate has built a confidence racket that effectively manipulates believers into becoming what the churchstate requires that they become (ignorant wallets), rather than what Christ has called them to be (fishers of men). The churchstate spends MILLIONS to preach a reductionist gospel to the third world, while denying the fact that the TRUE gospel is this - that we serve the best interests of the brethren, that we break the bonds of the afflicted, that we set men and women at Liberty, and that we let the slaves go free.

“The TRUE gospel would have us meeting the needs of the people in our neighborhoods while still making disciples of men. The reductionist Gospel preaches that we are compelled only to spend our 2.5 hours of pew time on Sunday and make sure our jailer is paid on time. The rest will take care of itself. We can walk or drive past the needs of the brethren on our street or at work because we have given at church. The reductionist gospel is the gospel of the new Yuppie-Fascist Protestant churches in America. It is preached by the new papacy of paid preachers who have taken onto themselves the job of truth filters so as to keep the truth from the sheep who might get spooked into some semblance of reality. These pastors can preach revival until the cows come home, but they will surely be shocked when Jesus returns and expects a return on the talents he has bestowed on them.” – Michael Bunker A PERILOUS TIME

Now here is the problem. Many ministers will admit that you are not “compelled” to tithe, but they will still teach that tithing is a biblical principle, therefore you are blessed or cursed based on your giving percentage. This only compounds the lie. It preys on and manipulates the emotions for the benefit of the minister. It does not lead to spiritual freedom (and subsequently responsibility) but it engenders bondage to the emotions (part of the soul).

Pastors and preachers generally use only two passages of scripture to defend their preaching of the “tithe”. They inevitably use the passages in Malachi (you have robbed me in tithes and offerings), and they will sometimes use the fact that Jesus told the Pharisees that they tithe “mint and anise and cumin” but they omit the weightier matters of the law (judgement and mercy) – and that this they should have done without leaving the other (tithing) undone.

Let us discuss these.

First, these “teachers” love to quote from Malachi even though they usually fail to tell you that the book of Malachi is generally a curse on the priesthood! Read Chapter 2 before you get to chapter 3. Because the priesthood was corrupt (just like it is now), God says that He will send a CURSE upon them and spread dung on their faces. Verse eight says that they have CORRUPTED the covenant of Levi! In verse twelve He says that He will CUT OFF those who offer according to the old corrupt Levitical system, and in verse thirteen it specifically says that because of the corruption of the priesthood, He will regard the offering of the altar NO MORE and that He will not receive it with good will at the hands of the Levites. THERE IS A CURSE UPON THE LEVITICAL TITHE!

The verse in Malachi three that says that we should bring our tithes, says this: “Bring ye the tithes into the STOREHOUSE”. Jesus clearly taught that we were to STORE our treasure in HEAVEN! The Storehouse is in Heaven, not in the harlot home of frocked friars and petulant popes.

The scriptures in Matthew and Luke are also clearly taken out of context of the chapters. Jesus was teaching religious Pharisees how to make it to heaven on their own merits. He constantly raised the bar beyond their ability to reach it. In Matthew eighteen He told them to cut off their hand or foot if it offends them, and to pluck out their eye if it offends them. Interestingly enough, these preachers NEVER teach people the “principle” of self-mutilation. These same ministers, who avoid the weightier elements of the law, LOVE to teach on the “principle” of tithing. Jesus was not teaching the tithe, he was rebuking the rebellious Pharisees for their willingness to teach and keep only part of the law. The point is that NO MAN will achieve righteousness through the law. NO MAN. Woe unto those who skew and stretch the words of our Master for their own good!

So, should we not give?

God forbid! In fact, our giving should be without regard to consequence. Our giving should be sacrificial and even painful. Our giving should be out of obedience to God and not out of obedience to men.

Paul uses the word “communicate”, which is rarely used any more in the manner of giving. The word that is translated “communicate” in the bible means “to come alongside of, to carry the burdens of”. Specifically, “communicating” is in regard to “pecuniary remuneration” or GIVING MONEY. Paul says that we should “communicate” to those who are in need. Paul praises the Philippians for “communicating” with him regarding his needs and in his affliction (Phil 4:14), specifically thanking them for their “fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now.” Paul notes that the Philippians alone were the group that, from the beginning of the Gospel, communicated (gave money) unto his necessity (Phil. 4:15). He received the money, not because he desired a gift from them, but so that the fruit might abound to their account IN HEAVEN. He did not promise them blessings on earth for their gifts. Verse sixteen says that their gifts were “an odor of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.”

In contrast, Paul rebukes the Corinthians for not being mature enough to give without attaching strings. He even goes so far as to tell them that after they have collected an offering for the poor in Jerusalem (this money was not for Paul), that they should hire someone to carry the money because he didn’t want to touch their filthy money. What a rebuke! Have you ever heard a minister who refused to take money from people who were too immature to give a gift? In the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul commends them for their growing maturity and tells them to do that thing which they had originally purposed to do, that is, give money to support the ministry.

While Paul was willing to work so that the Gospel could be preached free of charge, His working was clearly a rebuke to those in the places where he worked because he expected that the charge would be leveled against him that he was marketing the gospel. Paul clearly taught that a traveling workman was worthy of his hire, and he joyfully received of those who were willing to give without accusation or expectation of reward.

There are some principles of giving that the Bible clearly teaches. Here are some that I think you should note:

1. There is a curse involved with manipulative giving or receiving, whether that manipulation be on the part of the giver or the receiver.

2. Although we should all give freely where there is a need, there is no place where the Bible authorizes a STAY AT HOME preacher to receive a salary. Although we should all “communicate” to those who teach in the word and who work among us – a man who is able to stay at home and work, should work so that burdens are not placed upon the brethren. All giving should be according to the will of God through the Holy Spirit and not out of compulsion.

3. Giving “without regard to consequence” does not mean that we should only give what we have “budgeted” or that giving should not hinder our standard of living. The New Testament principle of giving was that we give all of ourselves, 100%, to the Body of Christ for whatever purposes that God has for our lives. That means that our livelihood should be towards the work of God, and NOT towards the building of assets and comfort for ourselves.

4. Not all of us are the same. God has created us for His own purposes. No one should feel guilty because they do not travel and preach or because they cannot afford to help more. Be obedient to the Holy Spirit in YOUR life. Our purpose should be to support and defend the work of the Body. If God has called you to earn so that others might work, then your work is to be what God called you to be.

Now, I want to specifically talk about this ministry and our understanding of our purposes.

First a disclaimer, so no one (as usual) sends me an email saying “Your not Paul”. I know that I am not Paul. I claim no title amongst the brethren. Just because I try to use the bible as a rulebook for life and ministry does not mean that I am claiming to be Paul. Get a grip.

I am a writer. I was a writer before God called me to this ministry. If God had not called me, I would be writing stupid secular books, and I believe that they would sell. Just because I use my talents to further the message of the ministry and the Gospel does not mean that I am exempted from the God-given right to market my skills. Paul marketed his skills as a tentmaker. Just because the Bible exhorts us to provide shelter for those who have been cast out, does not mean that Paul was under commandment to give away his tents. The fact that he was called to the preaching of the gospel in no way placed a lien on his productive capability.

This ministry offers all of our materials free of charge to those who cannot afford them. I do not feel that we do this out of compulsion, but because we believe that to do so insures that anyone who needs the information can receive it. However, I have no problem with selling books and tapes to those who can afford them. The thousands of hours that I spend researching and studying are NOT recompensed by the selling of books and tapes. The selling of books and tapes merely allows us to pay our bills and produce enough materials to give away to those who cannot afford them.

To those who say that we should just give all of our stuff away and if God wants us to continue, he will just “miracle” food on our table and gas in our tanks, I say this: My ministry is no different from yours. If you are willing to stop working (or keep working, but work for free), then I will be willing to listen to your preaching. I have had so many rich businessmen tell me that I’m “marketing” the Gospel and that I should just “trust God” more. Yet they go to work and buy and sell in order to feed their families. What they are saying is that MY work is godly, but theirs is not! This is not true. ALL of us who are believers are working for the gospel. If you drive a bus, you drive a bus for Christ. It is your ministry. If you do not do it for free, then don’t expect anyone else to. I respect your work and believe you are worthy of your hire even if you don’t.

The truth is that thousands of devils and false prophets are being “financially blessed” by spewing lies and heresies. If you don’t believe so, then you might not have spiritual eyes. Those who teach lies generally make a fortune at it. You can sell a lie all day, but you can’t give away the truth. Those who think that carnal and earthly blessings are the reward for true Christian work do not know the Bible or their Christian history. We can expect to be cursed on earth for our work, but blessed in Heaven.

Our policy is, and always will be, to return any gift that is regarded as a “tithe”. We also refuse any gifts that are manipulative in nature, or where someone expects something in return for their gift. We do not send out “offering” envelopes. We do not “thank” people for their gifts, nor do we acknowledge them other than in extreme cases where we think it is validated by scripture.

If someone writes me asking me why they should give to this ministry, I answer this way: “You shouldn’t. If God has asked you to give, then why are you resisting God? If God has not asked you to give, then why are you tempting me with your curse?”

Our ministry has received donations of food, bibles and equipment (including vehicles). Those of you who have been on our email alert list are familiar with this.

Our ministry receives donations from mature believers (very few, I might add). Some of these mature believers have decided (on their own) to donate a certain amount a month towards the ministry. This is not a “tithe” and cannot be construed as one. In our “Principles of Giving” letter, I said that if just 20 people would donate $200 a month, we would never again have to be concerned about traveling expenses for the building up and preparing of the Underground Church. That letter was published in 1999. To date, five people have responded positively to that letter. This does not trouble me or concern me. God is sovereign.

Our ministry (I mean “our” as in all those who participate in this ministry) is regularly attacked by opposing forces. The preachers and pastors claim that by teaching against “tithing” that we are hurting our own ministry and the ministry of others who “work” in the Gospel. But, at the same time, we are attacked by scoffers who accuse us of “marketing” the Gospel. It seems that any stick is good enough for the beating of God’s workers.

I would expect no less.

“But I have all, and abound: I am full.”

I encourage you all to stand firm in the faith of Jesus Christ, not bowing the knee to ecclesiastical Caesars and manipulators. We will not be sold again into the bondage of the Pharisees, or into the emotional “knowledge” of the Gnostics. We have been set free and we are free indeed. Purchased with a price.

Having been declared free men, we serve as bondslaves to one another and to our Master, that our lives may be a living epistle to all those who seek the Truth in this present age.

I am your servant in Christ Jesus,