The Door Is Open

A Little Bit of Leaven-8 of 10

In my book, The Door Is Open, I discuss several signs of antichrist or anti-messiah behaviors, beginning with the scripture from Matthew 23:4-38 in The Message translation. Let’s delve into the eighth sign, as described in verses 23-24 of Matthew 23:

““You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that’s wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?” MSG‬‬

If:

You are asked about the amount of your tithe,
You are unable to look at church finances (open books when asked),
Big donors are given special privileges (seen and unseen),

Then you need to RUN, not walk, from that church.

The next problem is with the law that you must tithe 10% or:

You will not be blessed (healing, money, etc.) by God,
You must be obedient to God,
You must be faithful to God,
You must show your love of God.

The modern church has strayed far from the original message of the disciples regarding tithing. It has mixed law with grace, leading to a lukewarm Christianity. Tithing has become overemphasized and, at times, has taken the place of what Christ did for the world. When we delve into the core of Christ’s message, we understand that the commandments He made clear throughout His teachings are rooted in the Law of Liberty (Chapter 1, The Door Is Open) and the Royal Law (Chapter 2, The Door Is Open).

Paul redefines tithing in the New Covenant when he suggests that believers should give from their abundance to help those in need, with the expectation that others will do the same for them in their time of need (1 Corinthians 16 and 2 Corinthians 8-9). This approach to giving is more about mutual aid and less about obligation or legalistic adherence to a percentage.

Lastly, I had asked Grok (AI) about Paul’s teachings about tithing and I found the answer interesting and wanted to share it with you:

Key Principles from Paul:

Voluntariness: Giving should not be under compulsion but from a willing heart.

Proportionality: The amount given should be according to one’s means, reflecting the principle of equity.

Cheerfulness: The attitude in giving is emphasized, with joy and generosity being hallmarks of Christian giving.

Mutual Support: There’s a strong communal aspect where giving is seen as an act of sharing within the body of Christ, helping to balance out disparities.

Paul’s teachings aim to move giving away from a legalistic obligation towards an act of love, grace, and community support, reflecting the new covenant’s emphasis on the heart and spirit rather than the letter of the law.

If you have questions, feel free to reach out. You can email me at [email protected] or send me a private message on my social media sites (links below).

I invite you to reflect on each of these points with God, and perhaps consider reading both Time To Really Live Free and The Door Is Open to fully grasp this concept, enabling you to live freely in God’s grace, love and freedom right now.

Author Profile

Darlene Gaston

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Darlene Gaston is an award-winning Christian author who writes about freedom from legalism and condemnation through grace in the New Covenant. After years of striving under heavy religious burdens, she discovered the joy of resting in God’s unconditional love and her true identity in Christ. She now helps others step into the light yoke Jesus promised.