DAVID HIND ONE CHURCH LEICESTER: TITHING DEBUNKED!

Jesus is passing by | David Hind (One Church Together, 21st July 2024) (youtube.com) 

For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. (2 Corinthians 11:4).

Here we have yet another false teaching from David Hind! One Church is shortly coming up to another "Vision Sunday" and I expect a further barrage of intense pressure to give to their so-called "church" on Frog Island. Once again I will debunk Hind's teaching and go through some of the biblical reasons that refute tithing in the New Testament. 

Abram/Melchizedek

Abram (later Abraham) gave a one-off free will offering to Melchizedek from the spoils of war, not from personal property. (Genesis 14:20). Abram did not give money, he gave 10% of the spoils. He returned the remaining 90% of the spoils to the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 14:21-24). Melchizedek is an obscure figure in the Old Testament and is described as a king/priest of Salem. (Hebrews 7:1). It is debatable whether Melchizedek was a type of Christ or a theophany/Christophany. (Hebrews 7:1-14). The phrase "resembling the Son of God" (ἀφωμοιωμένος) has sparked a debate amongst scholars since ἀφωμοιωμένος appears to distinguish Melchizidek from "the Son of God". (Hebrews 7:3).

Meyer: "ἀφωμοιωμένος δὲ τῷ υἱᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ] on the contrary (therein) made entirely like unto the Son of God, namely, as type of the same.. This whole method of interpretation has against it the fact that ἀγενεαλόγητος—for not ἀγένητος is placed—can be understood without violence only of the neglect to cite the genealogical table of Melchisedec in the narrative of the Book of Genesis [comp. Hebrews 7:6]; and ἀπάτωρ, ἀμήτωρ must be taken conformably with the elucidatory ἀγενεαλόγητος, thus are likewise to be explained merely of the father and mother being passed over unnamed in the historic account, not of their actual nonexistence.."1 

Jacob's Vow

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” (Genesis 28:20-22).

The Lord said to Jacob: The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. (Genesis 28:13). Note: The land was not given to Jacob personally and Jacob did not tithe during his lifetime. God fulfilled His vow to Jacob (Israel) by giving the land to his posterity.

Adam Clarke’s Commentary: “Jacob seems to make this vow rather for his posterity than for himself, as we may learn from Genesis 28:13-15; for he particularly refers to the promises which God had made to him, which concerned the multiplication of his offspring, and their establishment in that land. If, then, God shall fulfill these promises, he binds his posterity to build God a house, and to devote for the maintenance of his worship the tenth of all their earthly goods. This mode of interpretation removes that appearance of self-interest which almost any other view of the subject presents. Jacob had certainly, long ere this, taken Jehovah for his God; and so thoroughly had he been instructed in the knowledge of Jehovah, that we may rest satisfied no reverses of fortune could have induced him to apostatize: but as his taking refuge with Laban was probably typical of the sojourning of his descendants in Egypt, his persecution, so as to be obliged to depart from Laban, the bad treatment of his posterity by the Egyptians, his rescue from death, preservation on his journey, re-establishment in his own country, &c., were all typical of the exodus of his descendants, their travels in the desert, and establishment in the promised land, where they built a house to God, and where, for the support and maintenance of the pure worship of God, they gave to the priests and Levites the tenth of all their worldly produce. If all this be understood as referring to Jacob only, the Scripture gives us no information how he performed his vow.”2 

Tithing.com: "Leonard C. Bupanda in his book, 'The Tithing Dilemma and the Triumph of Love' 'also agrees that Jacob’s vow was trans-generational, 'Now, since Jacob failed to deliver on his promise, God made him pay the tithe through his children who had emerged as a nation after his God-given name-Israel. Thus God’s promise to Jacob was fulfilled.'”3 

Malachi 3   

Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:8-11).

It is critical to note the background and the context of this passage. The entire book of Malachi is a rebuke against the priests (the sons of Aaron) who were responsible for breaking the covenant and causing many to stumble by their example and instruction. (Malachi 2:1-17). Malachi 1:6-14,2:1 records the profanity of the priests who were offering polluted food upon the Lord's altar. (Malachi 1:6). You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! (Malachi 1:13).

Malachi was prophesying during the time of Nehemiah who had the task of overseeing the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and restoring the spiritual and social order among the Jewish people after the Babylonian exile  Bible Hub: "Nehemiah 10 presents a transformative moment for the people of Israel as they pledge allegiance to God's law in a renewed covenant. The leaders, priests, Levites, and the entire community agree to uphold God's commands, embodying a collective commitment towards religious devotion and responsibility."4 Nehemiah 10:38 clarifies that the renewed covenant included bringing the tithes to the Levitical storehouses. Nehemiah 13:1-12 describes how Eliashib the High Priest had provided his relative, Tobiah the Ammonite, a wicked man who opposed Nehemiah, a room in the courts of the house of God in Nehemiah's absence. (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:3-7; 6:1-19 cf. Deuteronomy 23:3). On his return, Nehemiah threw all Tobiah's goods out of the room; he ordered that the rooms be purified; he had the articles of the house of God restored to them along with the grain offerings and frankincense. (Nehemiah 13:8-9). Furthermore, because the portions for the Levites had been withheld, they had gone to work in their own fields. (Malachi 2:8 cf. Joshua 14:4). In other words, the house of God was forsaken. (Nehemiah 13:11). 

The situation described in Malachi/Nehemiah was specific to the Jewish people and involved the restoration of the Law of Moses. Those who insist that tithing is an obligation in the New Testament are attempting to put Christians under the Law. If Christians are obliged to tithe, they are also obliged to obey all the commands written in the Law which is obviously not the case! The clear teaching in Galatians is that those who wanted to revert to circumcision were under a curse, and the same is true of those who want to revert to the Old Testament principle of tithing. There is a lot of false teaching around about "generational curses" and "deliverance", but the wolves who teach tithing and other false doctrines are under a curse themselves and they put their followers under a curse. 

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” (Galatians 3:10).

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8).

Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:2-4).

The New Testament

But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (Luke 11:42). 

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees who were under the Law of Moses prior to the new covenant. Nowhere in the Old Testament did anyone tithe from their money, they always tithed from the produce of the land. (Leviticus 27:30 cf. Deuteronomy 14:2). Traders were not required to tithe e.g. carpenters, fishermen, merchants etc.

The most detailed passage on giving in the New Testament is 2 Corinthians 8-9.

..whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6-12).

The above passage absolutely refutes the idea of the tithe; rather Paul encourages the Corinthian Church to give generously to the needy Jerusalem church. The benefit to the Corinthians in giving generously is not the selfish "prosperity gospel" of false teachers. 

BibleRef: "Paul is urging the Corinthians to be generous in their giving to suffering Christians in Jerusalem. He has said they should give willingly and cheerfully a portion of what God has given to them. Scripture presents Christian giving as something done out of love, not legalism, obligation, or command. That theme continues here in Paul's comments to the church in Corinth.
This makes an additional point, though: God is ultimately the one who gives. He is the one who provides both the seed for the bread and the bread itself. In other words, God makes the giver capable of giving. Paul adds that God will multiply the seed of those who give in order to increase the harvest of the righteousness that comes as a result. It's important to note that the increase is to the benefit of the one who receives—this is not a promise to financially prosper the giver.."5  

All the exhortations to give money in the New Testament were for the benefit of the poor and needy. "The saints" in the above passage were the impoverished church at Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8-9; Romans 15:26; Acts 24:17 cf. Galatians 2:10). There is not a single reference either to tithing or church buildings in the New Testament! The early Christians met in homes, and many are doing so again because they are disgusted with the false teaching and disgraceful antics of those who have usurped authentic leadership roles within the so-called churches. (Acts 20:29).

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, (Matthew 6:1-4). It is no one else's business how much you give!  

The concept of civil taxes replacing the tithe has historical roots. Civil taxes have largely replaced the role of funding public services and infrastructure, which were once supported by tithes in the theocratic society of ancient Israel. Civil law plays a significant role in supporting the needy by ensuring their rights and access to essential services. Modern social welfare systems are based on the Elizabethan Poor Law Acts of 1601 which established the government's responsibility to aid its poor citizens, categorizing them based on their needs and ensuring they received appropriate assistance. 

The tithe in ancient Israel supported the Levites and the needy. (Deuteronomy 26:12-13; Numbers 18:21-32; Nehemiah 10:37). The storehouse located within the Jerusalem Temple only received 1% of the tithe, the other 9% was stored in Levitical cities. (Nehemiah 10:37-38). The storehouses were simply that, they were not places of worship. The word "storehouse" is never mentioned in the New Testament as a model for the church. The Levitical system of worship performed at the Jerusalem Temple does not apply to the modern church. The scriptures say that all believers are priests. (1 Peter 2:5,9). Bible-believing Christians should definitely not be giving their money to false prophets connected with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), who appoint women pastors, who build their own kingdoms, and who spend other people's money on luxuries for themselves and on expensive and ostentatious "church" buildings. (1 Timothy 2:12). 

Hind's multi-site model contradicts the biblical blueprint of church structure laid down in the New Testament. Paul instructed Titus to ..appoint elders in every town as I directed you. (Titus 1:5; cf. Acts 14:23). In the New Testament, individual churches were autonomous congregations with their own local overseers directing their specific affairs. When church leaders fail to heed biblical doctrine and substitute their own ideas for the scriptures, they bring dysfunction and pain to the body of Christ and ultimate judgement upon themselves. 

If you have followed my posts about Trinity Life Church/One Church you will know that David Hind has repeatedly flouted and twisted the scriptures in favour of worldly values and ambitions. A qualifying requirement for elders/pastors is that they must be able to teach and to rightly handle the word of truth. (1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:15). It is pure folly for any bible believing Christian to gamble with their eternal future and to follow false teachers who pervert the scriptures to their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16).    

I recommend the following series on tithing from Caleb Corneloup. Corneloup provides shocking examples of the opulent lifestyles of greedy entitled false teachers, including Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Myer, Creflo Dollar, Jesse Duplantis, Benny Hinn, Robert Morris etc. 

Caleb Corneloup: "A lot of false teachers try to insist that Christians need to tithe because Abraham tithed. They say that tithing pre-dates the law and therefore we are commanded to tithe in the New Covenant. This is nothing more than false teachers twisting God's word to support their dodgy ministries and protect their income stream. Many pastors today are nothing more than hustlers and grifters. They have turned the church into a business and it's a disgrace and shame to the name of Christ."

Further Link: Tithing is Not a Christian Doctrine (youtube.com)

This two-hour video is based on a 19-point essay by Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D. Further information can be found on Dr Kelly's website: Should the Church Teach Tithing? Taboo Answer - Dr. Russell Earl Kelly (tithing-russkelly.com)   

1. Hebrews 7:3 Commentaries: Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. (biblehub.com)
2.Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary - Genesis 28 (godrules.net)
3. Jacob’s Tithing Vow (Part 2) – Tithing.com
4. Nehemiah 10 Chapter Summary (biblehub.com)
5. What does 2 Corinthians 9:10 mean? | BibleRef.com