by
Ron Davis, minister of Christ
Moving
to another one of the Scripture these gospel peddlers uses to demand tithes and
offerings of your money is in 1 Corinthians 9. This one seems to be in their corner, but let us
examine these verses more closely. Notice the Holy Spirit through the apostle
Paul is speaking to those Corinthians who were thinking that since he did not
accept support for himself. Nor did Barnabas, this is not saying that Paul and
Barnabas were demanding “tithes and
offerings” from them or anyone else for that matter, in fact it were their
custom to support themselves where they had come to plant churches. And in some
cases never seek support from anyone in those churches they planted. They were
not like so many of the ministers today who will not even preach to you if you
don’t put a jingle in their basket - going from city to city preaching at a
cost to those who hear the word of God. These Christians were questioning
Paul’s apostleship because they did want to be giving to an imposter, a
deceitful teacher (since they supported themselves and the other apostles and
the Lord brothers did not when they visited them to preach). They were even
questioning why Paul did not depend on them for support like Peter and the
others. So, Paul was giving a “defense
to those who” (v. 3) were
examining him and Barnabas who supported themselves rather than burdening them
for support (again this is not supporting a
“tithes and offerings” doctrine of men and Satan). Now, let us read verses 1 through 18 of 1 Corinthians 9 to prove what I am
saying with the backing of other Scriptures:
·
1 Corinthians 9
1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus
Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to
you. For you are the seal of my
apostleship in the Lord. 3 My
defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take
along a believing wife, as do also
the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from
working? 7 Who ever goes to war at
his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or
who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? 8 Do I say these things as a mere man?
Or does not the law say the same also? 9
For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while
it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or
does He say it altogether for our sakes? For
our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in
hope should be partaker of his hope. 11
If we have sown spiritual things for
you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right
over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right,
but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of
the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of
the offerings of the altar? 14 Even
so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the
gospel. 15 But I have used none
of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to
me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my
boasting void. 16 For if I preach
the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe
is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For
if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I
preach the gospel, I may present the
gospel of Christ without charge, that
I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
Okay, this one comes close to saying the
apostles and the Lord’s brothers were “demanding”
support from those who received the word of God given by them to the
Corinthians. However, I have said it before, and I say again let’s examine
these verses more closely in the proper context. First, we have the apostle
Paul in verse 1, asking the
Corinthians “Am I not an apostle?”
In verse 3, Paul says, “My defense to those who examine me is
this:” and he begin to speak concerning the Corinthians supporting the
apostles and the Lord’s brothers and their wives (not that they demanded this
support but they did not work when they came to preach to them. But did as our
Lord Jesus had previous instructed them to do in Luke 10 and Matthew 10 “for a worker is worthy of his food” - which
we will discuss in more detail later). Next, Paul asks a series of questions
about the Holy Scriptures saying he and Barnabas have just as much of a right
over the Corinthians Christians to receive support from the gospel they preach
as others do. And that the Lord Himself “commanded
that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel”(v.14). Then
Paul in verse 15 through 18 states
why he has not burdened them for support nor has Barnabas. For one thing, he
says he is more of an apostle to them because they are the “seal of his apostleship in the Lord” (v. 3). And in verse 15, he states “I have used none of these things, nor have
I written these things that it should be done so to me”. Paul says this is
his boast, and he would rather die than let
these who claim he not an apostle because he do not demand support like the
others who claim this right over them (verses
12 and 16). Next, Paul states his defense in not accepting support from
them by saying; if he preach the gospel willingly without demanding support
from those whom he preach to then he “have
a reward”(v.17); but he preach the “word
against his will” he only have been entrusted with a stewardship. So, Paul
asks the question what is his reward for having a stewardship (since he would
only be during his duty). In his final defense Paul tells us why ministers
should preach the gospel without charge; and that is so that minister would “not abuse” their “authority in the gospel” (verse 17). There you have it, the very
Scripture that appears to support these gospel peddlers authority for demanding
tithes and offerings from the believer; actually, condemns this very act of
demanding support because it becomes an abuse of that authority which the
Scripture gives them. For the minister have a right to receive support for his
ministry if he is faithful in the word; but he have no right to demand that you
give to him nor do they have a right to demand you to give ten percent of your
income.
·
1 Corinthians 16
Collection for the Saints
1 Now concerning the collection for
the saints, as I have given orders
to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the
week let each one of you lay
something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections
when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to
Jerusalem. 4 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.
This
offering was not a tithe nor was it given on a regular basis, and it was
voluntary from those who decided in their own heart to give to the saints in
Jerusalem and it was not for some minister salary or church bank account. These
gospel peddlers will use the phrase “as
I have given orders to the churches in Galatia, so you must do also” (v. 1) to
extort tithes and offerings from you. By preaching this mean Paul instructed
other churches to do what these Corinthians were doing; however, after examining
these verses more closely you will see this was not so. Plus, think about what
you’re saying that Paul ordered the Galatians to give to the saints in
Jerusalem. I mean do that sound like the Christian thing to do? Or would this
offering be made unwillingly and with a non-cheerful heart because that’s what
it would be force giving. And those without something to give would be shamed
by those who gave. Now, if I need to explain to you the evil of extortion of
tithes and offerings again and again I will. For I do not want you to feel
burdened beyond measure. Also, notice the phrase “concerning the collection for the saints” (v. 1). They were
gathering together a collection for those saints in need in Jerusalem because
of the famine. It do not say “concerning
the collection for the ministers”; yet, your pastor probably have used
these verses to imply this collection were for the church bank account or some
other worldly project he and his close circle decided they needed. Next, the
phrase “let each of you lay something
aside” (v. 2) they love to quote this one also always implying that Paul
meant for you to lay aside money for their collection plates. (Paul said the “first day of the week” because that’s
when most people at this start to work for the week - not because this is when
they gathered to worship as some peddlers of God’s word have constantly told
you this lie - I mean read it for yourself). Again, it does not say, “let each of you lay 10% of your income
aside or whatever you can give every Sunday morning” for some gospel
peddling minister. Yet, they have untold millions believing this lie, why
because they do study to Scriptures as they should. These ministers will say “whatever you can give to God” as if
they were God - well, here’s a news flash they are not God nor do they
represent God on this planet. Nor do you have to have any collection ready for
them, when your minister come as Paul say in verse 2 “there be no
collections when I come”. Paul did not want to wait around for them to
prepare what they had already promised nor did he want to compel them to give
what they promised which would make it a gift of necessity and grudgingly
given. Furthermore, this collection
is referred to as a gift in verse 3,
I ask you when you take 10% of your income because some self-appointed minister
tells you to give it to him; do you feel like you are giving him a gift? Or
following this minister command fearing God will curse you if you do not
(please be honest with God)?
In
2 Corinthians 8 and 9, the apostle Paul is still discussing
this same gift that the people of the Corinthian church had purposed in their
heart to give to the saints in Jerusalem more than a year prior. Notice the
language used in both chapters. Also, Paul further shows this was willingness
on the part of the churches of Macedonia and Achaia to include the Corinthian
churches, all which urged Paul and the others with him to take the offerings to
the saints in Judea. Please pay close attention to these phrases “they were freely willing” (v. 3), “imploring us with much urgency” (v. 4),
“I speak not by commandment” (v. 8), “I
give this advice” (v. 10), “doing what you began and were desiring to do a year
ago” (v. 10), “it is accepted
according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (v. 12),
and then the Holy Spirit says through Paul, “I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened” (v. 13). Think
about what this is saying here - ponder what the Spirit is saying:
·
2 Corinthians 8
Excel in Giving
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their
liberality. 3 For I bear witness
that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were
freely willing, 4 imploring
us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the
fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped,
but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also
complete this grace in you as well. 7 But
as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence,
and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.
Christ Our Pattern
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He
was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His
poverty might become rich. 10 And in
this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be
doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you
also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it,
so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to
what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may
supply their lack, that their
abundance also may supply your lack--that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing
left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."
Collection for the Judean Saints
16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the
heart of Titus. 17 For he not only
accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own
accord. 18 And we have sent with him
the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19 and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us
with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord
Himself and to show your ready mind, 20 avoiding
this: that anyone should blame us in
this lavish gift which is administered by us-21 providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also
in the sight of men. 22 And we
have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many
things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we
have in you. 23 If anyone inquires about
Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our
brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of
Christ. 24 Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the
proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
I again call upon you to ponder on verses 3 and 4, “…I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond
their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift
and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints”. Paul says that the
churches at Macedonia were “freely willing” and were imploring them to accept
their gift for the poor saints in Jerusalem. These Christians were under no
commandment to give 10% of their income to some man-made church to give to whom
they please; but these Christians gave to whom they please, and urge Paul and
Titus and the others to take it to the saints in need. Then again in verse 8, Paul says he “speak not by commandment” meaning the
Corinthian church nor were the churches in Achaia and Macedonia commanded to
give anything but, this they did willingly not
because they had to give a tenth of their income to anyone especially some
minister in Jerusalem where the gifts were going. When we move to verse 10, we
see Paul saying he is giving the Corinthians “this advice… It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you
began and were desiring to do a year ago” (v. 10). They had begun
collecting and storing up this offering for the poor saints in Jerusalem for a
year; not every Sunday morning as these gospel peddlers would have you believe. Next, we have the apostle Paul saying
in verse 12 “it is accepted according to
what one has, and not according to what he does not have”. Do it say “I
know we can do better than this amount or this collection” or “come saints did a little deeper”. I
know most you know how these Ministers reach in their pockets (who are only giving to themselves) and
their deacons and deaconess will reach in their pocket, and say let’s make this
an even 500 or whatever other amount their evil minds may come up with. If you
have a dollar the Lord accepts it, or if you have 200 dollars the Lords accepts
what you have; and you do not have to come up with 10% of your income to give
if you do not have it. Now, here is the bombshell these Ministers probably
never mention to you. For, if they do they will twist it to their benefit; in verse 13 the Holy Spirit says through
Paul, “I do not mean that others should
be eased and you burdened”. There it is God do not wish that you be burdened
in your giving while your Ministers and others are eased. God says give but do
not burden yourselves by giving beyond your means unless you do not have others
depending on you as the “widow and the
two mites parable speaks of”. Again, in verse 20, I wish these gospel peddlers of today would take careful
note of Paul’s dealing with the administering of the gift to those in
Jerusalem; Paul says Titus was chosen by the churches to travel with them “avoiding this: that anyone should blame us
in this lavish gift which is administered by us”. Paul did not want any one
to think he took anything of the gift for himself; more than we can say for the
“gospel peddling” ministers of today
(see also 1Corinthians 16:3-4 where
this mention about who the churches chose to carry the gift to Jerusalem).
Now, this brings us to 2 Corinthians 9 where the apostle Paul is again speaking concerning
the same gift he spoke of in 1
Corinthians 16 and in the previous chapter to this one 2 Corinthians 8. The subject is the same because this gathering of
the gifts for the churches in Jerusalem went on for over a year before it was
actually collected. (As Paul states in Romans
15:25-28… “25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For
it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for
the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and
they are their debtors. For, if the Gentiles have been partakers of their
spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.
28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this
fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain)”… In Romans 15:27, it says “their
duty is also to minister to them in material things”; let me explain here
that this was a one time gift of material things for the “poor among the saints” (v. 26) not the “ministers” of the saints unless they were poor - this verse do not
give Ministers a right to demand that you give to them 10% of your income on a
regular basis.
·
2 Corinthians 9
Administering the Gift
The Importance of Giving Cheerfully
1 Now concerning the ministering to
the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago;
and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3
Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in
this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we
(not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to
exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of
generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
The Cheerful Giver
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So
let each one give as he purposes in
his heart, not grudgingly
or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may
have an abundance for every good work. 9
As it is written: "He has
dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures
forever." 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for
food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of
your righteousness, 11 while you are
enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us
to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs
of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
13 while, through the proof of this
ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel
of Christ, and for your liberal
sharing with them and all men, 14
and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding
grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to
God for His indescribable gift!
Here in 2
Corinthians 9 we have some phrases that we should examine before moving on.
In verses 1 and 2, Paul says, “concerning the ministering to the saints”
(v.1) that he did not need to write
to them about being willingly to give to the poor saints; and that he had boast
to the saints at Macedonia that the in saints at Achaia were “ready a year ago” (v.2). Now notice in verse 5 where Paul says, “I thought it necessary to exhort the
brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift
beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready
as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation”… There
you have it these gospel peddling, tithes and offerings demanders have made you
believe that this verse was a command from Paul; but as you can see Paul states
the Corinthians “had previously
promised” to give this generous gift. Paul wanted them to “be ready as a matter of generosity”. Because
if they arrived and their gift were not prepared and ready for delivery to the
poor saints in Jerusalem; then they would have to “grudging” come up with something on a short notice making their
gift an “obligation” rather than “generosity”. In verse 6, these gospel
peddlers will again try and make you believe this verse implies giving to some
man-made church organization rather than giving to “the poor saints in
Jerusalem” which I showed you in Romans
15:25-28. Also it is said 1
Corinthians 16:3 that this gift is for the Jerusalem poor saints in need.
We can clearly see that 2 Corinthians
chapters 8 and 9 are speaking about these same “poor saints in Jerusalem”. So, we as Christians who “sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”; when give to
the poor not some self appointed minister. Notice also verse 7 where it says, “let
each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of
necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver”; we are exhort to
give as we purpose not as some self-appointed gospel peddler claims that must
give him 10% of your income. Then it says, “God
loves a cheerful giver”; and we are not to give “grudgingly or of necessity”; question if you had to give some
church building 10% of your income when you did not have rent or gas bill would
you be giving it as “a cheerful giver” or
as someone giving it out of necessity and fearing the curse of God if you do
not give it? Think about would God want you to give to His poor who represent
Him on this planet under fear of a curse? Finally, we have verse 9 where it is said, “He
has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures
forever (v. 9)"; again it says in
verse 13 “they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel
of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men”.
These verses speak of those who give to the poor is like God giving to them
saying “He has given to the poor”; and
then it tells us what I have always proclaim and continue to exhort you that
your giving to the poor and needy in the churches and this world will cause
them to “glorify God…for your liberal
sharing with them (the churches) and all men (the world)”. How can someone
argue against this? When it is clearly shown to all that giving to the poor is
giving to God, and you are performing God’s work by doing these good works.
Unless, some how the deceiver has deceived you into believing that giving to
your Minister is giving to God.
Evangelist Ron Davis, a Minister of Christ, of the Kush Edifying Ministries proclaims the whole counsel of God. This ministry believes in the command of Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 10:7-8 "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give" (NIV). Jesus commands us as ministers to preach "freely" the word without demanding those preached to give to you.
You
may contact Ron Davis and this ministry with your comments at the below email:
OR
if you want to debate my conclusion of this matter; if you want to argue your
own "private interpretation", then please send it to the below email
address with your Scripture backing up what you say. Thanks, and may God bless
you in understanding His Holy and righteous word.