“A MAGIC FORMULA FOR PROSPERITY” IS THE 4TH lesson in a 9-part teaching series entitled “A Pastor Rebukes a Non-Tither.” This series is inspired by a pastor’s letter to his church member (one of our YouTube subscribers). In each lesson, we address a point and/or argument the pastor makes to explain why he believes Christians should tithe.
In this lesson, we examine the idea of the tithe as a magic formula and explore whether the tithe is THE way God’s people receive blessings.
Table of Contents
- A Word From a Pastor
- A Magic Formula
- The Tithing Principle
- God’s Students
- How to Receive Old Testament Blessings
- Outsmart the False Teachers
A Word From a Pastor
Here is the exact quote from the pastor’s letter:
“It is not a magic formula. It is a principle that God has enacted as a way to teach His people to receive the benefits of His blessings.”
Let’s take a closer look at this statement and break it down from a biblical perspective.
A Magic Formula
The pastor correctly states that the tithe “is not a magic formula.” However, some preachers promote tithing in a way that makes it seem like it is a magic formula for obtaining health, wealth, and prosperity.
Magic is “the art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or forces of nature (dictionary.reference.com).”
As this definition of magic relates to tithing, Christians are being led to believe that their so-called tithe will MOVE God to act on their behalf. This is magically dressed up as Christianity, and it does not work.
If tithing were a magic formula, then tithers would be the healthiest and most prosperous folk on the planet, but this is not the case. Those with the least amount of money tithe the most.
So, the pastor is right on point about tithing not being a magic formula.
The Tithing Principle
The pastor states that the tithe “is a principle that God has enacted to teach His people to receive the benefits of His blessings.”
First, tithing is not a principle per se. Biblical tithing is a religious ritual, a ceremonial practice. However, there is a principle behind biblical tithing. The primary principle behind the practice of biblical tithing was to revere God.
Deuteronomy 14:23, NIV
Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.
We see that God chose the practice of tithing as a way for ancient Israel to demonstrate the principle of reverence. In this instance, reverence for God is the principle, and tithing is how ancient Israel was instructed to practice that principle.
God’s Students
The pastor emphasizes that God enacted tithing “to teach His people.” Here we must identify the people. The most common mistake Christians make with the Bible is that they think everything in the scriptures pertains to them. But this is not the case. The Bible clarifies that you must rightly divide the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15, NIV
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
The NIV states “correctly handles the word of truth.” If we apply this wisdom to our understanding of the Bible, then correctly handling the Bible involves placing scripture in the proper context.
As stated in the previous section, God was teaching ancient Israel the importance of reverence, and God required that they tithe to do that.
God was not addressing Christians in any way. Through the Mosaic Law, God dealt with His people; His people being ancient Israel. The Mosaic Law is described as a schoolmaster.
Galatians 3:24
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Who was being schooled through the Law?
Ancient Israel.
The pastor is correct that God was teaching His people. But in this instance, it is not Christians who were being taught.
How to Receive Old Testament Blessings
Finally, the pastor suggests that tithing is how God’s people receive blessings. Part of the tithing hoax within the Christian church is that tithing produces blessings. But scripture is clear that tithing alone does not result in blessings. The tithe became a commandment under the Mosaic Law. Under the Law, ancient Israel had to follow ALL the commandments of the Law to receive God’s blessings.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2, NIV
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:
Verses 3 – 14 list all the blessings the Lord promised ancient Israel if it kept ALL the commandments, not just the tithe commandment. Even if Christians were required to tithe, as a Christian, you would have to tithe according to the Mosaic Law and follow all 613 commandments of the Law.
Under the Mosaic Law (Old Covenant), tithing alone will NOT yield blessings.
Outsmart the False Teachers
Discover the hidden truth about tithes the prosperity preachers don’t want you to know.👉👉 Click here.
