.
There are a number of specialized tithe terms some may not be clear
about; here they are:
At
this juncture it would be well to define several terms. Part of the
uncertainty which some have regarding the tithe derives from a misunderstanding
of the meaning of certain words.
Income
and increase
This was discussed earlier in some detail. Each is the money you receive
in wages, gifts, or increase of any kind. "Increase" is today
the broader term, for it is easier to recognize that it can include
other things received each month, beside salary checks. The tithe is a
tenth of this income or increase.
"He
[God] claims as His just due a tenth of their income, be it large or
small. "-Evangelism, 250-251.
"The
consecration to God of a tithe of all increase.
. tended to keep fresh before the people the truth of God's ownership of
all and of their opportunity to channels of His blessings."
-Education, 44.
"Besides
the tithe, the Lord demands the first fruits of all our increase.
These He has reserved in order that His work in the earth may be amply
sustained." -6 Testimonies, 384.
PossessionsThis
is the sum total of what you own. There are one or two references to the
idea that tithe should be paid on possessions. This may refer to when a
person initially becomes a tithe payer. But little further explanation
is given.
"As
did Abraham, they are to pay tithe of all they possess and all they
receive. A faithful tithe is the Lord's portion. To withhold it is to
rob God. Every man should freely and willingly bring tithes and
offerings into the storehouse of the Lord, because in so doing there is
a blessing. There is no safety in withhold from God His own
portion."-Medical Ministry, 216.
MeansThis
refers to the money you have (without defining what it includes), which
you return to the Lord in tithes and offerings. (It can also include the
means you have [i.e. cash, liquid assets, even other possessions],
from which the tithes and offerings are taken.)
In
order to deny the validity of certain statements, it is claimed that
"means" only includes offerings. However, the inspired
statements definitely can apply the word to tithes, and to tithes and
offerings. The tithes and offerings given can be "means"
given; the tithes and offerings, upon being placed in the treasury, can
be "means" received with which to do the Lord's work. Here are
a few examples of both usages:
"Should
means flow into the treasury exactly according to God's plana tenth
of all the increase, there would be abundance to carry forward His
work. "-Evangelism, 252.
"If
all, both rich and poor, would bring their tithes into the storehouse,
there would be a sufficient supply of means."- 4 Testimonies,
475.
"In
view of this the Lord commands us, 'Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house;' that is, a surplus of
means in the treasury."-Review, Vol. 2, 18.
"If
all would be prompt in paying an honest tithe to the Lord, which is
His portion, the treasury would not lack for means." Counsels on
Stewardship, 95.
"If
all of our people paid a faithful tithe, there would be more means in
the treasury." -Review, Vol. 4, 507.
"God
has given special direction as to the use of the tithe. He does not
design that His work shall be crippled for want of means." Gospel
Workers, 224.
"With
an increase of numbers would come an increase of tithe, providing means
to carry the message to other places. "-Pamphlet, No. 67; 9
Ralph
Larson made a special study of the matter and located 168 Spirit of
Prophecy passages in which the tithe is identified as
"means." Why would anyone wish to deny that the
"means" can include the sacred tithe? The reason is certain
problematic passages, such as this one:
"Do
not worry lest some means shall go direct to those who are trying to do
missionary work in a quiet and effective way. All the means is not
to be handled by one agency or organization."--Spalding-Magan
Unpublished Testimonies, 421.
The
context of that statement is a reproof to denominational leaders and
workers, for attempting to monopolize collection and control of the
tithes and gifts, which the members pay out. Later in this book, we will
discover many other passages dealing with the same concept.
FirstfruitsThis
appears at times to be equivalent to the tithes, and sometimes an addition
to it. Although not a controverted phrase, since it is found in tithing
paragraphs, we note it here.
The
following passage nicely summarizes the rounded concept:
"The
tithe was set apart for the support of those who ministered in the
sanctuary. It was to be given from the first fruits of all the
increase, and, with gifts and offerings, it provided ample means for
supporting the ministry of the gospel for that time. .
"God
requires no less of us than He required of His people anciently. . In
the tithe, with gifts and offerings, God has made ample provision for
this work. .
"He
says, I am the owner of the world; the universe is Mine, and I
require you to consecrate to My service the first fruits of all
that I, through My blessing, have caused to come into your hands. God's
Word declares, 'Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe
fruits.' 'Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits
of all thine increase.' This tribute He demands as a token of our
loyalty to Him." -Counsels on Stewardship, 71- 72.
In
the above passage, we learn that, as the first fruits of the harvest
were anciently offered to God, we today are to return the tithe. So, in
symbol today, the tithe can be called the first fruits.
In
the following paragraph, the tithe is also called the first fruits.
"Not
only does the Lord claim the tithe as His own, but He tells us how it
should be reserved for Him. He says, 'Honor the Lord with thy substance,
and with the first fruits of all thine increase.' This does not teach
that we are to spend our means on ourselves, and bring to the Lord the
remnant, even though it should be otherwise an honest tithe. Let God's
portion be first set apart." -Counsels on Stewardship, 81.
In
the following passage, "first fruits" is likened to the
total of the tithes and offerings we return to God.
"Not
only should they render the Lord the portion that belongs to Him [the
tithe], but they should bring also to His treasury, as a gratitude
offering [the offerings], a liberal tribute. With joyful hearts they
should dedicate to the Creator the first fruits of their bounties.
"-Acts of the Apostles, 339-340.
In
this passage, "first fruits" may refer only to the offerings,
which are brought with the tithe to the Lord.
"If
all would pay a faithful tithe and devote to the Lord the first fruits
of their increase, there would be a full supply of funds for His
work."-6 Testimonies, 385.
Thus
we see that "first fruits" is a generalized term, referring
to either or all of the tithes and gifts which we bring to our kind
heavenly Father. Why can it apply to the tithe and/or offerings?
because they are taken out of the income first and are dedicated to the
Lord. Since "first fruits" was a generalized term in the time
of the Hebrews, it can be so used today. The first of the barley harvest
was the first fruits; the first of the wheat harvest was also. So either
one, or both considered together, constituted the first fruits.
Set
aside, take out, set apartThe
tithe must be taken out of the income as soon as we total it up, before
allocating any portion for other needs or expenses. It is well that
offerings also be set aside at this time. However, more can be given
later in public gatherings, as the Lord guides.
Return,
render, payThe
tithe belongs to the Lord, and we are only returning it to Him. Never
think it is a gift. It is not; it is His due.
Into
the storehouse. Into the treasuryThis
is a highly controverted point, yet need not be; for it is clearly
defined in the Spirit of Prophecy.
When
the tithe has been set aside from the income, it should then be returned
to God. We do this by placing it in the "treasury," or
"storehouse," In the process of figuring out the usage of
these two words, we learn a lot:
First,
the Biblical background is this:
The
first usage of the word, "treasury," is in Joshua:
"But
all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated
unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the
Lord,"--Joshua 6:19.
Henceforth,
throughout the Bible (which comprises six verses), "treasury,"
in the singular, always refers to the place where the funds
consecrated to the Lord were kept, until they were disbursed.
Second,
the Biblical usage of "storehouse," in the singular, is
equally simple, It is mentioned only twice. Only the first applies to
our subject: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the
Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour
you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive
it."-Malachi 3:10.
The
metaphor here concerns bringing produce to the Lord, so it can be
placed in His granary or food warehouse, If we do this, He promises
to bless the rest of our crops (Malachi 3: 11). The promise is
remarkable in its scope: If we will bring the tithes into God's
storehouse, He will fill ours.
Thus,
we find that, for us, storehouse and treasury have essentially the same
meaning.
Here
are some samples of where our tithe is to be placed:
He
claims the tithe as His own, and it should ever be regarded as a sacred
reserve, to be placed in His treasury for the benefit of His
cause, He asks also for our freewill gifts and offerings of
gratitude." -Christ's Object Lessons, 300.
"Should
means flow into the treasury exactly according to God's plana tenth
of all the increase,there would be abundance to carry forward His
work,"-5 Testimonies, 150.
"Let
every dollar not needed for your comfort flow into the
treasury,"-5 Testimonies, 156.
Quite
consistently, we are told to bring the tithe to the
"treasury," or the "storehouse." (She uses the word
"treasury" by far the most frequently.)
The
Spirit of Prophecy wording is always astonishingly precise, and so we
find it to be here also: We are never told to give the tithe to the
local church, We are never told to give it at camp meeting, We are never
told to give it to the conference. We are never told to give it to the
Adventist denomination.
Instead,
one or the other of two allinclusive synonyms are used: the treasury
and the storehouse. Reading every Spirit of Prophecy passage on this
matter, you will find that, according to the Spirit of Prophecy,
whatever we give to the Lordhowever we give it or wherever we give
itit always goes into the Lord's treasury and storehouse. Having
arrived there, it is to be used "in His cause," for the
advancement of "His work."
Aside
from providing for our own needs, our money can be placed in only one of
two store-houses.
"There
are only two places in the world where we can deposit our treasuresin
God's storehouse or in Satan's, and all that is not devoted to
Christ's service is counted on Satan's side and goes to strengthen his
cause."-6 Testimonies, 448.
The
controversy over the "treasury" results from the contention of
church leaders, that all tithe must be remitted into the local church
and thence into the conference officeor it has not gone into the
treasury.
If
this concept were correct, no tithe could be validly paid anywhere else,
However, we will learn that, for years, Ellen White regularly paid her
tithe outside the "regular lines," as she called them; that
is, outside the regular denomination channels.
In
addition, in the Watson letter (which we will later analyze), she
distinctly defined the "treasury" as including tithe paid
directly to independent ministries which were not supported by the
denomination and which, indeed, church leaders did not want to see
succeed.
Here
is a sample paragraph from the Watson Letter:
"I
have myself appropriated my tithe to the most needy cases brought to my
notice. I have been instructed to do this; and as the money is not
withheld from the Lord's treasury, it is not a matter that should be
commented upon [negatively] . . I commend those sisters who have placed
their tithe where it is most needed to help to do a work that is being
left undone." - EGW letter, dated January 22, 1905 (Letter 267,
1905), to Elder G. F. Watson,
president of the Colorado Conference (Spalding-Magan Unpublished
Testimonies, 215.
Tithe
investments
These are stock, bond, and securities investments, in the millions of
dollars, maintained and regularly added to by conferences and the
General Conference, for the purpose of providing an emergency fund, spanning
a year or two of worker salaries, and providing a place to store
retirement funds. (For more on this see The Church and the Stock Market
[AS-14-16 ] and Why Is Our Church in the Stock Market? [AS-44], in our
Finances Tractbook.)
Prior
to his bankruptcy on Wednesday, July 22, 1981, quite sizeable amounts of
tithe had also been invested with Donald J. Davenport. (For more on this
see The Davenport Syndrome [AS-3-13, 17-20], in our Finances Tractbook.
It is the most complete analysis of that crisis ever written, in which
$20 million in church funds were lost.)
Tithe
misappropriationThis
occurs when a church entity uses tithe funds for non-tithe purposes. An
example occurred from the late 1970s on into the early 1990s, when the
Lake Region Conference purchased a shopping center with tithe, and
then kept dumping more and more into the project, which resulted in
lawsuits against them. (For more on this see our several tract studies
on the Lake Region crisis, in our Finances Tractbook, and also our
92-page Lake Region Documentary Tractbook.)
Tithe
launderingThis
happens when tithe is routed through special, irrelevant funds in order
to provide extra income for church leaders. One example was, in the
fall of 1990, when hundreds of thousands of dollars were routed through
the Columbia Union Conference "Worthy Student Fund, "
directly to the incoming presidents of the General Conference and
North American Division (Robert Folkenberg and Al McClure) for housing,
furnishings and wife stay-at-home salaries. Because the activity,
which began within weeks after their election, was gradually becoming
more widely known, it was terminated on June 20, 1991. Ronald Wisbey,
the Columbia Union Conference president through whose office the money
was passed, was rewarded shortly afterward with a remarkably high-paying
job, which previously did not exist: liaison between AHS/Nema and the
Columbia Union. (For more on this see "The Worthy Student Fund,
" chapter 8, pp. 25-28, in our book, Collision Course.)
Tithe
returnThis
is the requirement, voted in December 1992 at the Year-End Meeting of
the North American Division, that all officially recognized independent
ministries (such as Voice of Prophecy, Faith for Today, Amazing Facts,
Adventist Pioneer Missions, etc.) must take all known tithe received and
secretly send it back to the conference office over the territory in
which the donor lives! This form of tithe misappropriation is both
secretive and deceptive. The boards of all officially recognized
ministries (including those named above) voted soon after to immediately
begin obeying these orders. For more on this, see Appendix 7: The NAD
Tithe Misappropriation Policy and Appendix 8: The R. W. Nixon
Statement.)
Tithe
exchange This
is the practice, done in treasury offices, of magically transforming
tithe funds into non-tithe funds, so they can be used for a wider
variety of projects. Tithe reversion is a form of it. (For more on
this, see Appendix 5: What Is Tithe Exchange? Tithe exchange is also
mentioned in a 1984 Annual Council official statement, reprinted on
page 4 of Appendix 6: An Improper Council Action.)
Tithe
reversionThis
is an unusual arrangement, which is not mentioned in the Spirit of
Prophecy. It is something of a manufactured device to enable
conferences, unions, and divisions to use tithe for non-tithe
purposes.
While
I was in the Adventist ministry, I, along with every other minister in
the Pacific Union, attended its quadrennial session, held that year in
the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco where, with only two exceptions,
our General Conference Sessions were held from 1918 to 1954.
While
at the session, we were all handed copies of the PUC quadrennial
Financial Report. One page of this four-year financial statement was
titled, "Tithe Reversion," and listed amounts reverted by the
union to local conferences. A brief explanatory paragraph was bold
enough to explain that a percentage of the 10 percent of conference
tithe, sent on to the union office, was routinely remitted back to the
conferences to use for non-tithe purposes. The tithe reversion program
was large enough that it required a full page of detailed financial
data.
Tithe
given to the local church is sent to the local conference where it is
placed in a common tithe account, with disbursements being paid out to
ministers, etc., in the conference. Ten percent is sent on to the union,
which reverts a portion to the local conferences (tithe reversion).
Another percentage is sent on to the General Conference. All General
Conference expenses, including lawsuits, are paid from that tithe (see
Appendix 8: The R. W. Nixon Statement). A portion is sent overseas.
Tithe
diversionWhen
tithe is not used for a tithe purpose, but used instead for a non-tithe
purpose, it has been diverted. If the tithe is used to buy drums for a
youth congress, for example, it has been diverted.
Tithe
appropriationWhen
tithe funds are allocated to a specific location or use, they are
appropriated. This can be done in two ways:
1
- The conference can allocate some to the union conference, and can
appropriate others directly to local pastors' salaries.
2-
The individual tithe payer can appropriate the funds, by sending them
directly to an independent ministry, etc.
Ellen
White appropriated her tithe by sending it, for years, directly to
workers outside the organization.
"I
have myself appropriated my tithe to the most needy cases brought to my
notice.
I have been instructed to do this; and as the money is not withheld from
the Lord's treasury, it is not a matter that should be commented
upon."-Letter, dated January 22, 1905, to Elder G.F. Watson,
president of the Colorado Conference (Spalding-Magan Unpublished
Testimonies, 215.
We
will observe in the information to follow, that either pattern can be
followed.
If
the tithe is sent to the conference to be disbursed, the individual
tithe payer bears a responsibility that, to the best of his knowledge,
it will be properly used.
If
the tithe is sent directly to an independent ministry, the tithe payer
has a responsibility that, to the best of his knowledge, it will be
properly used.
How
can he know such matters? Surely, he does not have divine wisdom. He can
only know by the actions of the organizations or ministries in question:
what they say, what they do, and how they conduct themselves. In other
words, as Jesus said, "By their fruits ye shall know them."
And,
frankly, over a period of time such matters become quite obvious.
One
might imagine that it is dangerous to pay tithe anywhere! But not so.
The faithful child of God bows down on his knees and pleads with God for
guidance as to where he shall send his tithe. His wonderful Father gives
him answers, and he rises from his knees knowing where it is to go!
Paying tithe is like every activity in life; it requires thoughtful
prayer and careful actions. He has the ongoing assurance from Heaven
that he is doing the right thing, when he pays his tithe, wherever it is
that he sends it.
The
problems arise (whether with the conference or independent ministries)
when tithe is sent out that has not been prayed over first. We cannot
expect God to guide us in our decisions as to where to send it, if we do
not ask for His help.
But,
wherever our tithe is sentin the denomination or to an independent
ministry,we still bear a responsibility.
"God
desires to bring men into direct relation with Himself. In all His
dealings with human beings He recognizes the principle of personal
responsibility. He seeks to encourage a sense of personal
responsibility. He seeks to encourage a sense of personal dependence,
and to impress the need of personal guidance. His gifts are committed
to men as individuals. Every man has been made a steward of sacred
trusts; each is to discharge his trust according to the direction of
the Giver; and by each an account of his stewardship must be rendered
to God."-7 Testimonies, 1 76
According
to that, you and I will be responsible for how everything we give to
the Lord's work, regardless of whether we do the deciding as to where it
will go or we let a committee decide for us. God wants us to,
individually, go to Him and plead for guidance as to what we should do
with those sacred funds we must disburse.
Tithe
WithholdingThis
is also a very controversial phrase. It has a right to be, for you
will find that a large number of Spirit of Prophecy passages focus on
this topic.
Here
is the key to understanding this word, "withholding":
It is not talking about where you send it; it is speaking about keeping
it back and not paying it at all.
"Hasten,
my brethren and sisters, to bring to God a faithful tithe, and to bring
Him, also a willing thank offering. There are many who will not be
blessed till they make restitution of the tithe, which they have
withheld. God is waiting for you to redeem the past."-Counsels
on Stewardship, 87.
We
are here discussing the most fundamental duty of all: We are not to
withhold the tithe; we are to pay it. We are not to keep it for ourselves;
we are to pay it out. It must be used to help defend the faith, guide
the flock, or win souls. As we have already learned, according to the
Spirit of Prophecy, this may be done by giving it to a church, a
ministry, or sharing truth-filled books with the lost.
To
withhold tithe is to keep it back and use it for yourself; to withhold
tithe is to not pay it out at all. That is the subject of Malachi
3:8-11, which calls it "robbery."
"All
that is withheld of that which God claims, the tenth of the
increase, is recorded in the books of heaven against the withholders,
as robbery."-3 Testimonies, 394.
"Hasten,
my brethren and sisters, to bring to God a faithful tithe, and to
bring Him also a willing thank offering. There are many who will not be
blessed till they make restitution of the tithe which they have withheld.-Counsels
on Stewardship, 87.
To
withhold the tithe is to appropriate it to yourself.
"Whoever
appropriates to his own use the portion that God has reserved,
is proving himself an unfaithful steward. He will lose not only that
which he has withheld from God, but also that which was committed to him
as his own.-Counsels on Stewardship, 88.
Why
is there a controversy over this word? It is because certain church
leaders charge that to pay tithe to any location outside the local
church is to "withhold" one's tithe. Yet this is not true.
To
withhold tithe is to not pay it at all.
In
her letter to Elder Watson, Ellen White said
she had been paying her tithe outside the denominational regular
channels for years; and that, in doing this, she had not withheld it,
but had placed it in the Lord's treasury.
"I
have myself appropriated my tithe to the most needy cases brought to my
notice. I have been instructed to do this, and as the money is not
withheld from the Lord's treasury, it is not a matter that should
be commented upon [negatively] . .I commend those sisters who have
placed their tithe where it is most needed to help to do a work that is
being left undone. -Letter, dated January 22, 1905, to Elder G. F.
Watson, president of the Colorado Conference (Spalding-Magan Unpublished
Testimonies, 215.
Gospel
workers and the ministryThese
are also controverted terms. There are those who contend that the only
genuine ministry are Seventh-day Adventist denominational ministers
who hold current credentials with the conference. Oh, that the matter
were as simple as that. Unfortunately, with the increasing doctrinal and
standards crisis in our denomination, a number of true ministers are
now working outside the denominational payroll.
There
is an abundance of Bible and Spirit of Prophecy evidence that, in the
sight of God, the true ministers of God are those who defend, teach,
promote, and proclaim the teachings of the Inspired Scriptures. The
issue is not organizational employment and control, but purity of
dedication in teaching and life.
Ministers
who do not do this are false ministers. According to the Spirit of
Prophecy, when the tithe is given to the true ministers of God, it has
been allocated to the very workers which the tithe is supposed to go
to.
Will you please explain 9 Testimonies, 246 to 250?
These
are the passages, which are repeatedly pointed to, whenever someone pays
the tithe outside of church-controlled entities. There are seven of
these passages
The
first passage is speaking about using the tithe for one's secular
business operation instead of paying it to those defending and
promoting the Scriptural truth for this time.
"That
which has been set apart according to the Scriptures as belonging to the
Lord constitutes the revenue of the gospel and is no longer ours. It
is no better than sacrilege for a man to take from God's treasury in
order to serve himself or to serve others in their secular business.
Some have been at fault in diverting from the altar of God that which
has been especially dedicated to Him.
All
should regard this matter in the right light. Let no one, when
brought into a strait place, take money consecrated to religious
purposes and use it for his advantage, soothing his conscience by saying
that he will repay it at some future time. Far better cut down the
expenses to correspond with the income, to restrict the wants, and live
within the means than to use the Lord's money for secular purposes."-9
Testimonies, 246-247.
It
has been said that this passage applies to those who pay their tithe to
ministers who are not denominational workers. Yet that is not what this
passage is talking about at all.
The
second passage is about using the tithe for something other than what it
is to be used forthe ministry of the Word.
"The
portion that God has reserved for Himself is not to be diverted to any
other purpose than that which He has specified. Let none feel at liberty
to retain their tithe, to use according to their own judgment. They
are not to use it for themselves in an emergency, nor to apply it as
they see fit, even in what they may regard as the Lord's work."-9
Testimonies, 247.
The
tithe is only to be used for the purpose, which God has specified. That
is the theme of this passage. It is not to be used for any other
purpose. It is not to be withheld and used for one's self, even in a
time of emergency. It is not to be applied toward something thought
to be "the Lord's workwhich (according to the beginning of
the paragraph) is "any other purpose than that which He has
specified."
I
recall a man who used his tithe to pay for a booth at a fair ground,
where he sold worthwhile books. He thought he was using the tithe for
what he regarded as "the Lord's work." Another man diverted
his tithe to paying rent on a shop, in which, along with his business,
he handed out missionary books.
Earlier
in this book, we carefully listed the things which God's Word said the
tithe can and cannot be used for. We must stick with them. The tithe is
not to be used for other things.
But
it cannot be that "not to . . apply it as they see fit, even in
what they may regard as the Lord's work" means that the layman
cannot decide the ministry that his tithe is to go to. Such a concept
would run entirely contrary to the practice of Ellen White, for years,
and her encouragement to others, for years, to do the same. More on
this later in this book.
The
third passage concerns the minister in the local church who takes part
or all, of the tithe, turned in to him, and puts it into a scheme of
some kind or uses it to fatten his own income.
"The
minister should, by precept and example, teach the people to regard
the tithe as sacred. He should not feel that he can retain and
apply it according to his own judgment because he is a minister. It is
not his. He is not at liberty to devote to himself whatever he thinks is
his due. He should not give his influence to any plans for diverting
from their legitimate use the tithes and offerings dedicated to God.
They are to be placed in His treasury and held sacred for His service as
He has appointed."-9 Testimonies, 247-248.
Such
a pastor, as described above, has be come a hireling who lives to care
for himself.
The
fourth passage concerns trying to use some alternate plan other than
that of giving one-tenth of one's income.
"God
desires all His stewards to be exact in following divine arrangements.
They are not to offset the Lord's plans by performing some deed of
charity or giving some gift or some offering when or how they, the human
agents, shall see fit. It is a very poor policy for men to seek to
improve on God's plan, and invent a makeshift, averaging up their good
impulses on this and that occasion, and offsetting them against
[substituting them for obedience to] God's requirements. God calls upon
all to give their influence to His own arrangement. He has made His plan
known, and all who would cooperate with Him must carry out this plan
instead of daring to attempt an improvement on it." -9 Testimonies,
248.
Some
people think that they are only to give on impulse. They think it too
constricting to follow a 10 percent plan. They believe they have found a
better way. But they are not following God's way. Abel brought the
offering God required while Cain brought a makeshift of his own
devising.
The
fifth passage concerns diverting the tithe to some other purpose than
the one God intendedschools, colporteur salaries, etc.instead of
to the men who defend and proclaim the message of obedience to God.
A
very plain, definite message has been given to me for our people. I am
bidden to tell them that they are making a mistake in applying the tithe
to various objects which, though good in themselves, are not the object
to which the Lord has said that the tithe should be applied. Those who
make this use of the tithe are departing from the Lord's arrangement.
God will judge for these things.
"One
reasons that the tithe may be applied to school purposes. Still others
reason that canvassers and colporteurs should be supported from the
tithe. But a great mistake is made when the tithe is drawn from the
object for which it is to be used, the support of the
ministers."-9
Testimonies, 248-249.
Note
that this passage, like the others, is referring to the purpose the
tithe is used fornot the route through which it goes. Ellen White had
a remarkable amount to say on that subject, as we will discover shortly.
The
sixth passage concerns flat-out withholding the tithe entirely, and not
paying it at all.
"Some
have been dissatisfied and have said: 'I will not longer pay my tithe,
for I have no confidence in the way things are managed at the heart of
the work.' But will you rob God because you think the management
of the work is not right? Make your complaint, plainly and openly, in
the right spirit, to the proper ones. Send in your petitions for
things to be adjusted and set in order; but do not withdraw
from the work of God, and prove unfaithful, because others are not doing
right."-9 Testimonies, 249.
It
is said that this proves that we must pay our tithe into an
organization, even though it may not be using the tithe properly;
even though preachers are known adulterers or have un-Biblically
divorced and remarried; even though they are operating Celebration
churches, conducting meditation sessions, teaching that it is all right
to sin, and leading out in carnivals while encouraging the youth to
lower their standards. On and on the list may go, yet we are locked into
giving tithe to the support of such men.
No,
no, the above passage does not support that inglorious error!
Instead,
it says this: Do not stop paying tithe. Send in complaints, if
you wish; but do not stop paying tithe. That is the message of that paragraph.
As
in all her writings, it leaves indefinite where the tithe must go:
Pay your tithe and do not withdraw from the work of God. It does not
say, "Do not stop paying it to the conference, and instead start
paying it somewhere else." That is not the subject of that
paragraph at all.
Instead,
as we shall soon discover, Ellen White gave her repeated blessing to
those who would pay their tithe outside the regular channels,
"where it is most needed to help to do a work that is being left
undone. "
It
has been suggested that, after sending in the complaint, you are
thereafter required to continue sending in the tithe, even though the
corruption continues. That is not Scriptural! We are not to support
error and call it godliness.
Instead,
it means, "Keep paying your tithe. Send in a complaint and pray
that it will be received. But keep paying tithe to God's work" If
necessary, send it somewhere else where the work is being carried on
properly, but do not stop paying tithe. Tithe paying is part of your
basic contract with heaven (see Appendix 2: Our Contract with God).
If
the conference work is such that you feel you can no longer support it
and, when you submit a complaint and corrective changes are not .
made, then, as God guides, send your tithe to a different area, where
"God's work" is still being properly carried on.
The
seventh passage concerns diverting the tithe to purposes other than
that of the support of the true ministers.
"There
should be an abundant supply in the Lord's treasury, and there would be
if selfish hearts and hands had not withheld the tithes or made use of
them to support other lines of work.
"God's
reserved resources are to be used in no such haphazard way. The tithe is
the Lord's, and those who meddle with it will be punished with the loss
of their heavenly treasure unless they repent. Let the work no longer
be hedged up because the tithe has been diverted into various channels
other than the one to which the Lord has said it should go. Provision is
to be made for these other lines of work. They are to be sustained, but
not from the tithe. God has not changed; the tithe is still to be
used for the support of the ministry,"-9 Testimonies, 249-250.
The
last sentence explains it all. The passage is not referring to paying
tithe into the conference rather than to ministers outside of it.
It is talking about paying tithe for non-tithe purposes, which are
schools, housing, canvassers, poor funds, tuition, etc. The theme of
these entire five pages (246-250) is about withholding tithe and
diverting it to non-tithe purposes, such as a business firm, school
tuition, and canvasser support.
That
concludes the seven passages in Testimonies 246-250.
"It
would be poor policy to support from the treasury of God those
who really mar and injure His work, and who are constantly lowering the
standard of Christianity."-3 Testimonies, 553
"There
are fearful woes for those who preach the truth, but are not sanctified
by it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the
unsanctified to minister to them in word and doctrine. "-1
Testimonies, 261-262
CONTINUE
PART 5
BOOKSTORE