Reply to J. Robert White on Tithing

Dr. J. Robert White April 20, 2012 Executive Director, Georgia Baptist Convention jwhite@gabaptist.org RE: Christian Index, April 19, 2012, page 7 Sir I was born, raised, and saved in the Southern Baptist Church. After questioning a majority teaching of the SBC, I was gradually pushed out rather than given a hearing. First, it disturbs me that your M. Div. and Th. M. are both from the SBC Seminary in Louisville. Since this was before Moehler’s time, I ask “Are you a Calvinist? How many points of Calvinism do you subscribe to?” Secondly, and to the point of my writing, why do you teach tithing when it is not taught in the SBC Faith and Message? Did you know that the texts for tithing were not even included until 1963 and the 1925 had no tithing texts? That should tell you it is a relative recently change of approach. The Mar/Apr 2009 issue of the SBC’s own Facts and Trends Magazine revealed that 20% of SBC pastors do not teach tithing! Being a scholar, your arguments for tithing are first grade level. Do you not know that, in Matthew 23:23 Jesus was: (1) speaking before Calvary in the context of the Law (Gal 4:4-5), (2) speaking about “matters of the law,” (3) speaking to “you, scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites,” and (4) speaking about HOLY tithes which were always only FOOD from inside God’s HOLY land of Israel which He had miraculously increased? In ten years neither you nor anybody else in the GBC or SBC has had the spiritual integrity to dialog with me on this subject. You cannot win. Your hermeneutic is wrong. The truth of God’s Word will prevail. (1) You base your argument on Matthew 23:23 which is not addressed to the church. In fact it would have been SIN if Jesus had accepted tithes for His support. (2) You boast that Abram’s tithe trumps the law when his tithe was only spoils of war, was only paid once, was not commanded by God, was probably in obedience to the law of the land, and following his example would mean giving our 90% to the equivalent to the king of Sodom. (3) Your totally ignore 16 texts which clearly define the HOLY tithe as only FOOD from inside Israel. Why do you do this? “Giving” is an eternal moral principle; tithing is not written in the heart, nature, and conscience. Tithes could not come from what man increased, from Gentiles, or from Gentile lands. (4) You totally ignore Numbers 18:21-24 and Neh 10:37b which assign the whole Levitical tithe first to the Levites who were not the ministers. (5) You totally ignore the fact that Num 18:25-28 and Neh 10:38-39 teach that priests only received one per cent. (6) You totally ignore the fact that those who received the Levitical tithe were, in turn, not allowed to own or inherit property. Yet you dishonestly receive the whole tithe and own your own house and property. (7) We are New Covenant believers. Malachi was only addressed to Israel. Wise up. (8) Your comment “Does God expect us to give less in the New Covenant than in the Old?” is based on the erroneous assumption that every Hebrew in the Old Covenant was required to tithe and began their level of giving at ten per cent. That is a lie and it is SIN to keep on quoting it. Only food producers who lived inside God’s HOLY land of Israel qualified as tithe-payers. Jesus, Peter, and Paul did not qualify. Be honest! Please be a leader and open this subject up to public dialog. Russell Earl Kelly, PHD 6610 Skyview Dr SE Acworth, Ga 30101 770-974-4756 russell-kelly@att.net www.tithing-russkelly.com