A Warrior’s Armor

A Warrior’s Armor
by Ronald W Robey

Many pastors, in an attempt to prove that men should not dress like women, will often use Deuteronomy 22:5 as their “proof-text”.  

Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

If one looks at the Hebrew from which the English was translated, one will discover that the verse is not saying what many Pastors today want it to say.

Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

The Hebrew from which the word “man” is translated is the word גֶּבֶר geber. (pronounced gheh’-ber) It means, “a valiant man; a warrior”.

Had Moses been speaking of man in general, he would have used the word “adam”. (pronounced ah-dahm) Instead, Moses used the word for a valiant man, a warrior.

What is it that a warrior wears? He wears battle armor, correct? So the admonishment is that a woman is not supposed to put on battle armor.

But, is there further proof to substantiate this thought? I believe there is,… and I believe that proof is also found in Deuteronomy 22:5.

The word “pertaineth” is translated from the Hebrew “k@liy”. (pronounced kel-ee) The primary definition is “something prepared”. There are several secondary definitions given for the Hebrew word “k@liy”. Interestingly, one of those definitions for “k@liy” is “armour”

I believe the admonishment is for women not to put on battle armor to go to war. Likewise, the warrior is not to put on the dress of the woman in an attempt to neglect his duty as a soldier.

There are other verses that do tell us that males in general should not dress up like women. The strongest argument against men “cross-dressing” is found in the first epistle to the saints at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The word “effeminate” is speaking of those men who would put on the dress of a woman. Those that do such “shall not inherit the Kingdom of God”.

 

Fleecing the Flock? or Crutching?

Fleecing the Flock? or Crutching?
by Ronald W Robey

Many people say that a Pastor is “fleecing the flock” when he takes monetary tithes of them.

 

Wayne, a sheep rancher who doesn’t believe the monetary tithe requirement lie, once informed me that “fleecing” is not what is taking place when the pastor takes monetary “tithes” of his congregation.

 

When only a small percentage of wool is taken from the sheep, (usually around the tail and between the legs, although sometimes from the head) it is called “crutching”. “Fleecing” is the act of shearing the sheep from head to hoof.

 

When a Pastor takes tithes of his congregation, it is the equivalent of “crutching,” taking a percentage of their money.  Of course, many pastors do “fleece” their flocks with three, four, five, and even six offerings collected above the “tithe”.

 

Forced Tithes and Offerings Often Bring Sorrows

Forced Tithes and Offerings Often Bring Sorrows

by Ronald W Robey

 

2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

When one looks into the definition of the words used in 2 Corinthians 9:7, one can better understand the author’s intent when he wrote the verse.

 

“as he purposeth”

 

The word “purposeth” is translated from the Greek, “proaireomai”. ( pronounced pro-ahee-reh’-om-ahee) It means, “to choose for oneself before another thing (prefer), i.e. (by implication) to propose (intend):—purpose.”

 

When needs arise, man is supposed to “choose” for himself the amount that he wishes to give.

 

“not grudgingly”.

 

The word “grudgingly” is translated from the Greek, “lupe”. (pronounced “loo-pay” It means, “sadness:—grief, grievous, + grudgingly, heaviness, sorrow.”

 

Forced offerings, (offerings dictated or coerced by others instead of by individual choice) often bring grief, heaviness and sorrow upon the one that is forced to give. This is due to the fact that “forced” offerings often leave the giver struggling to meet debts outside of the church environment, such as; house rent, (many have been evicted after being made to feel guilty if they do not put ten percent of their monetary income into an offering plate as tithe

 

Many are threatened with curses (as if God will actually curse one who has been bought by the shed blood of Jesus Christ) if they do not tithe their monetary income to the local religious institution they attend.

 

Other household needs are often neglected due to “forced” offerings. Ofttimes, electricity is cut off due to there not being enough to meet the bill; families often have to go hungry longer than they should; cars repossessed, checks bounce,… after people were forced to place money that could have otherwise met their needs,… into an offering plate at their local religious institution.

 

Many pastors that teach that God requires monetary tithes could care less that many needs of members of their flocks are neglected. Many members, after tithing, are indeed brought to a time of sorrow in their homes.

 

Brethren, this should not be. If the intent of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 9:7 is not enough to convince you that pastors teaching a monetary tithe requirement is totally wrong, then maybe the words in the previous chapter will:

 

2 Corinthians 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

2 Corinthians 8:13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

 

One’s giving should be based on what one can afford to give,… not what he cannot afford to give. His giving should not be such that others are eased, and the giver himself left struggling to meet his own bills.

 

There is no mandatory tithe requirement for the saved in Christ Jesus. Instead, they are to give as they are able to give and of their own free will and volition.

 

The requirement to tithe was never given to the New Covenant Body of Believer’s in Christ Jesus. Nor was it to be imposed upon them.

 

The command to tithe was given to the children of Israel to be observed in the land of Canaan and nowhere else.

 

Deuteronomy 12:1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.

 

Deuteronomy 12:10 But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;

Deuteronomy 12:11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

 

Imposed on the Biblical Text

Imposed on the Biblical Text

by Ronald W Robey

 

The monetary tithe requirement doctrine being taught in pulpits worldwide is totally foreign to the word of God.

 

God’s word is clear,…

 

 

Abram’s tithe was of war spoils, not of his monetary income.

The children of Israel’s tithe was of agricultural increase, not of their monetary income.

 

In order to teach that one must tithe one’s monetary income, one must impose a monetary tithe requirement on the Biblical text.

 

In order to teach that one is robbing God if one does not tithe one’s monetary income, one has to impose a monetary income tithe requirement on the Biblical text.

 

In order to teach that one is cursed if one does not tithe one’s monetary income, one must impose a monetary income tithe requirement on the Biblical text..

 

Proverbs 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

 

 

 

 

The Tither’s Foolish “Curse”

The Tither’s Foolish “Curse”
by Ronald W Robey

Pastors have been entrusted with flocks to lead, (1 Peter 5:1-4) However many have abused that privilege and have handled the word of God deceitfully.

They teach their flocks to believe unScriptural doctrines, such as the doctrine that people are cursed if they do not tithe their monetary income. The deceived members of the flock then turn around and repeat their ungodly indoctrination to the ears of people who are not tithing their monetary income.

In pronouncing a curse upon those who are not tithing their monetary income, they are unwittingly placing a curse upon Jesus Christ, His Apostles, and every saint in the New Testament Epistles as well.

How are they pronouncing a curse upon Jesus Christ, His Apostles, and ever saint in the New Testament Epistles? The same way they pronounce a curse upon non tither-s today.

For, you see, neither Jesus Christ, nor His Apostles, nor any saint mentioned in the New Testament Epistles are said to have ever tithed their monetary income. Therefore, if people are truly cursed for not tithing their monetary income as people in the monetary income tithe camp claim, then surely Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and every saint in the New Testament Epistles are cursed a well.

Before I am accused of trying to curse Jesus Christ, let me assure you I have not and never will. Nor have I attempted to curse His Apostles nor have I attempted to curse any saint in the New Testament Epistles.

It is the pro-tither’s who are placing the curse upon them.

 

Exposing a Pastor’s Dishonesty

Exposing a Pastor’s Dishonesty

by Ronald W Robey

 

DECEPTION: “Jesus is after the order of Melchizedek; since Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham we are supposed to tithe our monetary income to the Lord Jesus.”

 

TRUTH: Jesus is after the order of Melchizedek. However, the tithes Melchizedek received in Genesis 14:20 were not from Abraham’s monetary income. Nor were the tithes Melchizedek received from Abraham’s wages for his work.

 

The tithes that Melchizedek received from Abraham were from the spoils of war. Abraham did not even claim the spoils as his own property. Abram promised God that he would not take the spoils as his own lest the king of Sodom have occasion to boast that he had made Abraham rich. (see Genesis 14:16-23; Hebrews 7:4)

 

Therefore, it is absolutely dishonest for any pastor to insist that monetary income is to be tithed today “because Abraham tithed”. There is no connection between the elements of Abraham’s tithe and the monetary income tithe that pastor’s are teaching their congregations today.

 

Square Pegs are not Meant for Round Holes

Square Pegs are not Meant for Round Holes

by Ronald W Robey

 

When you attempt to put a square peg in a round hole, the peg will not go in the hole without forcefully thrusting it in via a hammer or other hard object.

 

When the square peg is forced in the round hole, both the square peg and the round hole are damaged. They are no longer perfect.

 

The same is true when one attempts to place the Old Testament tithe in the New Covenant Church.

 

The Old Testament tithe does not belong in the New Covenant Church. Yet, many Pastor’s force the tithe into the Church by handling the word of God deceitfully.

 

They will read Leviticus 27:30 to their congregation, bringing their congregation’s focus on the words, “The tithe is the LORD’s; it is holy unto the LORD.” They will read Malachi 3:10 to their congregation, bringing their congregation’s focus on “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,” claiming that the local church is the storehouse.

 

The truth is, the church is not the storehouse. The storehouse was a three-tiered structure attached to the Temple in Jerusalem. God never authorized anyone to relocate the destination of His holy tithe to be a religious institution doing business as a “church” in His word.

 

Further, God never authorized anyone to redefine His holy tithe to be a tithe of monetary income in His word. His commanded holy tithe was to be agricultural.

 

Just as one has to redefine the shape of the square peg and the round hole in order to make them compatible with each other, Pastors have redefined both God’s holy tithe and God’s Church in order to make them compatible with each other.

 

When Pastor’s redefine the tithe, the tithe is no longer God’s tithe,… it is man’s. When Pastor’s redefine the Church, it is no longer God’s Church,… it is man’s.

 

It would be wise for Pastor’s to leave the square peg (the Old Testament tithe) where it belongs. It does not belong in the circle. (the New Covenant Church)

 

It would be wise for Pastor’s to let God be God instead of trying to usurp His authority as to what is His holy tithe and where His holy tithe belongs.