Unjust Taxation
by Ronald W Robey
Nehemiah 5:1-13 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
In Nehemiah 5:1-13, we read of how the children of Israel were kept in oppression by unjust taxation. Many had to sell or mortgage land and homes in order to pay to their kings the monies demanded of them.
Nehemiah stepped in and basically said, “Enough is enough! The people are kept in poverty because of your unjust taxation. It has to stop right here, and it has to stop right now.”
And the kings and Priest’s heard Nehemiah’s complaint and complied with his instruction.
Pastors today are guilty of the same thing that the kings and Priest’s of Israel were guilty of,… unjust taxation of the saved of Christ.
They have handled deceitfully the word of God; using Scripture that called for an agricultural tithe of the children of Israel, as a means to usurp monies from their congregations.
Many in the church are kept in bondage and poverty through the monetary tithe requirement doctrine; a doctrine that is totally foreign to God’s word. Many, in order to “appease God’s wrath” that the pastor puts them in fear of, will go into great debt in order to put money into the church’s treasury.
Just as Nehemiah rose up against the unjust kings and Priest’s, we also must stand against these unjust pastors who oppress the flock with their unauthorized taxation of the flock’s money.
In the Biblical text, Nehemiah’s sentence was that one hundred percent of the people’s money that was taken from them be returned to them. We too, should demand no less be returned to us of the monies unjustly taken by our pastors.
It’s time to say like Nehemiah, “Enough is enough!”
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Skeptical of Tithing Testimonies
by Ronald W Robey
One thing I would encourage the saved of God to do,…
Research tithing testimonies. You will find that there are many who tithe who never get above poverty level. Many lose their jobs. Many remain in poor health.
My point is, God is not a respecter of persons. He is not going to bless one person for tithing and turn His back on the other who is also tithing.
For this reason I am skeptical about the many that testify that they are blessed financially or have perfect health because they tithe.
I am reminded of the account of the devil tempting Jesus in the wilderness. The Bible tells us in Matthew 4 that Jesus was shown great riches and magnificent cities by the devil. The devil promised all these to Jesus if Jesus would bow down and worship him.
Since the monetary tithe requirement doctrine is not in the word of God at all, I have to wonder if it is the enemy rewarding people for bowing to his monetary tithe requirement lie?
Why would God bless someone who is placing themselves back under the Mosaic Law, yet not obeying the Law they have placed themselves under?
The only commanded tithes in the Bible are agricultural in their content,… not monetary. How can one say one is obeying God in the tithe, yet be giving a tenth of ones monetary income instead of the tenth of agricultural crops as God commanded?
Again, God is not a respecter of persons. So, why would He bless one for tithing and not the other who is also tithing?
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Condemned
by Ronald W Robey
Many people with well intentions teach us that Malachi 3:10 is instruction for man to tithe his monetary income to the House of God. It is not. Malachi was speaking of an agricultural tithe, not a monetary tithe.
Malachi was living during the dispensation of the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law tells us that God’s holy tithe was to be agricultural, not monetary. (see Leviticus 27:30-33)
Had Malachi (or any other person living under the Mosaic Law) called for tithes of money to go to the House of God, they would have been telling people to transgress the Law. Sin is the transgressing of the Law. (see 1 John 3:4) Therefore, Malachi could not have told people to tithe money even if he wanted to.
While people may judge us as “sinners condemned” here on Earth because we do not tithe our monetary income, God does not judge us as “sinners condemned” at all.
Why not?
Because our Salvation and Righteousness is dependent upon one thing only,… faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Those who trust their works to escape condemnation will end up being condemned. You cannot serve two Masters. You cannot serve both Law and Grace. (see Galatians 2:21)
Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
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Acts 20:28-29 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
The true Pastor (Shepherd) will be concerned with feeding the flock in fields that are beneficial both to the health of the sheep, and to the maturity of the sheep.
A wolf is not interested in seeing the sheep advance in spiritual maturity and health. All he is interested in is feeding off of the sheep.
Judgment must begin at the House of God. If there was no danger to God’s flock, why even warn them of impending danger? We must be alert. We must be discerning of those who are “labouring amongst us”.
When wolves are detected near a flock, the shepherd does what he can to kill of the wolves, or he will chase the wolves off.
A true Shepherd of God’s flock will do all he can to protect God’s flock, even to the point of laying his own life on the line if need be.
Judgment must begin at the House of God. Make sure there are no wolves amongst the sheep.
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