Bob Thiel is back with his repeat article where he gets all prissy about Banned claiming tithing is no longer commanded. The fact still remains, tithing is not a New Covenant command. Bob Thiel and the improperly named "continuing" Church of God still continue to lie that it is because he still erroneously believes large parts of the Mosaic system are still binding on New Covenant Christians. That is the Armstrongist package. It is not what the apostles taught the churches.
Tithing as a required tenth (and sometimes two or three tenths) was Israel’s covenant tax for Levites, festivals, and the poor. The New Testament replaces that system with generous, voluntary, Spirit-prompted giving. Jesus did not install a Christian tithe. Paul never commanded one. The early churches did not practice one as law.
What Thiel actually teaches
Thiel’s CCOG statement of beliefs and his long article Tithing Questions and Some Answers are explicit. Tithes belong to God (Leviticus 27:30). Faithful Christians follow Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:23. Because the priesthood changed, tithes now go to “those representing Christ’s ministry” (Hebrews 7). They teach first tithe for the work, second tithe for feast travel and food, and third tithe in years 3 and 6 of a seven-year cycle for the poor. They apply Malachi 3:8–10 to Christians: withholding tithes is robbing God. They argue tithing predates Moses (Abraham and Jacob), so it cannot be “just Mosaic.” They insist it applies to all increase—wages, not only farm produce.
That is consistent Armstrongism. Herbert W. Armstrong treated tithing as a living financial law. After the old Worldwide Church of God abandoned those teachings, remnant groups kept them. Thiel presents CCOG as the place the “most faithful” should send the money.
The arguments sound biblical until you put them in covenant context.
Thiel’s CCOG statement of beliefs and his long article Tithing Questions and Some Answers are explicit. Tithes belong to God (Leviticus 27:30). Faithful Christians follow Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:23. Because the priesthood changed, tithes now go to “those representing Christ’s ministry” (Hebrews 7). They teach first tithe for the work, second tithe for feast travel and food, and third tithe in years 3 and 6 of a seven-year cycle for the poor. They apply Malachi 3:8–10 to Christians: withholding tithes is robbing God. They argue tithing predates Moses (Abraham and Jacob), so it cannot be “just Mosaic.” They insist it applies to all increase—wages, not only farm produce.
That is consistent Armstrongism. Herbert W. Armstrong treated tithing as a living financial law. After the old Worldwide Church of God abandoned those teachings, remnant groups kept them. Thiel presents CCOG as the place the “most faithful” should send the money.
The arguments sound biblical until you put them in covenant context.
What tithing actually was
Under Moses, Israel was a theocratic nation with a landless priestly tribe. Tithes supported Levites (Numbers 18), funded pilgrimage feasts (Deuteronomy 14:22–27), and every third year helped Levites, sojourners, orphans, and widows (Deuteronomy 14:28–29). Combined, the system was closer to 20–23% in some years than a neat 10%. It was tied to the land, the temple, and the Levitical order.
Abraham’s tenth to Melchizedek (Genesis 14) was a one-time gift from war spoils, not a standing tax on income. Jacob’s tenth (Genesis 28) was a vow. Neither is a law that binds the church. If “Abraham did it before Sinai” makes tithing a creation ordinance, the same logic would keep circumcision—which Abraham also practiced, and which the apostles explicitly refused to impose on Gentile believers (Acts 15; Galatians 5).
Jesus and Matthew 23:23
This is what Thiel imagines as his strongest-looking verse. Jesus tells Pharisees they tithe mint, dill, and cumin but neglect justice, mercy, and faithfulness: “These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
He was speaking to Jews still under the Mosaic covenant, before the cross. In the same discourse, He talks about the temple, oaths, and other law-keeping. He Himself was “born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). He also told a healed leper to offer the gift Moses commanded (Matthew 8:4). No serious reader treats that as a standing command for Christians to bring animals to a temple that no longer exists.
Jesus fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4). After His death, the ceremonial and civic scaffolding of Israel’s covenant—priesthood, sacrifices, food laws as covenant markers, and the tithe that funded that system—does not transfer automatically to the multi-ethnic church.
Hebrews 7 does not re-enact the tithe
Armstrongists lean hard on Hebrews 7. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek; Levi, still “in Abraham’s loins,” paid tithes through him; therefore the greater priesthood (Christ’s) still receives tithes.
That is not the author’s point. Hebrews 7 argues that Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior to Levi’s, that Jesus is priest forever after that order, and that “when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well” (Hebrews 7:12). The next verses say the former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (7:18–19). The whole letter is about the old covenant becoming obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). Using a historical illustration of Abraham’s gift to prove a mandatory 10% church tax reverses the argument.
Under Moses, Israel was a theocratic nation with a landless priestly tribe. Tithes supported Levites (Numbers 18), funded pilgrimage feasts (Deuteronomy 14:22–27), and every third year helped Levites, sojourners, orphans, and widows (Deuteronomy 14:28–29). Combined, the system was closer to 20–23% in some years than a neat 10%. It was tied to the land, the temple, and the Levitical order.
Abraham’s tenth to Melchizedek (Genesis 14) was a one-time gift from war spoils, not a standing tax on income. Jacob’s tenth (Genesis 28) was a vow. Neither is a law that binds the church. If “Abraham did it before Sinai” makes tithing a creation ordinance, the same logic would keep circumcision—which Abraham also practiced, and which the apostles explicitly refused to impose on Gentile believers (Acts 15; Galatians 5).
Jesus and Matthew 23:23
This is what Thiel imagines as his strongest-looking verse. Jesus tells Pharisees they tithe mint, dill, and cumin but neglect justice, mercy, and faithfulness: “These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
He was speaking to Jews still under the Mosaic covenant, before the cross. In the same discourse, He talks about the temple, oaths, and other law-keeping. He Himself was “born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). He also told a healed leper to offer the gift Moses commanded (Matthew 8:4). No serious reader treats that as a standing command for Christians to bring animals to a temple that no longer exists.
Jesus fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4). After His death, the ceremonial and civic scaffolding of Israel’s covenant—priesthood, sacrifices, food laws as covenant markers, and the tithe that funded that system—does not transfer automatically to the multi-ethnic church.
Hebrews 7 does not re-enact the tithe
Armstrongists lean hard on Hebrews 7. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek; Levi, still “in Abraham’s loins,” paid tithes through him; therefore the greater priesthood (Christ’s) still receives tithes.
That is not the author’s point. Hebrews 7 argues that Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior to Levi’s, that Jesus is priest forever after that order, and that “when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well” (Hebrews 7:12). The next verses say the former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (7:18–19). The whole letter is about the old covenant becoming obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). Using a historical illustration of Abraham’s gift to prove a mandatory 10% church tax reverses the argument.
Hebrews 7:
14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.[a]
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
If Hebrews 7 reimposed tithing, it is strange that the rest of the New Testament never tells a single congregation to do it.
What the apostles actually commanded
Paul organized a collection for poor saints in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1–2; 2 Corinthians 8–9). The principles are:
- Set something aside on the first day of the week, as one may prosper.
- Give according to what you have, not what you do not have.
- Give not reluctantly or under compulsion.
- God loves a cheerful giver.
- Sowing bountifully and sparingly have consequences.
That silence is not an accident. If a 10% (or 23%) legal requirement remained, the man who fought circumcision so fiercely would have said so.
The New Covenant promise is the law written on the heart (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 8), not a recycled Levitical payroll. Believers are not under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14). That does not mean stinginess. It means the floor is no longer a tax bracket and the motive is no longer “or you are robbing God.”
History does not rescue the doctrine
The first-century church supported ministers and the poor by freewill gifts and shared possessions (Acts 2, 4; Didache). Second-century writers such as Irenaeus contrasted Jewish constraint with Christian liberty: Christians give freely, not the lesser portion. The Didascalia said Christians were not bound to tithes and firstfruits in the old way.
Mandatory ecclesiastical tithing as a fixed percentage enforceable by church (and later civil) law is a later development—clearly visible in sixth-century Western councils such as Mâcon (585), not in the apostolic age. Thiel’s claim that “the original catholic church” tithed as CCOG does overreads later practice back onto the New Testament.
Why the Armstrongist version is especially burdensome
Even among tithe-advocates, three full tithes is a minority reconstruction. Many scholars see overlapping descriptions of the same tithe used in different ways, not a stacked 20–23% annual levy plus feast travel. Binding that reconstruction on Christians, then directing it to one remnant organization as the storehouse, turns a disputed Old Testament administrative question into a test of loyalty.
Thiel notes he takes no salary. That is personally commendable and irrelevant to whether the law exists. A teacher can be unpaid and still be wrong about the covenant, which he consistently is.
Even among tithe-advocates, three full tithes is a minority reconstruction. Many scholars see overlapping descriptions of the same tithe used in different ways, not a stacked 20–23% annual levy plus feast travel. Binding that reconstruction on Christians, then directing it to one remnant organization as the storehouse, turns a disputed Old Testament administrative question into a test of loyalty.
Thiel notes he takes no salary. That is personally commendable and irrelevant to whether the law exists. A teacher can be unpaid and still be wrong about the covenant, which he consistently is.
What Christians are commanded to do
Give. Support those who labor in the word. Help the poor, especially the household of faith. Do it regularly, proportionally, secretly where possible, and cheerfully. For many people a tenth is a wise starting discipline. For some it is too little; for some in hardship it would be crushing. The New Testament refuses to freeze that into a statute with a curse attached.
Malachi 3 was a rebuke to post-exilic Judah for starving the temple system God had actually commanded them. Quoting it as if every paycheck that does not send 10% to Grover Beach is temple robbery is covenant confusion.
Tithing as Armstrongism defines it is not a New Covenant command. Generous giving is. The difference is not a loophole for greed. It is the difference between living under a fulfilled law and living as people who already belong to the One who owns everything—and who gave more than a tenth.
41 comments:
Even if tithing is required in the NT or not, nobody should be required to tithe to splinterdom. All the splits and schisms. Where does the money go, we know. But when you don't have buildings and colleges brick and mortar buildings that you own. Since that's all gone (along with those tithes from the 40s to the early 90s), what's there to support now, a group of men that want to lord it over you.
There is no requirement for Christians to tithe. But perhaps if one of the Armstrong splits can provide positive proof of real year on year growth over the last decade, then some may be persuaded to support them finically. Better ways to spend that hard earned cash I’m afraid. It’s only a matter of time before their disappearance from the scene. Armstrongism is slowly being buried under the weight of evidence against them and their gospel.
Bob's problem is that he never researched the correct way to get the cannon. He uses the harlot cannon from the harlot daughters of Babylon.
Tithing is not even an Old Covenant command -- Ex 20-24.
We can tell we are getting close to God's Feast days. Satan is like a devouring lion here.
Comment on the law being useless: What is useless about not murdering, lying, stealing, coveting, respecting your parents etc? The law was given to show people how to live happily.
Exactly 7:25.
Thank you for your comment 6:52. The same thing happens just before Passover gets near as well. But as Tabernacles gets close they indeed go worse.
6:41 I believe you mean "tithing money" is not even an Old Covenant command.
Look, "the law" does not bring "happiness". Happiness is a totally separate thing, a temporary emotion like anger, sadness, fear, or hope, It is never a constant state. Otherwise, you would not appreciate it when it comes along. A human can be very very happy while in bed committing adultery with someone else's spouse!. Someone once said that humans are gods in the bodies of animals. We are often governed by, driven by, or dragged down by our emotions. In the future, spirit beings will not need commandments against murder (you can't murder a fellow spirit being) lying (we'll be able to read one anothers thoughts) or stealing (no need for a spirit being to own private property). Jesus indicated that the sabbath (and we can also deduce from that the very concept of time) was made for man.
What "the law" does is to provide a very basic societal structure in which people can live in freedom and safety. You get to take your wife out dancing without all kinds of guys leering at her or hitting on her while you're in the bathroom! Israel was a theocracy. Tithing was their God-given form of taxation and welfare. Secular, gentile societies (such as those we Anglo-Saxon gentiles have in place) have systems of taxation (allegedly to support government, military defense, and care for the helpless), and a well-established practice of supporting those from whom we receive our spiritual guidance with free-will offerings. There is no example in the Bible of priests being extremely wealthy, with multiple homes, grand chariots, and works of art and expensive jewelry in which the leaders of the ACOGs have frequently indulged themselves. (while, ahem!, begging for or demanding more!)
One of the handful of reasons I left Armstrongism is that it became very apparent that Armstrongism was a man-made religious philosophy in search of, or want of a greater concept, that somehow it never found. As such, it was very flawed and pretentious in claiming to have all the answers, but refusing to answer very valid hardball questions. There is a phrase "desceptive in its simplicity" The teachings of HWA were simplistic in their desceptions. So long as you didn't go too deep in your thought processes, and simply accepted whatever they taught you, you were said to have the Holy Spirit. The problem is that the fruits described in the New Testament were not there. Works, conjured up by sheer will power in adhering to their version of "the law" were substituted. Under test? Poof! They vanished when the real fruits would have become stronger. Ever wonder about healings?
BB
The very Bible you pick and choose from states exactly that…the law is useless. Read it for once!
Also, no one needs to give anyone a tithe, because as Christians we are all priests under the New Covenant and have been given bold access to the throne of grace. Through Christ, our Great High Priest, we can bring ourselves and our petitions directly before the merciful seat of God Almighty.
Christ 1) removed the barrier of sin through His once-for-all sacrifice, accomplishing what the continual sacrifices of the Levitical priests could never accomplish; 2) removed the need for an earthly priestly mediator to enter the Most Holy Place on our behalf. He became our eternal High Priest, giving us access to God through Him every day—not merely once a year; 3) fulfilled and rendered obsolete the temporary Levitical priesthood, which could never bring God's people to perfection.
Christ Himself is the Way by which we draw near to God. His sacrifice cleanses us; His righteousness gives us standing before the Father; and His continual intercession gives us confidence to approach His throne of grace. We don't need another priest standing between us and God—we have Christ, our eternal Great High Priest.
Excellent article. Gets to the core of matters quickly.
The Circumcision Model I believe is most useful to follow. You can circumcise in the flesh if you want to, but it is not a requirement for salvation.
Armstrongism by making tithing a requirement for salvation causes giving to be done out of fear rather than love. This is the leitmotif of Armstrongism.
It is about stifling love and bowing before fear - usually the fear of legalism.
My guess is that the members of the Jerusalem Church continued to tithe. But it was done for ethical, cultural or liturgical reasons. Not because they recognized it as a requirement for salvation. Otherwise, we would see a great battle between James, Paul and the author of Hebrews play out in the pages of the New Testament.
Scout
Rom. 7:12 The law is holy, just, and good.
Garner Ted when in the throes of sexual lust for others was well known to write sexual innduendo in church articles. Scripture warns of God hinself giving such men over to be ruled by such desires.
The law was useless, unprofitable, ineffectual: NRSV: 18 There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction o
NKJV: 18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing [a]perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
AKJV: 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
ESV: 18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
People need to wise up and realize that religion is and always has been political theater.
One of the issues that blinds many in Armstrongism regarding tithing is the context of tithing within a system that is top heavy in Old Covenant (like 70%) of the religion. This was the actual problem with worldwide involving their version of the gospel. The R/WCG declared the gospel was mainly (90%) about the Kingdom of God.
Instead of the main message or theme of the gospel being about Jesus Christ and how Christ can work within the christian, it was about the 1,000 reign of Christ ruling on earth (which is a part of the gospel) but that does nothing for the current christian as that is in the future. The Kingdom of God is the resolution of the gospel, but it’s not the entire gospel message. They made that the main theme of the gospel. Unfortunately the laity is forced to tithe to support another gospel (Gal 1:6-9). This is what Keith Slough mentions in his series on YT. When you really read the apostles and what they wrote concerning the gospel message, the majority of it regards Christ and what he did and is doing since He is High Priest.
So God gave the WCG a piece of their own medicine. Since they wanted an old covenant religion, he was displeased with them and he scattered them. So it doesn’t matter if you tithe or not, Armstorngism and their splinter group’s message is really hard to support in regards to tithing, because their message doesn’t translate or transfer things to the New Covenant such as Gen 12:1-3, but the apostles use this for the gospel Gal 3:7-8 & Acts 3:25-26 within the New Covenant.
By focusing their “gospel message” so much on territories, boundaries, dominion, prophecy, genealogies (theirs) and reigning, He scattered them OT style.
Deuteronomy 4:27 And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you.
Ancient Isreal was very much a theocracy. The tithes where given in the form of food to feed the ruling class, the Levites who could own land. The Levites where not only the religious leaders but also where the political leaders. Tithing was the tax system that funded the ancient nation of isreal. No need for us to tithe we already pay taxes!
Agree that's why a persons personal relationship with God is most important.
1148 Tithing is not mentioned in the law of Ex 20-23 but bringing the first of the firstfruits (not all produce of the ground) to the house of God is in the law. The agreement in Ex 24 is not law but an agreement, now referred to as "old covenant").
I remember a sermon long ago where firstfruits were confused with tithing but "first of the firstfruits" is not 10% of a year's harvest of the land.
Scout said: "... You can circumcise in the flesh if you want to, but it is not a requirement for salvation"
Absolutely true, Scout. The important distinction though--for me at least--is that what's commonly called “circumcision” in the modern UK/US context isn't even identical to the biblical practice described in Scripture. The later Judaic practice of brit periah, which removes the entire foreskin, is much more extensive than the biblical brit milah, traditionally understood as a tip snip. In other words, the modern practice is really mutilation.
Scout said: "...My guess is that the members of the Jerusalem Church continued to tithe. But it was done for ethical, cultural or liturgical reasons. Not because they recognized it as a requirement for salvation. Otherwise, we would see a great battle between James, Paul and the author of Hebrews play out in the pages of the New Testament."
I believe they likely continued tithing their produce and animals to the Levitical priesthood while the Temple was still standing. After all, Paul himself, at James’s direction, participated in the Temple purification rites and fulfilled his obligations under the Law to demonstrate that he was not teaching Judeans to abandon it (Acts 21:20-26). That suggests the Jerusalem believers could likewise have continued practices such as tithing without regarding them as requirements for salvation as you said.
That is such a hilarious load of crap! Why would Satan even be worried about a COG group these days to persecute them? They are doing nothing that leads anyone to Christ, so in essence he has already accomplished his job in today's COG groups.
Yea, in the New Testament Paul addresses this, because the aid (gift) in the NT, are for the furthering of the gospel.
Philippians 4:15-18 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
Notice that Paul said that he did not seek the gift!! Also, Paul praises the broader Macedonian region in 2 Corinthians 8, and he specifically thanks the church in Philippi.
2 Corinthians 8:1-4 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
But what we don’t find is the gentile churches having to send money as a tithe to the Jerusalem mother church like some old Testament paradigm to answer to Jerusalem. We don’t even find Paul or Peter quoting an old testament example or scripture of tithing. In all of Paul’s 13 letters, he doesn’t use the word tithe. When people gave to the ministry in the New Testament it was in the form of gifts, like a freewill gift.
Tank
Well said 9:04.
In a 'I am Spartacus' moment the COG led me to Jesus Christ. So there 11:48.
The law is only for the godless and sinners who have fallen from grace. Not for those secure in Christ.
Galatians 3:10 ESV
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
Galatians 2:16 ESV
Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Galatians 3:24-25 ESV
So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
1 Timothy 1:9 ESV
Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
Colossians 2:14 ESV
By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Galatians 5:18 ESV
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:4 ESV
You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
Correct 11:51, say even when you get to the Jerusalem Council, Paul and Barnabas don’t bring up the topic of tithing for the Gentiles. Perhaps it would have served some good to tithe to the mother church to Jerusalem, but it would have gone to naught due to the 70 AD sieges and the church having to flee. And if the church is scattered in certain areas after this how do you tithe, probably with crops and goods.
What was your currency if you had to flee to Asia Minor, then beyond. But under Armstrongism believing that they are physical Israel (Since they were the actual descendants that came out of physicalEgypt), they must use OC doctrine to enforce tithing.
Thanks for this post. My pastor, using Abrahams' one-time gift as back up, recently said we are supposed to tithe based on that. He usually has much, much better sense but that was a real letdown. But worse, was when he preached out of Hebrews that you can lose your salvation and three weeks later he preached a second sermon and said he was wrong in the first sermon. Another real letdown.
I concur.
https://www.str.org/w/should-christians-tithe-
4:40PM I highly recommend Russell Earl Kelly's book "Should the Church Teach Tithing?"--best book on the subject that I've ever read! Free PDF copy at https://web.archive.org/web/20231202012915/https://www.tithing-russkelly.com/wp-content/themes/tithing-russkelly-html/REK-Tithing3.pdf
David Skrbina is a better read.
Most of the mainstream Christian churches that teach tithing do not embrace the whole package of 613 laws of Torah. So, only one tithe is saved, and paid, and if charity is needed, it is given from the heart. In order to be considered a full member, the followers of Herbert W. Armstrong had to pay exhorbitant sums of money to his church, which he didn't just call "the church". He called it "God's Church", as if he, HWA, had an exclusive. This was a tool of blatant extraction, manipulating and coercing the brethren into doing something that is totally unnecessary, and not required.
From the splinter era, we have been made to realize that men set up COGs for various human reasons. And yet they still use phrases such as God's Church, God's ministers, Apostle, and Prophet. This should cause thinking people to backwrite what they had been led to believe is the history of their church. HWA led a splinter group away from COG-7. The Radio Church of God was itself a splinter group, it's just that it occurred in an earlier part in history. Sad for some, but none the less true.
Then his son GTA, does the same thing in 1978 after being kicked out. Like father, like son. So both churches are God's churches, no way!
Way !! Tkachites always hate choice & survival and freewill. And forever kick against COG ability to survive against all odds.
Too busy looking down on others, hollier than thou, proclaiming it a disaster that the COG's aren't one organisation. But one is vunerable, easy to inflitrate and destroy from within. It is not a perfect picture but choice offers survival. And survival against Tkachites has always been the name of the game. GTA for all his faults knew this.
How will GCI survive the next ten years? CGI could well survive GCI. Who'd have predicted that in 1995!
The Bible never mentions "Second Tithe", just the Tithe. And the "Third Tithe" doctrine is based on twisting the words about the Tithe of the Third Year.
It seems that there was only 1 tithe, which was only on agricultural produce, some of which went to keeping the Feasts, in years 3 and 6 of the 7-year cycle, the tithe was given to the poor, and the rest of it went to the Levites.
The Levites then gave 10% to the priests.
And the GTA organisation is thriving ain’t it!!! 21st century watch knocked it out of the park. I didn’t say that one COG organisation was a disaster, as those were HWA words against mainstream protestantism as he would proclaim God had one church. Survival against the Tkachites is not the name of the game, and if you think that’s the game, well then you are playing yourself. By all means Kcn
Are we misusing the term Tkachites here as some big expansive group that remains a threat? First of all the Tkaches were not the only ones who recognized error and evil in HWA's church. Frankly, they fared worse than the splinters in terms of dissipation. They are not even strong enough or capable of being an enemy any longer, and they are not poaching members from the splinters.
Many who left became disillusioned with all religion, and are now atheists or agnostics. A certain percentage became Messianic Jews. Others retained spirituality without lining up with any of the splinters. The revisions, confusion, and retention of the HWA managerial style gave a great number of people the perfect excuse to walk away from a defective product, one whose hook (prophecy) leveraged our behavior, such that its failure for over 50 years has been a really welcome blessing!
I'm very pleased that Joe Sr. and Jr. wera able to be the agents of Gamaliel that they were. However, I was not willing to allow them to become my new guru. I learned my lesson well, and did not need a second one!
Rubbish, their multi-part film released in 2009/10 church video exposed how they still hankered after the ones that got away. It was a shocking watch to realize and most probably contributed in some small way to the atmosphere that led to the ucg/cogwa split.
It was long thought they would eventually go after the COG money when their's ran out, especially after reports of their multi thousands dollars Christmas parties.
Although the death of Joseph Tkach Snr was greatly underestimated by the COG side. With hindsight his death was unsurmountable for them and they never really recovered.
“I'm very pleased that Joe Sr. and Jr. were able to be the agents of Gamaliel that they were. However, I was not willing to allow them to become my new guru. I learned my lesson well, and did not need a second one!”
I know right!! Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
Save, keep for the feasts, spend if turned into money, eat, share 10% of your increase/harvest at the feasts every year - OT Israel.
Give another 10% every 3rd and 6th year of the 7 year cycle to the Levites, who manage the tithes in storehouses, and give when necessary to the stranger, fatherless, widow. This tithe two years out of 7 is enough for the Levites, who were given the tithes and were only 2% of the population - Num 18:21; 31:30.
The poor were to be cared for, attended to, all the time-Deut 15:7-11.
But false apostles want jets and the 3rd tithe twist means there is a 1st tithe!!!......to give them every year!
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