Russell Kelly Rebutts David Oyedepo on Tithing

Dr. David Oyedepo, Witty Thoughts: You can never have true freedom without financial freedom.

Russ: Really? So poor people cannot be happy and Jesus was wealthy. Whatever happened to the gospel?

David: …  as kingdom citizens our financial prosperity is tied to the COVENANT and one of such covenant which is the foundation for financial prosperity is in the kingdom is TITHING. 

Russ: Liar! HOLY tithing, as the term is used by Moses, Nehemiah, Malachi and Jesus, was only part of the Old Covenant of works (Mal 4:4; Neh 10:28-29).

David: I know someone is already saying oh not again. Don’t worry am not talking about tithing because I know we have heard so much about it. Moreover I will be talking about the blessings or benefits of tithing.

Russ: You are contradicting yourself.

David: Malachi 3:8-12. Yeah Malach.  8. Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Russ: By following the pronoun “you” from 1:6; 2:1, 13, 17; 3:8 the MINISTERS were stealing the Levites’ portion of the tithe as seen in 1:6-14 and Neh 13:5-10.

David: 9. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Russ: Every priest (“you”) in the nation was guilty of abusing tithes and offerings. See 1:6; 2:1.

David: 10. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house  …

Russ: (1) This must be addressed only to the priests because the Temple in Jerusalem did not contain sufficient storage for all the tithe of the whole nation. (2) 98% of the Levites and priests remained at their cities most of the time. It illogical to bring ALL the tithe to the Temple.

David: Your tithe is not an admonition. It’s an instruction.

Russ: There were over 600+ “admonitions” or “commands” of God to Old Covenant Israel. Why do you harp on only one? In order to be blessed one must obey ALL of them according to Deut 27:26 and Paul Gal 3:10 --- or do you ever read those verses?

David: Verse 8 beginning said men have robbed God in their tithes and offerings and as a result of this these category of people are cursed. 

Russ: No, it says “you” which is a reference to dishonest thieving MINISTERS from 1:6; 2:1, 13, 17. It is not addressed to New Covenant believers who are not cursed per Gal 3:13.

David: This kind of curse is not the opposite of Abrahams blessing. It means WOE! You have made yourself vulnerable to attacks through this curse.

Russ: Born-again, Spirit-filled, adopted children of God cannot be cursed per Gal 3:13.

David: He will open the windows of heaven.

Russ: A reference to RAIN for crops inside God’s HOLY land of Israel. You twist the Scriptures for your own benefit.

David: He said prove me.

Russ: The whole law was a TEST – not simply tithing. Obey ALL to be blessed; break one to be cursed under it. God did not promise to bless tithers who broke other parts of his Law.

David: … that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Your house will be too small to receive His blessing.

Russ: Does this fit you? How many tithers does it fit? What percentage of tithers does it fit? Why are you trying to get New Covenant giving principles from the Old?

David: I will rebuke the devourer for your sake.

Russ: A reference to insects and draught which destroy crops.

David: One of the only place in the scripture where God said He will do something for you.

Russ: Wrong. God promises that He will justify, give grace, give faith, give peace, give patience, etc. etc. etc.

David: The devourer is not an it, it’s an activity on your finances.

Russ: Wrong. Where are your texts?

David: He will not destroy the fruit of your ground. The ground is anywhere you sow.it can be your job, academic, business, family, ideas. He said I won’t destroy it.

Russ: Another plain reference to crops; that is the literal context. Where are your texts?

David: Neither shall your vine cast her fruit.

Russ: Again a clear literal reference to crops.

David: Some people are involved in project that can never finish because they don’t tithe. Almost their but never there, that has been their experience. 

Russ: As important as you make tithing sound, one would expect it to be found almost everywhere in the N.T. after Calvary.

David: Check it, tithing is your way to the top.

Russ: You give Christianity a bad name. You devour widows’ houses and take that which they need to feed, house and care for their families contrary to Scripture. 1 Tim 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

David: Please pay your tithe in your place of worship and see God decorate you with all these 7 fringe benefits or blessings. Have a blessed day.

Russ: (1) Do we only tithe food from inside Israel as God’s Word taught Hebrews? (Lev 27:30-34). (2) Do we tithe to greeters, deacons, choir members, musicians, etc as God’s Word commanded Hebrews? (Num 18:21-24). (3) Do we give only 1% to the MINISTER as God’s Word taught (Num 18:25-28). (4) Are tithe recipients not to inherit property or amass wealth as God’s Word commanded (Num 18:20).