The tithing doctrine is a Health And Wealth (HAW) heresy. It forces people to give money they don’t have to those preaching it and tempts the giver to try and earn God’s blessing and favour. The HAW heresy relies on another HAW heresy known as the First Fruits Giving (FFG) heresy and also the Kingdom First Principle (KFP). The KFP teaches that you must put God first in a certain area in your life so God can change it or bless it.
In the article below, Purpose Driven Life cult leader Rick Warren claims that Christians must put God first to receive God’s blessing. The truth is we are already blessed through Christ, His death and resurrection through the blessings that flow from His finished work on Calvary. What part of the gospel does Rick Warren not understand? The Christian relies on Christ’s work, not our own. His good message on blessing is no good message at all and is in fact cutting Christians off from saving faith and the grace of God (Galatians 1, 3:1-13).
Warren completely rejects the gospel and curses Christians with the weight of the Old Testament law of tithing. According to Warren, you MUST tithe:
“If you want God to bless your finances, even during a recession, you must tithe. Sorry! There’s no other alternative.”
“No other alternative” Warren? How do you get around God teaching Christians this?
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
So who is lying about God? Who is taking money from people fraudulently and robbing people so they can “prove” God is FIRST in their life? Who is robbing people of their assurance, salvation and security in Jesus Christ? It’s not God.
It’s Rick Warren.
The church is full of people who are attempting to turn God’s house into a den of thieves. Jesus Christ (whom Rick Warren claims to love and follow) clearly states,
“It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:13
We’re not dealing with a Christian minister. We’re dealing with a false teacher. A thief. If Jesus doesn’t tolerate thieves and liars like Rick Warren (Matt 7:15-21), you shouldn’t either:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber… Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.”John 10:1,7-8, 10.
Rick Warren writes,
For God’s Blessing, Put Him First
“You should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12 GW).
The Kingdom of God is a present reality. It’s what we’re to be doing on the earth right now. The power of God is the present resource. It’s the energy you get to do what God wants you to do once you’re surrendered and submitted to his will.
God’s glory is the reason. It’s not the reality or the resource. It is the present reason for everything. It’s all for God’s glory.
Romans 11:36 says, “Everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory”(NLT, second edition).
I talk to people all the time who say, “I have so much, and yet I feel unfulfilled. I’ve got a good family. I’ve got a good job. I’ve got great kids. I’ve got good friends. I’ve got a good congregation to be a part of. Why am I so unfulfilled?” It’s because you were made for more than this! You were made for more than survival. You will never find fulfillment in life until you begin to live in God’s Kingdom, by God’s power, and for God’s glory.
How do you live a fulfilled life — the kind of life that you were designed by God to live?
The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 2:12, “You should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (GW).
What does it mean to live in God’s Kingdom? It means you make God’s agenda your agenda. You make God’s will your will. You care about what God cares about. Whatever you want God to bless, put him first in that area.
What does it mean to put God first in your life? I made up a little acrostic, FIRST, to give you five things you need to put God first in.
Finances. If you want God to bless your finances, even during a recession, you must tithe. Sorry! There’s no other alternative.
Interests. Put him first in your hobbies, your career, and your recreation. Give God first consideration in every decision.
Relationships. Put him first in your family, your marriage, and your friendships.
Schedule. That means you give him the first part of every day. You get up and sit on the side of your bed every morning and say, “God, if I don’t get anything else done today, I just want to love you a little bit more and know you a little bit better.”
Troubles. You need to turn to God first when you have a problem. Prayer should never be your last resort. It should be your first choice.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
Talk It Over
- What do you need to change so that God is first in your finances, interests, relationships, and schedule?
- What is your first reaction to trouble?
- How can you develop a habit of prayer in your life?
Source: Rick Warren, For God’s Blessing, Put Him First, PastorRick, Published 27/06/2016. (Accessed 05/07/2016.)