Benny Hinn and Creflo Dollar have come out renouncing their position on tithing and making millions of dollars for their ministries.
One must ask why the sudden reversal on the doctrine of tithing and offerings by these two Word of Faith preachers. After all, these men have been promoting giving to their ministries as a means of receiving the Lords blessing upon the lives of the givers.
What the men are really confessing without as much as saying it, is the excess and greed which has been a big part of their spending the monies which have come to them through tithes and offerings.
We could say these men exploited the vulnerability of Christians who were seeking for God to meet their own needs by the means of giving into these mens ministries.
On the part of these men it’s a form of exploitation, on the means of the givers it is a hope for Gods increase. As TV ministries gave Dollar and Hinn an Christian audience of millions, they would boast in how God has prospered them financially, and the same could happen with anyone who would give into their ministries. You might say on the one hand it was a “con job” the promise of wealth and riches to anyone who would give money to their ministries.
Now the guilt of exploiting the Church in a wealth and prosperity Gospel has come into their confession of exploitation of vulnerable Christians. Both men have renounced the practice of tithing as not New Testament practice.
Which is their way of admission of guilt, however no action of restitution has been mentioned by either man. As giving up their lifestyles of multimillionaires is probably not what they are considering as an act of restitution. They will continue with their many homes, cars, jets, or big bank accounts as now they have openly repented of exploiting the Church.
One might ask is tithing now wrong, or giving offerings to ministries wrong now that these Word of Faith preachers have confessed to its error. Let’s just admit to where the modern organized Church exists today.
The budgets of ministries are very large as buildings must be paid for, salaries, and operating expenses requiring thousands of dollars every month. If you add to high profile ministries like TV, Radio, of Crusades it grows exponentially into the tens of thousands or more. These ministries could not continue with some kind of revenue of monies, so tithes and offerings are the normal way of collecting the money for these Ministry budgets. Is there any wrong with taking money to run a ministry and to meet the ministry expenses? Call it by any name you want Christians must give from their finances to help sustain these Churches and ministries.
Even if you don’t want to give 10% of your income in a tithe because you see this as Old Testament law, it is still the responsibility of the Church to give unto the work of the Lord.
As anyone who has run a ministry budget knows, it is also a smaller % of Christians who help support the financial budget of a Church or ministry, as compared to the numbers of Christians who are benefitted from the Lords work there.
So is giving finances to help support the work of the Lord a New Testament practice. Absolutely, All giving into the Work of the Lord should be considered giving a tithe or offering to the Lord, and not just giving to a man, or ministry, or a Church.
Even if you don’t give 10%, your work and money should always be for the glory of the Lord. All giving to the work of the Lord should be done by the leading of the Holy Spirit, and as giving unto the Lord.
As the principle of tithes and offerings are giving unto the Lord.This is how giving in the name of the Lord lays up a good foundation for times to come. For even a cup of water offered in the name of the Lord will not go unrewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Now for the violation who taken the Lords tithes and offerings and used them for their own profit and greed.
They have stolen from the Lord, and are held accountable before God and will give an account to Him. Many will see all their own self centered glorification go up in smoke, as their wood, hay, and stubble in exploiting the saints to exalt their ministries will go up in smoke at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
For those who receive the tithes and offerings of the saints are held responsible as stewards of the Lords money, and will be held accountable of how they spent the money upon themselves or in service for the Lord.
Consider how severe the judgment against Ananias and Sapphira when they lied about their giving. It cost them their lives to lie about their offering to the Lord, as Satan has filled their hearts to put money before God. How much more men who have lied against the Holy Spirit and exploited the Church for financial greed. Unless true restitution is made with a full repentance and renunciation of their deception to exploit the Church for money, they will still face the Lord in a true exposure and loss. Even now if they refuse to give up their lives of luxury.
Acts 5:1-11
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid itat the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep backpart of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? whyhast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on allthem that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these thing.