16. We cannot serve two masters - Jesus and an external law

As we can’t mix grace with law, or sonship with servanthood, we can’t mix serving Jesus with following any external laws either. We cannot serve two masters.

When we were born again, the Holy Spirit baptized us into the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12-13). Jesus Christ became our Head. Through him, we died to the law (Rom 7:1-4), and now we are supposed to be receiving instructions directly from Him (via the Holy Spirit), instead of following any external Laws or ‘formulas’ (Eph 1:10,22-23, 4:4-16, 5:23-24, Col 1:18, 2:19).

The crux of the matter is that our Christian walk is supposed to be a living relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, and that cannot be reduced to external rules or formulas in any area. This alienates us from a personal relationship with Christ (Gal 5:4), and preempts His Spirit’s work inside of us.

The Lord Jesus Christ now deals with each member of his body directly and individually through the infinite ability of the Holy Spirit. He strategically calls for contribution and participation according to his infinite knowledge and wisdom. No two people are identical and neither should be their giving. Their income, their assets, their abilities, their place in God’s kingdom and their connection to his work are all different. Their giving should be just as unique. The days of laws and generic instructions are over.

(Matthew Narramore – Tithing: Low-Realm, Obsolete and Defunct p 133)

Gary Carpenter explains that this is why the rich young man (Matt 19:16, 21) was asked by Jesus’ to give 100% of his wealth, not just 10%:

This young man had become wealthy by "formula," not by relationship … Under the formula of the Law, the man's mindset was that "ten percent of my income is the Lord's, and ninety percent of it is mine to do with as I will.” … Jesus is now introducing the Kingdom of God, a new dispensation. He is informing this wealthy, young ruler that the formulas of the Law are now going to be replaced with a "living" relationship with God on an individual, person by person basis … Jesus is instructing the young man that no longer is the formula to be, "ninety percent belongs to man and ten percent belongs to the Lord." No, in the Kingdom, "you are bought with a price and you are not your own." Your life belongs to the Lord, including all of your material possessions if He asks for it.

(Gary Carpenter: The Change of Covenant http://www.garycarpenter.org/KST11.html )

Gary Carpenter explains further: “You could say, as his body on earth, we are also His hand on the earth. Think about your own hand. How does it know when to reach into your wallet and take out some money to give? How much to give? To whom to give? Isn't your hand supposed to receive such instructions from your mind? You would think your hand had gone crazy if it started taking it upon itself to just begin giving away money by some "formula" rather than by receiving instructions first from your mind ... right? We are Christ's hand. We are supposed to receive our instructions from the head ... Not just some kind of written instructions, but "living" instructions from the living Christ, on a day by day, moment by moment basis.“

(Gary Carpenter - Questions and Answers http://www.garycarpenter.org/QnA.html#Q2 )

To some this example may seem overly simplistic? but it is entirely accurate! None of us would trust wealth to a hand that operated independently from our minds. One of the primary reasons why there are not more anointed Stewards Of Kingdom Finances in the body of Christ is our dogged refusal to abandon all formulas and function by relationship with our head, Jesus Christ.

(Gary Carpenter - The Change of Covenant http://www.garycarpenter.org/KST11.html )

What’s usually the problem … is that we as Christians are often looking for one rule that we all have to live by. One rule, such as giving a tenth, keeps things simple; it can be easily learned by asking someone in the church what the will of God is and then we don’t have to look any further to know how we should be living. In other words, we don’t need to have a personal relationship with God! … Accordingly, we must each cultivate our own, personal relationship with Jesus, to learn to hear His voice and walk in the Spirit of God. Only to the degree that we are listening to and abiding in Him will our lives be fruitful and our giving effective (John 15:4)

(Graeme Carle - Eating Sacred Cows – a new look at tithing p 37-39)

Once again, to teach tithing as an obligation means that our finances are treated differently to other parts of our lives: “Ironically, Christians are taught to let the Spirit guide their walk in Christ, yet they are given rules to guide them when it comes to their giving. Goodness and kindness are identifying traits of the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 makes it clear that the fruit of the Spirit cannot be regulated because against such there is no law. Consequently, the old covenant tithing ritual should not be used to govern Spirit-led giving. Today, it is not possible to fully walk in the Spirit in the area of giving, while following modified rules and regulations of old covenant tithing.”

(Michael L & Mitchell T Webb - Beyond Tithes and Offerings http://www.ontimepub.com/intro.html )

Tithe-teachers will say that if you do not adhere strictly to the 10% rule, you are a God-robber. On the contrary, denying this decision and choice to people (i.e. by automatically telling them they must give a minimum set amount, to a certain source), is robbing God of being Lord to those people in their finances.

When we were born again we were placed into spiritual union with Jesus and we now jointly own all things with him. We have no stolen property because we share rightful title to everything with Jesus. On the other hand 100 percent of it is dedicated to his lordship and the purposes of his kingdom, not just a tenth. He doesn’t want a tithe. He wants people who will use everything they have for him.

(Matthew Narramore – Tithing: Low-Realm, Obsolete and Defunct p 100)

It is a fallacy that we can build a New Covenant building on an Old Covenant foundation. Malachi was written to people who did not have God’s Spirit or His nature in their hearts. Trying to follow these outmoded commands represents a regression in our relationship with God; it could just as easily be accomplished by spiritually dead people, which gives no pleasure to God. In contrast, the New Covenant is based on the revelation of Jesus Christ as Lord (Matt 16:18); everything in our lives needs to be built on that foundation including our finances.

Why do we say, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what he says? (Luke 6:46) Each one of us will have to give account to God (Rom 14:12, Heb 4:12-13). We need to recognize that Jesus should be Lord of all our finances. Give over all control and then commit to Him to seek Him for how to handle them – in giving, stewarding, saving, spending, etc. We cannot compromise in this area. In all things, we need to grow up into Him who is our Head (Eph 4:14-15, Col 2:19). Ultimately, only what’s built on this rock will stand (Luke 6:46-49).