Should the Church Teach Tithing? A Theologian’s Conclusions about a Taboo Doctrine

by Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D. - http://www.amazon.com/Should-Tithing-Theologians-Conclusions-Doctrine/dp/0595159788

This book began as a Ph.D. dissertation. It is an easy to read reference commentary which also contains many Greek and Hebrew word studies, and an extensive bibliography. Every tithing text is covered, plus every possible extension of it in the New Testament. The author demonstrates how the Church must replace this last taboo remnant of the Old Covenant Law and enter fully into must better New Covenant provisions for accomplishing God's work. No stone is left uncovered. A thorough historical survey of the first 300 years of church history and verse by verse studies of key chapters adds compelling evidence.

In many churches today the doctrine of tithing has reached the level of a modern scandal. While on the one hand, most seminary-level textbooks on systematic theology and hermeneutics by highly educated theologians omit tithing, on the other hand, the practice is quickly becoming a requirement for church membership in the very denominations which insist on solid Bible-based doctrines. There is also increasing evidence that lay persons who question the legitimacy of New Covenant tithing are usually criticized and ignored as being troublemakers or weak Christians. Sincere Christian leaders should always be open and available to discuss God’s Word. Failure to do suggests doubt and insecurity. More “holy boldness” is needed.

Russell invites church leaders into an open discussion of this subject. The careful and prayer-full study of God’s Word is essential for church growth. May God bless you in that study.

You may want to download this book HERE in PDF format or go to
http://www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com/

Table of Content of the book...
1. The Origin and Definition of Tithing
2. Genesis 14:20 Abraham, Melchizedek, Arab Custom and Tithing [2007]
3. Genesis 28:22 Jacob's Bargain With God
4. Numbers 18: The Obscure Statute/Ordinance of Tithing
5. Leviticus 27:30-32 Tithing and Holy and Most Holy Statutes
6. Tithes Replaced Land Inheritance
7. How Many Tithes? 10%, 20%, or 23 1/3rd%?
8. Deuteronomy 12 and 14: Strange Facts about Tithing
9. The Poor and Jesus Did Not Tithe
10. Kings, Tithes and Taxes: Levites with Political Jobs
11. 2nd Chronicles 31 Explains Malachi
12. Nehemiah 10-13: Historical Context of Malachi
13a. Commentary on Malachi 1 and 2: Cursing the Priests for Stealing [2007]
13b. Commentary on Malachi 3 and 4: [Malachi 3:10 Extremely Important]
14. Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42 Supporting the Old Covenant and Its Interpreters [2007]
15. Luke 18:12 A Pharisee's Boast about Tithing
16. Acts 15 and 21: How Compromise Divided the Jerusalem Church [2007]
17. Hebrews 8; 2nd Corinthians 3; A Better New Covenant [2007]
18. The Mosaic Law and the "Law" of Christ
19. Hebrews 7: An Extremely Important Chapter Concerning Tithing [2007]
20. Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 2:13-17: Law Ordinances Ended
21. 1 Peter 2:9-10: How Your Priesthood Abolishes Tithing
22. 1 Corinthians 9: Using Christian Liberty to Refuse Christian Rights [2007]
23. 1 Corinthians 16: Principles for Giving to the Needy
24. 1 Timothy 5:17: Worthy of Double Honor in Discipline, not Tithes
25. Miscellaneous Objections to Tithing
26. Chafer and Walvoord on New Covenant Giving
27. 2 Corinthians 8 and 9: A Sermon Using Principles of Grace Giving
28. Acts 20:16-35: Paul's Final Printed Sermon is Unpreached Today
29. Secular History of Tithes and Tithing
30. Tithing Principles for Tithe-Teaching Churches: A Literal Satire
31. Spreading the Gospel Remains Our Calling
RESEARCH BIBLIOGRAPHY

Russell Earl Kelly (born December 12, 1944, Miami, Florida), is a Christian writer.

One of six children of Emory J. and Elizabeth (Betty) Jarrett, Russell grew up in Jacksonville, Florida before the family moved to Marietta, Georgia while he was in the tenth grade in 1960. He graduated Cum Laude from Sprayberry High in 1962. From June 1962 until June 1966 he was in the U. S. A. F., received 22 semester hours in Chinese Mandarin at Yale University and was soon promoted to the Transcription Department while serving in Taiwan. In 1964 Russell married Rita LeCroy. The couple had two sons, Russell Jr. and Richard.

Russell grew up in a Baptist home, was active with Youth for Christ in high school, worked with missionaries in Taiwan and became a Seventh-day Adventist minister from 1973-1981. He graduated Cum Laude from Southern Missionary College in Tennessee in 1976 and served two churches in Georgia, four in North Dakota and one in South Carolina.

Although legally blind since 1989, Russell subsequently completed a Th. M.. and a Ph. D. at independent Baptist-oriented Covington Theological Seminary in Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia in August 2000. His dissertation was on the subject of tithing. From that dissertation came his first book, Should the Church Teach Tithing? A Theologian’s Conclusions about a Taboo Doctrine.[1] His second book is: Exposing Seventh-day Adventism, published in 2005. After being mentioned in many news articles, he was interviewed on Moody Broadcasting Prime Time America in November 27, 2006. In February 2007 Russ was featured in the Trevor Glass documentary, Suffer th Children, about financial abuse in the church.

Theologically, Russell is a conservative evangelical dispensational Baptist.