The test that the bible gives us as to whether someone is a Christian is NOT that they preach powerfully....it is NOT that they prophesy and have great knowledge....and it is NOT even that they have great faith that can do mighty miracles (1 Cor 13:1-3)

It is that they LOVE the brethren!

John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."    NKJV
 

1 John 4:21

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.     NKJV
 

It is not possible that you love the brethren in the church when you are prepared to stand in a pulpit and preach deception about them being required by God to give 10% of their income to you...or the local church which you lead.

When this message is preached to the poor many are then forced to choose between food for their kids ... or condemnation

 ....or to choose between paying their rents or utilities and being cut off ....or condemnation. THIS IS NOT LOVE at work!

Rom 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.     NKJV

THE TRUTH

Tithing in the bible is ONLY ever commanded of the Israelites (Lev 27:1 & 34).... and NEVER of Gentile (Acts 15)

Tithing is part of the LAW (Lev 27:34, Mat 23:23 and Heb 7:5)...and the curse of Malachi 3 ONLY applies to those under the LAW (Mal 1:1 and 4:4)....tithing is NOT a 'spiritual principle'....or in anyway applicable under the NEW covenant of GRACE (Heb 7:12 and 18-19)

Tithing as required in the bible ONLY applied to FOOD and produce of the Land (Lev 27:30 & 32...Malachi 3:10 ...Mat 23:23).....NEVER of money or income earned by any worker.

Tithing was only ever to be given to the LEVITES (Num 18:21-24).....and NEVER to churches or their leadership (see Acts and all of the epistles)

Tithing was only given to the Levites in exchange for them first forfeiting their INHERITANCE IN THE LAND (Num 18:21-26)  ... most preachers today OWN property contrary to this requirement

Tithes were required to be EATEN by the giver and his family for 2 years at feasts.....and only given away to Levites every Third year..."THE Year of Tithing".... (Deut 14:22-29,  Deut 26:12-15, Amos 4:4)

Tithing in the third year was also to be shared with the POOR (Deut 14:28-29 and Deut 26:13)....the POOR received from the tithe they did NOT give it!

There was no tithe in the seventh year.....the lands were to be left fallow (Lev 25:4).....why is this never taught?

   IF you loved the brethren, you would tell them the TRUTH

1 Cor 13:4-8

4 Love suffers long and is kind; (what part of kindness deceives the children of God about their obligations to give money to you?)

love does not envy; (why then does the world largely believe that the 'church is just after your money')

love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; (those pompously preaching deception on "christian" TV seem to have missed this aspect)

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked,  (try asking your church leadership where in the New Testament it says believers are required to tithe....or that tithes are ever money in the bible ....or that anyone other than a Levite is allowed to receive tithes)

thinks no evil; (you will almost certainly find yourself labled as being divisive, disloyal, greedy, un-submissive or offended)

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; (how then can such extortion and deception continue to be so wide spread in the church of Jesus Christ today)

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails.    NKJV

Brethren it is not that love has failed today....it is that the leaders of many churches worldwide HAVE forsaken their FIRST love ...in their ungodly scramble for the believers money!

Rev 2:4-5
4 Nevertheless I have this against you (the angel of the church at Epesus), that you have left your first love.  5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent.   NKJV

Our 'first love' is a giving love....one which is prepared to FREELY share God's love for us with our world

Look at Pauls warnings to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:19-35 about covetousness!

Church leadership have become takers rather than OBEYING Jesus words... and being givers

Acts 20:35
35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"     NKJV
 

out covetousness 2 Cor 12:14-15
And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children . 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.   NKJV
 

The world today cannot see the LOVE of Christ in churches because of the ungodly manipulative, deceptive and covetous behavior of the 'leadership' towards the members of Christ's body.

This is demonstrated in the fact that much of church leadership is no longer GIVING....it is TAKING....and that by deception!

Matt 10:8-9
Freely you have received, freely give.   NKJV
 

There is no possible way that demanding money tithes from the income of congregations can constitute freely giving!