No, Christians are not under a legal obligation to tithe.
Les Feldick teaches that Abraham's tenth was a guideline, but making ten percent a mandate puts believers back under the Law. Paul never uses the word tithe in his giving instructions; instead, believers are to give as the Lord has prospered them.
Genesis 14:20 — Shows Abraham giving a tenth to Melchizedek, the scriptural starting point for Les's discussion of tithing as a guideline.
1 Corinthians 16:2 — Paul's direct instruction to believers about giving as the Lord has prospered them, which Les says replaces any tithe mandate.
Genesis 14 records that after Abraham rescued Lot, Melchizedek blessed him and Abraham gave him tithes of all (Genesis 14:20). Paul's instruction to the church in Corinth is: Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come (1 Corinthians 16:2). In Acts, the first believers in Jerusalem are described as having all things common and selling their possessions and goods to share with those in need (Acts 2:44-45).
Les Feldick begins with Abraham: when Abraham defeated the kings and met Melchizedek, he gave ten percent of the spoil. Les calls that a guideline, but he insists that turning a tenth into a mandate puts believers back under the Law. Paul never uses the word tithe in his giving instructions; instead he tells believers to give as the Lord has prospered them, leaving the amount to a free conscience led by the Holy Spirit. Les also points out that Paul says believers bring offerings, not tithes, and that the Book says nothing about practicing a system of worship in this age of grace. He further explains that the Jewish believers in Acts sold their land and houses and put everything into a common fund because they expected the Kingdom to come quickly. When the Kingdom was rejected, their common kitty ran dry and they became poor. God used Paul's Gentile converts to bring offerings for these poor saints, showing that New Testament giving is a practical response of love, not a legal tithe.
Les points out that when Paul speaks of believers bringing their gifts, he doesn't use the word tithes. Instead, Paul's instruction in 1 Corinthians 16:2 is to lay by in store on the first day of the week as God has prospered each believer. The amount is not set by a legal ten percent; it is based on how the Lord has prospered a person.
The believers in Acts sold their possessions and placed everything in a common fund, as described in Acts 2:44-45. Les explains they did this because they were convinced the Kingdom was about to appear, so houses and lands would not be needed. When Israel rejected the Messiah, the Kingdom did not come, the common kitty ran dry, and these believers became poor. That is why Paul was constantly taking up offerings among his Gentile congregations for the poor saints at Jerusalem.
Les says giving is not mandated by law; believers are left with their own free conscience as it is led by the Holy Spirit. The Macedonian and Achaian churches, though poor themselves, still sent contributions to the believers in Jerusalem. Les says this shows that when people become true children of God, they have a whole different outlook on everything, including giving.
Why the Rapture Is a Secret Most Christians Miss - Romans 16:25 Explained
verse 11. Titus chapter 2, verse 11. Titus 2, verse 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation has, it's already passed, has appeared to all men. No one is ever going to be able to say, but Lord I never heard. And this grace of God teaches us that we are to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.
Abraham's Tenth as a Guideline
Les uses Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek to show that the tenth is a scriptural guideline, but he insists that forcing ten percent on believers puts them back under the Law. He points to Paul's principle: give as the Lord has prospered you.
Paul Asked to Remember the Poor
Les explains that the Jerusalem leaders asked Paul only to remember the poor. He connects this to the early Jewish believers putting all their money into a common fund because they expected the Kingdom.
The Common Fund Runs Dry
Les teaches that because Israel did not respond and the Kingdom did not come, the Jerusalem believers' common fund ran out and they became poor. This is why Paul collected offerings from his Gentile converts.
Selling Property in Expectation of the King
Les says the early Jewish believers gladly sold their property because the apostles were preaching the Kingdom; when it came to nothing, they were left destitute, and Paul's congregations gave to them.
God's Provision Through Gentile Offerings
Les shows that after the Jerusalem believers' kitty ran dry, God laid it on the hearts of Gentile believers under Paul's gospel to give offerings for the poor saints at Jerusalem.
Poor Gentile Believers Giving to Jerusalem
Les points out that even the poor Macedonian and Achaian churches sent contributions back to Jerusalem, showing that true believers have a different outlook on giving.
Offerings, Not Tithes, on the First Day
Les notes that Paul does not use the word tithes when he tells believers to bring offerings on the first day of the week. He also says the New Testament does not make any one day a special holy day above the others.
Genesis 14:20: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Les uses Abraham's tenth to Melchizedek to show that the tithe began as a guideline, not a legal mandate.
1 Corinthians 16:2: Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Paul's New Testament instruction to believers is to give proportionally as the Lord prospers them, not to pay a set ten-percent tithe.
Acts 2:44-45: And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Explains the background of the poor saints at Jerusalem for whom Paul collected offerings.
No. Les teaches that Abraham's tenth is a guideline, but making it a mandate puts believers back under the Law. Paul never uses the word tithe and tells believers to give as the Lord has prospered them.
The Jewish believers in Acts had sold everything and put it into a common fund because they expected the Kingdom. When the Kingdom did not come, the fund ran dry and they were left poor. Paul's Gentile churches sent offerings to help them.
Yes. Les says believers should give out of a free conscience led by the Holy Spirit, as God has prospered them. The early churches actively gave offerings for needy saints, as seen in the collections Paul organized.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Rapture Is a Secret Most Christians Miss - Romans 16:25 Explained