Q: Why should anyone read this book on tithing, when so many others are available?
Q: What is the difference between this book and all the other information out there?
In the past decade, the internet has exploded with materials and information on tithing. It seems that while those with a voice at the pulpit continue to advocate tithing, those without a voice in church have resorted to spreading their message via the internet. These dissenting voices, that say that tithing has no place in Christianity, can be heard all over the web. In all truth, in terms of content, there is very little that is unique about Free To Give. You will find the same truth conveyed at many other sites and in many other books. So, in some sense, there is no reason to prefer Free To Give over any other work out there. I whole-heartedly recommend the information from many other websites concerning this topic. I’m not trying to compete with any of my peers. I think we’re all in this together for the sake of the spiritual well-being of the Church.
So why read Free To Give?
(I’m not saying other books and other websites don’t also share these same reasons for reading their material. These are simply the best reasons I can think of for someone to read Free To Give.)
Reason #1: There is no monetary conflict of interest on the part of the author. I receive no money from tithes. I receive no money from this website or this book. I receive no acclaim or fame from publishing the book. It is and has been a labor of love to provide this book free of charge to the public.
Reason #2: The book was written in a vacuum. By that, I mean that I consulted no outside sources (other than the Bible) for the content of the book. I wanted to see (especially for myself) what an average Christian could learn from the Bible alone about the topic of tithing and giving. Readers have told me that the book echoes very closely their own research on the topic. I believe that this is because anyone who spends the time to perform an honest and thorough analysis of Scripture will find the same truths that I did. So I believe this book is very relatable to people searching for the truth about tithing. These same readers have told me that this book has saved them the trouble of compiling notes to give to their pastor or share with their friends.
Reason #3: Chapter 10. The chapter entitled, “The Paradox of the Two Principles of Christian Giving”, is particularly significant. The truths in this chapter were a revelation (at least to me) and I think it will edify the reader. If I had to recommend any chapter as a “must-read”, I would say Chapter 10.
Reason #4: Chapter 1. Every verse is presented (in context) in which any form of the word “tithe” appears in the NIV Bible. There is no spin, no alteration, no interpretation, no comment from the author. It may be the only chapter you need to read. My mind was settled when I simply read what the Bible had to say about the topic.
Reason #5: (Related to Reason #4) The book tries to very hard to let Scripture speak for itself. Most pastors will tell you that tithing is Biblical. Is the doctrine and practice of tithing really Biblical? Or are men simply using Scripture to justify it? To answer this question, Free To Give puts large quantities of Scripture in front of the reader. There are nearly 300 verses of scripture included in the book. So the book, if nothing else, is a useful compendium on scriptures related to money, giving, and tithing.
Reason #6: People have actually gotten kicked out of church over this issue. Tithing is an important issue, and there is an important message in the book. This book will equip you to understand what is true and what is not concerning tithing. Besides the book, I also recommend reading the posts entitled Kicked Out Of Church, and Kicked Out of Church (Part 2).
Reason #7: The book is free. It is free of charge. It is free to quote and reproduce. The author claims no copyright on the material. Use it for Bible studies, sermons, or whatever. The #1 complement and piece of feedback I get from readers is to thank me for providing this material free of charge.
