KLEPTOMANIAC, Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway is a trek through the pages of the Bible to find the untwisted truth about the centuries-old teachings on tithes and offerings. Every page of this book has information that will make you become an analyst in getting to the bottom line of what tithing is in the Old and New Testament. It takes you on a journey to first define the word tithe and then breaks down the differences between giving and tithing as the Bible instructs.
The author attempts to expose what most people believe as fact to bring them to what the Bible actually teaches when it comes to true giving. Are the arguments put forth today about tithing fact or fiction? This book tackles tough questions like, did God ever require a tithe of money? Was the contents of the tithe always money in the Bible? Who is really robbing God today? Did God change the tithe at some point in biblical history? Are first fruits money? Is the tithe food, money or both? Is the church the storehouse? Did Jesus, Paul and the Disciples tithe? Did the early church honor a money tithe system? Are Christians really cursed for not tithing ten percent of their income? These questions will be answered based on scholarship, the land, the language and the literature of the original Biblical people. Not only will questions be answered for those confused about whether or not they are required to pay ten percent of their income to any religious institution, they will learn what the Bible really teaches about money and stewardship.
The author meticulously examines the word tithe in both the Hebrew and Greek language. To understand every Bible verse that contains the word tithe, the author gives context and definitive definitions for clarity of the text. This book also explains the concept of giving from a New Testament perspective without the mandate of ten percent and explains why the Apostle Paul never mentioned tithing to any of the New Testament congregations. From Genesis to Revelation, this book is about how to properly interpret biblical terms to arrive at the proper interpretation of a biblical text that refers to money or tithing. Because there are pros and cons about tithing, the author examines both tithing and non-tithing theological camps and presents analysis and conclusions so that the reader can make an informed choice as to how they will give in the future.
Since money is vital in every part of society and the church, this book spends a considerable amount of time detailing how money was used in the Bible to help readers know the difference between tithes and money. The tithing phenomenon has been around for centuries and this book is an expose’ into the how the current doctrine came into existence and who the culprits were who played a major role in what churches teach today. Whether you agree or disagree with tithing as a viable doctrine, KLEPTOMANIAC is a back to the past look at Israel’s history and how they practiced tithing in a theocracy.
This book also questions how tithing practices of today affect people financially and how those practices are unlike tithing practices of yesterday. Not only does this book challenge the accepted definitions of the tithe, it also questions the sustainability of the current practices, especially when economic times get tough for people who may not be able to give much.
From the very beginning to the end of the book, everything is supported by Scripture and research. You will know from the onset why the author, Dr. Frank Chase Jr., wrote the book and learn about his personal story of what happened as a result of embracing New Covenant giving principles from the New Testament. Not only does the book cover the Old Testament tithe, it also unveils what the New Testament teaches about giving by analyzing some of the epistles of Apostle Paul concerning his views and instructions on charitable giving.
- This book is a recepient of a Book Excellence Award in the Religion Category.
