I sat listening to a minister suggest that Achan's disobedience (in Joshua 6 and 7) in taking the 'accursed things' was similar to a Christian today failing to tithe.
The suggestion was further made that one person not tithing could cause the whole church to be in 'sin' in the same way as the whole of Israel came under God's judgement for Achan's disobedience.
(The preacher was hinting that such a person himself could perhaps rightly expect the wrath of the congregation to be poured out on them …….. though perhaps not by stoning him as Israel did to Achan)
Is this true? (The scriptures command us to judge the word that is presented…see below) (also 1 Thes 5:21 and Rev 2:2)
1 Cor 14:26-30
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
(The above suggestion certainly failed this test)
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. NKJV
We are each (as the others) called to judge what is presented. Is it something which Jesus or the apostles taught?
(It totally fails this test also)
(Neither Jesus nor the apostles ever taught 'storehouse money tithing' or 'first fruits offerings'!)
Further, the above suggestion IS an offense to the cross. It suggests that Christ's sacrifice is not sufficient to cover all the sins of New Testament believers.
Gal 3:13
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree") NKJV
2 Cor 5:19
God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…..NKJV
So what then are the 'accursed things'?
It is often claimed that holy things …or devoted things (che-rem… ie things set aside for God) are the same as accursed things (ha-che-rem….ie things to be totally destroyed) . This is clearly wrong. The context indicates that one was to be set aside for use as God prescribed and the other was to be destroyed because of the harm it could cause to Israel.
Is there a New Testament equivalent to 'devoted things'?
1 Cor 1:30
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption
NKJV
Heb 10:10
10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. NKJV
Heb 10:14
14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. NKJV
Brethren, WE are as the SAINTS of God are the fulfillment of 'devoted things'
Rom 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. NKJV
Is there a New Testament equivalent to 'accursed things'?
The early church addressed this matter when under the direction of all the apostles and the Holy Spirit it instructed the Gentile churches as follows:-
Acts 15:28-29
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. NKJV
There is certainly NO requirement for us as Gentile believers to set aside 'devoted things' as today we worship God in spirit and in truth. The closest to 'accursed things' in the New Testament would be the keeping of idols or heathen religious artefacts after we have become christians…supported by the fact that the early church converts burnt these items (Acts19:19). Continued sexual sin in the church was also to be radically dealt with (1 Cor 5:1-5)
What we have as believers is an incredible FREEDOM to live as love leads us to do….and to focus on things that are good.
1 Cor 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. NKJV
So why was this then taught by a supposed 'man of God'?
Was it to scare the body into trying to pressure all other members to adhere to the 'tithing' heresy?
…. OR ….
Simply to mask and justify the ungodly covetous behavior of demanding money tithes contrary to the scriptures?