I have often amazed at how many people banter the word "Judaized" about in an effort to discredit an opponent, all the while d

I have often amazed at how many people banter the word "Judaized" about in an effort to discredit an opponent, all the while demanding that the tithe is still in effect.� Yes I've seen the preachers, including CI's, put guilt trips on people for not tithing and namely tithing to them.� They imply that by sending them your "tithes", you are giving to God.� I see a bit of� blasphemy in such statements.� This "guilt by association" tends to equate� the preacher as God.� In this effort I will refer to the one using guilt to� manipulate the heart of the people to give them money as the "guiltor" and� the one being manipulated to give as the "guiltee."

Yes, I have seen all the arguments on "tithing" and IMHO they come up far� short. In CI, we're are usually people who were brought up in the jewdeo world. I was initiated in the Southern Baptist denomination.� As most� people who come into CI, I began to understand that basically every thing, and I mean everything, I had learned as being in the Bible was a lie. You � know what I mean, the teachings on heaven and hell, the devil, satan, and "gentile" are just a very few of the things I had to relearn.

Another of them is the teaching on tithing. And what passage is it that is used to really put guilt on us for not tithing? It's the omnipresent Mal. 3:8‑10:

"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. {9} Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. {10}� Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine� house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

How many of us have ever taken the time to put in the effort to understand this passage? I would say very, very few as I have never heard anyone give a rebuttal to the misuse of this Scripture. By using this Scripture the� user implies many things that are not true. He implies "Tithes and� offerings" are one and the same. He implies "Tithes and offerings" is the giving of money. He implies that "Tithes and offerings" is the giving of a fixed percentage of one's income on a regular basis. About the only problem that is encountered is whether it should be based on gross or net� income. And finally, he implies that the "Storehouse" equals the church or the "guiltor's" ministry.

A careful reading of the verses used to manipulate the masses into giving money will reveal safeguards to prevent one from coming to the false premises listed in the preceding paragraph. But they are seldom dug out by� the "guiltees."

The first big guilt trip is the "Will a man rob God" question. This statement is intended to manifest a guilty conscience in the "guiltee."�� This psychological ploy is used to make one think there is a "law" requiring them to give a "tithe" to God.� By making one think they are bound by a Law of God to "tithe" the "guiltor's" efforts become very efficient to his end.� By using this verse the "guiltor" is able to make� tithes and offerings the same thing.�

However the "guiltee" makes his first mistake by accepting this prevarication as fact.� The Old Testament clearly shows that "tithes" and "offerings" are not one and the same. The second mistake made by the "guiltee" is to allow themselves to be hoodwinked into thinking "tithes" and "offerings" are controlled by a fixed percentage and are to be given to the "chruch" which they are coerced into believing is the "storehouse" of Malachi 3:10. And lastly the "guiltee" allows himself to be convinced that "tithing" is commanded in the New Covenant.� I will present to you why I believe none of the above is true.

We in CI generally accept that the SCL have been

replaced or done away and are no longer in effect or required.� But both "tithes" and "offerings" are a part of this very law.� Yet, even though the "guiltee" can grasp that the ceremonial laws are no longer in effect, he can't seem to understand that the "tithes" and "offerings" are part of this same law.� Yet the "guiltor"

who teaches the SCL is no longer binding will teach that a portion of them are, namely "tithing" and "offerings".� This reminds one of the rift that was extant in Paul's day that he had to battle. The Judaizers were teaching a part of the SCL was still in effect.� That part was physical� circumcision (Acts 15:1‑24).� Paul told these Judaizers that if they insisted upon physical circumcision for "salvation" "justification" they were required to do all that law, not just that (Gal 5:3).� I much imagine that Paul would say the same thing to the "guiltors" of today.�

They insist on the "guiltees" paying the "tithes" and "offerings" of the Old Covenant, yet they claim we're not under the Old Covenant anymore.� But they continue to manipulate the "guiltees" by labeling their refusal of paying "tithes" and "offering" as sinners.

Lets take a look at the Scriptures of the Old Covenant that require "tithing":

"And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD. {31} And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. {32} And concerning the tithe of� the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. {33} He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed." (Leviticus 27:30‑33 KJV)�

If you will notice, this "tithe" has to do with the "fruit" of the land, tree or flock. Nowhere in Scripture is there a tithe of anything else. The "guiltors" use the above passage to say "all the tithe...is the Lord's," but never mention what is to be tithed, namely, the fruit of the land, flock.� There's no mention here or anywhere else of the tithing of money. (They also never mention, hopping those sitting in the pews have parked their brain at the door like they have been taught, that the TITHER PARTICIPATED IN THE TITHE AND HELP TO EAT THE ANIMAL BEING TITHED! And of course those religious hucksters like Binny Hinn; Bill Bright; Billy Graham; David Lankford; Hal Lindsey; Jack van Impe; James Robison; James Dobson; Jerry Falwell (A so-called Christian Zionist); Jim Bakker; Jimmy Swaggart; John Hagee; Joyce Meyers; Kenneth Copelan; Kenny Hagin; Marilyn Hickey; Marlin Maddoux; Mike Evans; Oral Roberts; Pat Robertson; Paul Crouch; Robert Schuler; Dr. Wolf., just to name a few will not tell you this because their riches and power depend on you being deaf, dumb, blind and stupid)

Lets look at another "tithing" passage:

"Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. {23} And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the� firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always. {24} And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: {25} Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: {26} And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or� for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, {27} And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee. {28} At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: {29} And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine� hand which thou doest." (Deuteronomy 14:22‑29 KJV)

The "tithe" was to be brought to the place God appointed.� If it was a long distance, the tither could turn the tithe into money and take it to the appointed place.� He was� not to give that tithe to the Lord, but to buy for himself whatsoever his soul desires (v. 26).� The "third year" tithe was to be kept "within your gates" (vv. 28‑29).� It was a provision for the� Levites, stranger, fatherless and widowed.� From these passages we see that "tithing" was commanded by YHWH for two reasons.� They provided for the Levite and were also for legal worship to learn fear of YHWH. We can see from the above verses that the people could turn their "tithe" into money if they wished. So the reason given by so many "guiltors" & "guiltees" when confronted with this, that they didn't have money is a non sequitur.

Another passage is:

"When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled; {13} Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them: {14} I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me. {15} Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey. {16} This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. {17} Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments,� and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice: {18} And the LORD hath� avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee,� and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; {19} And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and� in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken." (Deuteronomy 26:12‑19 KJV)�

Here we see when the third year tithe is required of the Israelite, it is a reinforcing of the nature of the practice. We can see that this is the carrying out of the agreement of God with Israel. Does the "guiltor" teach� that the "guiltee" is under the Old Testament SCL?

Now lets look at the laws of offerings.� They are found in Leviticus 1:1‑4:12. These were the ceremonial practices demanded by God.� They include the "burnt offering," the peace offering and the sin offering.

THIS SHOWS THAT � TITHES � AND � OFFERINGS � IN THE OLD COVENANT ARE NOT THE GIVING OF MONEY OR REGULAR GIVING OUT ONES INCOME. Instead this giving relates to worship of God under the Old Covenant, via of the SCL.

As for the canard of the "guiltor's" use of the term "storehouse" as being synonymous with the church or ministry I shall show you that it's without foundation. We seldom have serious inquiry into this claim. Instead we're given psychological counter, i.e, personal testimonies of the "benefit" of "tithing." Such testimonies are cited as evidence of God blessing those� who "tithe." In so doing, one must question the motive for one to� "tithe." It would seem that the desire to prosper materially would override the desire for spiritual prosperity. Usually well‑known preachers� give witness to this material blessing supposedly from God.� This, in turn, is nothing more than opinion quoted as "law."

The storehouse as mentioned in Malachi 3:10 is a

reference to the Temple. Under the New Covenant, the Temple is passed away.� It was a fore‑shadow of � Christ. When Christ came, He fulfilled that and many other types and shadows as was represented by the SCL.� Now we have no ordained place of worship (John 4:21‑23).� SO WHEN THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN CLERGY IDENTIFIES THE CHURCH, MEETING PLACE OR MINISTRY AS THE STOREHOUSE, HE IS DOING SO WITHOUT BIBLICAL AUTHORITY.

Of course the "guiltor" seldom passes up the opportunity of Abram paying a tenth of the spoils of battle as "proof" that "tithing" was in effect prior to the OC and therefore is in effect today.� But when we study this event from the Scriptures we can see that such a premise is not supported:

"And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. {15} And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. {16} And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. {17} And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of� the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. {18} And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. {19} And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: {20} And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." (Genesis 14:14‑20 KJV)�

Then in Hebrews 7:4 we find:

"Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils."

First: We notice that Abram gave of the spoils of a battle. This Scripture does not say Abram gave tenth of his income, flocks or crops.� Never does the Scriptures show Abram did tithe as is laid out in the Old Covenant. This was a one time thing and was from the spoils of battle.� It was given directly to the Most High Priest, Melchisedec. This is nothing like what is preached for tithing today.

In another instance, Jacob vowed to give Elohim (God) tithes after seeing Him in a Vision (Genesis 28:20‑22). Elohim (God) told him that his seed would be blessed and multiply as the dust of the earth. Out of reverence and awe, Jacob voluntarily gave a tenth of this blessing to Yahweh (the Lord). Tithing was not required until the giving of the law of Moses to the� Children of Israel at Mt. Sinai, 1490 years before the birth of the� Messiah.� In fact this is just the opposite of what we're told� today.�� We're told that if we "tithe" then God will bless us.� This verse� has Jacob saying if God will be with him and keep him and give him food and clothing and peace, he will give God a tenth of this blessing.

Concerning the giving of money in the Old Covenant, we can find two instances.� The

first is found in Exodus 30:11‑16:

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, {12} When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou� numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. {13} This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are� numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. {14}� Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old� and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. {15} The rich shall not� give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they� give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. {16}� And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and� shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation;� that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to� make an atonement for your souls."

As attested by the passage, we can see this was neither offered to God nor was it a tenth. It was a fixed sum given to men who had been numbered. It was "atonement money." The word "offering" in this passage is a "gift," not a ritual sacrifice. The other passage on giving money is found in Leviticus 5:15‑19:

"If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: {16} And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. {17} And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and� shall bear his iniquity. {18} And he shall bring a ram without blemish out� of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the� priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his� ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him. {19} It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD."

This was part of the trespass offering concerning the sins of ignorance. It is clearly a part of the SCL no longer in effect.

We can find Biblical references to giving money to the Lord or Temple in 2 Kings 12 during the reign of Joash.� Also we find it in 2 Kings 22 during the reign of Josiah.� This giving was used for the upkeep of the Temple and� was not a command of God, but of the king.� It is not found in the Old Covenant or in a command by God. There is no percentage mentioned

in either passage. There was no sacrificial or worship reason for it. This cannot be misconstrued as "tithes" and "offerings. �

There is another instance in Haggai 1:1‑7:

"In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth� month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, {2} Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built. {3} Then came the word of the LORD by� Haggai the prophet, saying, {4} Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your� ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? {5} Now therefore thus saith the� LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. {6} Ye have sown much, and bring in� little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled� with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth� wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. {7} Thus saith the� LORD of hosts; Consider your ways."

In this case the people had let the Temple deteriorate while they lived rather well. This was the reason they had to reconsider their ways. You will notice that these people were never rebuked for not tithing or for robbing God.

As I said, the purpose of tithing was to meet the material need of the Levitical priesthood, which included singers, musicians, door keepers and the priests.� But this is not what passes as "tithing" in the New Testament.� The Levites did not have a land inheritance, so they received the "tithe" (Numbers 18:20).� But we know that the Levitical Priesthood is no longer, therefore the need for the tithe no longer exists and was not incorporated into the New Testament. .

When we consider what the Bible says about tithing as it existed in the Old Covenant we find that up to 2/3rds of Israel never tithed. What did the children of Israel pay tithes on? ‑ SEED, FRUIT, HERD, & FLOCK.� It seems those who teach "tithing" on ALL increase (Deuteronomy 14:22), do not understand that God never made such a command? Another thing those that are for tithing fail to mention is� the tithe was only paid "at the end of every three years" (Deuteronomy 14:28), and certainly not on the "first day of the week" (I Corinthians 16:2) as some would claim.

It is a flawed argument that since modern man does much less farming than his forebears, that everyone should now pay a tenth of their paycheck� instead.� But if tithes were only required on SEED, FRUIT, HERD, & FLOCK, then only those that produced these commodities were required to "tithe."�� What about those that didn't produce these commodities, i.e.

Women including wives, sons & daughters, archers (1 Samuel 31:3), armorbearers (1 Samuel 16:21), bakers (Jeremiah 37:21), barbers (Ezekiel 5:1),

basketmakers (Acts 9:25), carpenters (2 Kings 22:6), carvers (1 Kings 6:15‑19), caulkers (Ezekiel 27:27), centurions/soldiers (Numbers 1:3), chamberlains (Acts 8:27), cupbearers (1 Kings 10:5), embroiderers (Psalm 45:14), fishermen (including several of Jesus' disciples), innkeepers (Luke 10:35), jewelers (Isaiah 61:10), judges (Exodus 18:l3‑27), lawyers (Luke 7:30),

merchants (Ezekiel 17:4), porters (John 18:17), stewards (Matthew 20:8), tanners (Acts 10:6), tentmakers (Acts 18:2,3), watchmen (2 Kings 9:17), water carriers (Ruth 2:9), and woodworkers (Isaiah 40:20).

But today we're led to believe that every member of the household is to "tithe."� But this isn't Biblical. We also have the accounts in Mark 12 and Luke 21 concerning the widow's mite. This is often used to justify requiring tithing.� Please do note that the "treasury" was not mentioned in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament it was a "chest" (2 Kings 12:9‑10).� There is no mention of "tithing" in this event. This widow was praised simply for giving all she had our of love for God.

Have you ever studied the Malachi 3:8‑10 passage to see to whom it is� written?� Well this may surprise you, but it's written to the preachers.

In time the priests began to corrupt themselves by not giving Yahweh a tenth of what they received from Israel. Under the Law the prophet Malachi� wrote to the priests, not the congregation of Israel, the following in Malachi 2:1‑4:

"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith Yahweh (the LORD) of hosts."

In Malachi 3:8, Yahweh (the Lord) continued speaking to the preachers.

"Will a man rob God?..."

Now preachers use this scripture to deceive and condemn the people into giving tithes, but in reality this scripture was written to the preachers. Re‑read the first three chapters of Malachi to see whom the prophet is addressing: the people of Israel or the priests?� Remember that Malachi is being shown a vision by YHWH.� Compare Malachi 1:1 and 2:1 and follow the continuity of thought. YHWH also appeared to Isaiah in a vision and said the following about the priests of Israel being the watchman:

"His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they� are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that� cannot understand: they all look to their own way, EVERY ONE FOR HIS GAIN, from his quarter. � (Isaiah 56:10‑11)

So while the "guiltors" beat the "guiltees" over the head with this passage, the passage is to the "guiltor."� Very ironic don't you think? Who are preachers to tithe to? Or do they just not have to?

In the New Testament we have this example in Matthew 23:23:

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have� done, and not to leave the other undone."

But this was directed to those still under the Old Covenant at the time it was said. Therefore it is not applicable as a New Covenant teaching. Remember� that money is not being tithed, but the fruit of`the soil: herbs, mint and cummin!

I do not want to give the impression that I don't believe "giving" is proper for us today under the New Covenant. There are two important reasons to give in the New Covenant. It's for ekklesia and it's to support those that NEED support from us. Paul worked and preached the Gospel.� In fact he said those that� won't work shouldn't eat.� But this in no way means we aren't to support those that need it in the congregation of God including the elders.

Elders should have the support of the assembly, but it is not something to� which they may claim entitlement. The object of elders is not financial gain or material advancement, but to be servants in Christ's body. He cannot demand that the ekklesia support him all things must be done in mutual love and self‑ giving.

Remember we have Christ who died to � Redeem � "save" us. Not just "save" us from death, but from all things.� If we seek first the kingdom of God, God will� give us our needs.� The motive for giving in the New Testament age is not obedience to a tithing‑law, but a fulfillment of our love for God.

We're told we should give to God, but how can we do that?� Is it by giving due to being manipulated through guilt?� No!� God gave us a perfect example� of how we are to do things for Him.� Jesus said those that will be on His� right hand will be there because they fed Him, clothed Him, gave water to� Him and visited Him in prison in Matthew 25:32‑36:

"... I will separate the people...{34}Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, 'Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. {35} For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; {36} naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.

This is a complete surprise to those to whom He says this. They respond by saying in Matthew 25:37‑39:

"...'Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed� you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? {38} Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? {39} When did we ever see you sick or� in prison, and visit you?'

And He will answer by saying:

"And I, the King, will tell them, 'When you did it� to these my brothers you were doing it to me!' � (Matthew 25:40 TLB)

So by giving to those in need, whether it be an elder or a brother, we give to God.

The New Testament principle is giving from the heart, cheerfully, out of� love and in light of Christ's sacrifice (2 Corinthians 8:9). We must give in secret in order that the Father who sees in secret may reward us openly. Those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly.

It's an unfortunate thing that some who come into the knowledge of not� having to pay a tithe stop giving completely.� They use the fact that� "tithing" is not in effect today as a reason to be selfish because they now� see no reason to give because they can see no personal gain in it.� This� reveals their former motives.� Because they were giving out of guilt� through having their conscience manipulated, else they wouldn't have� eternal life or something to that effect, they don't give.� This means they� were giving to get.� They weren't giving with a joyful heart.� They were� giving because they thought it was necessary for "salvation."� They were� not doing as the ones in the parable above.� The only ones they feeding,� clothing, giving drink to and visiting in prison is themselves.� Such a� thing is not taught in the New Testament.

Such umbilical thinking brings to mind the Scripture in Hebrews 5:11‑14 TLB:�

"There is much more I would like to say along these� lines, but you don't seem to listen, so it's hard to make you understand.� {12} You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching� others, but instead you have dropped back to the place where you need� someone to teach you all over again the very first principles in God's� Word. You are like babies who can drink only milk, not old enough for solid� food. {13} And when a person is still living on milk it shows he isn't very� far along in the Christian life, and doesn't know much about the difference� between right and wrong. He is still a baby Christian! {14} You will never� be able to eat solid spiritual food and understand the deeper things of� God's Word until you become better Christians and learn right from wrong by� practicing doing right."