Should Christians Tithe?

[WASR10]

Many Christian religious organizations and churches recognize the Old Covenant as not applying under the New Covenant.

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[Darto]

Original 12 tribes: One (Levi) were prohibited from working for wages. Hence the tithe which went to the Levites from the other tribes. This is why it was brought to the Temple where the Priests and helpers (Levites) were.

[Not a Cook]

COD believes in giving from the Heart. However I remember sermons by J Vernon Mc Gee about Tithing.

And since you asked I must also ask. Is it the church you attend that dismisses the OT as if it does not apply to us today??

Many Christian religious organizations and churches recognize the Old Covenant as not applying under the New Covenant.

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This topic has come up in many other threads here so I won't belabor the point now, but I think it is important to note that "Old Testament" and "Old Covenant" are not interchangeable terms and unless we are very careful about the specific terms we use in a discussion such as this, much confusion is likely to result.

In his reply, I do not think WASR10 meant that Christians should dismiss the first 39 books of the Scriptures (although, sadly, some folks today do just that). Please feel free to correct me, WASR10, if I misunderstood you.

Regarding the larger question of "should Christians tithe?": this discussion could be much larger than it is, but I'll refrain from writing too much about it right now. For the time being, let me just throw a few quick points and questions out there that I'm surprised haven't come up yet:

- there were actually multiple tithes required of Israel. Although "tithe" literally means "tenth", the Israelites paid considerably more than 10% with their mandatory "tithes";
- in addition to the mandatory tithes, the Israelites also gave free-will offerings;
- Some questions for thought:

1. To whom did Israel give the tithes, and for what were the tithes used?

2. Although tithing is not commanded to the Christian, do any of the tithes required of ancient Israel have a corollary to our lives today? (Obviously, we have to consider what tithes were required in the Law to see if any of them has a modern-day corollary in order to answer this question).

3. Christ "raised the bar" on the Law of Moses (ref. Matthew 5 for multiple examples). Would this principle of Christ's "raising the bar" on the Law of Moses apply to the "tithe"? Is so, how and to what end?

4. If you come to the conclusion that Christians should tithe, what does that actually mean? Does it mean you're to pay it to a Levite? Or does it mean something else? Does your local congregation take the place of the Levites?

Disclaimer: yes, there are charlatans "in the ministry" in both local congregations and in other groups who "fleece the flock" and are after folks' money - they do this to their own shame and they shall have to give account to God Himself for their actions. Often times these charlatans require a mandatory "giving" amount - whether it be a "tithe" or something else. Stay away from such folks and groups.

That said, no matter what conclusion a person comes to on this matter, we who are servants of Christ should give willingly and cheerfully (not out of compulsion) to the Lord. We should give to Him and His work because we're grateful and thankful to Him. We should help satisfy the needs of our brothers in sisters in need, to finance the work of evangelizing the lost and discipling the saved, and to appropriately support those engaged in vocational ministry. Personally, I'm convicted that giving a tithe to the Lord's work is merely a good starting point for any follower of Christ (but that it must not be done under compulsion but rather willingly and with a cheerful heart) and that mature Christians will also give free-will offerings as the Lord enables us and leads us.

[WASR10]

Correct, Not a Cook. In his reply, Scoooter7 inferred the Old Covenant, not the Old Testament, as evident by his wording of it "applying." Therefore I answered in reference to the inference, not the wording.

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[hasserl]

COD believes in giving from the Heart. However I remember sermons by J Vernon Mc Gee about Tithing.

And since you asked I must also ask. Is it the church you attend that dismisses the OT as if it does not apply to us today??

I don't think that is an accurate representation of what the Lutheran church teaches. There is plenty of information about Lutheran theology available out there if you want to know about it. May I recommend this as a starting point?

http://www.bookofconcord.org/

[skilletboy]

2 Corinthians 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

As a Christian I am free to give more than 10% if I want to. Yes, the church should be financed. If you are attending you're using the heater, the air conditioner, the lights, the sound, the building. These things aren't free and as a worshiper you should be financing these things. Also, as worship you should be offering/tithing your time as best you can as well. The church doesn't function in a vacuum. People make it work as guided by the Spirit.

Nailed it. 100% agree... I'd never claim you HAVE TO, but the apostle Paul here discusses the main issue with giving; YOUR HEART.

[Decoligny]

Under the old covenant, the Tithe was a mandated amount to be given for specified purposes. The tithe was commanded by God to be 1 tenth of the increase from the land that God had given to the Hebrews.

A Hebrew who did not reside in Israel was not required to tithe, as he had no increase from land given to him by God. Merchants were not required to tithe because they too had no increase from the land that God had given.

There were actually three separate tithes in the old testament.
1. The tithe given to the temple to be used to support the Priests and temple workers.
2. The tithe to be given to the poor and the travelers.
3. The tithe to be stored for three years after which it was to be used for a celebration where everyone was invited to party with food and drink.

There is not a single post crucifixion mention of a requirement to tithe in the bible.

The most often used scripture to justify tithing is Malachi.

If you actually take your time and read Malachi, God was specifically speaking to the Levitical Priests when he said "Would a man rob God?" and then commanded them to bring all the tithes into the storehouse.

In Chapter 1 of Malachi, it clearly states that the message is for Israel. "1. The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi..."

In Chapter 2 of Malachi, it clearly states that the message is for the Priesthood. "1. And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you..."

There is nothing to indicate any change in the intended recipient of the message after this.

So, Chapter 1 is for the entire nation of Israel, all the Hebrew people, and Chapters 2 & 3 are specifically directed at the disobedient priests.

The Hebrews people did not bring their own tithes into the storehouse, they brought them to the Priests. The Priests then took them inside the temple complex to the storehouse. There is historical and biblical references to priests stealing the tithes. So, Malachi is God reprimanding the Priests for stealing.

The new testament says for a man to give as he has purposed in his heart.

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

He also said that the measure that you use will be the measure used for you.

This applies to your standard of judgment, and it applies to your measure of giving.

If you give only a meager pittance, then you will receive with the same small spoon which you used to dole out your pittance. If you give with generosity and a joyful heart, then you will receive with the large abundant shovel that you used to heap your bounty to others.

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Tithing is a mandate of the law. Anyone who lives under the law is bound by the entirety of the law.

Giving is a blessing of Grace. Anyone who lives under grace enjoys the benefits of grace.

[hasserl]

Nice post Decoligny. A good example of taking into consideration the context of passages.

[Decoligny]

I don't have a problem with someone who unknowingly uses the term "tithe" when they actually mean "offering". That is a simple matter of educating them on the difference meanings of the different words.

What I have a major problem with is pastors who knowingly use Malachi 3 as a hammer to intimidate their flock into giving a minimum of 10% under the false premise that to not do so would be stealing from God and would result in being completely cut off all blessings from God because they are "cursed with a curse, because you have robbed me, even this whole nation." These men are thieves who look to make a living bleeding their flock by teaching what is not the rightly divided word of God.

[Not a Cook]

Under the old covenant, the Tithe was a mandated amount to be given for specified purposes. The tithe was commanded by God to be 1 tenth of the increase from the land that God had given to the Hebrews.

A Hebrew who did not reside in Israel was not required to tithe, as he had no increase from land given to him by God. Merchants were not required to tithe because they too had no increase from the land that God had given.

There were actually three separate tithes in the old testament.
1. The tithe given to the temple to be used to support the Priests and temple workers.
2. The tithe to be given to the poor and the travelers.
3. The tithe to be stored for three years after which it was to be used for a celebration where everyone was invited to party with food and drink.

There is not a single post crucifixion mention of a requirement to tithe in the bible.

The most often used scripture to justify tithing is Malachi.

If you actually take your time and read Malachi, God was specifically speaking to the Levitical Priests when he said "Would a man rob God?" and then commanded them to bring all the tithes into the storehouse.

In Chapter 1 of Malachi, it clearly states that the message is for Israel. "1. The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi..."

In Chapter 2 of Malachi, it clearly states that the message is for the Priesthood. "1. And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you..."

There is nothing to indicate any change in the intended recipient of the message after this.

So, Chapter 1 is for the entire nation of Israel, all the Hebrew people, and Chapters 2 & 3 are specifically directed at the disobedient priests.

The Hebrews people did not bring their own tithes into the storehouse, they brought them to the Priests. The Priests then took them inside the temple complex to the storehouse. There is historical and biblical references to priests stealing the tithes. So, Malachi is God reprimanding the Priests for stealing.

The new testament says for a man to give as he has purposed in his heart.

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

He also said that the measure that you use will be the measure used for you.

This applies to your standard of judgment, and it applies to your measure of giving.

If you give only a meager pittance, then you will receive with the same small spoon which you used to dole out your pittance. If you give with generosity and a joyful heart, then you will receive with the large abundant shovel that you used to heap your bounty to others.

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Tithing is a mandate of the law. Anyone who lives under the law is bound by the entirety of the law.

Giving is a blessing of Grace. Anyone who lives under grace enjoys the benefits of grace.

I don't have a problem with someone who unknowingly uses the term "tithe" when they actually mean "offering". That is a simple matter of educating them on the difference meanings of the different words.

What I have a major problem with is pastors who knowingly use Malachi 3 as a hammer to intimidate their flock into giving a minimum of 10% under the false premise that to not do so would be stealing from God and would result in being completely cut off all blessings from God. These men are thieves who look to make a living bleeding their flock by teaching what is not the word of God.

^ Very true.

[Sailormilan2]

I find this thread very interesting. Because every year the church pastor gets up and starts reading a list of reasons(I've seen it as high as 10 reasons, with verses to back it up) why one should pay tithe.........including the biggie from Malachi.
I've never heard anything closely resembling that it was referring to the priests and their thievery. I'm not saying it is wrong, just not used to hearing it.

[eb47]

I say be careful here. Christians today are not bound under the OT law as the Hebrews were. True, but it is a guide to be a good person and is a good starting point for a new Christian to live their lives.

Why don't we just follow the law then? Because Jesus came and died for our sins, giving all that believe everlasting life. The OT laws show us we are sinners and can never be reconciled with God through the Laws no matter how hard we try.

Does this mean the Laws no longer apply? NO, it means the Laws were not our way to salvation. It pointed out our sin.

Old Testament teachings should never just be dismissed as they don't apply to us today. God inspired each and every word in the Bible for us to use as a guide, and speaks to us through it. Old Testament as well as the New Testament.

+1 on this.

[Sikvenum93]

All other religions do so. I don't see what's bad about aiding in the upkeep of your local church.

[colossians323]

Its more than upkeep of the local church, its about sending out missionaries, taking care of widows, feeding the poor, distributing Gods word and visiting the incarcerated. If you can't give your heart to The Living God, you will not understand giving treasure, talent, and time to the Living God.

[hasserl]

But the question is not about "giving" to your church, it is about "tithing". Read the thread for details.