While some churches and denominations teach that tithing is for today, I will submit my argument that tithing is not for today.
Before I do however I want to give my motive for bringing up this subject.
I believe that the tithing doctrine has been misused to the point of causing spiritual abuse, condemnation, blackmail and rejection to many in the body of Christ.
Christians have been bamboozled, conned, tricked and lied to in order to support other people’s ministries.
Christians have been forced by deception to give in order to make other people rich, to their own detriment.
For one thing if you want to be a “member” of a church today most probably you must be a tither to that church.
Well what is wrong with that you may ask?
For one thing it is not scriptural. Secondly you may be sowing to the wind and thirdly you may be giving under duress.
Does this mean that Christians should not give to the Lord’s work?
No it does not BUT Christians are to give according to New Testament protocol, not Old Testament obligation.
That means one should give as they are led by the Lord to whom and where they are led to give and as much or percentage that they feel in their hearts to give.
We are not to give out of compulsion or begrudgingly. God loves a cheerful giver.
For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
No where in the New Testament does it say ‘to give 10% of your income to your local church.”
That is a man made doctrine created in order to secure funds for people’s ministries.
Some people have made ministry today a vocation in which they must be paid a wage instead of a ministry to serve the sheep. This is the definition of a hireling. One who works in the ministry for a wage.
Paul had a regular job. While he did receive offerings when given for the work of the Lord, he ‘worked with his own hands.” (Acts 18:3)
Paul writes that Christians are to give according to the purposes of their heart. Not begrudgingly or under compulsion. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
I personally give as Jesus told his disciples to give, in secret! No one but God knows where I give or how much I give.
While tithing was before the Mosaic Law under the Melchizedek priest hood so was the animal sacrifices! So to use that argument for tithing today is invalid. (Genesis 14:20)
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Matthew 6:3-4
I will say this though, I give according to my heart’s passion and not to something I disagree with.
For example, I attended a particular church that seemed to always be collecting offerings for their ‘building fund’. It got to be really annoying. Like one of those roads in your city always under construction.
One day this church announced that they were building a new gym for the youth. I wanted to check out what was wrong with the old one. When I did I saw a gym solidly built and nothing wrong with it! However, it wasn’t modern or up to date ascetically.
In my mind, I’m thinking no way I’m giving for that project!
Keep in mind that I am not a ‘keep up with the Jones’ type. I grew up as a poor farmer’s kid and if we got anything store bought it was rare. I learned to appreciate things we had because I was raised that way.
So for me to give to someone’s fancy new gym from my hard earned money, no way!
That does not mean however, that another person may feel differently about it and no judgement on them. However, my heart would not be in giving to that project so I would have given under compulsion and begrudgingly. Thus causing me to sin.
It is the same concept as ‘one who eats meat and one who doesn’t eat meat’. To a person who thinks something is sin to them it is sin. (Romans 4:3, Romans 14:23)
The tithe doctrine has put many under bondage. I refuse to be one of them.
If you want to give so others can live better than you, by all means, but I will pass thank you.
So, lets actually examine the tithing doctrine from a New Testament perspective.
According to New Testament scriptures, the Levitical tithe is no longer valid for today. Why? Because Christians are not under Old Testament law.
Interesting enough, those who teach on tithing will reject the Levitical Law in other areas. That is called cherry picking!
The Bible tells us that because the tribe of Levi did not have any inheritance in Israel. (Num 18:23, Deut 10:8,9, 18), they were apportioned the tithe.
So in other words the tithe was for the Levitical priesthood under Jewish law!
This tithe was distributed locally to support the Levities and to help the poor.
Christians are not under the Mosaic covenant (Rom. 6:14–15; 7:5–6; Gal. 3:15–4:7; 2 Cor. 3:4–18).
Now some may say that the ministry today is like the Levitical priesthood. I disagree.
There are no scriptural commands in the New Testament to give the tithe! NONE!
Also, no where in scriptures does it say to make ministry a vocation where you must be financially supported.
God may lay it on someone’s heart to support your ministry but that is different.
Remember that the Christian walk is a walk of faith.
Also, Christians have the Holy Spirit who can give us creative ways to generate finances for our ministry.
Giving to support another person’s life (unless they are in need) is not a Biblical concept.
But you may say, what about all the work done in the church? Don’t they need finances to do that work? Well, if you do some research you will find that many in ministry live high on the hog off your dime. Also the administration cost to run a big ministry is many times more than the actual work itself. Plus, some ministries have a mother load of bucks in the bank while the poor are going without and evangelism is being neglected.
There are credible ministries out there that help the poor, live moderately and reach the lost but one has to be careful. Its important to sow our seed in good ground because if God’s word isn’t respected in that ministry you might as well flush your bucks down the toilet. Ignorance according to God’s word is a sin. Especially when we have the Bible laying it all out for us. Which by the way we should always put above the doctrines and traditions of men.
Let’s examine the tithing doctrine according to scriptures.
God’s storehouse today is not based on Malachi 3:7-10.
Unscrupulous people use this scripture to deceive God’s sheep.
This verse is a rebuke to Israelites who refused to give to the temple and the Levitical priesthood. To use it for the church of Jesus Christ today is a misuse of scripture.
The storehouse mentioned in this verse is the treasury of the Temple. (Neh 10:38, 12:44)
Our service to God is a service. If God has called us to ministry he will supply our needs. He will provide seed for us to sow and he will multiply it in his way and in his time.
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. (2 Corinthians 9:10)
Another scriptural reference used by hirelings is that Abraham tithed 10 percent to the priest Melchezidec.
Again that is not a New Testament command. Jesus Christ is our High Priest. We give to his work. Which is the great commission, make disciples, feed the sheep and equip them for ministry.
Its important to give to God’s work but it must be God’s work.
Now if you want to give 10% of your finances to your local church by all means. But to require others to do so is simply wrong.
Personally I prefer to give to the furtherance of the gospel. That is where my heart is. I am not interested in giving to help someone build a bigger church. In my opinion there are enough churches but not enough souls in the kingdom of God!
We are told in Scriptures to support those who preach the gospel (Matt. 10:10; Luke 10:7; 1 Cor. 9:6–14; 1 Tim. 5:17–18)
There are many ways to give to the Lord’s work but it should be according to our heart! Not according to a man made doctrine!
Blessings in Jesus!
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