Tithing

There have been numerous Bible studies done by various theologians over the years on the question of whether paying tithes is an acceptable Christian practice. The legitimacy of tithing is a question that is not confined to the Family, but is a topic that has had many vociferous supporters on both sides of the issue. As this question is largely one that affects all Christians churches, this page will not attempt to answer the question of whether or not we should tithe.

There are links on this page to other sites which examine the biblical reasons for and against tithing. Naturally, the authors of this site do not necessarily condone, support or even agree with material published elsewhere. Rather, these links are given as a reference aid for those who wish to study the matter further in order to resolve the question as to whether or not they should tithe.

There is, however, one issue concerned with tithing that will be looked at in more detail, which is the Family practice of requiring the tithe to be paid as a condition of membership.

Please note also that the important topic of giving is also not covered on this page. Giving is unquestionably a Christian virtue promoted by Jesus Himself in the Gospels and throughout the rest of the New Testament. As Christians, we are expected to be generous with our time, money and resources. However, this issue may be separated from the doctrine of tithing. ‘Tithing’ may be loosely defined as being a regular giving of a certain amount or a certain percentage, while ‘giving’ encompasses extra gifts given voluntarily on top of the tithe, or ‘one off’ gifts for a special need. Tithes are generally paid to the church body or administration or leadership while ‘giving’ may be directed to anyone.

Therefore please be aware that this is a large issue, only a small part of which is examined on this page.

TITHE (from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

The practice of giving a tenth of one’s income or property as an offering to God. The custom of paying a tithe was an ancient practice found among many nations of the ancient world.

The practice of giving a tenth of income or property extends into Hebrew history before the time of the Mosaic Law. The first recorded instance of tithing in the Bible occurs in <Genesis 14:17-20>. After returning from rescuing Lot and defeating his enemies, Abraham met MELCHIZEDEK, the “king of Salem” and “priest of God Most High.” The text states simply that Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe of all the goods he had obtained in battle. The author of the Book of Hebrews, in recounting this episode, considered the Levitical priests who descended from Abraham and who appeared centuries later as having paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham <Heb. 7:1-10>. There is no recorded demand of Abraham for a tenth. Neither is an explanation given about why Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek. Jacob also, long before the law of Moses, promised that he would give to the Lord a tenth of all he received <Gen. 28:22>.

The law of Moses prescribed tithing in some detail. <Leviticus 27:30-32> stated that the tithe of the land would include the seed of the land and the fruit of the tree. In addition the Hebrew people were required to set apart every tenth animal of their herds and flocks to the Lord.

Mosaic legislation on tithing is also found in two other passages. <Numbers 18:21-32> stated that the tithes in Israel would be given to the Levites, because the Levites did not receive a land inheritance like the other tribes of Israel. The Levites, in turn, were to offer a heave offering to the Lord. This would constitute a tithe on their part of the goods which they received. The rest of the goods which the Levites received would provide their living as the reward for their work in the tabernacle.

The third passage dealing with the tithe is <Deuteronomy 12:5-7,11-12,17-18>. This passage instructed Israel to take their tithes to the place the Lord prescribes, or the city of Jerusalem. In Deuteronomy, only a vegetable tithe is mentioned. In <2 Chronicles 31:6>, however, the tithe of cattle is mentioned.

In <Deuteronomy 26:12-15> the third year is called the year of tithing. This may indicate that the tithes were not collected annually. Apparently in this year only the goods which were given as tithes could be offered and stored locally. The offering of the tithe also took the form of a ritual meal <Deut. 12:7,12>. Some suggest that there were three tithes, but this seems unlikely. There is no mention of a tithe in Exodus but only the giving of the FIRSTFRUITS <Ezek. 44:29-30>. Finally, the prophet Malachi indicated that Israel had robbed God in withholding tithes and offerings. Thus the Israelites were exhorted to bring their tithes into the storehouse in order to enjoy the Lord’s blessing <Mal. 3:8-12>.

In the Old Testament the purpose of the giving of a tenth was to meet the material need of the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless (the orphan), and the widow <Deut. 26:12-13>. The tithe was an expression of gratitude to God by His people. Basic to tithing was the acknowledgment of God’s ownership of everything in the earth.

In the New Testament the words tithe and tithing appear only eight times <Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12; Heb. 7:5-6,8-9>. All of these passages refer to Old Testament usage and to current Jewish practice. Nowhere does the New Testament expressly command Christians to tithe. However, as believers we are to be generous in sharing our material possessions with the poor and for the support of Christian ministry. Christ Himself is our model in giving. Giving is to be voluntary, willing, cheerful, and given in the light of our accountability to God. Giving should be systematic and by no means limited to a tithe of our incomes. We recognize that all we have is from God. We are called to be faithful stewards of all our possessions <Rom. 14:12; 1 Cor. 9:3-14; 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8--9>.

Tithing as a scriptural Christian practice.

The following sites contain material that favours the practice of Christian tithing. Please note that the fact that these links are posted here does not mean that the authors of this web site either endorse or disagree with the material posted by any of these other writers.

Mandatory tithing in Christian assemblies as an unscriptural practice.

The following sites take the view that there is no justification for Christian churches to insist that their congregations tithe. Again, these links are not given to imply endorsement of the content of these particular sites, but rather as study aids for the believer who wishes to come to peace on this doctrine.

· http://pbc.org/old-pbc1/leadership/tithing.html

A Bible dictionary article in tithing.

http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/tithe.html

Malachi 3:10

Whenever we read any doctrinal material it is always important to read the passages quoted from the Bible for ourselves. An example may be found regarding the much quoted tithing verse in Malachi chapter three.

Mal 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.

Undoubtedly this verse contains a beautiful promise of God’s blessing upon those who tithe as unto Him. We must be careful, though, not to read things into this verse that are not there. Before we state categorically that this verse proves that all Christians everywhere should tithe, we would do well to read through the book of Malachi to learn to whom God was in fact talking. At the beginning of the previous chapter, we read:

Mal 2:1 “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you.

It seems that the priesthood themselves in those days was corrupt before the Lord, and while no one should ever discount Scripture as being personally inapplicable, those who have a position in church leadership should take especial note of the blessings and warnings contained in the book of Malachi.

Note that this verse is studied in great depth in many of the articles listed in the links above.

Tithe or tax?

It may be helpful to distinguish between paying tithes and paying taxes, because the tithe is primarily regarded as money given as unto the Lord, while tax is money given as unto a governing body. Therefore, money given as membership fees of a certain denomination should not be confused with money given to the Lord as part of our service to Him. This holds true regardless of whether the membership fees are a fixed amount or a certain percentage of our income.

In other words, if the only reason we are paying 10% (or 14%) of our income to the Family is that we may retain membership then it is reasonable to say that this should not really be classed as ‘tithing’.

Taxes are a requirement, and unless they are paid there will be undesirable consequences. In the case of the Family, if the ‘tithe’ is not paid, the consequence is loss of membership or withholding of published material. There is no possibility of remaining a ‘Family Disciple’ if we do not pay a fixed percentage each month.

The question here is not whether this is a reasonable rule to impose, the question is not the method a church may use to support its own administrative costs, rather the question comes down to the imposition of the tithe as law.

The Family, according to its own teaching, does not regard the Old Testament laws as binding upon Christians. Therefore, the fact that tithing is written into the Mosaic law is not of itself sufficient scriptural backing for the imposition of tithing upon Family members.

Demanding tithes

1 Cor 9:14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

Did the Lord command that Christian leadership impose a tithing requirement on the people to whom they are ministering?

1 Cor 9:1-18

1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defense to those who examine me is this:

4 Do we have no right to eat and drink?

5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?

7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?

10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?

12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?

14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.

16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

In the first few verses of this chapter, Paul is defending his right to be counted as an apostle. In verse six he asks why other Christian elders were permitted to be supported by the church if he and Barnabas had to continue paying their own way. Verses seven to fourteen are given as justification of the practice, not of tithing as such, but of ministers being supported by their congregations. Using analogies of armies at war and farmers, and quoting from the Old Testament (Deut 25:4), Paul patiently explains that it is perfectly acceptable for those who minister spiritually to believers may receive material support from their flocks.

Yet Paul makes a couple of noteworthy qualifications. In verse 12 he says that although he and Barnabas could have accepted material help from their flock, “we have not used this right”. He did not live off the generosity of those to whom he was ministering. Again in verse 15, “I have used none of these things”. He did not ask for a cent from his flock. He makes sure that the Corinthians understand that he was not writing these things to ask them for money: “nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me”.

Although there are passages where it says that Paul did receive financial help from believers on occasion, it is clear that he did not insist on them giving anything to him.

Paul felt that his obligation to preach the Gospel came from God Himself and therefore he could not ask for any money at all from his flock. Getting paid for his services was totally incompatible with the calling he had received to be an apostle. In fact he says it would be better for him to die than to invalidate the calling he had from God to preach the Gospel.

1 Cor 9:15 Yet I have never asked you for one penny. And I am not writing this to hint that I would like to start now. In fact, I would rather die of hunger than lose the satisfaction I get from preaching to you without charge. (TLB)

His commission was to “present the gospel of Christ without charge” (verse 18).

1 Cor 9:18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it. (NIV)

Rather than supporting the practice of insisting that tithes be paid to maintain a church, this chapter gives strong backing to the idea that tithing (or other financial giving) should be entirely voluntary, never a requirement.

Paul consistently showed by his life and his teaching that as an apostle he would never impose financial requirements on anyone for preaching the Gospel.

Acts 20:33-35

33 “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.

34 “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.

35 “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

1 Cor 4:11-12,14,16

11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

2 Cor 2:17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

2 Cor 11:7-9

7 Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.

9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.

1Thes 2:9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

II Thes 3:8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,

Jesus sent out His disciples with the instructions to give the truth without charging for it.

Matt 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

The disciples were not sent on fundraising trips but for evangelisation. They were to trust God that they would be fed and given shelter but they were not to go door-to-door in an effort to raise their own support.

Luke 10:7 “And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.

Should Christians tithe?

As stated at the beginning of this study, this is a question that has not been examined here. Please refer to the links listed on this page for a variety of comprehensive studies.

Should Christian churches insist on their members tithing?

It appears clear that there is no precedent in the New Testament for Christian groups to insist that their members pay tithes. As such, the Family’s practice of requiring tithes for membership seems to be unscriptural. It may be better for the Family to refrain from calling it ‘tithing’ and give it a term like ‘membership fees’.

Tithing, when taken to mean ‘giving financially as unto the Lord’ as opposed to ‘membership fees’, should be an entirely voluntary practice. Family leadership do not have scriptural right to insist that Family members pay tithes to them ‘as unto the Lord’.

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