IS
TITHING COMPULSORY FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIAN (INTRODUCTION)
Very often, this question has been asked by well-meaning
Christians who are plagued by the torrents of appeal from churches for funds. Thrown into
these appeals is the standard request to pay your tithes and offerings. Let me say from
the very beginning that there is a distinct difference between giving to God and giving to
"the church". Giving to God is a scriptural concept (Matt 22:21); Giving to
"the church" could just be an emotional response to a well-orchestrated man-made
appeal which is out of God's Will and God's Word. So it is important for us to study God's
Word so that we are able to discern whether funds being solicited in a particular church
are based on sound New Testament Scriptural principles. Prayer is the other means of
helping to discern God's Will in a particular area of financial need (of such a church).
LAW
OF FIRST MENTION
It is important when attempting to derive spiritual
principles from the Bible on a particular subject to go back to the time it was first
mentioned. When was "the tithe" first mentioned?
Gen 14:18-20
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out
bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,
19 and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be
Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered
your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
(NIV)
Verse 20 says Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
What is a tenth of everything?
Here we turn to the Living Bible for more clarification...
Gen 14:15-16
15 He divided his men and attacked during the
night from several directions, and pursued the fleeing army to Hobah, north of Damascus,
16 and recovered everything-- the loot that had been taken, his relative Lot, and all of Lot's possessions, including the women and
other captives.
(TLB) Emphasis mine.
Gen 14:19
19 Then Melchizedek blessed Abram with this
blessing: "The blessing of the supreme God, Creator of heaven and earth, be upon you,
Abram; and blessed be God, who has delivered your enemies over to you." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the
loot.
(TLB) Emphasis mine.
From the verses above, it is clear that Abraham gave
Melchizedek a tenth or ten percent of all the loot that has been recovered (verses 16 and
19 above) not of all that Abraham possessed. See also Hebrews Chapter 7 verse 4.
This
is important because the tithe is based on the increase, not the capital.
The next time we hear of the word "tithe" is in Bethel
after Jacob had his famous dream of angels ascending to and descending from heaven.....
Gen 28:22
22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar
will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."
(NIV)
Notice that Jacob promised a tenth of what God intends to
give him not a tenth of what he already had (not much though at this point in time). So
once again we find that tithing is based on increase not capital.
TITHING
IN THE MOSAIC LAW
There are three kinds of tithe mentioned in the Mosaic Law, viz,
TITHE #1: This tithe
was entirely devoted to the priestly tribe of Levi who had no land allocated to it and no
inheritance among the Israelites. This is sometimes referred to as the Levite's tithe.....
Lev 27:30
30 "'A tithe of everything from the land,
whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to
the LORD.
(NIV)
Lev 27:32
32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock-- every
tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod-- will be holy to the LORD.
(NIV)
Num 18:24
24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their
inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why
I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.'"
(NIV)
The Lord then commanded the Levites to give a tenth of
their portion to the priests (see also 2 Chronicles 31:4)........
Num 18:28
28 In this way you also will present an offering
to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you
must give the LORD's portion to Aaron the priest.
(NIV)
TITHE # 2: The second tithe may be called
the festival tithe.
Deut 12:11-12
11 Then to the place the LORD your God will
choose as a dwelling for his Name-- there you are to bring everything I command you: your
burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice
possessions you have vowed to the LORD.
12 And there rejoice before the LORD your God,
you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your
towns, who have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
(NIV)
It is only to be eaten at a place specified by the Lord in
the land of Israel or as in the case of those living far away, in their own
towns-Deuteronomy 12:18,21. Burnt offerings and sacrifices and special gifts are also
included (verse 11). The celebration of this tithe is seen as an event to foster national
unity and instill a sense of "brotherhood" among the people of God.
TITHE # 3: The third category
of tithing in the Mosaic Law may also be known as a "welfare tithe"....
Deut 14:28-29
28 At the end of every three years, bring all the
tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns,
29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or
inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your
towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in
all the work of your hands.
(NIV)
Take note that this tithe is only implemented once in three
years (verse 28) and it is a tenth of the year's increase. It is to be consumed not only
by the Levites but also the aliens, fatherless and widows. See also Deuteronomy 26:12.
Of
special note is the fact that tithing evokes a blessing from God and the failure to
tithe invokes a curse from God (under the Mosaic Law)....
Deut 14:29
29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or
inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your
towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in
all the work of your hands.
(NIV)
Mal 3:10-12
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse,
that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty,
"and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much
blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
11 I will prevent pests from devouring your
crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD
Almighty.
12 "Then all the nations will call you
blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
(NIV)
Malachi Chapter 3 verses 10 to 12 have been used to instill
fear by churches on their congregations. Let me remind you that these verses are part of
the consequences of not obeying the Mosaic Law and are therefore not valid in New
Testament Churches.
Our Lord Jesus has fulfilled all the
requirements of the Law and has therefore taken the curse of not fulfilling it from us!
Matt 5:17
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish
the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
(NIV)
Gal 3:13
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a
tree."
(NIV)
TITHING
IN THE GOSPELS
In the following two Scriptures, Jesus commanded observance to
tithing as part of the Mosaic Law
(which he was under)...
Matt 23:23
23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-- mint, dill and cummin. But
you have neglected the more important matters of the law-- justice, mercy and
faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
(NIV)
Luke 11:42
42 "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give
God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice
and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former
undone.
(NIV)
Jesus said that it was not wrong to tithe the spices (which
appear to be trifles to some) but that these teachers of the law and pharisees should also
practise the other important matters OF THE LAW i.e. justice,
mercy and faithfulness and the love of God. In the above context, Jesus implied that the
pharisees were fastidious when it comes to tithing and other legal issues but they did not
show the love of God in them. This, He defines as hypocrisy. Tithing to them is just an
outward show of their self righteousness (see also Luke 18:12). Just as a reflection on
this passage........if tithing was compulsory for the New Testament Christian,, would'nt
it be a a sin if he forgets to tithe the "spices and herbs" or
"flowers" he receives (as a gift)?
"TITHING" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
What is mentioned in the Scriptures with reference to the
New Testament church is now relevant to all christians of all denominations.
PRINCIPLE NUMBER ONE
Giving is proportionate to the degree that God blesses a person
without an obligatory figure being mentioned.
1 Cor 16:1-2
1 Now about the collection for God's people: Do
what I told the Galatian churches to do.
2 On the first day of every week, each one of you
should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I
come no collections will have to be made.
(NIV)
John MacArthur is his "Commentary on the Book of
Romans 9-16 (Moody Bible Institute) has this to say:
".......Christians are not
under obligation to give a specified amount to the work of their heavenly Father. In none
of their forms do the tithe or other Old Testament levies apply to Christians." page
233.
PRINCIPLE NUMBER TWO
Giving is from the heart.....
In fact giving should be more appropriately termed free will
offerings in the context of the New Testament Church for Paul commanded us to give as
we purpose in our heart. If the amount is a fixed one, there will be no need to purpose in
one's heart anymore!!
2 Cor 9:7
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his
heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
(NKJ)
I repeat there is no curse for "NOT TITHING" in
the New Testament church (as is often implied on sermons from Malachi 3:10-12).We should
not go back to Melchizedek (where tithing was an example and may be taken as a guide-line)
or the Mosaic law (where tithing was by compulsion.) Our Lord has fulfilled all the
requirements of the Mosaic Law and taken the curse of (not obeying) the Law away from us
(Galatians 3:13). The New Testament Christian should abide by the teachings of the Apostle
Paul (which has superseded Moses' Law.)
Christians who insist on keeping the
Law of Moses or part of it are under a curse!
Gal 3:10
10 All who rely on observing the law are under a
curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything
written in the Book of the Law."
(NIV)
Churches advocating tithing as
compulsory are putting a curse on their congregations!
So in summary, 'Giving' is a New Testament 'Church' Principle as
opposed to tithing by Law (by compulsion.) Jesus clearly commanded (take note that it
was not an option) that we have to give to God.
Matt 22:21
21 "Caesar's," they replied. Then he
said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
(NIV)
"What is God's" implies a fixed sum. BUT we must
remember that Jesus made the above statement in the context of the Mosaic Law which was
still existent in His Time. Further on in the epistles, the Apostle Paul qualifies this
"giving" as "from the heart" and proportionate to the degree that one
is blessed. He specifically spoke against "compulsion" (from sources outside).
Manipulating a person to give (whether directly or indirectly) is a form of
witchcraft...........
2 Cor 9:7
7 Each man should give what
he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly
or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver.
(NIV) Emphasis mine
"What he has decided in his heart to give" clearly
has to be some amount (not zero).
It may be ten percent or more. Well, it may even be less, but give as the Holy Spirit
directs your heart; NOT AS THE PASTOR DIRECTS YOU. This is the distinct difference between
giving to God and giving to the church.
About the author.....
Dr Eddy Cheong is a Born-again, Spirit
Baptised Christian who reveals God's Word with a deep, new spiritual insight (This is the
Lord's gift to His humble vessel). He is author of the Books "Man's Life Span
according to God's Word" and "Deceiving the Elect". Dr Cheong is a medical
specialist by profession.
Dr Eddy Cheong
PO Box 441
75760 Malacca
West Malaysia
Internet: 
eddys@pop.jaring.my
© Copyright 1997
OTHER ARTICLES BY THE SAME AUTHOR:
FROM CREATION TO THE FALL-PART ONE-THE CREATION (GENESIS
CHAPTER 1): http://www.agape.com/creation.htm
FROM CREATION TO THE FALL-PART TWO-CREATION EXPANDED (GENESIS
CHAPTER 2):
http://www.agape.com/expanded.htm
FROM CREATION TO THE FALL-PART THREE-THE FALL (GENESIS CHAPTER
3): http://www.agape.com/fall.htm
Is polygamy a sin?
http://www.agape.com/polygamy.htm
DECEIVING THE ELECT- a scriptural and critical analysis of the
laughter movement: http://www.agape.com/laughter.htm
MARRIAGE, SEPARATION AND DIVORCE IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES:
http://ww.agape.com/divorce.htm
