THE LAST BREATH OF LEGALISTIC TITHING

Introduction

This message might sound controversial to Christians who have not made it a habit to investigate Scripture before making decisions on spiritual matters. While I do not deny that this message might cause the heart to quake a little bit, I also bear witness that this message will drive the genuine believer to go on his knees to seek spiritual understanding, and to feast on the Scriptures as one hungry for truth. I would like to state, however, that if your mind is not open to verities of the Spirit, do not read further!

Tithe in the Old Testament

Tithe literally means the tenth part. When you give tithe, you give the tenth part (1/10 or 10%) of your income as offering to God, received on his behalf by his priest. The first time we hear about tithe in the Bible is in Genesis 14:20 when after defeating four kings in a fierce battle, and carrying away the booty, Abraham was met, offered bread and wine, and blessed by Melchizedek who happened to be king of Salem and priest of God Most High.

Genesis‬ ‭14:18‭-‬20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

[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 praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

In effect, Abraham was the first to give tithe in the Bible. His action and the conditions surrounding his action, serve as the model for tithing today. 

Conditions for tithe

For an offering to be indeed tithe:

•First and foremost, it must reflect 10% of your earned income. Abraham worked hard to earn the booty that he brought home. The booty was not a gift given to him by those kings that he defeated but the "income" that he earned after conquering them in a hard-fought battle. It was a normal practice for the conqueror to carry home all the booty after defeating the opponent in battle. So, take the engagement in war to be work done by Abraham, and the booty to be his income after winning the battle. Tithe reflects the tenth part of one's earned income but not a gift, a housekeeping money or a business capital. 

•It must be received by a priest on behalf of God. Abraham gave the tithe to Melchizedek who happened to be priest of God Most High, the evidence being that the priest, on behalf of God, offered him bread and wine, symbolic of God's offering of the body and blood of his Son Jesus Christ for Abraham's (and his descendants') salvation, which salvation is yours if truly you believe in God (and in his Son) with all your heart and you receive him into your heart (which Abraham did). This means that you cannot give the tenth part of your income to an orphanage home or to someone who is in need and still consider it as tithe. No! This is not accurate. Tithe is presented to God's priest who receives it on his behalf and in turn, pronounces God's blessings upon you. 

•It must be an act of worship not a transaction. You do not give tithe in exchange for divine blessings, but rather, you give tithe as an offering to God in honour, in appreciation and in respect of his careful governance, his perfect guidance, his timely interventions and his daily provisions by which you have been blessed to have something (whether much or little) out of which you are giving him the tenth part as an offering. It becomes a transaction when your giving is motivated by an expectation of divine multiplication of the amount you have given to God. Giving of tithe communicates that you are appreciative of God's blessings. It also shows that you rely on his divine blessings (specifically his supernatural power and wisdom) to be prosperous but not on your own power and wisdom. 

Tithe in the New Testament

Tithe is scarcely a doctrine of the New Testament or was scarcely a practice of the Apostolic church. All references to tithe in the New Testament are only in passing, and count as merely affirmations of the practice under the Old Testament. What I mean is this: that the New Testament's references to tithe affirm that the practice was instituted by God under the Old Testament, however, none of them is meant to be a doctrine of the New Testament. Tithe (or the tenth part) is referred to about nine times in the New Testament; three times in the Gospels and six times in the epistle to the Hebrews (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12; Hebrews 7:2, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 9). By reading these texts through the lens of the Spirit, you will discover that neither Jesus nor the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews meant to establish tithing as a practice of the Christian church. 

The underlying truths concerning tithe in the New Testament

The New Testament is founded upon Christ and is based on, or rooted in faith, reality and liberty whiles the Old Testament was founded upon the Law and was based on, or rooted in obedience to the Law, shadows and compulsion. Since every practice under the New Testament is based on or rooted in faith, reality and liberty, tithe is not supposed to be mandatory contribution in the Christian church but rather, a voluntary offering. This, I believe, is a reason why the New Testament does not devote its pages to establishing tithing as a necessity in the church.

A case against legalistic tithing

Tithe is legalistic when made a necessity, or compulsory contribution in the church as was done under the Law. The following are biblical reasons for which tithing ought not to be legalistic:

•Universal Priesthood

Under the Old Testament, the Levites were chosen to be the priestly tribe. Only a Levite could be priest, only a priest could receive the tithes on behalf of Jehovah, and a priest was forbidden from doing any other work apart from serving in the tabernacle. However, in the New Testament, Bible teaches that all believers in Christ are kings and priests unto God (1Pe 2:9; Rev 1:6; 5:10). Our kingly roles include dominating over sin, sickness, poverty and the fear of death, and exercising the authority given to us by our heavenly Father to proclaim Christ and disciple the nations after Christ. Our priestly roles include interceding for God's people and for the world, offering sacrifices of praise to God, and unfolding the revelation of the mystery of Christ among the nations of the world so that every person will understand Christ and live like him. Receiving tithes on behalf of God is not part of our priestly tasks.

•Voluntary offering

Offering under the New Testament is voluntary in every respect, driven by faith in God and motivated by love for God rather than by hope of divine blessings or fear of divine curses. Tithing is not a commandment under the New Testament. The only commandment in the New Testament is the commandment to love God and to love others just as Christ has loved us. To God, love for him means obeying his word and loving others as Christ has loved you, which love may be expressed in sharing your financial and material blessings with your spiritual leaders and with your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Legalistic tithing is not Christian! We must be moved by faith to tithe and motivated by love to support the church with our tithe offerings. Tithe ought not to be offered compulsorily and grudgingly as by law but voluntarily and cheerfully as by faith motivated by love. Abraham gave his tithe voluntarily, not under compulsion. If his action serves as the model for tithing under the New Testament, then the tithe ought to be given voluntarily, not under compulsion. Also, the tithe must not be offered in exchange for divine blessings which would render it a transaction rather than an act of worship. 

Conclusion

Per this ray of light that has appeared to you concerning tithe, do you agree that Christians must be taught and encouraged to continue giving tithe offerings in church? 

According to the truth of God's word, I am convinced that Christians must uphold tithing as part of our covenant relationship with God, our heavenly Father. Giving tithe offerings is a testimony of faith in God and love for God. Therefore, I agree that we must teach and encourage Christians to dedicate 10% of their wages, salaries or profits as offering to God in honour, in appreciation and in respect of his providence. It is to be received by our spiritual leaders (those who have direct oversight of our souls). This will go a long way to support them personally, support the work of the ministry, motivate God's chosen ministers to continue serving the church and supporting fellow Christians to live well. 

The tithe offering as well as all other offerings and almsgiving, move God to abundantly increase the fruit of your labour. The tithe must be given voluntarily and cheerfully, as by faith motivated by love, but not compulsorily and grudgingly, as by law motivated by fear, such that if a Christian has not been able to honour his or her tithes at all or consistently, a curse should not be proclaimed against them as was done under the Old Testament, but rather, they should be taught and encouraged to show their faith in God and love for God by voluntarily and cheerfully giving to support the church and fellow Christians. The Old Testament is replete with fear emanating from divine curses but the New Testament is full of joy originating from divine blessings. Glory to Jesus!

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