Should I Give and Service in a Local Church?
Many think believers in Christ should tithe (defined as giving 10% of one’s income), and many use the language of “tithes and offerings” in worship services. Others are equally convinced tithing is not required for believers.
Which is more faithful to God’s Word?
· Tithing in the Old Testament
a. What does the OT say about tithing? Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils of war to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:20), and Hebrews appeals to this account to support the superiority of Melchizedek’s priesthood over Levi’s (Hebrews 4:4-10). God met Jacob at Bethel and promised him covenant blessings; the patriarch promised God a tenth of everything gathered to Him. (Gen. 28:22).
b. A tenth of Israel’s seed, fruit, and flocks were given to the Lord (Lev. 27:30-32; Deut. 14:22-24; 2 Chron. 31:5-6; Neh. 13:5, 12). The people gave a tenth to the Levites to support them (Num. 18:21-24; Neh. 10:38; 12:44), and the Levites, in turn, were to give a tithe to the chief priest (Numbers 18:25-28). Those who didn’t tithe were threatened with a curse, while those who did tithe were promised blessing 9Mal. 3:8-10).
c. Though we might assume Old Testament Israel gave a total of 10 percent, it’s actually difficult to discern how much was given. We can’t linger over details, but some think the Israelites gave 14 tithes over seven years; others believe they gave 12. Regardless, when we add the required tithes together, the amount certainly exceeded 10 %. In fact, the number was probably somewhere around 20% per year.
· Why Tithing is Not Required Today
a. Believers are no longer under the Mosaic Covenant (rom. 6:14-15; 7:5-6; Gal. 3:15-4:7; 2 Cor. 3:4-18).
b. The examples of Abraham and Jacob are not normative patterns.
c. Tithes were given to the Levities and priests, but there are no Levites and priests in the new covenant. (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6), with Jesus as our Melchizedekian high priest (Hebrews 7).
d. The tithe is tied to the land Israel received under the old covenant.
e. If tithing is required how much should we give?
f. When Jesus affirmed the tithe, it was before the dawn of the new covenant. (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42).
g. Nowhere is tithing mentioned when commands to give generously are found in the New Testament. (Acts 2:43-47; 4:32-37; 11:27-30; Gal. 2:10; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:1-9:15).
h. However, tithing is still a biblical number, and we must ask the question of has God given us as NT saints more or less than OT saints?
· Give Generously
i. Even though tithing isn’t required today, it does not follow that believers should horde their possessions.
ii. Equal sacrifice not equal gifts – (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4).
iii. We are commanded to support those who preach the gospel (Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7; 1 Cor. 9:6-14; 1 Timothy 5:17-18).
iv. We are called to be generous to those in need (1 Tim. 6:17-19; 2 Cor. 8-9).
v. Since God is to be our treasure, believers are to give generously and freely. For many in the West, this will mean giving more than 10%.
