Once upon a time there was a one-dollar bill and a one hundred-dollar bill who were friends. While residing together in a wallet one day they began to share their recent experiences. The One-dollar bill said to One hundred-dollar bill, “What have you been up to? Where have you been lately?” One hundred-dollar replied, “I’ve been all over the world. I’ve been having the time of my life.I’ve sailed on great yachts, visited the most incredible palaces, and toured the world with the rich and famous. How about you? Where have you been?” One dollar sheepishly answered, “Church.”
Christian Americans don’t tithe. Some do, of course, but overall we give God about 1.8% of our income and nowhere near the 10% mark.[1] I firmly believe this lack of giving is a major reason why America is declining and the Church is losing ground in cultural reformation and effective evangelism.[2] Tithing is a major key to turning these trends around. While not neglecting our other weapons of spiritual warfare, we can tithe our way to victory.
Where did I get this line of thinking? In I Samuel 8, God tells us that civil government should operate on less than 10% of our income.This is because biblically, government has a limited role and should operate with limited income. Our current government is out of control and has usurped responsibilities that should be those solely of individuals, churches, and the private sector.
Likewise, the Church, if it is to do what God calls it to do[3] needs the full10% God requires. God designed it that way. We give Uncle Sam 30%, 40%, 50% or more of our incomes and we give God 1.8%. What’s wrong with this picture? Is it any wonder we are losing our freedoms? This imbalance of priorities should be a clear warning of something gone terribly awry.
I will further submit that if we were giving God His 10% in the first place, government would not be getting up to 50% of our incomes. It would also be considerably smaller as it should be. It is because the churches have not been able to fund its mission that it has, over time, capitulated many of its responsibilities. This is beyond tragic.
Many today think that tithing is an Old Testament law and no longer is required. And, not surprisingly, most of these same people don’t tithe. They throw the one-dollar bill in the plate each week and feel they have done their duty. If we look at our checkbooks and see where we spend our money we will quickly see who or what it is we put first. Is God first in your life?
My first question is why, since we now have a New Covenant,[4]a better one, that we should we give less to God than under the Old Covenant? This has never made sense to me. Let’s think this through. God gave us His son. He wiped out our debt of sin and opened the gates of heaven to us. He has supplied abundant promises and provisions for a victorious life. So, we respond by withholding His tithe. Shouldn’t we be even more grateful in the New Testament era and shouldn’t this gratitude inspire us to give even more than what was required under the law?
God said in the Old Testament[5] that when His people didn’t tithe they were actually robbing Him. God used the word “rob” not me. This is a serious charge. Personally, God would be the last person that I would want to rob.
To my knowledge, there is no place in Scripture where God suspended or eliminated the tithe. Tithing is assumed in the New Testament.[6] There was no need for God to restate everything that had been previously established in the Old Covenant. Unless New Testament Scripture specifically changed or modified a former law or concept, it remains valid. Murder is still a crime. Homosexuality is still a sin. Beastiality is an abomination. None of these things have changed. It is assumed in the New Testament era.
God hasn’t changed the spiritual and material benefits of tithing either so why in the world would we ever choose not tithe? God promised tithers in Malachi 3 that He would open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing on them that they could not contain. In addition, He promised to rebuke the devourer. This promise is for us as well.
I had to really weigh this proposition out in my mind. I’ll let you listen in to my thinking. “Let’s see. Do I want God to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that I cannot contain and have the devourer off my back? Or, do I want to forego the blessing and get devoured?” Why would anyone accept the latter choice? But most of us do. How do I know? We don’t tithe. Even those who don’t tithe will usually agree that you can’t out give God so what’s the problem?
The Malachi 3 passage is the only place in Scripture where God asks us to test Him. He actually challenges us. God is so anxious to bless us and prove that He can be trusted. In the New Testament this truth is clearly stated. Luke 12:32 states, “Fear not little flock, for it is the Fathers’ good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (ESV)”
I may be in the minority here but I truly believe that when we don’t tithe, God allows the devourer take it from us anyway. So, in effect we all tithe. The difference is that some of us give our 10% or more by choice and obtain the blessings and relief from the devourer. The rest of us have the devourer collect the tithe and get nothing in return. This really is a no-brainer isn’t I?
I don’t have the space here to give my personal testimony but God has always, always, always, been faithful to me financially[7] and in every other way. I believe it is partly because I have tithed my whole Christian life. I’ve never regretted it.
In closing, I want to make the point that tithing is not just something we should do. Tithing is a tool. Tithing is a weapon.[8] Paying the tithe and fully funding our churches gives them the needed funds to fight the good fight. The fact is they cannot do all that God requires of them without the tithe. I know we all like to wait for a sale, but the tithe is always 10%. Let’s all fully fund the work of God and receive all the blessings in the process. Let’s tithe our way to victory.
Think about it. Assuming my 1.8% figure is correct, and if we all began to fully tithe, every church and Christian organization would have its income increase 555%[9] overnight. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Note: Pastors, or any interested party, feel free to copy this article and distribute freely. I’ve presented this message in many churches and it has always been well received.
[1] I’ve heard figures anywhere from 1.8% up to 3 or 4%. Regardless, we are way shy of where we should be in our giving to God.
[2] I cannot think of a single arena of cultural engagement where Christians are consistently winning.
[3] It is the Church, for example, not government that should be taking care of the poor and helping educate our children in support of the parents.
[4] The entire book of Hebrews makes this very point.
[6] II Corinthians 9:5-8 is often used by tithe opponents as proof that the tithe is now voluntary. The passage does not even address the tithe.In context Paul is talking about a voluntary gift beyond the tithe, an offering if you will. Offerings are voluntary.
[7] God does not always bless financially so I don’t want to leave the impression that this is a hyper-faith proposition. Sometimes God has given me back a hundred fold on my giving, literally. Other times He has healed a relationship, kept my refrigerator alive way past life expectancy or had people donate needed services to me.How He blesses is up to Him. The bottom line is He is faithful and you can’t out give Him.
[8] There are two excellent books that greatly expand on my points: Tithing and Dominion by R.J. Rushdoony and Tithing and the Church by Dr. Gary North.
[9] I get the 555% by dividing the full 10% by 1.8%. Also, I am assuming that current-giving trends would continue. In actuality para-church organizations are here by default. If the churches were doing all they should, para-church organization would not be needed.
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I forgot to mention that many use the excuse that Abraham tithed before the law. OK. Animal sacrifice was done before the law, as was plural marriage and a number of other practices. If you want to use that as a reason to tithe, then why aren't we doing all those other things as well? The fact is that we are told that Abraham gave 10% of other people's stuff he had just gotten back in war. He gave nothing of his own, and he only gave once that we know of.
A note on also "robbing God"; the whole of Malachi was addressed to the priests, not the people. Try context, please. How were the priests robbing God? See 3:5 as to who they were defrauding.The Bible says when you lend to the poor, you are lending to the Lord. Does that help?
No, the tithe is not for the NT. Pastors who instruct their church members to tithe are infringing on the right of the Holy Spirit to tell believers what they should give. I can tell you from my own experience that when you barely have enought to live on and are giving as much as you can by the leading of the Spirit, and a pastor is telling you weekly that you must "tithe" it's a real Spirit killer.
Something I came across at ptmin.org said it better than I can ever express it: "Mandatory tithing equals oppression to the poor. Not a few poor Christians have been thrown headlong into further poverty because they have been told that if they do not tithe, they are robbing God. When tithing is taught as God's command, Christians who can barely make ends meet are guilted into deeper poverty. In this way, tithing evacuates the gospel from being "good news to the poor." Rather than good news, it becomes a heavy burden. Instead of liberty, it becomes oppression. We are so apt to forget that the original tithe that God established for Israel was to benefit the poor, not hurt them.
Conversely, modern tithing is good news to the rich. To a high-earner, 10% is but a paltry sum. Tithing, therefore, appeases the consciences of the rich, while it has no significant impact on their lifestyles. Not a few wealthy Christians are deluded into thinking they are "obeying God" because they throw a measly 10% of their income into the offering plate." Click here to reply to this post
Re: Tithing Our Way to Victory
Posted On: 08/25/07 07:35:27 PM
Age 53, IA
I'm going to rephrase what I've written elsewhere on this site because this author also forgets what the tithe was for: the Levite, the widow, the poor, and the stranger among us. The tithe also only applied to those who made their living from the land. The poor were not required to tithe, but rather received a part of the tithe. Is it equitable that all Christians give 10%? I would submit to you it is not. Consider the widow's gift. Jesus said she gave more than they all because it was what she had to live on. I find it rather appalling that most preachers hold this up as an example of how to give without expecting others to impoverish themselves to the same level as the widow, but expect the poor to become even poorer by tithing them at the same rate as the wealthy. One more thing - How can you keep your right hand from knowing what your left is doing when you're so busy keeping track of that 10%? Click here to reply to this post
Re: Tithing Our Way to Victory
Posted On: 04/16/07 10:47:00 AM
Age 55, C
"Tithing is assumed in the New Testament"
In love, we offer scriptural correction. There is not a single verse to any church or saint in the NT either instructing or giving an example of tithing by Christians. Scripture forbids building doctrine on assumption: Isa. 28:10-11. Jesus Mt 23:23, said tithing was "of the law", and Christ "having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances". -Eph 2:15 Please see our article: http://www.preparehisway.com/tithe
Not one verse to any church or saint in the New Covenant implies, instructs, or commands Christian tithing. None of the apostles took tithes from any church. The ministry is called to serve Gods people not profit from them. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Tithing Our Way to Victory
Posted On: 09/19/06 06:52:25 PM
Age 61, GA
Tithe-teachers control the churches, the pulpits, the airwaves and the bookstores. They will not allow the other viewpoint to be presented. What are they afraid of? If it is God's truth then it cannot be defeated. You treat those who disagree wiht you as troublemakers and often ask them to leave the church. Brave indeed. We are eager to present our viewpoints in an honest Berean Christian discussion. For five years nobody has accepeted the invitation. Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D. Please allow me to use your forum to present a short defense of the opposing viewpoint. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Tithing Our Way to Victory
Posted On: 07/01/06 05:12:51 PM
Age 50, NC
Despite what others may say, tithing is under Old Testament Law. Under the NEW Covenant there is no "required" or "legalistic" tithe. As believers we are to give to the Lord first and freely trusting Him. Supporting your church is important, but if the Lord Jesus lays upon you and your husband's heart a Christian education for your children and this brings a family to minimal means is this not part of giving to the Lord? Supporting missionaries? That too? I personally see no legal contract under the New Covenant to 10%. It is a guideline but it is even better to give with our hearts knowing what Jesus did for us on the cross.
Many under the tithe law are under guil, guilt, guilt. There is no condemnation to the believer. (RMS 8:1) Give freely to Jesus first but not with a LAW to your heads and hearts.The Lord knows our hearts and will give crowns to those who truly have given to Him as faithfully and best. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Tithing Our Way to Victory
Posted On: 06/26/06 12:15:32 PM
Age 51, NY
The problem is not a lack of tithing but a lack of leadership. Please note Ezekiel 34 and Jeremiah 23. The sheep have been fleeced by so many ministers, that they have become tithing shy or simply do not have the resources anymore. To say, as some have taught, that even if you give to backslidden minister, God will bless you anyway, is wrong! Expecting people to support failing ministries comes from a complaining spirit that seeks its support from man and not from God. Men of faith do not whine over a lack of cash! Click here to reply to this post
Re: Tithing Our Way to Victory
Posted On: 06/22/06 10:52:27 PM
Age 57, VA
Have you ever heard it said that if, I repeat, "IF," today, people were asked to take the Mark of the Beast for buying and selling, that 90% of the Christians would take the Mark. Why??!!! Because if they can't trust Him enough to give Him 10% of thier money, how could they possibly trust Him with 100% of thier money?!!!!Karen Click here to reply to this post
I don't think we have to tithe to the church but to the work of the Lord. I believe that most of the work that is pleasing to God today is not taking place in most of our churches. I do believe some churches are doing God's work big time but most are not preaching the true Gospel and are building shrines (their new church) as a temple unto themselves. What is wrong with a General Steele building that looks nice...why does the church have to look like the headquarters of Microsoft? Why do so many church buildings sit empty most of the time? Why do these huge churches not start a Christian school and give a FREE or extremely cheap Biblical education to needy inner city children so they can get out of the crime invested, academically failing, inner-city schools.
I personally have found great pleasure and joy in giving to the Lord but that does not always mean giving to my church but to the people within the church...after all, the church is not the building but the people. I have found grandparents raising their grandchildren, a family whose father has lost a job for a period of time or a man of God that is doing the work of the Lord that has a specific financial need to allow them to effectively minister to God's people.
Often churches are not much better than the government in how they waste money. So, look for where God is doing His work and support that whether it is at the church you attend on Sunday or not. Support a missionary that is using biblical evangelism, support a widow or orphan...this is true religion.
If you can not also give at least a percentage of your gifts to your local church, then you should most likely find another church.
I for one am not falling for any pressure from any person to give my entire tithe to one specific church unless God leads me to do so. I prefer to find specific places where I see God working through His servants and support that work. Let's face it, most churches would love to guilt you into giving them the entire 10% but if they don't deserve the entire 10% or God leads you to give 2% and then give 8% or even 15% somewhere else; then follow that prompting of the Holy Spirit. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: Tithing Our Way to Victory
Posted On: 06/21/06 04:23:14 PM
Age 27, TX
"I don't think we have to tithe to the church but to the work of the Lord. I believe that most of the work that is pleasing to God today is not taking place in most of our churches."
I totally understand how you feel. My church is one of the better churches, but I still would like to give some of our tithe to other sources. But, we give 10% to the church, an additional offering to our African sister churches and orphange run by our Kenyan churches, and then offerings to other ministries too. Sometimes it's a real struggle and I question "God, do we really have to give 10% (before taxes) to the local church?" But, my husband insists that we do and you know what? God has blessed us so much. When we first married my husband was making only $29,000. With the birth of each child he has had a raise. He now makes, after four years, nearly $45,000! My parents helped us buy a fabulous house (mobile home, but it's still nice!) We owed over $200,000 to the hospital for an emergency delivery and NICU stay for our two month preemie, and yet the hospital forgave us our debt. One month stay for me and two week stay for my daughter plus OB care and an emergency c-section totaled in the end to $1,800- that's less then the insurance would have required from us. We have had people give us furniture, apliances, clothing, groceries. Our backyard is full of play ground equipment and I've paid a total of $20. God has truly blessed us!
" What is wrong with a General Steele building that looks nice...why does the church have to look like the headquarters of Microsoft?" LOL I laugh at this because our church is in an old roller rink. It's a big grey metal building. It doesn't even look like a church. On the inside it's nice, but we've done most of the work ourselves (like the lovely murals in the nurseries.)
"Why do so many church buildings sit empty most of the time? Why do these huge churches not start a Christian school and give a FREE or extremely cheap Biblical education to needy inner city children" I sure wish this was possible for our church. We used to have a Christian school but we just didn't have enough money to keep it open. We are opening a Bible college and a drug dependency program, which don't cost quite so much to operate. I am also working on a special needs class because we have so many children with various needs and dificulties in the church (my preemie I spoke of has autism) You're right, most churches aren't like ours so the question shouldn't be "Should I give all my tithe to the church" it should be "Am I going to the right church?"
"I personally have found great pleasure and joy in giving to the Lord but that does not always mean giving to my church but to the people within the church" That's true. The church building isn't operational without money, though. Now, I think foregoing the cost of the building is a great way to spread the money farther. I am glad that someone in your church (you!) is looking out for the needs of the body.
"Let's face it, most churches would love to guilt you into giving them the entire 10% but if they don't deserve the entire 10% or God leads you to give 2% and then give 8% or even 15% somewhere else; then follow that prompting of the Holy Spirit."
I do believe in giving where God has led you to give. My church is one of those who say you should give all your tithe to the church (As my husband believes.) Although, I wouldn't say that our church 'guilts' us at all. If they are trying, they aren't doing a very good job of it because I think some aren't giving what they should. But then, I don't know what people are giving. I just know what I am giving and that God has blessed me for being faithful. Click here to reply to this post
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