Hi,
Your articles have helped me immensely in our small Bible study.
I just want to ask something, where do u stand on the tithing issue today? Do believers need to give tithes?
Regards
Hi,
Thanks for the email. Glad that the studies here have helped you in your Bible studies.
Tithing… I am one of the ministers in our small, independent and non-denominational church here in Makati, Philippines. We don’t teach tithing. We don’t have anyone to whom we give tithes or is being paid by tithes either! Everyone commits their time freely in service to the Lord and we would rather see any money be donated to those believers or local churches who are in need. Anyway…
Based on what I read on the Bible, tithing in not commanded for a believer to do during this Grace Dispensation. Look up all the books in the New Testament and you will not find it being commanded to the Church or those under the New Covenant to do. Free will giving is the one being taught to the believers.
2 Corinthians 9:7: “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Giving should come from a grateful heart in response to a NEED. Giving is NOT a law, that should be impose to the believers which automatically makes it under compulsion and therefore contradict the command of 2 Cor 9:7 above. The word “necessity” in that verse is from the Greek word “anagkh” which means “imposed” or “duty”. Therefore, Paul is telling us that giving comes from a desire in one’s heart according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, IT IS NOT A DUTY.
The fact is, there is not one command in the Bible that a believer should tithe under the New Covenant. We are no longer under the dispensation of the Law. Believers should be lead by the Spirit of God and not by the Law. Anyone who impose the things of the Law to the believers and not the whole Law are actually under a curse according to apostle Paul:
Galatians 3:10 “For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THE THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.”
With this, giving per se is still highly encourage by the Apostle to the believers (Acts 20:35). 2 Cor 8 and 9 gives plenty of instruction on how believers should give during this Grace dispensation. But all of these giving should be according to the purpose of the heart, based on the leading of the Spirit.
Now having said this, if a believer knows these things and feels that they want to give a tenth of their money, it is actually fine. That is between them and God. As long as it is the leading of God in them. If He leads you to give 50% then give 50%. If He leads you to give only 1% then give only 1%. That’s Grace. The point is, do not make giving a duty or a law.
A full study of tithing is quite interesting. Especially how they tithed in the Old Testament which is not monetary. Please read this article:
In closing, there is no law for a Christian to tithe. But as Christians, we need to learn to be good free-will gracious givers. A lot of us have been given a lot, and there are a lot of valid needs, so we should be asking God what we can do with the resources He has given us (be they time, money, talents, gifts, etc).
Hope this helps. Feel free to give your feedbacks here : )
God bless.
Bon
