In most of the Churches believers have a kind of fear about tithing. But I believe the truth I have shared in this article sets you free from that fear.
Genesis 14:20 And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
This is the first mentioned event about tithing in the bible. Most of the preachers (who claim themselves to be new covenant preachers) who emphasize tithing even in the new covenant, they are prosperity minded. Preachers who emphasize practice of tithing are either old covenant minded or faith preachers who believe Abraham, as father of Faith, was rich, and as we have received his blessings due to finished work of Christ, we also are to be rich (in earthly things), but we actually are rich in Christ Jesus. A believer should not let love of money be the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10).
They claim that Abraham, even before the law of Moses was given, gave tithe, so even in the new covenant Christians are to practice tithing. We should not judge anyone, but the truth of God is truth, and that should be preached.
When there is a clear command, that we can make a doctrine out of it, but if it’s a history it cannot be a doctrine. We found no scripture God saying to Abraham, “You should give the tithe”. Yes, nowhere. Then why did Abram give the tithe? What was there in the tithe that Abram gave to Melchizedek, the king of Salem, who brought bread and wine?
If we read Genesis 14:1-16, it clearly mentions that all the possessions, and people Abram recovered were part of Sodom and Gomorrah, including possessions of his nephew Lot. (Verse 16). So, what some preachers are believing about Abram and tithing, it’s not his own possessions that he gave 10th of that. No, not at all.
What I believe is, yes, Abram gave tenth of what was recovered, but it was not a command, rather it turned out to be 10%, and it was a coincidence. Abram gave tenth of it, just because the Lord delivered his enemies to his hand. Abram gave tenth of it, just because he wanted no portion of all the possessions recovered. The Bible nowhere mentioned that Abram gave tithe of his own possessions. If it was actually God’s command, there should have been some event saying, Abram gave tithe, Abram gave tithe again.. Etc. So, if it’s not a command, it should not be a doctrine.
Let’s once look into what is mentioned in the Mosaic Law.
Deuteronomy 18:1 The Levitical priests—indeed, the whole tribe of Levi—are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to the Lord, for that is their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them.
Numbers 18:20 Then the Lord said to Aaron: “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.
Numbers 18:24 For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer up as a heave offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.’
Levites were separated from other tribes of Israel, and were consecrated solely for serving at the tabernacle, and they had no inheritance of any land. This is a picture of poverty of earthly possessions, yet the supplier is the Lord himself (the Lord is their inheritance). That is the only reason God commanded tithing (of grains, wines, oil, flocks, and every kind of herbs) to Israelites so that the need of Levites and Priests like Aaron could be met.
So tithing in Mosaic Law was established not as an upward principle rather downward principle.
However, churches today have twisted it, and it has been a means to create Lavish life for preachers and Pastors. It’s a deception. I sometimes think about this, how those Lavish Pastors face Christ Lord in his second coming. Poor people are giving tithes, and offering thinking that it’s a seed and God will return to them 100 fold because they have been taught so. And they inspire believers through Malachi 3:10, which actually was written to remnant Israelites, Jewish people, not to the new covenant believers. However, preachers create fear in the heart of believers teaching the same bible verse as they say if no tithing, it will be cheating to the God.
Let’s look into the new covenant now. Jesus mentioned tithing in two events, however, it was for Pharisees who used to pay tithes of mint, dill and cumin, and every kind of garden herb. But he said “woe to you Pharisees!” when he mentioned this (Luke 11:12, Matthew 23:23). Another event, in a parable, Luke 18:12 he particularly mentioned it as a Pharisee saying this. Primarily that was to teach people there is no room for self righteousness, and no man can be righteous by good deeds but through the grace of God in Christ Jesus. This indicates, tithing was not something meant for believers, disciples of Jesus.
In the book of Hebrew, chapter 7:8-12, the Holy Spirit clearly says about Abram and tithing. Priesthood and how Levi received and gave tithe when he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. But verse 12 says “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also”. Why did the Holy Spirit immediately mention verse 12 after he spoke about tithing? This verse was to testify that tithing is not applicable in the new covenant though it was in Mosaic Law. Our God is a father, not a tyrant or tax collector.
Let’s judge ourselves, not others. Have we seen this truth so far? Have we found any light regarding the tithing? Looking into what Jesus practiced, did Jesus and his disciples give tithes? Did Apostles of the first century practiced tithing? No they didn’t. Your church might have practiced tithing for so long, but truth is always truth. Do not judge your pastor, but ask your very helper Holy Spirit about it, and hear what the Holy Spirit says to you. Let’s practice truth without judging others.
In the new covenant no tithing but giving. Give cheerfully, because God loves cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:7). Our giving could be 5% or 30% or 50% or more. But it’s not a law, nor any compulsion. God sees our heart not the amount that we bring to his altar.
The giving again is not an upward principle rather downward principle – that meets the needs of believers/saints not for the lavishness of some specific person in the body of Christ. Otherwise, Paul and Peter could have been richer people in the body of Christ in first century churches, but they were not. Nothing as such is recorded. To be continued….