Wall Street Journal religion reporter Suzanne Sataline had a lengthy feature on tithing that a few readers sent in. Headlined “The Backlash Against Tithing,” here’s how it began:
Can you put a price on faith? That is the question churchgoers are asking as the tradition of tithing — giving 10% of your income to the church — is increasingly challenged. Opponents of tithing say it is a misreading of the Bible, a practice created by man, not God. They say they should be free to donate whatever amount they choose, and they are arguing with pastors, writing letters and quitting congregations in protest. In response, some pastors have changed their teaching and rejected what has been a favored form of fund raising for decades.
I have to admit that this lede confused me. I think it might have been a good idea to define tithing more precisely for the purposes of the story. Judging from most — but not all — of the remaining anecdotes and reportage, the backlash is against the view that giving ten percent of one’s income is a biblical requirement. But that’s not how Sateline defines it, exactly.
In the rest of the story, Sataline says that churches are stepping up their efforts to encourage tithing, although there’s little statistical support to show any trend. She also describes everything from the encouragement of tithing to the requirement that new members pledge to give ten percent of their incomes, even if they’re deeply in debt or supporting large families on extremely limited incomes. Here’s another paragraph I found confusing:
Many Christians who don’t read the Bible literally say that by tithing they are not misreading the text, but rather interpreting it differently. Tithing has its roots in the Biblical tale of Abraham presenting a tenth of the war spoils to Melchizedek, the king of Salem. In the Old Testament, Jews brought 10% of their harvest to a storehouse as a welfare plan for the needy or in case of famine. That percentage, say pro-tithers, can be a useful guideline for Christians today. “It’s the best financial discipline I know,” says Terry Parsons, stewardship officer for the Episcopal Church.
I have no idea what that first sentence means. And grouping people who require tithing with people who simply think it’s a useful guideline continues to confuse me. I also think it might have been a good idea to explain the views of those who don’t follow tithing. My church, for instance, teaches that we are free to give any percentage of our income depending on the circumstances. The article didn’t quite delineate which churches teach tithing and which don’t. Anyway, the best part of the story is the series of anecdotes Sataline provides, such as this one:
For Judy Willingham, of San Antonio, 12 years of tithing came to an end earlier this year. She says she gave a tenth of her pay to Cornerstone Church because the pastor, the Rev. John C. Hagee teaches, “‘If you obey God and you tithe, God will return it to you 30, 60, 100 fold.’”
Ms. Willingham, who earns $26,000 annually as an administrative assistant, says she started to research the practice, reading criticism online and studying the Bible, and concluded that she’d been “guilted into tithing.” She quit the church and hasn’t found another one.
Steve Sorensen, director of pastoral ministries at Cornerstone, says the church requires its paid and volunteer leaders to tithe, and teaches new members to do so, although it doesn’t make them show proof of income. “When you tithe, God makes promises to us, that he … is not going to let anything bad or destructive come about,” says Mr. Sorensen. For those who don’t tithe, he says the Lord “is not obligated to do those things for you.”
The stories really are fascinating. One parishioner who questioned his church’s tithing commandment was told he was wrong and to submit to his pastor and elders. He stopped going to his church. Kevin Rohr, a youth pastor at a Quaker offshoot, was told by his pastor that he was expected to tithe on his $32,400 salary. With four kids and a wife to support, he told the pastor that Christians are not required to tithe. He ended up leaving his job:
Mr. Rohr, 35, is now supporting his family by driving trucks. He says he still believes what he wrote to Mr. Engel: “All decisions to give and how much to give are between the believer and their God, not meant to be used as stumbling blocks or judgments against others.”
One interesting thing about these anecdotes is that Russell Earl Kelly, author of Should the Church Teach Tithing?, says he provided the names of Rohr and five others who were interviewed and quoted in the article:
I am somewhat upset that my name and book was not mentioned. I spent literally hundreds of hours pouring over old e-mails from the past six years to furnish names and information to the Wall Street Journal for this article. The names of all of the key persons interviewed in the article were provided by myself …
He raises an interesting point. A good reporter will spend countless hours researching a story. I don’t think many folks outside the media have any idea how much information has to be left out of a given story. But particularly since Sataline devoted a bit of her article to anti-tithing scholarship, it seems she could have at least plugged Kelly’s work on the matter. What do you think?
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Comments (25) |
November 27, 2007, at 10:22 am
Interesting - I’m guessing this article doesn’t cover Mormons, where to maintain membership in good standing, you have to pay tithing. In fact, at the end of the year there is “tithing settlement” where you meet with the bishop and you get a list of the tithing you’ve paid over the year and you are asked if you paid a “full tithe” (10% of your income). It’s left up to the individual to answer honestly, since the church does not ask for proof of income.
However, lots of “poor” Mormons pay tithing, and do okay despite having families to support. It seems like a religious group where tithing is more widespread and expected would have added an interesting perspective to the debate.
November 27, 2007, at 10:25 am
Ivan,
The author did mention Mormons and their requirement of a tithe. In fact, the author said that Mormons who fail to pay the tithe risk being barred from the temple. I thought that in and of itself would make for a great story — how that plays out in practice, etc.
Mollie
November 27, 2007, at 12:29 pm
Pastor Hagee says:
and later, we read…
Both are obviously indicative of the Prosperity Gospel mindset, and it seems as if this concept would be a rather easy thing to verify. If the $26,000 a year secretary was suddenly given a $754,000 raise after tithing, then I guess it works. Otherwise… well, it’s hucksterism and false hope to the extreme, isn’t it? I’m sorry, but these claims amuse me, espcecially since they are never questioned.
I didn’t necessarily find the lede confusing. I do see that some of the article deals with the “megachurch†phenomenon, in which expensive equipment, in a huge, expensive-to-maintain building, is frequently subsidized by poor members. Not to mention these poorer members, some of whom deeply in debt, are often supporting the outlandishly lavish lifestyle of some pastors.
Somehow, I would think that this kind of tithing - without a commitment from church leaders to live and act frugally - would be widely seen as immoral, even unBiblical. As a reporter, I’d seek a great deal of comment on that angle, though it’s hinted at a bit in this article.
Shifting gears, I found the following paragraph very… American.
Ignoring the fact that this seems like another case of the Catholic Church turning into a democracy, where majority vote “wins†(though at least this wasn’t a doctrinal issue this time) it shows the rather American impulse that “I can do whatever I want with my money/ovaries/bodies/lungs, etc.†There is something to be said for following rules, and especially spiritual disciplines, even if it’s not exactly comfortable to do so at all times.
As a Protestant growing up, I didn’t have the monastic or even saintly examples of sacrifice, and even as a non-Catholic now, I think that aspect of Faith is missing in large parts of Christianity these days, to its detriment. Despite the rather twisted reasons some pastors are using regarding tithing (personal enrichment being among them) I’m sure a majority of them are simply trying to show that disciplined giving can be a positive experience, and I’m sure most believe it to be Biblically mandated, which shouldn’t be shluffed off as irrelevant.
November 27, 2007, at 1:17 pm
November 27, 2007, at 1:22 pm
Sorry, I punch “submit comment” too soon.
The ancient Jewish state was a theocracy in a form known as temple culture. Their tithing was the equivalent of our taxes for the welfare of the nation as a whole. Roads, sewers, schools, airports, old-age social security are all supported by taxes for the welfare of the nation. When people today are paying at least 15% to the government for the welfare of the nation, I think 10% tithing on top of that is out of line. The temple is no longer the seat of government.
November 27, 2007, at 1:30 pm
The very first church fight was about how best to sacrifice — and it resulted in the very first murder, when Cain slew his brother Abel over this issue of appeasing God to win favor. Yes, tithing is first attributed to Abraham; but Jacob’s attempt to bribe God with a 10 percent kickback if God will prosper him and bless him and help him get home again is a better example of the indulgence, as fully exposed for what it is. Most clergy milk this ‘con’ for all its worth. (I find it pathetic.) But of course, they feel a need to keep the heat bill payed and the broadcast time covered and their paycheck coming. (The concept of “house churches” in Acts is very appealing for minimizing such overhead. And this format is enjoying resurgence.)
The real issue is resolved in Romans 12:1 where it is made clear that God will settle for nothing less than 100%. She is not a fan of kickback schemes! And this arrangement is just the beginning, for the verse below indicates that 100% is the least we can do. But it is the bargain of a lifetime. So stop putting money in the plate to assuage your guilt, and give over your entire life for God to do with as seen fit.
Here are the two scriptural citations mentioned above, although it is best to read them in context, in their entirety —
Genesis 28:
[20] And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
[21] So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
[22] And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Romans 12:
[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Clearly, the 10 percent solution is off the table in the NT. But your pastor won’t like me for telling you so. I do wish journalists would do betteer at consulting primary sources when reporting on such significant issues. Looking in a dictionary is hardly authoritative when compared to scripture itself. Hearsay and current practices are not alone an adequate basis upon which to build a story.
~eric.
November 27, 2007, at 1:40 pm
Thanks for the mention and photo of my book. The original article was probably about three times longer and got chopped up pretty bad. The definition of OT tithes was almost totally wrong and gave the wrong impression for the whole article.
I am happy that the subject has finally come out of the closet. The Christian press has not allowed any anti-tithe discussions in its magazines, radio or TV programs. I welcome any and every person who wants to enter dialog. It is the pro-tithers who control the Christian media that will wil not enter into dialog.
May God bless all of you. Russell Earl Kelly
November 27, 2007, at 2:56 pm
Perhaps an even better context for investigating the story might be considering how American Muslims negotiate their obligations toward Zakat in a country where religious authorities are disestablished.
November 27, 2007, at 3:13 pm
I just want to mention that the reporter did include a minor discussion of zakat in the story …
November 27, 2007, at 4:18 pm
Giving is a huge part of the church. I think amongst all these arguments we neglect seeing the self sacrifice of all the saints in acts, where everyone sold their possessions for the good of the ‘whole’ body. also, paul harps on the corinthian church in 2 Cor and goes on for a few chapters on giving, especially those who gave out of their poverty and were able to give a ‘generous gift.’ Paul says this gift from the people is to the supply the needs of the saints as well as thanksgivings to God. God is praised through the liberal giving of the saints. Also, there is no concept of sacrifice anymore in giving. What does it mean to sacrifice? it means to give beyond your means, to the point where it hurts a little bit. who likes to hurt? no one, but should that stop us from giving back to God? doesn’t he take care of our needs? don’t most of us leave beyond our means anyways? if we are not willing to at least tithe, i think there are deep problems in our relationship to God cause we are not willing to die to self and give of ourselves. maybe we need to make life-style adjustments so that we can start giving to the local church for the needs of the saints. so be it. giving is not a suggestion, it is a commandment found both in the OT and NT. the amount may be not as concrete in the NT but Jesus sure did talk a lot about money and where we store our treasures.
November 27, 2007, at 6:05 pm
There’s that word again. “Many Christians who don’t read the Bible literally….” What does “literally” mean? The press uses it and so do Christians. It means different things to different people and should be banned from all news stories.
November 28, 2007, at 6:07 am
Interesting article, but it tried to deal with to much in a short form. I am sure alot got chopped up. The article made the idea of tithing bad and that it does not work.
People do not leave because of tithing they leave because, they are not getting their need met. Tithing(if you are serious) must be budgeted in right above rent, food and clothes. If a person is in debt, they should go to their spiritual leader and have that person help them to budget so they can tithe. It is all a matter of priority.
Let us look at the 3 people in the article. We do not know how many people Ms. Willingham must support on $26k, but is $2,600 dollar really alot to make sure you have a spiritual home?
Mr. Magrino has also put a price on his spirituality. If as a lawyer he is hurting to give 10% then maybe he should look at his other expenses. Maybe he felt guilty because he knows he should be giving more. The pastor did not take him aside and single him out. He was giving him church teaching that was to help him.
Kevin Rohr was upset because they wanted the church employees to set a good example.
The church must always think of tithing as the benefit to belivers. If the church is looking at their bottom line, you are in the wrong church. Tithing and giving should never be taught when the church is in financial trouble. They should believe God.
Just because you give in dollars doesn’t mean you get back in dollars.
November 28, 2007, at 11:17 am
Hi,
I am the Administrative Assistant named in Suzanne Sateline’s report. What she didn’t tell you was that in 1995 I was supporting 3 children on child support only. I had been a stay at home mom for 16 years and had no idea how to even turn on a computer. We went from a 5-bedroom house to a 2-bedroom apartment. My children’s father chose not to be a part of their lives after he remarried, so I was desperate for help. I reached out to my church and was told that I should tithe to get God’s favor. So I did.
When I had trouble paying my bills, I was told I should tithe first. When my electricity was turned off I was told I didn’t have enough faith, or that I had hidden sin. When I asked the church for help, I had to fill out enough papers to choke a horse and made to feel like I was stealing from God. It was the Catholic Church in my area that helped me more times than I can remember. (I’ve never been Catholic).
In 2005 I had a wreck (even though I had been tithing) and was hurt. Two surgeries on my knee made it almost impossible to wear heels,or anything besides tennis shoes, so I quit going to church because it hurt to walk. My car was totaled and I had to buy a new-used car. In buying the car, my first consideration was would I still be able to afford to tithe if I buy this car. I bought a 4-yr old 2001 Suzuki, hoping I would still be able to tithe.
Car payments, on top of tithing just did not work for me. I started missing my tithe payments and eventually quit mailing them in.
Earlier this year, I was crying out to God on my knees, in my bedroom! Begging him to forgive me for not tithing, and for “robbing” him. He led my back to my Bible in Malachi 2-3, Malachi is talking to the PRIESTS of that day who were keeping the best of the tithe. I couldn’t believe I had read those scriptures for years and years and there it was…right in front of me.
Then I dug in and started researching and telling my story. At that point I had officially quit tithing in my heart. I wasn’t going to send any more money to the church. A complete stranger read my story on one website and contacted the website owner to send me $500. He just wanted to send me a blessing….I can’t begin to tell you how much of a blessing that was. Then in August I received a financial settlement that had been long overdue. If I had received it before, I would have sent 10% to the church. Also, I recently received a substantial raise at work. And it looks like next month I will finally be able to own my own home. All this AFTER I quit tithing.
May I say too, that I have come to realize that the Prosperity Gospel is a pack of lies, and twisted scripture. Sataline’s report states that Steve Sorensen advocates tithing because then you are under God’s “protection.”
Then please explain this, my best friend was an avid Chirstian woman. She died 5 years ago of cancer. She tithed, gave offerings and I never saw her let that plate go by without putting something extra in it. I literally saw her take the shoes off her feet and give them to someone who needed shoes. She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and was very active in her cell group. She fought such a hard fight to live. But it wasn’t meant to be. Why? Did she not have enough faith, hidden sin? What would you tell her husband? two young daughters? her parents? Friends?
After googling every preacher on TBN, for example “john hagee false teacher” and seeing the over the top lavish lifestyle of greed these pastors live, I got mad. When I gave my money to the different ministries, I wasn’t counting on it going to line the pockets of these mega televangelists. It is obscene.
I sat at my computer and cried my eyes out at watching the videos on http://www.false-teachers.com. How that must be such dung in the eyes of God. The whole thing was such a shock to me, that it is all such a money scam.
I am so grateful that God cared enough about me to remove me from that apostate church. Now, I firmly believe that God has given Hagee over to a reprobate mind. He obviously believes a lie, given the heresy he’s been saying lately, like “Jesus did not come to be the Messiah” so he can promote his latest book.
I lost friends when I walked away from that church. In a way, I lost my identity since I had been involved in severaly ministries too. I’ve had to re-learn everything about the Bible. My cell leaders, who profess to love me, told me that I had LOST MY SALVATION and CURSED MY CHILDREN because I quit tithing. Then they refused to speak to me about it any more….it was not open for ANY discussion. Just a little cultish wouldn’t you say?
Now, I’m grateful that I’m out. I see the brain-washing I got and wonder how I could have sat there for so long in such a delusion (It must have been the Kool Aid). I have asked God for forgiveness for seeking his hand and not his face, and I have repented for ever going to a place like Cornerstone.
I’ve had people tell me all the good things that Hagee has done in the world. Most churches have done good things. But the greed is more than I can stand. One table in GETV cost more than I make in two years. Why? Because money says your successful? I think not, from what I’ve read, Jesus would have said, “sell it and give it to the poor.”
About 3-4 years ago Hagee has us start paying off the church debt. It was somewhere around $30 million and he said that he “didn’t want to leave the next generation a huge debt.” This new payment was over and above the tithe and offering. Now that the debt is nearly paid, Hagee has bought a private jet. Jets are very expensive to maintain.
In closing, I like Senator Grassley’s analogy of “Jesus rode a humble donkey”, why do these preachers need jets and fancy cars? Jesus could have been carried everywhere in a golden chariot, but he chose to walk or ride a donkey, why should it be different for these preachers? They say they do so much for us but when was the last time you got to speak directly to your pastor? Is he/she covered by body guards (why do you need body guards to go to church?) Is your pastor always off traveling or on speaking engagements?
I still give, I have always loved to give. But now, the poor in my community have my heart. I also give to a hospital that never turns a child away for not being able to pay.
One last question. Where is the faith of the preacher? Why can’t he/she preach the Word correctly that Paul taught us to “give as you purpose in your heart” and “give cheerfully.” Let the people give and let the preacher have faith that God will meet his/her needs.
Judy
November 28, 2007, at 11:36 am
Judy,
As a pastor, my heart goes out to you. In your post, I read a lot of hurt, anger and confusion. But I also heard hope. You appear to have moved into a new place spiritually.
I would love to continue a conversation with you, but I suspect TMatt and the others on Get Religion would not appreciate us doing so in this forum. If you’re interested in talking, I invite you to post on my blog.
May God bless you in ALL the ways God can bless - not just with green stuff that formerly grew as trees….
Pastor K
November 28, 2007, at 12:47 pm
I think reading these contents has me more confused than when I started. Are people against tithing per se, or against different interpretations of tithing?
It seems like most people are against the type of tithing that’s done in the wrong spirit. I think tithing is like many other disciplines of Christianity - it’s a wonderful thing when a person makes the choice to do it for altruistic reasons, but like so many other things it usually goes bad when done out of compulsion or for other wrong reasons.
November 28, 2007, at 1:08 pm
[…] Get Religion has a post in response to a Wall Street Journal article entitled, “The Backlash Against Tithing”. […]
November 28, 2007, at 1:18 pm
Tithing is not for the New Testament Church. It is wrong to enforce the tithe. In the Old Testament, tithing was not from wages or income earned. I hope the audio and essays will be a blessing.
Tithing MP3 (duration 00:26:00)
Presented by Bob DeWaay and Dick Kuffel Broadcast Monday, July 17, 2006 This program shows that the New Testament does not teach a mandatory tithe after the manner of the Old Testament. Those who command tithing are not following the teachings of the New Testament.
“Will a Man Rob God?” (Malachi 3:8): A Study of Tithing in the Old and New Testaments pdf
Andreas J. Kostenberger and David A. Croteau
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Is tithing, that is, giving ten percent of one’s income, obligatory for Christians? This first in a series of two articles investigates this question by studying all references to tithing in Scripture. The discussion commences with Old Testament references to tithing prior to the giving of the Mosaic Law, the Mosaic Law, and the historical and prophetic books. This is followed by a study of the three major New Testament passages on tithing. The article concludes that none of the Old or New Testament passages can legitimately be used to argue for the continuation of tithing in the new covenant period.â€
Reconstructing a Biblical Model for Giving: A Discussion of Relevant Systematic Issues and New Testament Principles pdf
Andreas J. Kostenberger and David A. Croteau
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
“In a previous article the authors discussed all relevant references to tithing in Scripture and concluded that the continuation of a tithing requirement can not be adequately supported by the exegesis of individual texts. In the present essay they assess the applicability of tithing in light of pertinent systematic issues. Following a discussion of the relationship between the Mosaic Law and the new covenant, larger systematic issues that have been used to argue for the continuation of tithing are analyzed and critiqued. The article concludes with a survey of New Testament principles for giving.â€
TITHING WITHIN THE CHURCH
A discussion paper on the subject of Christian giving.
(Scroll down)
November 28, 2007, at 1:32 pm
Judy,
if you want real encouragement and doctrinally sound studies, go here and you will have a life time plumbing the depths of God’s riches: Monergism.com
May others be blessed through Monergism.com as well.
His treasured possession
(Thomas Brooks, “The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness”, 1662)
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.
The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the
peoples on the face of the earth to be His people,
His treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:6
God makes …
many rich, and
many great, and
many honorable, and
many mighty, and
many wise, and
many noble, and
many beautiful, and
many successful—
whom He will never make holy.
But in making you holy—God has made you spiritually
great, rich, honorable, wise, and beautiful, etc. Holiness
is a singular fruit of God’s special favor and love.
God has a common favor and love for all men, yes,
for the worst of men; witness that common preservation,
and common protection, and common provision—which
He grants to them. But God has a special love and
favor—and this runs out only to His holy ones.
Holiness is a divine beam, a heavenly drop, a
choice pledge of God’s special favor and love.
O sirs! though the world may slight you, and enemies
revile you, and friends disfavor you—yet let this support
you, let this rejoice you—that you are God’s treasured
possession!
November 28, 2007, at 4:04 pm
Douglas,
I always get a chuckle out of people who loudly proclaim Tithing is not for the New Testament church.
You are correct. The NT church signed over everything.
November 28, 2007, at 5:17 pm
good point, frgough. also, in 1 Peter, all christians are called priests, we all have the responsibilities and privileges of those temple workers in Christ. So when reading in Malachi about the priests, yes it was them back then but definitely pointed to NT priests, which is every believer in Jesus Christ.
November 28, 2007, at 7:32 pm
The modern day “Tithe” is a construct of men. It was never a call of God. http://thebigpictureministry.htohananet.com/blog/_archives/2007/4/22/2899189.html
Today’s churches are suffering under many other false teachings by the Priesthood of Men
http://thebigpictureministry.htohananet.com/blog/_archives/2007/9/22/3246902.html
There’s the preaching of easy salvation - just believe.
I wonder why Paul said that I’d rather die than accept pay for preaching??
http://thebigpictureministry.htohananet.com/blog/_archives/2007/9/22/3246910.html
There’s the Believer Gathering Commands
http://thebigpictureministry.htohananet.com/blog/_archives/2007/11/4/3334999.html
Let’s reclaim the truth, God’s truth,
There is no Lutheran Methodist….. There is only one church, those believers seeking God and his truth, seeking one mind with their fellow believers, gathering together and share what they hear from the Holy Spirit.
Don’t Give Up Seeking Truth!
Glenn
November 29, 2007, at 11:06 am
For the record I speak for the six people interviewed by WSJ since I know all six of them. We are against teahing that all Christians MUST BEGIN their giving level at 10%! Is that clear? And we do not oppose freewill giving above 10%. I want to make that clear. We also think that is is WRONG to expect the sick and poor to give their first 10% to the church and thereby leave out medicine, food, heat, etc for their family.
THE SIX MOST QUOTED LIES ABOUT TITHING:
If you disagree, please give Biblical arguments. Thanks.
(1) TITHING WAS BEFORE THE LAW AND IS THEREFORE AN ETERNAL MORAL PRINCIPLE
A tradition is not automatically an eternal moral principle merely because it is very old, very common and very widespread. The fact that tithing was common in much pagan worship before the Bible was written does not make it a moral principle. Idolatry, worship of astrological bodies, child sacrifice, temple prostitution, witchcraft and necromancy are equally very old, very common and very widespread in pagan cultures. The practice of giving is found in natural law, but an exact percentage is not.
Abraham tithed before the Law. But that does not prove that tithing is an eternal moral principle. If we followed Abraham’s example (as we are told), (1) we would only tithe spoils gathered from our enemies; (2) we would only tithe once; (3) we would not tithe any of our own property and (4) we would give the 90% to the equivalent of the king of Sodom. See my book, chapter two and my essay, Tithing is Not a Christian Doctrine, point four.
(2) TITHING IS THE BIBLICAL STANDARD, THE MINIMUM STARTING POINT AND/OR “IT’S A GOOD PLACE TO START”
This lie is built on two false assumptions: (1) that everybody in the OT was required to begin their level of giving at 10% and (2) that everybody in the OT gave 10% of all increase as a tithe.
First, only those Israelites who earned a livelihood from farming and herding clean animals inside Israel were required to tithe under the Mosaic Law. All sixteen (16) of sixteen (16) Bible texts which describe the contents of tithes porve tihis point. The tithe increase only came from God’s miracle hand. Second, those whose increase came from their own crafts and skills were not required to tithe products and money. The poor and needy who did not tithe and received from the tithe gave freewill offerings. See my book, chapter one and my essay, point two.
(3) TITHES ARE THE SAME AS FIRSTFRUITS
The first-fruit was a very small amount of the first crop harvest and the first-born was the first offspring of animals. The first-fruit was small enough to fit into a hand-held basket (Deut. 26:1-4, 10; Lev. 23:17; Num. 18:13-17; 2 Chron 31:5a).
First-fruit and first-born offerings went directly to the Temple and were required to be totally consumed by ministering priests only inside the Temple (Neh. 10:35-37a; Ex. 23:19; 34:26; Deut. 18:4). Tithes went directly to the Levitical cities (Neh 10:37b) and a small portion was then taken to the Temple storehouse (Neh 10:38-39).
Teaching that the first tenth of ones increase must go to the church organization is wrong. It is not taught to the Christian or the Church . It violates the instruction found in 1st Timothy 5:8 that one acts like an infidel if one does not care for family essentials first. And it robs the poorest in society of food, medicine and necessary care.
(4) TITHES INCLUDE MONEY
One argument to support non-food tithing is that money was not universally available and barter from food must have been used for most transactions. This argument is not biblical. Genesis alone contains “money†in 32 texts and the word occurs 44 times before the tithe is first mentioned in Leviticus 27. The word shekel also appears often from Genesis to Deuteronomy.
In fact many centuries before Israel entered Canaan and began tithing food from God’s Holy Land money was an essential everyday item. For example money in the form of silver shekels paid for slaves (Gen 17:12+); land (Gen 23:9+); freedom (Ex 23:11); court fines (Ex 21 all; 22 all); sanctuary dues (Ex 30:12+); vows (Lev 27:3-7); poll taxes (Num 3:47+), alcoholic drinks (Deu 14:26) and marriage dowries (Deu 22:29).
According to Genesis 47:15-17 food was only used for barter after money had been spent. Banking and usury laws exist in God’s Word in Leviticus even before tithing. Therefore the argument that money was not prevalent enough for everyday use is false. Yet the tithe contents never include money from non-food products and trades.
(5) THE CHURCH IS THE STOREHOUSE AND THE TITHE MUST BE TAKEN THERE
Thie lie can be easily refuted from both the Bible and from early church history. First, the OT Temple which was a literal physical building has been replaced by the body of the individual believer in which the Holy Spirit dwells. Second, the word “church” means “assembly” and not a building. The early church did not even have buildings for over 200 years after Calvary.
(6) THE FULL TITHE MUST GO TO THE PREACHER
This lie is a gross distortion of the OT doctrine of tithing under the Law. First, the OT tithe went to the Levites who were both servants to the priests and who also served as government employees. Second, the Levites only gave a tenth of their tenth to the priests. Third, as tithe-recipients neither Levites nor priests were allowed to own or inherit land inside Israel.
All of these points are discussed in detail both in my book, Should the ChurchTeach Tithing, and in my essay, Tithing is Not a Christian Doctrine.
Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D.
November 29, 2007, at 1:16 pm
And to add to Russell Kelly, Jesus criticized those who took care to pay tithes on tares. Tithes were only on specific agricultural produce, not even all produce. The agricultural taxes were only slightly less complex than our own: first fruits on specific plants, specific animals, specified offerings for ceremonies, tithes, leavings, gleanings, tares and other plants untaxed. (And I use tares medicinally, so the tax isn’t just on useful plants.)
Mind you, I give generously, more than 10%, but even if you tithe, a tithe is to God and not merely to our own church or denomination.
And we won’t even get into the historical fact that the tithe could pay for pilgrimage to the Temple- does that mean a worthwhile family vacation to a spiritual site qualifies?
I go down on the side of guideline. Significant charity including my church, yes. Subsidizing a specific ministry under false pretenses, no.
November 29, 2007, at 2:30 pm
Hello All,
Reading the articles and commentaries, it’s easy to understand why Protestantism found an anchor and why the Catholic Church tried to uproot the movement. We all have differing opinions as to how and where money should be given or spent in the church.
As a candidate for the phd in history, I spend a lot of time with intellectuals who have their opinion on the Church-and those opinions are usually expressed with derision and ridicule. The conclusion I have come to is this: Faith cannot be defined in intellectual or secular terms. Human reasoning doesn’t understand God’s ways. So we do the best we can by interpreting His Word with what we believe to be His Spirit. That’s all the writers of the Bible did…and we can all point to a favorite scripture to support our private arguments-if we want to subvert the Word.
I have no doubt these horror stories in the church are true and that is a sad commentary on our church leaders. I have experienced the split of three churches and those experiences taught me to seek God for the answers through prayer. The way to live out the answers is found in the practical direction the New Testament gives.
I do believe in the principal of tithing-and on the gross, not the net. Tithing requires the release of all strings, that’s where the phrase “giving to God” comes in. When I write my check to my church, I don’t give another thought to the way it is spent. That is no longer my business. If I wanted it to be my business, I would seriously think about whether I belong in that church.
Through homelessness, bankruptcy, loss of everything dear to me, and yes, having to ask for help from arrogant church leaders who doubt my salvation, I have found that I have to be in the church where God wants me to planted. I don’t just attend, I actually belong with this particular body of believers, in spite of our mutually sometimes questionable behavior. This is where the forgiveness and love scriptures are activated.
So, I say, first Know God. Second, know where He wants you to be fellowshipping. Then, give according to the doctrine of your church. There is a principle of obedience, sacrifice, and faith involved, and we all have to find that principle through prayer and study.
Church is not a democracy, it is a theocracy. If you don’t like the doctrine, examine your self first, then, leave or submit. Sometimes we just have to cut our losses, chalk it up to experience, and move on. Some will say, then people will leave the church. True, but maybe this is where we let the “market” determine the validity or viability of the church?
just a thought…
November 29, 2007, at 6:23 pm
Judy’s comment is the most thoughtful writing on this topic I’ve ever read.
Pastor K’s comment is patronizing; nothing Judy said sounded confused or angry.
Karen Vaughan’s bragging on her giving — and did you see where she apparently includes her family’s vacations as “gifts” to the church?!?!? :~) — prompted me to re-read the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. Guess which one reminded me of self-proclaimed “generous” Karen??
Thanks for this great set of comments on the great WSJournal story! Blessings to all!