Questions and Answers

 Is tithing still applicable for Christians today? 

Having come out of a church system known as "the purpose driven life"  a decade ago-- and now being a reformed Christian in doctrine and practice.   The issue before us is one that was very much at the front and centre of how the my former church collection operated; therefore,  I have some knowledge of how these church would manipulee their congregations into giving a tenth of their earnings to the church for whatever nefarious purposes and schemes they had conjured up.   I recall one such campaign that was launched where an American pastor of a mega-church gave a pep talk on the values of tithing; and his application if it could be boiled down  to a succinct statement it would this:  you must tithe because it is in the bible.

But such reasoning fails because you do not hold to a practice simply because it is in the bible; in fact, such logic would imply that the Nazarite vow must be practiced because "it is in the bible." No, the way to determine whether something is to practiced is not because of its being in the bible; but rather it is to be applied based on whether it is carried over to the New Covenant. This principle can be summed up by Jesus own teaching in Matt. 15 and Mark 7-- as well as what we see in both Acts 10 and 15. Therefore, if there is an old testament practice that needs to be considered as something for today or not-- we must ask:  what is the Apostolic answer to such things?  For example, speaking of different foods and other practices whether they are acceptable Peter and James tells us the following:

Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” (Acts 15)

Now by biblical deduction this same point of the Apostles and James can be seen as being right when it comes to Tithing as well.  For it would  be  "putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?" (vs. 10)  Tithing is under this same judgement because it would be considered a yoke. 

Now let me make something clear-- even though there is no obligation under the new covenant:  there is value in tithing even though it is not something we do today. I will take the time to explain this point lest I be misunderstand. 

1.  It shows us that every thing belongs to God in the ultimate sense-- for we come into the world with nothing and we leave with nothing. By prioritising a portion of everything the Israelites had, they learned this valued lesson-- and the principle still stands .And this is it: to trust in the Lord in all things no matter what. 

2.  It shows us that there is need to be careful with our good or money.  Should you need to set a portion aside for the future then you can save it. This is a valued thing to do. The principle of tithing teaches us that we need to prepare for all out-comes.

3. It shows us the need to think positively about the means of it being ours (our vocations) and the outcome (our survival). Let me show you what I mean: For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat."  And why is this the case?  Paul tells us: "For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies." (2 Thess. 2 vs.10- 11).

These are the principles that we can gain from a robust understanding of tithing. 


 

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