Do you tithe?

Should We Tithe? A Biblical Analysis of Tithing

Excerpt:

You might find it interesting to know that Jesus, nor Paul, nor any of the New Testament writers ever commanded the church to tithe. In fact the only time tithing is ever mentioned in the New Testament is in the context of Israel, or in dealing with the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Just as a reminder, the Pharisees were still practicing Judaism. So, if the bible doesn’t command Christians to tithe, what does it tell us to do with our money? I’m glad you asked. Why do Some Say That Tithing is for Today? Some people believe that tithing is still a command for the church today. Let me say first of all that giving ten percent of your income to your church is by no means a bad thing (in fact most Christians don’t even do that!).

Comment: The legal tithe was more like 23% (source):

1. An annual tithe for the support of the Levites, the tabernacle/temple workers (Lev 27:30-33; Num 18:21-24). This was the only visible means of support for them, since they inherited no land when Canaan was conquered under Joshua. The Levites, in turn, passed along a tithe of this tithe to the priests, the highest echelon of worship leaders (Num 18:26).
2. An annual feast tithe, which apparently went for the support of the house of God and its services (Deut 14:22-27).
3. A "social ministry" tithe, received every third year, for helping the poor and needy (Deut 14:28; 26:12).

I have literally never heard a Baptist Pastor explain tithing. I've heard quite a bit of guilting from the pulpit (goes like this: "I don't know how much you give but the typical protestant only gives 2%. How much does God love you? (John 3:16). And how much do you love God?" et cetera). For the first half dozen years of my 16 years of pastoring I would have an annual "stewardship" Sunday and encourage people to tithe. One year I got alone in the Denver Seminary library and studied it out. I never again told people to tithe. Often when I say that I don't believe in tithing the listener will conclude that Jim is a miserly tight wad and cheap with giving. It provokes an emotional response. But the truth is, those who give 10% are really not tithing at all.

Stand to Reason Blog: Tithing (Video)

Stand to Reason Blog: Tithing (Video)


Comment: Worthwhile video (3 min)

Backlash Against Tithing?

The Backlash Against Tithing

Comment: I have mixed feelings about this article. The Christian certainly needs to generously and faithfully support his local church. I'm not convinced what some call tithing is really tithing at all (based upon my studies in the Old Testament).

Excerpt:

The anti-tithing movement has found support in some unlikely places: theologically conservative divinity schools and church pulpits. At Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., professor Andreas Kostenberger challenges tithing in classes on the New Testament. He teaches that if you add up all taxes paid by the ancient Israelites, they exceed 10%, and that in the New Testament there's no percentage rule. He says pastors perpetuate the 10% figure out of "pragmatism, tradition and ignorance, quite frankly."

After 25 years leading Union Missionary Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Ohio, the Rev. Bob Barbour stopped preaching about tithing a few years ago. He now promotes what he calls "grace giving" -- a voluntary, unspecified amount -- because, he says, it squares better with Scripture. The church still receives enough to cover expenses, he says. And if it falls short, so be it: "You can't beat people over the heads."