In defence of tithing

THE doctrine and practice of tithing has recently come under strident attacks with critics presenting tithing as a scam and advising Christians to stop tithing altogether.

Their arguments simply reveal their shallow knowledge of the Bible in general and the particular scriptures they quote.

This write-up responds to the criticisms and makes a Bible-based case for present-day tithing.

 

Criticism of tithing:

Tithe for alcohol

One of the critics argued that people should buy alcohol with their tithe and drink it in the church citing Deut. 14:22-26. This is a clear case of ignorant people wresting scriptures to their own destructions as Peter put it in 2Peter 3:16. It is simply not applicable to this age.

 

Flamboyant lifestyle of some pastors

Some argue that some pastors use their members’ tithes to live flamboyantly while the tithing members struggle with poverty. The critics should address the pastors concerned and not use this as a basis to condemn tithing, because there are many pastors handling tithes responsibly.

 

Tithing ended with the Old Testament

The more serious attack on tithing is that it ended with the Old Testament. This is not true.

Tithing started with Abraham more than 400 years before the law of Moses and continues after the law. It was incorporated into the laws of Moses and is similarly incorporated into the New Testament.

Jesus actually reversed and adjusted several Old Testament laws (e.g. Matt. 5:21-48) but when He spoke on tithing in Matt. 23:23. He actually endorsed it.

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens but you ignore more important aspects of the law – justice, mercy and faith. You should tithe, yes ,but do not neglect the more important things” Matt. 23:23 (New Living Translation).

This incontrovertible endorsement of New Testament tithing is repeated in Luke 11:42.

 

Tithing is a scam

Those presenting tithing as a scam for exploiting church members are either ignorant or mischievous or both. This is because they focus on only the giving part of the tithe covenant and deliberately refuse to say anything about the blessings promised to tithers.

God follows His commandments to give with promises of greater blessings in return (e.g.  Mk 10:20-30, Lk 6:38). Of all the blessings  promised for giving blessings for tithing is the most elaborate and comprehensive as stated in Malachi 3:10-12: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in this says the Lord Almighty and see if I will not throw open the flood gates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. [11] I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the wines in the field will not drop their fruits before it is ripe says the Lord [12] Then all nations will call you blessed for yours will be a delightful land says the Lord Almighty” (NIV).

Faithful tithers have been claiming these promises with wonderful testimonies. I have personally experienced outbursts of blessings and deliverance from devourers as rewards for my tithing.

Tithing is actually a great covenant of blessings that has been and is still lifting many believers out of poverty.

 

The truth about tithing:

Tithing is actually a fundamental principle in God’s relationship with His people all through the ages. God started it by sending Melchisedek to Abraham for the divine encounter recorded in Gen. 14 18-20. The three things that happened are (1) Melchisedek brought out bread and wine symbolising Holy Communion; (2) He blessed Abraham; (3) He received the tithes presented by Abraham.

Abraham’s tithe covered his descendants from Isaac through Jacob to Levi (Heb. 7:9-10). The practice of tithing continued under the priesthood of the Levites (Num 18:24).

The priesthood of the Levites ended with the coming of Jesus who has since taken over as our new High Priest (Heb. 7:22-28). The High Priesthood of Jesus is after the order of Melchisedek (Heb 6.20). We can therefore see a striking parallel between the present day ministry of Jesus as our High Priest and Abraham’s encounter with Melchisedek, that is, Jesus shares holy communion with us through the same bread and wine, blesses us and receives our tithes through our churches. We can now see why He clearly endorsed tithing in Matt. 23:23 and Lk 11:42. Tithing therefore continues through Jesus to the end of this dispensation.

May the Lord have mercy on all those who are consciously or unconsciously teaching rebellion against God by advising Christians to stop paying tithes.

 

Adeleye sent this piece via adeleyedaniel33@gmail.com