Malachi 3:8-10 (Misinterpreted Scriptures)
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Misinterpretation: This passage is often used by many different Christians to prove the importance of tithing.
Facts: Tithing is one of the most misunderstood subjects in Christianity today, and space does not permit a full discussion of the topic. Suffice it to say that tithing is part of the Mosaic Law, it is not part of the New Testament model of giving. The New Testament model of giving is that every person gives to others as they are able (cf. Heb. 13:16; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-8), and that they give to the one who teaches the Word (Gal. 6:6). It is safe to say that the New Testament model is that we give willingly, to those who have need, out of all of our excess, not just 10%!
One of the problems with giving today is that many Christians give 10% out of fear that they will be cursed by God if they do not give 10%; then they do not give any more than 10%, even if they have an abundance and a brother or sister is in need! This is the antithesis of New Testament giving. We should pray and ask how much God wants us to give directly to our local church, and then we should give out of our excess to brothers, sisters, widows, orphans, and whoever else we can. Also, we should give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7), not out of fear of being cursed.
I find it horrible that when a brother or sister is in financial need all that many pastors will do is ask them if they are paying their tithes, and then, if the person is not paying their tithes, tell them that they are under a curse from God! This type of teaching is a travesty– it is a stain on Christianity. When a brother or sister is in need then the local church should be the first to step in and help them. Of course, wisdom and discretion are necessary, since we need to be sure that we are giving to a legitimate need, and that the money will not be misused. However, we should definitely give!
If you would like more information on this topic then I recommend reading this paper: "Embezzlement: The Corporate Sin of Contemporary Christianity?" You may also want to check out www.relationaltithe.com (the site that hosts the Embezzlement paper). I also strongly recommend reading the Bible study titled "So What’s the Deal On First Fruits?", written by Bro. Buddy of Christian Challenge.
Finally, you may find it interesting that the Israelites in the Old Testament did not tithe 10%, they tithed 20-30%, depending on which historian you listen to1. I mention this because many times preachers teach that tithing is not found in the New Testament, but it is a Biblical concept found in the Mosaic Law. If that’s the case, then we should tithe 20-30%, just like the Israelites did!
References:
- Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary. Rev. ed. of: Nelson’s illustrated Bible dictionary.; Includes index ("Tithing"). Nashville: T. Nelson. [↩]
July 16th, 2008 at 4:34 am
The title was about as optional paying the IRS on April 15th. Believe me, they kept track of who had a new sheep in the pen. Just as our country needs income taxes to pay the bills, Isreal needed a tithe. The country was run by the temple.
Today, with elaborate church building and reliance on full time ministers. The church can look like any other corporate machine. No wonder scriptures could be taken out of context.
No to be prideful but I sometimes give beyond the so called bench mark of 10%. I never mark it as tithe. I put the whole lump into offering.
This is because I try to give as the Lord directs my heart and the need I see in our programs.
I believe if we truely taught christain giving like it supposed to be taught, ministers would never have to resort to these tacticts to support the churches programs.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Wonderful article Brother. And it is the absolute truth.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Hebrews 7:5, Hebrews 7:12 The whole 7th chapter of Hebrews was revelation for me. It was here that God revealed to me that tithing was not “grandfatherd” in by Abraham.
When I confronted my pastor with this scripture he was convinced, for a few seconds, and then he got very angry, and in the middle of the resturaunt we had chosen to meet at, he litteraly screamed out “I am a Levite, the tithes are mine!”
My mouth dropped open and asked “Then should I pay tithes to Malchezadek or to Levi?” He then told me to get my things out of his church.
July 12th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Hi,
From what I have found, George Fox is the very first to fight the tithing doctrine explicitly. He did this between 1650 to his death in 1691. He is most famous for founding the Quakers.
I started at discussion group in 2005 that studies ministry financing, and specifically tithing. It has over 140 member and includes theologian Dr Russell Earl Kelly, author of the book: “Should the church teach tithing?” His website is:
http://www.tithing-russkelly.com/ and I invite you to visit it. I would also like to invite you to visit the yahoo website that I listed in this form and join the discussion.
July 18th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I once attended, as a ministry, a church that was wishy-washy on the Gospel. Every time they mentioned a work as a salvation prerequisite I objected and provided appropriate Scripture. Sure, some didn’t like it, but some saw the truth.
The church leaders said nothing until one day I pointed out that Galations 6:6 wasn’t calling for one to share finances with their instructor, but that it was a spiritual admonition to “discuss” the lesson, not lecture it. I suppose it’s a bit ironic that they chose to intervene when I challenged the money flow.
Edit (Site admin): Links removed, since I’m not familiar with the links posted and don’t have time to review them right now.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:36 am
Tithing, Offerings and Giving is all a matter of the Heart. If you want to tithe a 10% then it is fine, if you want 90%, it is fine too. Look what had happened to the Proctor and Gamble and Mr. Colgate, they tithe more than 10% even Bill Gates. Proctor and Gamble tithe 90% and look at the products of that companys it is always at the top, a top-seller either. No doubt that God is abundant in blessings!!! Thank You..
May 27th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
For thirty years I was convinced that tithing was a eternal principle until I searched the scriptures like the Berean Jews for at least a year to discover that only the Levites had the commandment to take the food tithe like it says in Hebrews. I also found out that God never changed tithe contents from food inside Israel to be paid by farmers, and herders to money. I also discovered that there is no NT command to pay 10% of Gross income to any church. In fact, the Church began in houses. And although many teach that Paul taught tithing, they are categorically, exegetically and hermaneutically incorrect because of their failure to understand the literature, the land and the language of the Jewish people. Paul taught generous giving only because Gentile believers did not know anything of the Jewish rules of tithing food. Paul could not take tithe because he was not a Levite. Israelites gave food tithe as an offering for their sin and to take care of the Levites. The Levites gave only a tenth of the tenth of food to the priest. That’s only a one percent tithe. No pastor, church has a commandment to collect a money tithe or has the right to change the contents of the tithe to money because tithes has always been food not money all they way to Matthew 23:23. Jesus is not teaching money tithe in Matthew 23:23. Look at the context they were tithing food items only. The temple got supported through the Temple Tax which Jesus paid with money out of a fishes mouth. Much of the Church is following the Catholic error when they commuted the food tithe to money and that is in violation of Numbers chapter 18 and Leviticus 27:30-33. The Jewish tithe become a money grab under Constaitine and Charlemaigne. Check your history. As a result of this amazing truth my life has been blessed now that I don’t have to offer a tithe becuase it was payment in the old testament for Isreal’s sin. Jesus become the sin tithe as the lamb of God, and so he nailed the tithing ordinance to the cross as a ceremonial law. In the end, I resigned from tithing because it is not required for NT Believers. But giving generously is taught in the NT not Tithing. If you want to know the truth about tithing money, be aware that what is taught today is not OT tithing and here’s why:
http://blackchristiannews.com/bloggers/2009/12/how-to-resign-by-dr-frank-chase-jr.html
July 6th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Tithing is unbiblical:
“2 Corinthians 9:7-10 (New Living Translation)
7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”[a] 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”[b]
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity[c] in you.”
Give to the poor and not o these pastors who compel you to give.
Paul didn’t charge for preaching, and certainly not a tithe. If people are under a curse for not tithing then Paul was putting people under curse for doing the following:
1 Corinthians 9:18 (King James Version)
18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
None of the disciples collected a tithe. I you pay a tithe then you are cursed:
Gal. 3:10
10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse,..
Read all of Galatians if you really want to know what God thinks about the law.