The #1 scripture used to support the principle of the tithe for our New Covenant context ironically is taken from an Old Covenant passage in Malachi 3.
The passage
in Malachi is a very specific context in post-exilic Israel, where God’s people
were not only practicing idolatry and breaking the law (all the things that led
them into exile in the first place) but they were neglecting to take care of
the temple, and it was becoming very run-down and dilapidated. His charge was
to see if their return to Yahweh as their true God would be evidenced in their
obedience to the principle of the tithe- an outward expression of obedience to
signify an inward change of the heart. There are certainly lessons we can take
out of this, but reinstating the tithe is not one of them. For one, obedience
in the New Covenant looks different. It is no longer about fulfilling
requirements. Obedience to Christ now comes in the form of the Law of the
Spirit, being led by the Spirit. We are motivated by love, not by legalism.
Love is by nature giving not
self-seeking. So, we should expect giving to be present and increasing in our
lives but not because of a mandated percentage or a system designed to support
Levitical priests.
What the Tithe is NOT
1. The tithe is not justified based on
the Levitical system of priests- because in Christ we are all priests, a
kingdom of priests (1 Pe. 2:9)
2. The tithe is not justified because of
Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek- this was a foreshadowing of the priesthood
system
a. Jesus is indeed a type of Melchizedek
as described in Hebrews- but He never instructed his disciples to tithe to Him
b. He expected that they would continue
to tithe to the temple under the Levitical Law until his death on the cross would fulfill ALL of the Law- Sabbath,
Tithes, Feasts, Circumcision, Eating instructions, washing instructions, all of
it (613 laws)
3. The tithe is not justified only
because running a church is expensive
a. Even in the New Testament church, the
synagogue was a very low-maintenance building, no electricity, no running
water- basically a roof over their head
b. The apostle's main teaching activity
was through house-to-house ministry
c. We have created the need to be
spectators in a comfortable building, therefore we should not use the tithe as
an excuse to pay for all that overhead
d. Neither is the tithe obligated
because all our outreach programs cost money
4. The tithe does not result in our
blessing or our cursing
a. It is ridiculous to think that we can
do anything to put God in a position to “owe” us
b. If it were not for Jesus, all the
curses would come upon us. Because of the cross, we are free of EVERY curse of
the Law.
c. It is truly disheartening that we
still try to manipulate believers to give by holding Old Covenant obligations
over their heads
5. The tithe is not justified based on
silence in the NT because, like any other obligation of Law, a new way has been
given under the New Covenant- giving generously as an outflow of Spirit-led
living and the love of the Father working through us.
The Tithe was never
instructed to the Gentile Church
1. If there was ever a perfect time to
instruct the Gentile church in the tithe it would have been at the Council of
Jerusalem in Acts 15.
a. The issue was specifically about
which laws or instructions to put on the new Gentile believers as universal
principles
b. The only two were to abstain from
sexual immorality and food sacrificed to idols- most likely two of the most
pressing cultural barriers to following Christ at that time. These two would be
clear evidence that they had given themselves to the life of a disciple. Look
at the Epistle to the Corinthians- these are the first two things Paul talks
about.
2. Nowhere does Paul, Peter or any other
Apostle write to the Gentile church instructing them to continue the practice
of tithing. Their only instructions are to give freely from the heart, not
under compulsion.
a. Acts 2:45, 46
b. Acts 4:32
c. Acts 20:34, 35
d. 1 Corinthians 4:12
e. 1 Corinthians 9:12-14 compares giving
to tithing but does not equate the two and then declares he does not require it
f. 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 weekly freewill
collection (offering for a specific purpose)
g. 2 Corinthians 3:17
h. 2 Corinthians 8:2, 14
i.
2
Corinthians 9:5-15
j.
Philippians
2:4
k. Philippians 4:10, 15
l.
1
Thessalonians 2:6, 9
m. 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 8
n. Titus 3:13, 14
o. Philemon v22
p. The Implications of loving one
another in the Epistle of John
So, if we no longer tithe how do we
pay for all our modern organizational expenses?
1. Believers need to understand that
coming into the Kingdom means taking on a divine nature. Within that nature is
the heart of giving to those in need. God doesn’t need the money, but He uses
the local church to express His generosity and provision.
2. Believers should cultivate the
sensitivity of hearing the direction of the Spirit in everything, not just in
giving.
3. The direction of the Spirit is not
burdensome. Galatians 6 indicates we each have a load in our work of service
(v.5) and each one sometimes bears burdens (v.2). Supporting our organizational
structures is mostly a portion of our load since we each enjoy the comfort and
structure of all our facilities. At times supporting our local church
organization is also “bearing one another’s burdens”. It is really both and
they flow from a heart of service.
4. Supporting the local church
organization is more comparable to “first fruits” which were enjoyed by both
the giver and the receiver.
5. We therefore affirm cheerful giving
after God’s own heart and as unto Him. The goal is not a percentage. The goal
is to honor God in all things.
6. All Old Testament views and teachings
on tithing should be washed through the terms of the New Covenant. The New
Covenant is a pact between Father and Son and can never be broken. As people
who have been united with Christ, we are no longer “the responsible party” for
holding to the terms of the pact- Jesus is, Jesus has, Jesus forever will.
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