Tithing
L. Ray Smith has a very interesting article on the Scriptural validity of tithing for the modern Christian. I am not endorsing (nor rejecting) his article. I point it out as interesting and challenging. Smith's summary:
I said I don't endorse Smith's article. That's because there are things in there that I disagree with, e.g. his analysis of the "curse" passage in Malachi, in particular his conclusion about who is cursing who. But, at this point, I tend to agree with most of what he writes. I remember several years ago sitting down with my son to try to explain the tithe, and for the first time actually studying the Bible on the subject. I discovered what Smith did, namely that every verse I could find on the subject dealt exclusively with farmers bringing 10% of their crop to the temple. It was a very specific process applied to a specific segment of the community for a specific purpose, not some universal requirement.
The pro-tithe talk often comes across as vaguely "health and wealth" talk. It isn't the health and wealth gospel most of the time, but it hints in that general direction. Give 10% to the church and God will do wonderful things for you and bless you, give only 8% and God will not bless you. God's blessing is not something one earns or buys.
Most importantly, the tithe focuses one on a specific number, namely the 10% you are required to give. (Is that 10% of gross or 10% of net?) If you are poor and only giving 5%, then you are not meeting God's requirements. If you are wealthy and can easily give 20% of what you have, don't worry about it and just give 10% because that's all God wants. How much did Jesus indicate the rich young rule should give? A mere 10%? No. His target percentage was 100%. Focusing on the 10% target is legalism, pure and simple.
Does God want compulsory giving? No. "Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. " (2 Cor 9:7) The amount each person gives is between him- or her-self and God, and is to be given cheerfully and willingly.
Certainly we should be generous givers, and we are promised that God will provide such that we will "have an abundance for every good deed." (2 Cor 9:8) But we are to give from our hearts whatever God leads us to give. Knowing what God would have us give does not require a calculator.
Basically, Smith asserts that tithing was only applied to farmers, who gave out of their surplus the last tenth of their harvest. The purpose of the tithe was to support the temple priests, who were devoted full time to their ministry and therefore had no opportunity to support themselves.
- ONLY LANDOWNERS TITHED
- ONLY PRODUCTS OF THE LAND WERE TITHED
- ONLY LEVITES COULD RECEIVE THE TITHES
- TITHING WAS A LAW OF MOSES
- CHRISTIANS ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES!
I said I don't endorse Smith's article. That's because there are things in there that I disagree with, e.g. his analysis of the "curse" passage in Malachi, in particular his conclusion about who is cursing who. But, at this point, I tend to agree with most of what he writes. I remember several years ago sitting down with my son to try to explain the tithe, and for the first time actually studying the Bible on the subject. I discovered what Smith did, namely that every verse I could find on the subject dealt exclusively with farmers bringing 10% of their crop to the temple. It was a very specific process applied to a specific segment of the community for a specific purpose, not some universal requirement.
The pro-tithe talk often comes across as vaguely "health and wealth" talk. It isn't the health and wealth gospel most of the time, but it hints in that general direction. Give 10% to the church and God will do wonderful things for you and bless you, give only 8% and God will not bless you. God's blessing is not something one earns or buys.
Most importantly, the tithe focuses one on a specific number, namely the 10% you are required to give. (Is that 10% of gross or 10% of net?) If you are poor and only giving 5%, then you are not meeting God's requirements. If you are wealthy and can easily give 20% of what you have, don't worry about it and just give 10% because that's all God wants. How much did Jesus indicate the rich young rule should give? A mere 10%? No. His target percentage was 100%. Focusing on the 10% target is legalism, pure and simple.
Does God want compulsory giving? No. "Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. " (2 Cor 9:7) The amount each person gives is between him- or her-self and God, and is to be given cheerfully and willingly.
Certainly we should be generous givers, and we are promised that God will provide such that we will "have an abundance for every good deed." (2 Cor 9:8) But we are to give from our hearts whatever God leads us to give. Knowing what God would have us give does not require a calculator.
posted by Doc @ 10:07 AM
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