Is Tithing New
Testament Practice?
Many Groups of Christianity today
do not believe on Tithing even among the evangelicals. They have so many
reasons that seem biblical. There are also Christian churches that believe on
tithing but they do not emphasize so much on this subject. I have been studying
on this subject in a long period of time comparing the two views.
On the internet you cannot fine
more views in favor of giving of tithes is still of today, but more on against tithing;
but I still cannot accept their view.
As I research and research and
research with prayers, I believe Tithing is necessary and is still in effect
today.
I have been teaching on this
subject and I’ve found out that many Christians are not happy on this subject.
In fact in my experience many new believers have stopped to serve the Lord
after they heard on this subject. This is the reason that I gave more time to
study on this subject so I can explain better and be understood by the audience
and readers so that they will not turn back because of the misunderstanding,
but instead they will embrace it, practice it and experience the result of it.
To understand which is right on
the two views, I have to share what I understand and embraced that tithing is
still of today. First of all allow me to give some of their views and I will
refute each of their views.
The Wrong and Error Views on Tithing – Why They Do Not Believe on
Tithing
1.
They believe tithing is
under the Law of Moses and has been abolished.
I
refute:
This view is very,
very wrong and those who teach it, is in error. They have not read the Bible
entirely.
- Tithing is not under the Law of Moses. It has been
practiced many, many years ago before Moses.
- The Bible does not say in the whole New Testament
that Tithing has been abolished. No verse in the New Testament that says
it is abolished. Only the Law of Moses has been abolished according to the
New Testament but to notice, not all the Law of Moses has been abolished. There
are certain laws of Moses time that would not in effect today but there
are also more Laws of Moses and in the Old Testament that still in effect
today.
2.
Tithing is not commanded and
being practiced in the New Testament Christians.
I
refute:
This view has
no strong foundation. It is the error of silent views. They believe that there
is no command or record in the New Testament to give the tithes so it is sin to
do it.
- It does not mean silence is absent. Many in the Law
of Moses and in the Old Testament have been silenced and not commanded in
the New Testament but still in effect today and being practiced of today, and
many of them, these so called silenters are practicing. So we can confirm
that they are inconsistent of their views.
- The New Testament does not also say that the early
Christians did not practice tithing. Nowhere in the New Testament says so.
3.
Jesus did not receive Tithes
in His ministry.
I
Refute:
This view is
true in the sense that Jesus has not died yet in his earthly ministry and he
was still in a human being under the law and he is not in the Tribe of Levi who
has the right to receive the tithes. Jesus is not a Levite because he is from
the Tribe of Judah, so he has no right to receive tithes.
1.
Jesus did not remain as human under the law, he died
and rose again and he became the most high priest like the order of Melchizedek. (Heb. 7:8-11). If Melchizedek
Received Tithes, Jesus also will receive the Tithes.
2.
Jesus should receive tithes. We do not give our tithes
to the Pastors but to Jesus. Because we are not under the Law of Moses which
the regulation of tithing is for the Levites only, but we are to walk by faith
like Abraham who walked by faith and gave his tithes to Melchizedek.
4.
Paul did not receive Tithes
in His ministry nor he teaches on tithing.
I
Refute:
This view has a similarity in number 3.
- It is true that Paul should not receive tithes if we
will consider the law of Moses because he was a Benjamite and he really do
not have the right to receive the tithes because he was not an high priest
but an Apostle. Only the Lord Jesus Christ should receive the Tithes.
- Paul did conform and command of the giving of the
Tithes.
“On the first
day of every week, each one of you
should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up,
so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” 1 Corinthians 16:2 NIV
The key words
here is “…set aside a sum of money in
keeping with his income…” Why he did
not use the term according to what your heart dictates but in keeping with his
income? Because here it implies of tithing that the amount to give is according
to the income not what the heart intends. Tithing is based on the income not based on
the intends of the heart.
“In the one case, the tenth is collected
by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.” Heb
7:8. NIV
It is believed that Paul is the author of
Hebrews. Now it is very clear that Paul commands to give tithes to Jesus Christ
who is declared to be living.
Under the Law of Moses the Levites who die
are the one collecting the tithes. But this regulation of Moses has been ended
when Jesus Christ rose from the dead and now he is alive and a high Priest like
Melchizedek. In Hebrews 7, Paul meant to say, you should
give your tithes to Jesus Christ the high priest as high priest as Abraham gave
his tithes to Melchizedek the high priest, not
anymore in the order/regulation of Moses.
Tithing is not
abolished in the New Testament but instead it is commanded, only the regulation
of the tithes in the time of Moses has been abolished or changed and the giving
of tithes in the order Melchizedek has been
restored. Because we are to walk in the order of Abraham who walks by faith and
not by sight. We are to give our tithes to Jesus Christ, not to anyone else.
Tithing began before the law was
introduced. The Law simply regulated the tithe. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek,
400 years before the time of Moses and the Law, and according to Romans 4:12 we
are to walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. If tithing was good for
him, it should be good for us, too.
We give tithes like Abraham gave
them—not by the Law but by faith. And beside that, if the people of God paid
ten percent before the Law, and ten percent under the Law, shouldn't we, who
live by grace, be doing any less when we have a better covenant (Heb 7:22).
Abraham Commenced it (Genesis
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