Expert: Brian Thompson - 10/12/2004

Question
I would really like your study on tithing that you mentioned if it is still available.
Thanks,
Cathi Bray

Answer
Cathi

It is very long and probally wouldn't fit here

Here is a summary, don't draw any inferences from it

The question examined is twofold; firstly, the extent to which the principle of tithing is valid in the Christian sense. Secondly; whether tithing is valid for an organisation.

For some Christians, the principle of tithing is a given, for others it is not. However, if a principle of Scripture is to be applied, then must be applied in full, because Jesus told us the Scripture cannot be broken. If all of it is to be applied, then a full understanding of what Scripture actually says is needed. If you are to teach tithing, then you must teach the whole of the principle and not pick and choose which parts to teach.

The following may be established from Scripture;
1.The Mosaic Law of Tithing was not 10% of all income.
2.The Tithe was not paid in money.
3.The Temple (now considered to be the local church) did not receive all of the tithes that were required of, and given by, the Israelites.
4.Tithing was neither commanded nor observed in the early Christian church.
5.Tithing as a covenant of prosperity is effective only for those who seek to be justified by the Law.
6.Those who require a tithe of everything you get, are identified with the Scribes and the Pharisees, who were the historic enemies of Christ.
7. The Christian Standard is generous giving far beyond the limitation of a tithe (2 Corinthians 9)

I see nothing in the Word suggesting that a charitable organization should tithe its income. This may be because such organizations were rare in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, the provision for charitable works was contained in the Levitical tithe. The teaching regarding tithing refers to the income of the individual and is specific to the increase in the harvest and flocks. It is the Pharasees who are referred to as expanding tithing to include all manner of things. The Levitical tithe satisfied all the requirements for funding the charitable work at that time, including support of the “Church”.  This required that the Jews give the entire tithe to the Levites, poor and others in need, each third year. It is curious to note that this third year is specifically referred to as ” the Year of the Tithe”. In the other two years, the tithe was consumed when the Jews made their annual visits to the Temple. That is, it was used to enable the family to participate in the religious festivals and religious life. The priesthood,(the equivalent of today's ministry) was supported by offerings. In the New Testament, the standard is generous giving in support of charitable works, not tithing.

I am aware it is a common practice for a local Church, or para-church organization, to be asked to pay a percentage of its tithes and offerings, or income, to the Denomination, or organization, it is affiliated with, as a method of determining contributions to administrative costs, but there can be no suggestion there is spiritual significance in doing so. This practice may arise from a misunderstanding of the Scriptural base of the Levites giving a tenth of the tithe to the High Priest (Aaron) as an offering and curiously, it might, over time, approximate the tenth paid by the Levites, but it is not a scriptural requirement for a Christian Church, and not for a para-church organisation. Some Churches and organizations actually demand a tithe, but there is no Scriptural basis for this practice.

If, therefore, one part of Scripture does not apply, then no part of it applies, because Jesus told us the Scripture cannot be broken. You cannot take Scripture out of context and suggest that it is applicable.

If you still require to see the fully study then provide me with an email address and I will send it as  a zip file.