Expert: Sal - 11/18/2008

Question
Hi Sal,

What do I say to Christians who claim that we must give 10% of our salary to the church?  Can you tell me the verse this is based on?  Do many churches still insist on 10%

Thank you!

Answer
Hello Les:

Nice to hear from you my friend. I hope everything is going well for you. What I would say to such a person is, “Where are Christians commanded in the New Testament to tithe? Tithing is an Old Covenant command that was nailed to the cross (see Colossians 2:14). Tithing has as much a place in a Christian’s life as does animal sacrifices and Jewish feast days. In other words, it has no place. Now, of course, Christains should support the Church. However, the requirement to tithe is a fraud. Many churches do still promote to its members tithe paying. I live in Georgia. There are many Baptist churches here that require all members to pay a tithe. If one wants to join the First Baptist church he must first bring his latest tax return to the elders of the church. Then they will determine the amount of offering this man must pay in order to be accepted as a new member. This is no way for a Christian church to operate. This way makes the Baptist church a money-making organization not a truly Christian church. Ironically, this was one of the Reformers chief complaints against the Catholic Church. As a life-long member of the Catholic Church I can say without fear of contradiction that never has a priest made money a requirement for membership. If one wishes to give 10% of his income that is fine. Just like if one wishes to observe the Jewish Sabbath it is allowable. The problem comes when one tries to make Sabbath-keeping or tithe-paying a requirement.

There are a good number of passages that one may point to in an attempt to enforce tithe paying on others. I believe that there are 13 such passages in the Old Testament and only 3 in the New Testament. The New Testament passages, Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42, and Hebrews 7:1-10, all have one thing in common. They do not in any way teach tithing. The first 2 passages are from the lips of our Lord as he shows the Pharisees to be hypocrites. In Hebrews, St. Paul, shows Jesus to be a greater priest then the Levitical priests and Melchizedek.

So there is no case for tithing in the New Testament. Then how are Christians to support their church? St. Paul gives us the answer. “Each one should give as much as he had decided on his own initiative, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, New Jerusalem Bible).

If you would like me to discuss the passages that mention tithing in both the Old and the New Testaments I will be glad to.

God Bless You,
Sal