I’m British and so like any good brit, there are a few things that you just don’t talk about. This is even worse when we think about church! You can’t talk about some things with the closet friends or family, so heaven forbit you talk about it at church! However, with among all the British taboos, MONEY is right at the top of the list.
I am often also reminded that as Christians, we aren’t under Old Testament law any more, so do we need to give 10% of our income to the church…?
In short, YES! I believe as Christians we are to give regularly and generously to support the work of the local church. The OT and NT teach us about our attitudes towards money and whether we give more or less than a tenth, we should be enthusiastic, abundant, passionate givers who give to support the kingdom of God in our local context. The church needs money to run, and the people of God need to give to support the continuation and flourishing of the church.
So here is why I think that…
Let me take you back almost 60 years to the summer of 1966. England have not long beaten West Germany 4-2 to win the world cup, and my grandparents John and Jean have just got married and are settling into their new lives. Newly married and no doubt in part missing her parents, my Nan wrote a letter to her dad, Harry, to get his opinion on tithing. My great-grandfather Harry was an Old Testament scholar and was esteemed in all things biblical and it has been amazing to read his diligent and considered reply almost 60 years later.
He writes:
You asked my opinion of tithing. Here it is, with the evidence on which it is based. It all started with Abram, who gave a tenth of everything he had to Melchisedek who was a shadowy prototype of the Mosaic priesthood.
There is no doubt [tithing] was part of the Mosaic law, which embraced civil as well as religious duty, unlike the modern situation where only civil law affects the layman. The church no longer has any legal claims on its members.
He goes on to cite 4 Old Testament passages relating to tithing and concludes:
You will see that the tithes were for the support of the Levites who had no inheritance and were employed full-time in priestly duties (an obvious prototype of full-time church ministry). Tithes were also for the poor, the fatherless (orphans) and the “strangers in the midst”. This did not include money as we know it, but every form of grain, fruit, and merchandise available in [an] … agricultural community, with hardly any real industry in the modern sense.
As well as the stipulated tithe, which was a communal rather than a personal duty, there were offerings freely given by individuals for the upkeep of the tabernacle and priesthood. So, the evidence for Old Testament tithing is pretty conclusive.
As it talks about in Deuteronomy 26, tithing in the OT was part of the law where in short, the people of Israel gave 10% of everything they had to God, which would be redistributed to the Priests and those who truly needed it.
However, this changes as we look at the early church as Harry continues saying:
There is no evidence in the New Testament to suggest that a tenth was ever demanded from church members, although the first disciples went much further in their new-found love and zeal.
He cites the end of Acts 2 and 4 which demonstrate this:
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.
32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
I could expand on this by reading all of 2 Corinthians 8 where Paul praises the believers in Corinth for their overwhelming giving where even “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.
In the words of my great grandfather; there is no evidence for a stipulated tenth in the New Testament, and as I am not under the law that evidence does not move me. On the other hand, the idea behind tithing is obviously necessary. You can’t have an institution without paying for it.
I am still waiting for somebody to get carried away and say “There is no evidence in the New Testament for tithing except tithes of love and willing service”, and even in this sense tithing is obsolete because nobody who is willing and dedicated stops at a tenth.
And so, as we talk about giving money and tithes, Christians are called, not to give a tenth, but to give abundantly, generously, whole heartedly, and maybe in human eyes recklessly.
The early Christians had been so amazingly changed by Jesus that they couldn’t help but give EVERYTHING they could! Or perhaps like the poor widow in Mark 12 who gave two very small copper coins, to her that was EVERYTHING. Unlike the Pharisees who were rich, she gave out of her poverty. Everything she had to live on, instead of her wealth.
Does our giving mirror that of Christians in the early church?
Deuteronomy 28 talks about giving the first fruits. As soon as the Harvest comes in what do you do with it? As soon as you get paid, what is your first thing you do with that money?
Whether we like it or not, our bank statements make our priorities very clear. We all have to pay utilities, bills, mortgage or rent, and so on… These things are of course very important and the world can’t run without those things being paid, but what comes next?
What we do with our money and how we prioritise our money, shows what our priorities in life are, and sometimes the things we worship.
Do we worship golf, clothes, the gym, football, music, tech, financial security, fine food and fine wine, your children, spouse or parents? Of course, there is nothing wrong with spending money on any of these things and of course we all want to be financially stable. But when we look at how the bible talks about giving and money, it does challenge our 21st century worldview.
My parents and me as I became an adult, have tithed our whole lives. Sometimes less and sometimes more than 10%, but as a priority. From the first fruits of our income. God has never let them or me down financially. Even when we have run out of money at the end of the month, or been particularly tight, God has always provided an answer, looked after us, and we never stopped giving. You cannot out give God.
We worship him with our time, job, singing, and whole lives, including our money.
Talking about money in Matthew 6 Jesus says don’t worry about money or material things but instead “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
There is still MUCH more I could say and hopefully you can tell I am passionate about supporting the local church financially. Finishing again from Harry’s letter:
I am still waiting for something to get carried away and say “There is no evidence in the New Testament for tithing except tithes of love and willing service”, and even in this sense tithing is obsolete because nobody who is willing and dedicated stops at a tenth.
You can’t have a church without money, and I would much rather that people took the responsibility and gave money directly instead of holding jumble sales or fund-raising events to keep the church open.
How might God be challenging you today? Do you give generously out of the first fruits of your money? Does your bank statement show God as a priority?
In short, YES! I believe as Christians we are to give regularly and generously to support the work of the local church. The OT and NT teach us about our attitudes towards money and whether we give more or less than a tenth, we should be enthusiastic, abundant, passionate givers who give to support the kingdom of God in our local context. The church needs money to run, and the people of God need to give to support the continuation and flourishing of the church.