THE
TITHE AND OFFERINGS
There has been a lot controversy over the years concerning; to
tithe or not to tithe, that is the question? Most preachers say
yes! Most churchgoers say no! This tug-o-war can only be solved
by the Bible. The only trouble is, everyone interprets scripture
to his or her own prejudice.
After I preached about this subject in a small church, one of
the members wrote me a letter confused by the tug-o-war. The preacher
and the assistant both told this lady that the tithe was for this
day and age. My message was on Old Testament tithing verses New
Testament giving.
In the Old Testament the tithe is first mentioned in Genesis 14:20
when Abram gave Melchizedek tithes of the spoil on the return
from the victory against the four kings. This was a one-time thing,
but a lot of preachers use this scripture to promote the tithe
on a weekly basis or yearly like happened later, under the law
for the maintenance of the tribe of Levi. The Levites, mentioned
in Hebrews is not reiterating the tithe as a tithe, so-as-to continue
that practice in the New Testament age, but to show the importance
of the person receiving the tithe. Melchizedek existed before
the law was given and the tribe of Levi (serving God) was after
the law. The tribe of Levi was to even tithe their tithe.
The scripture in 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 that preachers use to promote
the tithe was for a collection needed by the church that was in
Jerusalem. Nowhere is a tenth mentioned. It is an example of New
Testament giving. Verse 7 is really the key. Different projects
will cause some people to give more than the others and visa versa.
Why limit it to ten percent?
We probably shouldn’t have jumped ahead of 1 Corinthians
16:1-4 which was the commission to collect the relief for the
church in Jerusalem. Preachers use these scriptures as the commission
to slap a perpetual “gathering” each week - even past
the time when Paul came to take it to Jerusalem. I am convinced
that if people are being blessed, they will give freely to that
which is blessing them.
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