The practice of Tithing has been the subject of much controversy in recent times.There are Christians who do not Tithe and for various reasons. Some do not understand the practice. Some understand but disagree with it. Some understand, agree but lack the discipline. Still others understand, agree, but make a lot of excuses not to give to the church.
So why then should Christians today maintain this practice?
The sole reason for the Church’s existence is fulfilling the Mission of God. There is no other reason why we are brought together. Congregations in various places use a variety of methods, which we call ministries, to give expression to their understanding of God’s Mission. In most cases these ministries require some kind of financial support for them to be implemented. The purpose of every ministry should be toward the transformation of lives and community.
It is on this that I premise the need for the continued financial support of the mission of God. Christian giving comes out of an understanding that all of our financial resources like everything else that we have, comes from God. It is a gift, not for hoarding, but for continued use in building up the Kingdom of God. When viewed like this, giving is not seen as a burden. You will give joyously because you know you are only managing what God has entrusted you with.
So here are the 5 Reasons I believe Christians should Tithe.
1. To advance, through financial support, the Mission of God - The church needs financial resources to fund its mission. We who are members of the church must give this support, to the best of our ability.
2. To foster fellowship - this is not readily obvious. But the church that has a lot of members giving financially and the burden isn’t only on a smaller group, enjoys much better fellowship. It is the freedom people experience when they know they are part of something. There is no guilt for not giving, or resentment for carrying all the weight.
3. To respond in obedience to God that you will give back to God (which is what you do when you contribute in church, contribute to various ministries, make donations to various organizations, help those who are in need and so on) what God has
4. Develop the discipline of self-denial - and rise about selfishness, greed and sheer meanness or lack of generosity. The world has grown heavily skewed toward selfishness. Christians should struggle against becoming like this. When you give, you are becoming more and more unlike the world.
5. To experience personal blessings - Don’t get hung up on this but it does give a heady feeling to know that what you have given has made a lasting difference in the life of someone else. So much so that that person whose life was touched is moved to glorify God (not you, God). It gives immeasurable satisfaction.
There is no rocket science in it, you don’t even need to read ‘the secret’ to get it. Just try it and you will see the profound difference it makes in your life to open your heart, purse or wallet and start giving to your church and its ministries.
Do share your stories with us on this controversial subject.
Make a change,
Marvia
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6 responses so far ↓
1 Russell Earl Kelly // May 23, 2008 at 10:05 am
Russ: Before the 1870s no non-state church in the USA taught tithing so it is a new doctrine. Before AD 560 it had not been in the early Church and did not become enforceable church law until AD 777. Most early church leaders boasted about being very poor and self-supporting. See Acts 20:29-35.
Marvia: The sole reason for the Church’s existence is fulfilling the Mission of God. There is no other reason why we are brought together.
Russ: The OT tithe was never used to support missionary activity while fulfilling its Mission of God. And the NT church was never told to do so either.
Marvia: Christian giving comes out of an understanding that all of our financial resources like everything else that we have, comes from God.
Russ: Yes but that does not teach tithing. The same was true in the OT but tithes were always only food from farmers and herdsmen inside Israel.
Marvia: When viewed like this, giving is not seen as a burden.
Russ: Tithing was cold unemotion-related law and a burden. There are no texts which say otherwise.
Marvia: You will give joyously because you know you are only managing what God has entrusted you with.
Russ: That is true of freewill giving –not tithing.
Marvia: 1. To advance, through financial support, the Mission of God - The church needs financial resources to fund its mission. We who are members of the church must give this support, to the best of our ability.
Russ: This is true of freewill Spirit-led giving. Again, OT tithes were never used to evangelize Gentiles.
Marvia: 2. To foster fellowship. … There is no guilt for not giving, or resentment for carrying all the weight.
Russ: There was serious guilt for not tithing in the OT and the fellowship excluded Gentiles.
Marvia: 3. To respond in obedience to God that you will give back to God
Russ: Freewill giving is “heart giving” while tithing was “mandatory taxation.”
Marvia: 4. Develop the discipline of self-denial
Russ: Freewill giving. No tithing texts.
Marvia: 5. To experience personal blessings
Russ: Freewill giving, not tithing. Compare Galatians 3:10-13 with Deuteronomy 28 and Malachi 3:8-12.
Marvfia: There is no rocket science in it
Russ: No and the Bible is extremely clear that tithing is not for the church. According to 2 Cor 3:10 that kind of doctrine has zero glory.
Marvia: Do share your stories with us on this controversial subject.
Russ: My web site has over 150 articles.
Maria: Make a change,
Russ: I am. Thank you.
Russell Earl Kelly, PHD
2 Marvia // May 24, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Russell,
Your feedback is most welcome.
It goes without saying though, from your line of argument obvious in the way you interacted with the post, that we have differing positions on the issue.
Moreover, we arrive at different positions based on our approaches to the Bible, Biblical interpretation, our understanding of the church and the Mission of God.
Admittedly in this post I did not get into the difficulties with the term “tithing”. Neither did I state that practice of ‘Tithing’ is based on understanding Tithing as a principle of giving commended to the church and not as a literal extraction of an Old Testament practice of ‘one-tenth’ to impose it upon our contemporary context.
This post was not intended to get into the history of the practice. But you have certainly sparked the need to do so. Since this Blog is not exclusively devoted to the subject, overtime several other posts will be added here to cover the subject of tithing at which time most if not all your objections will be looked at.
Thanks again for your contribution to the subject.
Marvia
3 writeonbro // May 26, 2008 at 1:35 am
It’s because of faith and obedience that I and many other worshipers humbly give such that we have, be it silver, gold or ourselves to the Lord
Tithes and offerings were ordained by a God who changes not and according to Jesus Christ, who was not concerned with the semantics of giving, in Luke 6:37 givers can expect to be rewarded.
His assurance is enough encouragement for me to give as much as I can as often as I can.
4 Marvia // May 26, 2008 at 8:54 am
Bro,
Thanks for making your contribution and sharing why you continue to give. There are many others who feel as you do.
Marvia
5 Stephen Bess // May 26, 2008 at 9:28 am
It’s very important for us to be obedient to God’s will. I use to have a problem giving $5–that was too much! Now, I give my 10% or more freely and unto God. I don’t necessarily look for blessings when I give, but I look for trouble if I don’t. Thanks for this post.
6 Marvia // May 26, 2008 at 11:20 am
Stephen,
Thanks for sharing. Continue to give of your best to God. That’s what matters:-)
Marvia
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