Q #19: Why do so many churches teach tithing if it's an Old Testament principle?
A: I have heard many people ask this question in a variety of ways. Often, people wish to connect it to the law of Moses and say we're not under the law. Others claim they don't need to tithe because God is more interested in their time. In short, while I hope the questioner is asking an honest question, I hope he is not asking out of sheer unwillingness to have an open, giving heart to God.
There are a number of reasons why so many churches teach tithing, even though it is largely found in the Old Testament.
Tithing transcends the law in the Old Testament.
We see God's people and those who receive blessing from God worshipping him by giving a tenth from the start. Abraham and Jacob are a few who give the example of tithing. Additionally, it is Abel who gave a portion of his flock as an offering to God. Tithing is not just a part of the Mosaic law, it's a part of fabric of the way God's people relate to him. If you'd like to understand specifically what scripture says about the tithe, here are a few passages.
Genesis 14:18-20
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.
Genesis 28:22
“And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”
“And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”
Leviticus 27:30
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 26:1-2
And it shall be, when you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide.
God's promises are rich for the tither, and the promises of God find their fulfillment and in Christ.
Yes, we read a great deal about tithing in the Old Testament, but the New Testament indicates to us that the promises of God all head toward Christ. Consider the words of 1 Corinthians 1:20, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God." What is going on here? Because Christ fulfills the promises of God, every believer takes the promises of God as being made to him in Christ.
The Old Testament is the Word of God.
Christians don't reject the words of the Old Testament. Gentiles contend that they are not under the law anymore because of the sacrifice of Christ, but they gladly accept the promises of the prophets as theirs. They also would not reject injunctions against murder or lying because they are in the Mosaic Law. The promises and warnings related to tithing in Malachi 3, for example, would be an example of understanding that this is not only related to the children of Israel, but the word of God for all God's people in all places at all times.
Additionally, the perspective of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10 is that the experiences of the children of Israel in the wilderness are for examples and warnings to us. Additionally, the writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews seems to lean the same direction. We shouldn't imagine that a principle found throughout the Old Testament is irrelevant for us.
Finally, we should note that Jesus does directly state in the gospels that tithes should be given. As Matthew 23:23 say, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." He says they should have performed the former--giving tithes.
I hope this answers your question! There are a number of excellent books on tithing. Check out Robert Morris' The Blessed Life and Andy Stanley's Fields of Gold.
Check out more posts from the 31 Questions series on subjects as varied as marijuana, infidelity, 666, the eternal destiny of children who die, dealing with discouragement, cremation, co-habitation, baptism, suicide, prayer, the origins of scripture, hell, work, the third heaven, tithing, Old Testament salvation, and even speaking in tongues!