Is The “Tithe” a Spiritual Scam?
Between TANC and the Potter’s House, there is just a lot going on. In our study on Romans, we have come to Romans 12:11-13:
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
The focus of our next message in Romans will be verse 13 which emphasizes giving according to need. Because I am in the middle of a TANC project, namely, the writing of TTANC volume 2, this is a shameless ploy to get some free research for the next Potter’s House message. Please note the comment section at the end of this post.
I have some observations to incite riot accordingly. In these verses, which include the hefty responsibility of being faithful in prayer, Paul passes on mentioning the tithe. Tithe means, 10%. I strongly suspect that the tithe was a sort of tax when the kingdom of God had an earthly substation: Israel. When Israel rebelled, the earthly manifestation of the kingdom was taken from them and will be reestablished in the millennial kingdom. The kingdom of God expressed on earth through Israel had an institutional aspect to it that benefited from a 10% tax.
Such is not the case in this age. The temple isn’t in Israel and attended formally by priests, the temple is each and every believer, and each and every believer is a priest (1COR 3:16,17, 1PET 2:9). That’s my suspicion—Christianity is decentralized and expressed in the gifts granted to each and every believer; believers fellowship in order to maximize their individual gifts. There is no authority among believers per se, but different rolls in a fellowship construct. To the degree that is followed, gifts can be maximized to the eternal benefit of the world around us. I believe the New Testament assembly model is non-institutional and does not require a sanctified tax.
I do not believe in Luther’s two kingdom theology which was a Platonist take on God’s kingdom; i.e., the pure form of God’s kingdom is in heaven, and His kingdom on earth is a shadowy kingdom of the pure form. Hence, the present kingdom has the same Old Testament institutional aspect, and consequently, the tithe. Not so. This is part and parcel with the insistence that there should be a central church government ruling over the earthly church. The Reformers sought to reform the Catholic Church because they agreed that there should be a central ruling institution. Be sure of this: this is the very heart of ecumenicalism; the kindred belief in a central institution that would enforce orthodoxy.
And to the degree that Christians gather under a big tent, civil governments have no choice but to play along. This has always been the big picture from the beginning of time—the consolidation of church and state. That motif in the book of Revelation is very predictable. It started that way, it will end that way.
Lastly, the word “tithe” only appears in the New Testament twice, and those two references pertain to one conversation. So, in reality, the word is used ONCE in the New Testament, and in that one instance, in a negative light. Christ used the word to criticize those who emphasize the tithe and diminish the need for justice in the church.
Well, that’s the contemporary church in a nutshell—long on institution and very short on victim justice.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Reblogged this on Clearcreek Chapel Watch.
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Hi Paul,
I can provide you with a resource on tithing that I use. The Tithing Today website was set up by a Christian who also happens to be a tax accountant. I recommend that you download the Tithing Today book, it is only 44 pages but it is packed with good information on tithing in both the Old and New Testaments. The author agrees with you that tithing is not for the New Testament church.
I hope that helps.
Glenn
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I am not sure if my first attempt to post this comment was successful. If it was please delete the duplicate comment below.
Glenn
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Hi Paul,
I can provide you with a resource on tithing that I use. The Tithing Today website was set up by a Christian who also happens to be a tax accountant. I recommend that you download the Tithing Today book, it is only 44 pages but it is packed with good information on tithing in both the Old and New Testaments. The author agrees with you that tithing is not for the New Testament church.
I hope that helps.
Glenn
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Thanks Glenn! I will check it out.
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The verse pastors use to bind tithing law on the church is in Hebrews 7 about Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:5-9
The whole point of this line of argument is that “he” (i.e. Melchizedek) received tithes from Abraham who was in turn the father of Isaac who was in turn the father of Israel who was in turn the father of Levi who alone received tithes according to the Law of Moses. Surely then, Melchizedek was greater than Levi since Levi (if you will allow a silly unscientific argument) paid tithes to Melchizedek while he was still just a sperm in Abraham’s loins.
So then, Melichizedek’s priesthood is way cooler than Levi’s since even Levi (in a roundabout way) paid tithes to Melchizedek. Hence Jesus — a priest after the order of Melchizedek — has a better and more powerful priesthood than the Levitic priesthood because Melchizedek was BETTER than Levi, and Jesus is a priest of Melchizedek’s order.
By changing “he” from Melchizedek to Jesus the pastors pull the game of making this say that Jesus receives tithes, when that is not what it says at all.
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The NT assembly of believers did not collect money for the benefit of a centralized institution but for the benefit of those within the body who were in need.
Some verses for consideration:
Acts 2:44-45 “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”
Acts 4:32-35 “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.”
Romans 15:25-26 “But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”
The assembly at Corinth also wanted to provide a gift for the saints at Jerusalem, just as Macedonia and Achaia had, but they were concerned that it might not be as large as a gift. Paul states the following to them:
2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Here is the only requirement for giving. If chruches demand the tithe, then does this not become out of necessity? Do we not then feel obligated? Does this not lead to a harboring of feeliings of resentment? The purpose of the offering was as a means of providing for those in need, not maintaining the expenses of an organization.
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Agreed.
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