Is Tithing 10% of Your Income Biblical?

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Ah, yet another controversial topic! I have to say when I first studied this, I was shocked. So, here we go! Ready? There is not one instance of Christians tithing in the New Testament. Yes they gave money and possessions to help other Christians and the poor. Yes, they took collections for special needs. But nowhere do you see a mandate to tithe 10% of their income. Giving was strictly voluntary and was used to support other believers, apostolic workers, and to plant churches.

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The tithe originated in the Old Testament with the Israelites. God instituted three kinds of tithes as part of their country's taxation system.  They tithed of the produce of the land to support the Levites. They tithed of the produce of the land to sponsor religious festivals. They tithed of the produce of the land every third year for the local Levites, orphans, strangers, and widows.  Therefore they gave a portion of their income or produce to support their national workers (priests), their national holidays, and their poor. Most modern tax systems today serve the same purpose. So, essentially, it was a country governmental income tax.

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However with the death and resurrection of Jesus, all these laws and ceremonies became null and void.  So how did the concept of tithing become such a part of the modern Christian church? It had much to do with the move from homes into church buildings and the creation of a pastor and clergy who run the church. These men had to be paid, after all! And what about all the expense and upkeep of the church building? Somewhere around the 4th century, Christian church leaders began to advocate tithing as a practice to support the clergy. However it didn't become widespread until the 8th century.  Interestingly enough, the concept of tithing didn't originate with the Old Testament but rather with the early European economy. The use of a 10% tithe was used to calculate payments to landlords. Yet as the church grew and began to acquire more land, it picked up this common practice of 10% rent. By the 10th century, tithing to support the church became a legal requirement

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Although the tithe is not a requirement in most churches today, some do require a person to be a regular tither if they want to serve.  Often it's the poor who suffer as they try to come up with enough money to please God, all the while fearing His wrath if they don't. How many times have you heard that the more you give, the more God will bless you? That sort of doctrine is rampant in today's churches. It makes God into a stock investor. We give him our money and He makes it multiply and gives it back to us! Yet is that true? Is it even Biblical?  What about the poor widow Jesus talks about in Luke 21 who gave only two small coins, but who gave cheerfully from her heart all that she had? This is God's idea of giving. Not that we have to give everything we have, but that we give voluntarily and with gladness! And without any expectation of return.

Many of the elders and apostles of the first century had an earthly vocation and didn't receive a regular wage, although Scripture does indicate that those who work full time for the church should be paid. But we have turned church into a corporation with a staff of people who need salaries, from the pastor to the secretary to the gardener, accountant, janitor, etc.  This is not what God had in mind.  In fact, when a church functions as it should, a professional clergy becomes unnecessary. A building is unnecessary. And therefore support of both by Christians becomes unnecessary and only a full time evangelist or missionary would need to be supported. Imagine how much good Christians could do if they gave to the poor and needy instead of to a new building fund or to support a pastor?

(Taken from Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and George Barna)