Aaron

Erhardt

minister & author

If you belong to a church that teaches tithing, you probably know Malachi 3:10 by heart. In that verse, God says to “bring the full tithe into the storehouse” and promises great blessings if they do. But is that for Christians today?

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The word “tithe” means a tenth. It is a practice that predates the old law, with the first reference being found in Genesis 14:20, where Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils to Melchizedek. Then later, we read of Jacob vowing to give a tenth to God (Genesis 28:22). We should not, however, that these tithes were voluntary acts and had not been commanded by God.

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That changed, of course, when the old law came into effect. Those living under that law were required to tithe in passages like Leviticus 27:30 and Numbers 18:21. However, this has no bearing on Christians for we do not live under the old law, but the new law.

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The new law does not teach tithing. It is not required, or even recommended, as the basis of giving for Christians. We are simply told to give as we have prospered (1 Corinthians 16:2). Hence, it should be proportionate to one’s income — based on prosperity, not percentage. Moreover, our giving is to be done with joy and not out of compulsion (2 Corinthians 9:7). Christians are not to tithe!