Fact or Fallacy: The Tithes
First in the series, Fact or Fallacy aims to debunk fallacies or any reasoning caused by misconceptions against facts and the Scriptures.
This article is not against tithing per se because we believe it is a matter of personal conviction. There is no law against giving (or tithing for that matter). But there’s just so many lies out there that we need to address. Hopefully this article will help correct some of the false information proliferating both in the pulpit and in the media today about this subject.
Please take note of the following terms I used in this article:
- Pagan tithe – tithes given by pagans to their kings.
- Abraham’s tithe – the one time tithe of spoils voluntarily rendered by Abraham to Melchizedek, priest and King of Salem.
- Jacob’s tithe – the conditional tithe that Jacob pledged to God for a safe journey.
- Biblical tithe – the tithes required by God given by laws and decrees to the children of Israel.
- Modern tithe – the ten percent of anything; the ten percent of increase or income collected in the churches.
Our ultimate goal here is to study and disseminate the truth about tithing?and so if you find anything here to be in error. Please let me know by posting your comments or by sending your email to abugian@psquare.org
May the truth set us all free.
Fact or Fallacy #1 – Tithing is all about the tenth of your increase or 10% of the regular income you give to your church.
False. Technically, the tithe which is one-tenth can be a ten percent of anything. It can be the one-tenth of anyone’s increase or income that may be given to the church (donation), to the government (as a tax), or for anyone (as a pledge). It can even be the tenth of the spoils of war (see Heb. 7:1-4.) or the tenth some people donate to charity after winning a lottery (or a cock fight).
Fact or Fallacy #2 – Abraham gave the tithes of his increase to Melchizedek on a regular basis.
That’s False. Abraham gave the tenth of what he did not own to begin with. He gave the tenth of every spoils of war or every ten percent of all the material wealth he recovered after defeating those who plundered and kidnap his nephew Lot who lived near Sodom. By the way, Lot was reported to have many flocks, herds, tents and people working for him (see Gen 13:5; 14:12, 16). In fact, Abraham returned everything and refused to receive any reward from the recovered goods (see Gen 14:23) and that was the end of it. Abraham was very wealthy because he was blessed by God but there’s just no indication that he gave a tenth of his very own increase to Melchizedek on a one time or a regular basis.
Fact or Fallacy #3 – We should imitate Abraham who, even before the Law required the giving of tithe, already gave to Melchizedek. Considering that the Lord Jesus whom we serve is also Priest and King in the order of Melchizedek (Psa 110:4; Heb 7:5-10).
Fact: Technically we shouldn’t because that would mean we will have to wait till we get to win something before we can give anything at all. If you want to give now, you must do better than Abraham.
Fact or Fallacy #4 – Jacob gave the tithes of his increase to the Lord on a regular basis.
There’s no scriptural evidence for that. Although Jacob promised to give “a tenth” if God will take care of him in his journey (Gen 28:21-22). But?as we read the rest of the narrative, God took care of Jacob, however there was really no one to give a tithe to (read Gen 29:1 – 50:26). Even after the number of his flocks increased (Gen 30:43) and even after he suffered a limp wrestling with God who appeared to him as a man (Gen. 32:22-32). And so, if you want to put where your money is, do better than Jacob.
Fact or Fallacy #5 – The Law requires everyone to give tithes of everything unto the Lord.
That’s not exactly true because God did not reveal His laws and decrees to other nations (see Psalm 147:19-20; Rom 2:14; Eph 2:12). Although there are historical evidences that show tithing was already practiced by pagans in a form of taxation or tribute required by their kings long before Abraham first gave his own version of tithe. Look for the Standard Babylonian One-Tenth Tax,? or Google “esretu” which is sometimes spelled as “esritu.”
Fact or Fallacy #6 – Biblical tithes (in contrast to the pagan tithes) is the voluntary giving of ten percent of one’s monetary income. Say if you are a fisherman, you give a tenth of the monetary equivalent of your catch. Or if you’re a carpenter, you give a tenth of your day’s wage.
That’s not true. First of all, the Biblical tithes found in Deut. 12, 14; Lev. 27 and Num. 18 were given to the children of Israel as laws and statutes therefore their obedience or disobedience could spell a blessing or a curse (Deut 11:26 -27; Gal 3:10). Thus Biblical tithing is mandatory not voluntary. Secondly, fish money or money in general has nothing to do with the Biblical tithes required in Israel. Here’s why:
- Lev. 27:30-34 given in Mt. Sinai to Jacob’s children were tithes of everything from the LAND such as grains and fruits and tithes of herds and flocks. Redeeming a tithe requires additional one-fifth to the original value.
- Num. 18:21-32 was given by God after the failed rebellion against the priesthood of Aaron, just?right after his staff budded, blossomed and produced almonds. The Lord made it clear that the tithe is the inheritance of the Levites (because LAND was not allotted to them). It’s going to be their wages for the work of take caring of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. In return, the Levites will give a tenth from all the tithes they receive to the priesthood. Their tithe will be counted as “product of threshing floor or winepress.”
- Deut. 12:1-32 were decrees and laws related to tithing that must be strictly observed when they have secured possession of the promised land (vv. 1, 10, 32). The laws require them to have only one designated place which the Lord will later determine for them. It will be the place where they will bring in all their tithes and then eat them along with the whole family, their helpers, along with the Levites and the needy (v.18). The only involvement of money in this type of Biblical tithe is only transitional: that if they so happen to live far off, they will have a chance to convert their tithes of herds and flocks to silver pieces. But upon reaching that place, they will have to exchange those silver pieces again to buy any meat they want so that they can eat it there. Deut. 14:27-29 gives us the indication that this is going to be at the end of every third year.
And so we have three types of Biblical tithes: (i) the tithes of the eleven tribes given to the Levites, (ii) the tithes of tithes given by the Levites to the priests, and then (iii) the tithes that every family share with the needy in the presence of the Lord held every three years.
Not to be confused with civil taxes required by Rome in Mat. 22:17, in Mat. 17:24-27, fisherman?Peter was questioned in Capernaum whether Jesus, the son of a Carpenter turned Rabbi was paying taxes. And so, the Lord Jesus instructed Peter to catch a fish and then open its mouth so that both of them will be able to pay four-drachma’s worth of taxes.
This tax is probably in accordance with the law in given through Moses in Exo. 30:11-16 which was required for ages 20 and above. Others call this tax “Atonement Money.” In 2 Chr. 24:6-14, the collection of this tax was used for the maintenance of the Temple.
Therefore carpenters, Rabbis or fishermen were never shown to have given money for tithes. The four-drachmas paid by Peter was for himself and for Jesus, as payment for the “Temple Tax”, an ecclesiastical not a civil?tax.
Fact or Fallacy #?7 – Fallacy: Christians who rob God when they don’t give their tithes and offerings (Mal 3:8-11) fall under a curse.
Not true at all. Mal. 3:8-11 is not about Christians who rob God for not giving tithes and offering. It’s a part of a bigger context that must be considered. The book of Malachi is “the word of the LORD to Israel” (1:1) not to Christians. The Book of Malachi contains sharp words against the priests (Chapters 1 and 2), the people of Judah (the rest of Chapter 2) and the descendants of Jacob as a whole (Chapter 3), not the Church:
- The priests show contempt for the Lord’s name (Mal 1:6) because they offer defective sacrifices (Mal 1:7-13). They were a cheat and thereby cursed (Mal 1:14). More admonitions were given to priests in Mal. 2:1-9.
- Judah was unfaithful because they intermarried with pagans (Mal 2:11-16).
- The descendants of Jacob rob God, thus the whole nation of Israel is under a curse for not giving their tithes and offerings (Mal 3:6-12). Tithes and offerings are any Jew’s obligation under the Mosaic Covenant.
Like I said in Fact or Fiction #6, the Biblical tithe originally found in Deut. 12, 14; Lev. 27 and Num. 18 and now here in Mal. 3:8-11 is given to the children of Israel as laws and statutes, therefore their disobedience is tantamount to a curse (Deut 11:26-27).
Christians don’t rely on these laws and statutes. In fact, Gal. 3:10 says, “all who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law'” and in verse 13 it says “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” Mal 3:8-11 therefore will never be applicable to Christians who love the Lord and live by faith in his grace (1 Cor 16:22-24).
Fact or Fallacy #8 – Christians should never ever give tithes in the church.
False. There is no law against giving (tithes or otherwise).? Acts 20:35 says, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Therefore giving portion of your increase regardless of the percentage counts you blessed. The Lord has even commanded that those who preach the gospel should get their living from the gospel (1 Cor 9:14) their needs can only be met if there are givers. We are even called are to excel in everything, “grace of giving” (2 Cor. 8:7) included. God enriches us so that we will become more generous in supplying the needs of God’s people (2 Cor 9:8-15 ).
Fact or Fallacy #9 – Christians are now being obligated in the pulpit to give their tithes.
True. Today, preachers and teachers in the pulpit and the media alike obligate Christians to tithe. Their zeal is sincere but lacks wisdom. Giving anything (tithes included) should not be an obligation in the Church. Giving in general is called a “gift” that leads the people of God to thanks giving (see 2 Cor 9:11, 15). “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,” says 2 Cor 9:7, it should not be dictated in the pulpit. Christians should not be compelled or threatened with a curse for giving less than 10% of their income, 2 Cor. 9:7 also says “give… not reluctantly or under compulsion.”
Fact or Fallacy #10 – Tithing is a sign of maturity. When carefully recorded and well accounted for, believers maybe gauged mature and ready to be ordained as a preacher, a teacher or an elder when he becomes a faithful tither.
False. The idea that tithing can be used to gauge the believers maturity have no scriptural warrant. This is a reflection of the bad state the churches are in right now for having succumbed into the ignorance and the lies that are proliferating out there. This must be addressed by any student of the Word. It’s a man-made policy, that does not do honor and justice to the Word of God.
- It is suffering that produces perseverance and character and hope. (Rom 5:3; 2 Thes 1:3-5).
- Teachers and preachers should persevere and be diligent to live right and teach right (1 Tim 4:14-16).
- Perseverance makes us mature, blessed and complete (Jas 1:4, 12; 5:11).
- Goodness, knowledge, perseverance, godliness, kindness, and love are some of the qualities we must possess in increasing measure (2 Pet 1:5-8).
- And the credentials for elders and deacons are summarized in Tit. 2:1-15;? 1 Tim. 3:1-13
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