First day of school! Sofia, Bulgaria. Ryker, Kindergarten and Nate, 3rd grade

DON’T Tithe! 

2 Corinthians 8 & 9 

These two chapter are about giving. Please, do not miss my comments on this section of scripture. Not because they are my comments but because of the content of this portion of scripture.  

Keep it simple 

The content of these two chapters builds toward the simple summary principle in 9:7,  

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 

Nowhere in the New Testament and certainly not here in 2 Corinthians 8&9, (the definitive section for New Testament giving) do we see the “obligation” to give. Nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded, guided or encouraged to tithe, (typically defined as 10%). If I had a dollar for every time a Pastor, Elder or Deacon exhorted or encouraged us to tithe, I’d have a huge amount of $$$ to gift to my favorite ministry :). Perhaps they are all well-meaning, but I want to challenge the status quo and be true to the Bible. We should never use the words ‘tithes and offering’ in the content of our obligation as Christians. Only “offerings” and not in the context of “obligation”. I’m coming on strong in these statements in order to get your attention, and because I believe emphatically that they are true. 

Others say, ‘I know ‘tithe’ isn’t mentioned in the New Testament but 10% is a good guideline.’ Who says it’s a good guideline? Actually, 10% is a terrible guideline. Any defined percentage or amount is a bad guideline. Our only true guidance and exhortation is “each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart…”.  

23 1/3% 

Just to stir things up a little further, the Old Testament teaches three different tithes totaling 20% per year.  Plus, an additional 10% given every three years. So annualized, it was 23 1/3%.  

1. The first 10% was of your livelihood or income, Leviticus 27:30-32.
2. The second tithe was to set aside 10% of one’s field (grain, wine, oil, animals, etc.) and bring it together for a national feast and celebration. The food was to be pooled and shared with everyone in celebration and praise to God, Deuteronomy 14:22ff.
3. The third tithe was given every three years and was deposited in the local treasury and to be used throughout the years to feed the priests, the orphans, widows, aliens displaced from their home country and others in need, Deuteronomy 14:28.  

So really the tithes were used as taxes to run the entire economy of the Israelite nation including the national feasts, support for the priests and for the needs of the less fortunate. (Maybe this is why I like the flat-tax concept of 20%). 

Obligation versus Conscience 

I fear that today some Pastors lean toward the 10% tithe because they fear that without any guidelines or standards, giving would be low. If so, that’s a spiritual issue that shouldn’t be addressed with “obligation” or commands. That is why as Paul begins to teach on this topic in the early portion of 2 Corinthians 8, he states that the principles of giving are not commands and that he is giving his opinion, (8:8,10).  He states that this is an issue that must be a matter of conscience and that giving should be according to your own accord.  

It’s never too late to give 

So, with this introduction, we’ll dig into 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 tomorrow and hopefully deal with my (and your) heart to give rather than your obligation to give. At the end of every year, I say to myself, ‘I should have and I could have given more!’ Lord, give us faith to give more and fill our hearts with joy as we give. Amen.