Is Tithing Required Today?

Over the years I have had many conversations with people who have asked me about tithing.  There are many who struggle with money and have every dollar spoken for before they ever receive their paycheck so tithing or giving an offering to the Lord becomes painful for them.  For some Christians, they want to get it right and honor God with all that they have in order that His name would be glorified with what they own.  I believe that all Christians have a duty to honor Christ with their finances and that giving to the Lord and His church ought to be something that they regularly budget and plan whether they want to call it a tithe or an offering.

Here are some quick observations that I have made concerning Scripture and giving to the Lord.  For most Christians today giving a tithe means giving 10% of their paycheck to the Lord.  Some would even argue that this should be based off of our gross and not net.   Many good Christians disagree on tithing and we need to be careful not to break fellowship over this subject.  I would agree that this subject is not the clearest in Scripture.  My answer to the question, “Is the tithe required today?” would be—No.  Please allow me to explain before I’m identified as a heretic.  The tithe was part of the Mosaic Law given to Moses and the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai. 

The New Testament is very clear that we are not under the Law any longer (Gal. 3; Rom. 7; Heb. 9 & 10).  The tithe was taken to the tabernacle and the temple to be given to the Levitical priest.  It would be used to carry out the responsibilities of ministry and for the care of the priests.  We don’t have the tabernacle, temple, or Levitical priests today.  Jesus Christ is our High Priest and Christians are the living temple of God.  Some would say that Christ commanded tithing in the New Testament such as in Matthew.  Remember, Jesus Christ Himself lived under the Mosaic Law while He ministered here on earth, which is why he instructed the Pharisees in how to bring their tithe to the altar.  The law ended with the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Praise God!). 

Some would suggest that Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek (a priest of God in Gen. 14:20) and Jacob gave a tithe (at Bethel in Gen. 28) to the Lord prior to the Mosaic Law—which is true.  However, these were one-time gifts and this is not an instituting of a tithe for all of God’s people—not until Mt. Sinai. 

I’m all for folks who want to give 10% to God’s church in order for the Gospel to go forward.  However, the practice taught in the New Testament (2 Cor. 8 & 9) is sacrificial, generous giving to the Lord.  The average 2.8% tithe today would truly not be considered sacrificial or generous.  God often receives our leftovers or what we think we can afford to give Him.  Our giving tells a great deal about our “faith walk” in Christ and our great gratitude towards the great salvation that He has given us.  It tells a story about the ownership of our lives and whom we trust.  The Old Testament tithe as I have studied appears to be more than 10% when all of the various tithes were considered—it was actually over 20% (ouch).

I believe that God calls all Christians to sacrificial and generous giving that will increase our joy and trust in Him.  Unfortunately, many Christians will never experience this full joy.  According to Christ and Scripture, there is a direct correlation between our love for Christ and the way we release the things of this earth (our belongings and money) in order to glorify Him.  It becomes a matter or ownership.