A CLOSER LOOK AT TITHING
EXPOSING THE ERRORS
By: Victor T. Stephens
"People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up."
~ George R.R. Martin
IS TITHING AN ESSENTIAL ISSUE?
There are some Christians who believe that tithing is a nonessential doctrine. Therefore, this issue should be a question of one’s convictions. If a believer elects to give ten percent of his income, he gives it to the Lord. If a believer chooses to give any amount, he still gives it to the Lord. We should therefore set aside our differing viewpoints and not break fellowship.
Is that a valid conclusion? Would God agree? Should we invoke Romans 15:3 — (“Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.”)? I will respond with an emphatic “No!” to those questions. Why? Because, if we study tithing objectively and in proper context, it becomes obvious that it is detrimental to the new covenant church. Therefore, contrasting monetary tithing with Romans 14:5 proves not to be a legitimate comparison. Furthermore, we should take into consideration that “church tithing” does not remotely resemble true biblical tithing. Take note that a doctrine is of human origin if it diverges in any manner from what God has said in His Word.
Among other modifications, leaders in the church have changed agricultural products (Lev. 27:30-32) to monetary income. Changing, adding to, and subtracting from the Word of God are serious matters.
"You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you."
(Deut. 4:2)
"Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it, you shall not add to it nor take away from it."
(Deut. 12:32)
"Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar." (Proverbs 30:6)
Besides changing God’s old covenant tithing ordinances, many leaders in the church are using today’s altered tithing scheme to abuse their members. As a result, many church members are enduring undue psychological, emotional, and financial bondage.
Some churches put on as if failing to tithe is a hazardous aspect of one’s relationship with God. And some pastors go as far as teaching tithing as a means of getting rich and gaining salvation. For any leader in the church to purposely butcher the scriptures and/or withhold the truth with the intent of manipulation and acquiring funds for any reason is guilty of theft by deception. Such an act is a moral crime. Therefore, this is an essential and extremely important topic that desperately requires confrontation and clarification.
With that said, let’s now examine tithing as commanded in Scripture and compare it to the modified teachings that suit the various purposes of false teachers and self-appointed ministers in numerous mainstream churches. We will commence our study by examining tithing before the Mosaic Law.
OLD TESTAMENT TITHING BEFORE THE MOSAIC LAW
The only instructions to tithe that we find in Scripture are in the Mosaic Law that God gave to the nation of Israel. The Law of Moses was never applicable to Gentiles and the new covenant church. However, proponents of tithing claim that giving ten percent of one’s income to God is a divine commandment that predated the Mosaic Law. Therefore, it is still applicable today for Christians under the new covenant. Tithing advocates refer to Abram’s and Jacob’s tithe (Gen. 14:20, 28:22) to support their argument.
In addition, in their frantic attempt to coerce believers to pay tithes, some church leaders dare to use passages of scripture that have no connection with tithing to endorse tithing for the new covenant church. For example, to build their case for tithing, some church leaders allege that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, as well as “fat portions” of livestock, delineates a tithe. Beginning with Adam and Eve, let’s now uncover the truth by closely examining these accounts.
Adam and Eve: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
Let's take a look at the following two passages:
Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
(Gen. 2:15-17)
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' “Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Gen. 3:1-6)
Since Adam was put in the Garden of Eden to work it, some pastors claim that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil represented a tithe. In his article, "The Tithing Question," Word-Faith teacher Creflo Dollar states:
"We see a representation of tithing even as far back as the Garden of Eden. God told Adam that he could eat of any tree except one because it belonged to Him. Likewise, a portion of all our income belongs to God."
Such bare allegations by Mr. Dollar and other tithing proponents are a convenient assumption at best and twisted logic at worst. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil has absolutely nothing to do with tithing. The Bible does not indicate in this account or any other passage that this specific tree was one out of ten. However, there is a similarity in this account with today’s tithing doctrine. Satan duped Eve to believe the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a source of supreme power for attaining infinite awareness of good and evil. In the same way, Satan’s ministers today are redefining the "tree" to manipulate, deceive, and defraud the church.
Unfortunately, many Christians are too trusting and will believe anyone who preaches from the pulpit without considering the many false teachers in today’s church. Like the Bereans, searching the scriptures and becoming skilled in biblical interpretation is the greatest defense believers can use against Satan’s deceptive tactics. (Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15)
On the other hand, it is a sad reality that some will dismiss the truth because they are more intent on protecting the reputation of their church and pastor than on accepting the truth of Scripture.
The Offerings of Abel and Cain
The first offering mentioned in the Bible is in the fourth chapter of Genesis. When Abel and Cain presented their offerings to God, the Lord accepted Abel’s while Cain’s was repudiated.
Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?"
(Gen. 4:2-6)
Some pastors use this account in their attempt to affirm the continuity of paying monetary tithes in today's church age. They claim that Abel gave correctly (tithed) to the Lord because he brought the "fat portions from some of the first-born." But Cain's offering was rejected because he refused to give God the "fat" (tithe) of his income.
What we have here is more proof of scriptural hijacking by leaders in the church. They make naked assertions by reading a meaning into the text that fits their corrupt ambitions or theological bias. It is evident that there is no clue to the amount given by Abel and Cain, nor do we find anywhere in the scriptures where giving "fat portions" of flocks is equivalent to giving a tithe.
Cain was an agriculturalist, and Abel was a herdsman. After some time, Abel and Cain brought offerings corresponding to the labor of their occupations. Take note of the distinctive details and clues: The text says Abel "brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat." whereas Cain "brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord." Notice that scripture describes Cain's offering without any elaboration. The dissimilarity and implication between the two offerings is Cain's failure to bring some of the better of his first ripened harvest. Thus, he probably gave average produce or spoiled fruit. By contrast, Abel offered the best and choicest parts of what he had. Therefore, the Lord accepted Abel's offering while Cain's was repudiated.
God found pleasure in Abel's offering because its quality was a reflection of his faith (Heb. 11:4, 6). By contrast, the Lord rejected Cain's offering because its inferior quality indicated that he had a lack of faith and possessed an evil and greedy disposition (1 John 3:12; Jude 1:11).
Many teachers in the church engage in false equivalence by defining first-born and firstfruits as synonymous with tithes. Likened to "fat portions," there is a misapplication of these terms. First-born and first-fruits are the first offspring of animals or humans and the first prime ripened fruits, vegetables, and grains, respectively. There is no specific percentage regarding the giving of firstborn and first fruits.
Next: Abram's Tithe to Melchizedek
