A Theology of Tithing
I checked out of the blogosphere for a day and the tithing post had quite a few comments. Just thought I'd take a minute to share a few thoughts.
I honestly believe the tithe is a universal and eternal principle. It's not just an "old testament" thing. I think the promise in Malachi 3:16 is as good today as it was thousands of years ago. II Corinthians 1:20 is one of my fall back positions--no matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ.
The tithe is actually a pre-law concept. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek--Genesis 14:20. And Jacob vowed to tithe--Genesis 28:20-22. In the same sense, I think the tithe is post-law.
There isn't a single verse in the New Testament that discounts or discontinues the tithe. In fact, Jesus validates the tithe while invalidating the legalism of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23:
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
The bottomline is this: the first fruits have always and will always belong to God. But the tithe isn't even the goal. The tithe is the starting place. The goal is to excel in the gift of giving--II Corinthians 8:7. All I know is this: God can do more with 90% than I can do with 100%. And Jesus was right: it is more blessed to give than to receive.
I guess I don't have issue with those who argue against the tithe. As long as they believe we should be giving more than 10%. I just don't think living under grace ought to make us less generous than living under law. And the truth is: it all belongs to God anyway!
I suppose we could argue about the tithe until Jesus returns. I think it'd be more beneficial to the kingdom if we just give generously until Jesus returns.
The longer I tithe the more I believe in it--theoretically and practically.
You cannot out give God.
I honestly believe the tithe is a universal and eternal principle. It's not just an "old testament" thing. I think the promise in Malachi 3:16 is as good today as it was thousands of years ago. II Corinthians 1:20 is one of my fall back positions--no matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ.
The tithe is actually a pre-law concept. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek--Genesis 14:20. And Jacob vowed to tithe--Genesis 28:20-22. In the same sense, I think the tithe is post-law.
There isn't a single verse in the New Testament that discounts or discontinues the tithe. In fact, Jesus validates the tithe while invalidating the legalism of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23:
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
The bottomline is this: the first fruits have always and will always belong to God. But the tithe isn't even the goal. The tithe is the starting place. The goal is to excel in the gift of giving--II Corinthians 8:7. All I know is this: God can do more with 90% than I can do with 100%. And Jesus was right: it is more blessed to give than to receive.
I guess I don't have issue with those who argue against the tithe. As long as they believe we should be giving more than 10%. I just don't think living under grace ought to make us less generous than living under law. And the truth is: it all belongs to God anyway!
I suppose we could argue about the tithe until Jesus returns. I think it'd be more beneficial to the kingdom if we just give generously until Jesus returns.
The longer I tithe the more I believe in it--theoretically and practically.
You cannot out give God.
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