The argument of tithing in the now.

THE ARGUMENT OF TITHING IN THE NOW.

By Elijah Asuo Wiredu

This is a topic that has attracted a lot of debates in the church. Many people including non-Christians have joined the debate mostly to lambaste churches that still take tithes. In this world where money is a controlling force in a lot of departments of our lives, it is easy to think that demanding tithes from members is an exploitation of the church. I want my readers to be very objective and join me to analyze this issue from the perspective of the Bible.

Tithing is the payment of ten percent of one’s income to God. While sharing the land to the Israelites, the tribe of Levi was not given a portion. Josh 13:14, 33, 18:7. Besides, Moses made it a law for the Levites to get 10% of the produce of the land.

To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting,

Numbers 18:21

Arguments against the payment of tithes

Opposers of the payment of tithes mostly come from the fact that Christians are no longer under the law. The death of Christ has delivered from the law which was a curse instead of a blessing.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.

Romans 8:1-3

If we are no more under the law, then we must live our lives as such. We should not make it theoretical that we are not under the law but practical that we are under the law. If we are not bound by the law anymore, then we are free from the articles of the law including the payment of tithes.

Argument for the payment of tithes

For Christians who believe in tithing in the now, the belief is that tithing existed before Israel became a nation and before the law. We are told that Jacob paid tithe before the law came. Once he promised God to give a tenth of what he acquired, it tells us that the idea of giving a tenth to God already existed.

Abraham also paid tithe to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20) and that was also before Israel was a nation and before the birth of the law. Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedek is mentioned again in Hebrews. Jesus Christ is identified in Hebrews 5:5-6 as a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 7 said it all that there are two types of priests: the Levitical priests and the priests by order of Melchizedek. Jesus Christ is a priest in the order of Melchizedek. Priests in the order of Melchizedek are greater than Levitical priests because the great Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek. Also, Jesus is a priest forever; therefore, he does not cease to be a priest. In fact, Hebrews 7:3 implies that Jesus Christ was Melchizedek. The verdict is that those who tithe today do not tithe to any Levitical priest and they do not tithe according to any law.

Let me conclude that the kind of tithing that is spoken of in Malachi 3:7-12 is tithing by the law. Those who don’t tithe believe we are not under the law so tithing and every other article of the law should not bind us. Advocates of tithing also believe that they don’t pay tithe according to the law, (they are also from the law). They rather pay tithes to Jesus Christ who is their priest and whose priesthood does not end. So if you see Jesus as your high priest who is alive and not dead, then his priesthood which is according to the order of Melchizedek qualifies to receive your tithes.