-By Gavin Aleogho
Let me start by stating that
I once practiced tithing after the order of the Law according to the book of
Malachi 3.
I gave tithe then to ward-off
the devourer.
I gave tithe then so that my
heaven can open; thinking that it was my tithe that kept my heaven opened.
But I no longer give tithe
like that again!
For I am not a Jew neither am
I under the Law. I am a Christian; one who has been redeemed through Jesus Christ’s
blood. Not through the blood of bulls, goats or sheep.
The devourer has already been
defeated for me once and for all on the cross of Calvary by Jesus Christ.
My heavens are already opened.
It will not be opened by my works of prayer or giving of tithes. It is opened
by the finished work of Christ. But,
remember that I am saved to do good works like prayers and giving not out of
law or legalism but from a heart of love and grace.
WHY THE “LAW OF MOSES” PATTERN OF GIVING TITHE IS OBSOLETE?
1. Because we are not Jews
but Gentiles who do not have the Levi tribe among us.
2. Because if we must do
tithing as applicable in the Law of Moses, then we must also keep other types
of giving as stated in the Law of Moses. Like the Peace Offering, Burnt
Offering, Sin Offering etc.
3. Because we do not have the
structure in Christianity or in the Church; to apportion, dispense or allocate
the tithe as stated in the Law of Moses. Deut. 14:22-26, 14:27-28.
4. Because it’s not possible
for us to keep the 613 laws of Moses and we are not called to do that. If we
must keep tithing like the Law of Moses stated, then we must also keep the
other 613 laws.
For example, you can’t keep
tithing as stated in the Law and not keep the feast of Passover like they did.
SO, IS GIVING OF TITHE STILL VALID TODAY?
I have had to respond to this
question to many persons privately.
But to give a direct
answer:
I believe salvation is free
and is still free.
Tithing doesn't validate or
invalidate our salvation.
There is no place that it is
explicitly stated in New Testament that it MUST
be given. And there is nowhere in the New Testament that FORBIDS the giving of
tithe.
Historically, there is no
written material that shows that the early Church mandated the giving of tithe.
Even though it shows from all indication that the early Apostles might have
practices it, since they all had Jewish background and they did practiced some of
the Jewish traditions because they were still trying to be familiar with the
New Life in Christ. Acts 15 give credence to my last statement.
But for the Gentile Church of
the early days, there is no record that they practiced tithing because they
were mere Gentile who had no Levi in their tribe. For tithing was instituted in
the Law of Moses because of the tribe of Levi.
SO, SHOULD CHRISTIANS STILL GIVE TITHE, TODAY?
I believe giving of any kind,
no matter the name we give to it, is godly, righteous, good and
commendable.
Hence, I encourage believers
to give and to tithe.
But…
-Not out of fear of the
devourer.
-Not out of compulsion.
-Not from the perspective of
the Law of Moses.
-Not out of fear that your
heaven will be closed if you don’t give it.
But out of love and
appreciation to God, which is aimed at supporting God's work here on earth and
also blessing humanity that are doing God’s work or those that are less
privileged.
WHY DID I COME TO THIS CONCLUSION?
1. Abraham was before the Law
of Moses and he gave tithe to Melchizedek VOLUNTARILY without compulsion, but
from a heart that love and reverence God. In the same vein, I encourage
believers to give tithe; for we also obtained righteousness in the same way as
our father Abraham.
2. Since, there is nowhere in
the New Testament that forbid the giving of tithe. I believe it will not be out
of place to give it. Beside, Jesus never negated or abolished the practice of
tithing.
Rather, Jesus Christ stated
in Matthew 23:23b(BBE) that “… it is right for you to do these (tithe)…” (Emphasis mine)
3. There is still blessing in
giving tithe as stated in Malachi 3:10-11. For every kind/type of giving have
its kinds of blessing. Just like the planting of orange seed makes you reap a
harvest of orange not mango, so is any kind of giving. Tithing has it’s
blessings as stated in Malachi 3.
4. Tithing is a healthy
spiritual habit to develop. It's a good way to develop a good and consistent
habit of giving.
5. Although we are not saved
by works like giving, tithing or prayer. But we are saved by grace TO DO
GOOD WORKS, which include any kind of godly giving.
There are other reasons and
advantage why I believe believers should be encouraged to give their tithe.
WHERE SHOULD I GIVE MY TITHES?
“Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house,” Malachi 3:10.
Your tithe should be brought
to “the
store house of God” where meat/meal will be made available for God’s
people and for God’s work.
WHERE IS THE STORE HOUSE OF GOD?
Anywhere that portion of meat will be made available for the work of God and
to bless humanity, which include but not limited to God’s servants, less
privileged etc.
It could be your Church,
other ministry or any just course. Just do as God lay in your heart.
But I have always believed
that charity begins at home. Hence, think of giving your tithe to meeting not
your personal need, but a godly course like your Church, ministry or ministers
that are close to you which you feel has a need for it and will use it
judiciously.
Traditionally, I was taught
it should be in your Church where you are being feed spiritually. That is not
bad if the Church has genuine need for it and if they will use it judiciously.
Even though I am a Pastor of
a young and growing Church that has a lot of needs, some months ago, as I was
led, I and my family sent our tithe to a missionary who is doing a mission work
in one of the Islamic nation. The missionary is not connected to our ministry
neither is he my friend.
But I did that because I was
led and because it will still go a long way to further the course of the gospel
through the missionary.
In the same vein, we have
received tithe from individual we least expect, who were led to do so. And such
giving really met a vital need in the work of God through our hands.
IN CONCLUSION
I've been paying tithe since
I started earning income based on the Law. But for more than 6 years now, I've
stopped paying tithe out of fear of the law, but out of love and appreciation
to God.
And since I started giving
tithe from this perspective, tithing stopped becoming a burden to me, I became
more faithful in giving it. And like every other type of giving, I believe
there are blessings attached to giving of tithe.
Thus, giving of tithe should
not be done out of a heart of fear of the devourer or fear of having the
heavens closed against you. It should be done from a heart of love and
appreciation, knowing that the heaven is already opened to us.
The devourer has already been
defeated for us once and for all. Our tithing will not make the devourer
to be more defeated.
I don’t believe that you are condemned
if you don’t tithe, but you won't get the blessing that is attached to the
giving of tithe.
Not paying tithe won't stop
you from spending eternity with God.
If you must tithe, don’t
tithe legalistically, but out of a heart of grace and love.
For tithing is not a
punishable offense; it’s a privileged opportunity.
