It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog that will potentially offend or split the camp, but it’s been brewing for a while and so I’m going to write it. For some, you will cheer, others may just shrug their shoulders and carry on, but I’m hoping that maybe a few will be convicted and change their ways.

I watched a great video the other day on tithing and the final line was ‘Tithing is not an act of generosity, it is an act of obedience’ great line! You can see the whole video in the link below.

Tithing

The first place we read about tithing in the Bible is in Genesis 14:20 ‘And praise be to God most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything’

Before the law, Abram tithed to the Priest, Melchizedek.

In the New Testament Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees for tithing yet neglecting matters of the law – justice, mercy, and faith.

Some see this as Jesus letting them off, but he ends the lesson by saying, you ought to have done the matters of the law without neglecting the tithe. Sorry, not a let off.

If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, the starkest verses on this subject are in Malachi. ‘Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me!’ ‘How do we rob you?’ You ask. ‘By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions.’ (3:8)

Usually if anyone argues against the tithe, they never argue that it should be more? Funny that.

So, for me, the tithe is a non-negotiable requirement for Christians.

Where should the tithe go? In Malachi, it clearly says that the tithe should be brought into the storehouse, i.e. the local church.

‘Bring the FULL tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house.’

Clear cut.

Some spread out their tithe here, there and everywhere, and I understand some of the pressures there may be to send it back home, overseas, but the tithe belongs to God and should come into the church and your contributions go everywhere else.

And then look at the promise on the back of it.

‘Test me in this way’ says the lord of Armies. ‘See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit’ says the Lord of Armies!

Wow, What a promise.

If God hasn’t said anything different than the first time He said it, it must be taken that He hasn’t changed His mind.

Moving on…..

Here we go. What about those who don’t give anything into the storehouse? Not a bean, not a penny? This really makes me want to type fast!

I cannot for the life in me understand it.

How do you think the church functions? Pastors, staff, lights, musical instruments, equipment for the youth and kids, refurbishments, heating, photocopying, coffee, tea, refreshments, toilet rolls? Yes, it boils down to that.

All you need to do is say, if everyone were like me, there would not be a church to go to! That is the reality.

My conclusion:

If you give nothing, then your complaint to your pastor or leadership counts for nothing. You have no say.

If you don’t tithe, you need to take that up with God and hope He is merciful and doesn’t ask for back pay.

If you give nothing, then the next time you sit in your warm, comfortable church, drink coffee and, I may as well say it, go to the toilet, make sure you say thank you to the ones who are paying for you to do all those things.

Until next time,

D x