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Romantic Giving Book

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It’s been a long journey, but I’ve finally published a book based on my writings and research. You can purchase on preorder until it goes live on April 1. I started writing in 2006! Whoah! That was a while ago. Talk about dragging my feet. I’ve called my book “Romantic Giving”. It may be a peculiar title for some of us, but I had two objectives in the book – to document my critique on the matter of tithing and then demonstrate what true generosity should look like.

Many books and resources are available that refute and argue against the tithe, but very few of those books describe how it was replaced. That’s why I’ve broken the book up into two parts. The first part is the topical study of tithing, the obligation to give a minimum of 10%, while the second part talks about how we can give in ways through the Holy Spirit to demonstrate how we love one another.

It’s a very challenging book to write because the style of writing between the two parts caters to different reading styles and audiences. The first part is for those looking for answers to tithing, while the second part is more about application and spiritual life growth. It’s not enough to talk about what isn’t right. We need to find ways to pivot to doing what’s right.

It’s a bit of a shift of where and how tithing.com came about. This site has been dedicated to the information gathering and sharing of the topic of tithing, while the book is a more balanced approach that also addresses Spirit-led giving.

Let’s get more into why it’s called Romantic Giving. I’ve found that there are four ways that people demonstrate their love for one another. Actions don’t express your love unless they are tied to one of these four expressions. They are spontaneity, sacrifice, creativity, and intimacy. If your actions are rooted in one of these four expressions, then you will make an impact on those you love.

The Bible defines these expressions as well in the form of assets God has given us. Mark 12:30-31 says, “Love the Lord your God with All your heart, soul, mind, strength.” God has given us a heart to express intimacy, a soul to express spontaneity, a mind to express creativity, and strength to express sacrifice.

Every time you’ve heard anyone call someone or something “romantic”, it is because they’ve demonstrated one of these four expressions of love. Moments of spontaneity, sacrifice, creativity, or intimacy are demonstrations that we love someone or feel loved by someone.

Think about a romantic time, gift, word, or deed you gave or experienced. Every time you felt or demonstrated your love during those moments, it was a direct correlation to one of the expressions. Whether it’s sitting at an exclusive candlelight dinner, purchasing that valuable gift for your parent or child, planning a captivating experience, or setting your sudden shyness aside to show your freewill desire to be with someone, these romantic expressions are universal languages to express our love.

Intrigued yet? Again, the book does work for two different types of readers. If you like the more thought-provoking, cerebral style or you want to study tithing, then the first part is for you. If you like the practical life application and growth, then the second half will be more likeable. Regardless, both sides of the book teach new and exciting concepts that you’ve never heard before.

Order your book today

Can The Church Be Supported Without Tithes?

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As we continue our ‘Tithing on Trial’ series, we will evaluate the most common tithing arguments used to defend its practice. So let’s evaluate another argument used to promote tithing:

Argument:  How can the Church be supported without tithing?

Jesus Supported His Ministry Without Tithes

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:1-3

Jesus supported his ministry of the freewill offerings of others as mentioned here in Luke 8. If Jesus’ ministry can be supported without tithes, why couldn’t we expect the same thing? Many emphasize the example of priesthood and Levitical system in Old Testament times, but de-emphasize the example of Jesus’ ministry. Why would we value the Levitical system over Jesus’ example?

In other passages, this method of ministry funding is further validated. Matthew 10:7-10 states, “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.” (NIV)

If Jesus had faith that his ministry and the ministry of his followers could be funded without tithing, why would we expect that the Church would fail under the same model? Jesus wouldn’t tell his disciples to follow him and live by the gospel if he thought it would fail. Unfortunately, we’ve become so addicted to the security blank that mandated funding offers us that we fail to see the forest from the trees.

The Church Already Operates Without Tithing

According to Non-Profit Source, here are some statistics about giving

  • Only 5% tithe, and 80% of Americans only give 2% of their income
  • Christians are giving at 2.5% of income
  • Only 3-5% of Americans who give to their local church do so through regular tithing
  • Tithers make up only 10-25 percent of a normal congregation

Some may be thinking about how much more of an impact we could have if everyone just tithed. That’s a fair point, but the whole premise of the argument is how could the Church operate without the tithe. It can, because it is already operating without the tithe. It’s not like if tithing stopped existing the Church would dissolve because tithing is hardly practiced in the first place.

So what’s the point of convincing people that tithing is not required if no one’s doing it? Even though people aren’t following through with tithing, the ones with the voice on stage still emphasize it. The reason why people even worry about how the Church can operate is a matter of being educated or a matter of being rational about the actual reality.

Only 1% Went To Ministers Serving at the Temple

“To bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities. And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse” Nehemiah 10:37-38.

The Levites were divided into two factions. The priestly faction (descendants of Aaron) served at the temple, while the non-priestly faction served within the city gates. The priests rotated throughout the year and individually served 2-weeks in the Temple. When their two-week term finished, they served alongside Levites for the remainder of the year.

The entire Levitical tribe received 10% (a tithe) of Israel’s food (more on food later). The tithe was divided into two parts. First, to support the service at the temple, the priests received 10% of the tithe while the Levites (not serving at God’s house) received 90% of the tithe given. There is no question we need to be more generous Christians, but the fact was God’s house (the temple) was supported by 1% of Israel’s increase of food products, then is it fair to ask if the Church can be supported by 2-3%?

Stewardship is a two-way street. Should Christians give more? Yes. Is the Church body being efficient with what’s been given already? No. 1% was given to support the ministerial duties at the temple. The Church is supplied with 2-3% of income from every financial sector, not just from agricultural increase.

Christian Ministries and Missionaries Thrive on Freewill Offerings

Aside from a small fraction, Christian ministries that operate beyond the local Church function receive support from freewill offerings. Most of these ministries perform Church functions such as spreading the gospel and supporting the needy. We may not see them in the traditional sense that they have preaching and worship every week, but just like any local church, they are ordained by God and the Holy Spirit, and are a part of the body of Christ.

Ma y missionaries are commissioned and actively supported through freewill offerings. Certainly, they are ministers who are part of the apostolic calling to spread the gospel and build the Church of God. Yet, they thrive on freewill offerings.

If we support different parts of the body of Christ through freewill offerings, why would specific functions within the body of Christ get separate treatment for funding? Whatever the Holy Spirit commissions, He supplies for. The Holy Spirit should not be compartmentalized in a way that excludes his influence on funding. Whoever he leads, He feeds.

If Christian ministries that serve God, preach the gospel, and serve the needy thrive on freewill offerings, why would we believe that a local body would dwindle without tithes? Hundreds of thousands of Spirit-led ministers reach millions of people throughout the world with freewill offerings.

The Holy Spirit Empowers the Church

The previous section is a great segway – We have the Holy Spirit. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

God gave the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us. “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” John 16:12-15

The Holy Spirit isn’t limited as a guide to our conscience helping us weigh the consequences of good and bad decisions. He is more powerful, detailed, and instructive than that. John 16:15 states that all that belongs to the Father is mine. This includes all the riches, influence, and power the father has. Why do we question the Holy Spirit’s ability to provide for his Church? The Holy Spirit supported Jesus ministry in this fashion and even guided Jesus in his decisions: Matthew 4:1, Luke 2:27, Luke 4:1, Luke 4:14, and Luke 4:18.

If the Holy Spirit calls a missionary to forgo the comforts in his life to serve in the darkest parts of the world, isn’t the Holy Spirit powerful enough to instruct supporters?

The Levites Could Not Always Receive Tithes

The Bible states that the tithe was to support the Levites and their service, but depending on the land where the tithes were from, they did not always get the tithe. As Israel wandered the wilderness for years, the Levites did not collect tithing. God was clear in his instructions that the tithe was to come from crops harvested in the promised land and animals born there as well.

This means that while the Israelites were in the wilderness, they did not tithe. God only considered a tenth of the animals or crops within the promised land to be holy. Anything outside of the promised land was considered unholy. Read Deuteronomy 12:5-11

Israel did not tithe while in captivity in other nations either. Again, crops or animals that were raised or grown outside of Israel were unholy for the tithe. As Israelites found themselves under captivity in other nations, they had to rely on other offerings to support any type of ministry or Levitical service. Is it ok that we are tithing outside the promised land today? If the Levites did not have tithes for extended periods of time, then could the Church do the same?

The Levitical System Was Not Exclusively Funded by Tithes

The Israelites gave other types of offerings that supported the poor and the ministers. The dozens of other ways the Israelites gave included wave offerings (Exodus 29), heave offerings (Exodus 29), trespass offerings (Lev. 6:24-30), first fruit offerings (Exodus 23:19), burnt offerings (Leviticus 1:3-17), grain offerings (Leviticus 2:1-16), peace offerings (Leviticus 3:1-17), sin offerings (Leviticus 6:21-30), freewill offerings (Leviticus 7:16-18), and vows (Leviticus 22:21-23).

Not all of these offerings were consumed by the Levites. But If the Levitical system and operations was supported by offerings in the Old Testament, then why would we be concerned with the Church being supported without tithes in the New Testament?

Israel Gave Much of the Tithe for Alms and Feasts

The Bible describes three different tithes – A Levitical tithe, a festival tithe, and a poor tithe. The Levitical tithe went completely to the Levites (Numbers 18:21-26). The Festival tithe was shared among all Israelites (Deuteronomy 14:22-23). While the poor tithe was shared among the Levites and the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).

Let’s break this down into numbers. To keep this simple, since there were three tithes, let’s assume that each tithe equaled 33.3% (10 divided by 3) of the whole tithe. I am sure this oversimplifies, but it does prove the point that the Levites did not operate on 10%.

  • Levitical tithe = Levites received 33%. (The entire portion of 33.33%)
  • Festival tithe = Levites received 2.77%. (Levites were 1 of 12 tribes. So they received 1/12th of 33.33%).
  • Poor tithe = Levites received 16.66%. (Assuming the tithe was split evenly between Levites and the Poor, The Levites received half of 33.33%.)

Drumroll….If my math is correct, the Levites received 52.76% of the whole tithe (There is a high chance that I am not that smart, so please recheck the numbers). So, this means the Levites did not receive 10% Israel’s food increase, they received closer to 5%.

It’s a possibility that we could have calculated from 9% instead of 10% since 1% may have gone to the temple right off the top. If that’s the case, then the final number the Levites received would be more like 4%. This is not far off the 2-3% of giving statistics.

Freewill Offerings Funded the Temple

Much of the battle of funding a local Church is paying for the lease, operation, and maintenance of a church building. Many people do not realize the temple was built and maintained by other offerings other than tithes.

“And everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. (Exodus 35:21-22)

“Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the Lord.” (Exodus 3:13)

If Israel built and maintained the temple without tithing, why would the Church need tithing to fund building construction and maintenance? Since Churches today allocate tithing towards the operation and building of our worship centers, it’s no wonder why we think we are so dependent on it. Israel wasn’t, so why are we?

The Early Church Flourished with Freewill Offerings

Does the Church need tithing to grow? I think the early Church would beg to differ. The early Church did not practice tithing. First, if they were Jewish, they only knew how to give to the Levitical system, so ecclesiastical funding was a new concept to them. Second, the Gentiles were completely ignorant about how Israel’s support system functioned so their only familiar form of giving was freewill offerings

As we read in the book of Acts, the Church exploded within a few years. This growth did not happen because tithing was at an all-time high. The Church expanded for other reasons. Yes. They sacrificed much and shared equally with one another, but this type of giving is different than tithing.

The point is that the Church does not need tithing or any compulsive giving to grow. We do not need to institute a mandated minimum amount to even sustain our growth. Freewill giving was the basis of growth for the early Church and can sustain the Church for future generations.

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Only the Tithes from Agriculture & Animals Supported the Levites

If Israelites did not raise animals or grow crops, they did not tithe off their increase. In other words, the Levites did not receive a tithe out of income from bankers, lawyers, tax collectors, blacksmiths, or carpenters. Contrast that with expectations today that assume all market sectors should tithe from their increase. Read more about why Israel could only tithe from food.

According to USDA.gov agriculture, food, and related industries amount to 5.5% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023. Even if agriculture and food-related industries amounted to 50% of ancient Israel’s gross domestic product, it still means that a tithe was given from only 50% of the entire Israelite income.

This means that the Levites received only 5% of Israel’s entire increase of all incomes, and I think 5% is being generous. The standard in churches today is to expect a tithe from every income sector. Today, the church receives tithes from more market sectors than Israel did. It’s hard to determine what percentage of Israel’s GDP counted towards food, but one thing I know for a fact is that the amount of food it takes to feed one person today is the same amount it took thousands of years ago. Israel did not grow more food than necessary per person than we do today. If we’re being honest, we probably raised more food products per person in America today than Israel did, which would be more beneficial to the ministries today than compared to ancient Israel. Knowing that Levites survived without a tithe from everyone’s income, we should find it more plausible that the Church can survive without a tithe.

Tithes Funded Israel’s Government

Tithes were not used exclusively for ministry since Israel was a Theocracy. Many of the Levites held civil and leadership duties in Israel’s form of government. They had educational, judicial, and safety responsibilities. They taught children, guarded city gates, and acted as mediators of the law.

On the other hand, tithes focus explicitly on ministry today, while our taxes are used for duties such as education and judicial responsibilities. This means that 100% of the donations to Churches do not go towards the added responsibilities that the Levites had.

We should consider ourselves privileged that church donations can go towards 100% focus of Gospel outreach. We can even claim that much of the responsibility to care for the poor, educate children, and settle disputes has been taken away from the Church. Our burden to care for the poor has been reduced since many state programs already care for the poor and the needy today. This means that the Church has more donations to use for their discretion than Israel had. With a large reduction in responsibilities, why couldn’t church ministry function on offerings alone?

Many Local Churches Don’t Teach Tithing

This website provides a list of organizations and churches that do not teach tithing. You can also see a list of prominent pastors, authors, and theologians who do not teach tithing. Read quotes from C. S. Lewis, C. I. Scofield, Francis Chan, John MacArthur, and even Creflo Dollar.

Thousands of local churches around the world already do not collect tithes, so we don’t even have to guess what would happen without tithes. The worry about what would happen to the Church if we didn’t demand compulsive giving is living by fear, not faith.

Summary

Let’s analyze how much the Levites truly received from Israel

  • First, the Levites received 5% (my generous estimate) of Israel’s overall increase in income since they only collected food tithes.
  • Then, the bible states that 10% of that went to the Temple Storehouse for service. This leaves 4% of Israel’s overall increase in income for the Levites in the cities.
  • Finally, 52% remained after the poor tithe and feasts, leaving 2.08% of Israel’s overall income/increase for Levitical consumption outside of feasts.

Even if I was more generous with my estimates, the final percentage still would not come close to a ten-percent figure from Israel’s entire increase. At best, we could say the priests received 0.5-1% of Israel’s increase for temple service, while the Levites received 2-3% for general service. The irony is that giving statistics state Christians are giving 2.5% of their income. The percentage of Israel’s increase that the priests received is so low that we need to consider the serious possibility that the Levitical system was supported more abundantly through offerings than it had been through tithing. With that in mind, shouldn’t we consider that to be the case for the Church?

You Be the Judge

Now it’s time for the jury to weigh in:

Can the Church Be Supported Without Tithes?

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Did Jesus Collect Tithes?

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The quick and short answer to the question if Jesus ever collected tithes is, “No”. Jesus did not collect tithes and there are several reasons why.

The Levitical Tribe of Israel Only Collected Tithes

“I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’” – Numbers 18:24

The Bible is clear in several passages that the tribe of Levi was to take and partake of the tithe including Deuteronomy 14:22-27, Deuteronomy 14:22-27, Deuteronomy 18:1-2, Nehemiah 10:37-39. Upon entering the promised land, every tribe in Israel was given a partition of the land in Israel except the tribe of Levi. God had given the tithe from the Israelite farming community to the Levites. The Levites stored 9% within the local city and then took the remaining 1% to the temple storehouse.

Jesus was from the tribe of Judah as indicated in Hebrews 7:14. “For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.”

He was of the house of David and did not perform Levitical duties such as serving in the temple.

Jesus Collected Voluntary Offerings for His Ministry

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:1-3

During Jesus’ three-year ministry as an adult, he lived off the voluntary offerings of his followers. The scripture clearly states that they helped him out of their own means.

Many of us are familiar with an infamous passage of Jesus feeding thousands of people from the gift of a boy with five loaves and two fish.

Jesus Told The Disciples to Collect Voluntary Offerings

Matthew 10:7-10 states, “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.” (NIV)

His disciples were not to demand a wage. They were to live off the freely given charity from others. Scripture is clear that ministers deserve something and are worthy of his wages or keep as also indicated in Luke 10:5-8, but there is no minimum command.

As his disciples continued their ministry throughout the New Testament, there was no change in how they operated. They continued with freewill offerings. In 1 Timothy 5:18, Paul even quotes Jesus’ words that the “worker deserves his wages”.

Jesus Said the King’s Children Are Free

One of my favorite passages in the bible regarding Jesus on generosity is found in Matthew 17:24-27.

“And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.”

You and I are children of the king. We are not subjects to take tribute from. The children are a part of the king’s family and mission and do not need taxes, tributes, benchmarks, mandates, or minimum offering amounts to advance their father’s kingdom. You can learn more here about Jesus’ words on tithing.

Jesus on Tithing

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Many have dissected, outlined, and debated the words and actions surrounding Jesus on tithing over the centuries. This article will answer many of the common questions that people ask about Jesus and tithing.

What is Tithing?

First, let’s understand what tithing means. Many people equate tithing with giving in general. It is true that tithing falls under the general category of giving, but the bible digs a little deeper on the definition of tithing.

A tithe according to the Greek or Hebrew words in the bible is simply defined as a tenth. Although, the Bible details more rules around tithing such as giving only food and only to the Levites. We will dig into more details further in this article, but to start off, we will definine a tenth by the simple sense of God’s requirement to give 10% to him.

Did Jesus Talk About Tithing?

Yes. Jesus did talk about tithing. The New Testament scriptures lists three passages where Jesus specifically talked about it. Read below.

  • “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23).
  • “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God” (Luke 11:42).
  • “I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get” (Luke 18:12).

The passages in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 are parallel passages, meaning two different authors give their own unique accounts of that event in Jesus’ life on earth. In Luke 18:12, Jesus tells a parable commonly referred to as the Pharisee and the tax collector and was quotes the tax collector. These are the only bible passages that Jesus talked about tithing.

Did Jesus Teach the Tithe?

The short answer to this question is yes, Jesus did teach the tithe, but we need some context around this answer to find out to whom and why. We will resolve the answer to those questions further down in this article, but for now let’s address where, when, and how he taught the tithe.

God required the tithe for the Israelites under the Old Covenant law. He gave specific commands in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy surrounding the requirements of tithing. Although we know that tithing was inscribed in the law and given to the Israelites by God in the Old Testament, many want to know if Jesus specifically taught tithing in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

We can analyze the entire passages surrounding Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 to answer whether or not Jesus taught the tithe. In these two passages, Jesus addressed the Jews under the Old Covenant. He acknowledged that the Israelites were still under the Mosaic system as evidenced at the beginning of the passage in Matthew 23:2-3 when Jesus stated, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you.”

Reading further down in the passage, Matthew 23:23 states, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. 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.”

This is a clear teaching from Jesus to tithe. When he said, “You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former,” he was saying they should have practiced justice, mercy, and faithfulness without neglecting the tithe. Although Jesus does teach the tithe, we must consider further context surrounding to whom and why. So, let’s read on.

Did Jesus Practice Tithing?

The Jews had to follow specific requirements and qualifications when they tithed. The most familiar passage surrounding these requirements can be found in Leviticus 27:30-32 which states “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord…Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord”

The important thing to remember in this passage when trying to know whether Jesus practiced tithing is if he met the prerequisites for doing so. There were only two basic groups of things that the Israelites could give to God. They were crops or animals. The answer to the question depends on whether Jesus had raised any animals or grew any crops to give a tithe from. Unfortunately, the bible is not explicit about those details, so we can only speculate.

We know that Jesus had at least two occupations; the first being a carpenter and the second being a rabbi or teacher. These occupations don’t deal with animals or crops, so even if Jesus practiced tithing, it did not come from his occupation. If he tithed, it likely came from a few small things that were grown on the side outside of his primary occupation.

Did Jesus Collect a Tithe?

We could answer this in two different ways. The first answer comes from the question of whether Jesus, as a part of God, collected tithes. This answer would be yes. God asked for a tithe from Israel, so if God and Jesus are one, then technically Jesus did collect tithes.

Although Jesus in his spiritual diety collected tithes, I don’t think this is why most people are asking the question. Most of us want to ask did Jesus collect tithes while he was in the flesh on earth. The second answer and the more relevant answer is no, Jesus did not collect tithes on earth.

Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, which is declared for us in Hebrews 7:14, “For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah” Ironically, the whole chapter of Hebrews 7 is about how Jesus (metaphorically) received the tithe through the Melchizedek priesthood.

I don’t want to get deep in the woods with Hebrews 7 since it’s off-topic, but it can confuse some people. When you read it, keep in mind the context of who Hebrews was written to and why it was written. The book addressed Jews who could not let go of the law. It was not written to Gentiles who needed education about tithing.

Coming back to Jesus coming from the tribe of Judah. We need to look at the laws in the Old Covenant and ask ourselves if God placed any requirements about who could collect tithes. Numbers 18:24 clarifies who should collect tithes, “But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as a heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit.”

We are assured that Jesus did not collect tithes because the Levites were to collect tithes and he was from the tribe of Judah. It is true that he was God and could have demanded them – he deserved them. But Jesus also obeyed the Mosaic law just like the Jews did. He would not go against his own word. Jesus did not collect tithes because he was not a Levite.

In case you are wondering, Jesus supported his ministry on earth through other means. “Some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means” (Luke 8:2-3). Jesus had experience as a carpenter also, so maybe he supported himself in that way, but the bible never explicitly says so.

Did Jesus Abolish Tithing?

Some quote these words of Jesus often, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). The answer to whether Jesus abolished tithing is no, he did not abolish tithing, but he did fulfill it.

The law that Jesus referred to can cause confusion. Some people use these words of Jesus to justify the continuity of some Old Testament standards or laws, but what laws did Jesus refer to? Some categorize it as the Mosaic law, some call it the ceremonial law, some say it’s the Old Covenant, some say it’s the Adamic covenant. The problem I have with using these classifications of the laws for this answer is that the categorizations are human-centered instead of gospel-centered.

In my own definition, Jesus refers to the laws that God placed to prepare us for the good news of Jesus. The classifications of laws may be good to understand, but I prefer to filter them around the purpose of Jesus, not around times, events, Adam, Abraham, or Moses.

Jesus was not talking about fulfilling spiritual laws such as love, faithfulness, mercy, etc. These spiritual laws are eternal and will never be abolished or fulfilled because as long as God exists, these natural laws of his character will exist.

If Jesus did not abolish tithing, then what does it mean that he fulfilled it? For this answer, we only need to keep reading in Matthew 5:18, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

Did Jesus accomplish what he needed to? He came, he lived flawlessly, he died, he conquered death, and ascended to heaven. I’d say, yes he accomplished what he needed to and because of this, he fulfilled the laws put into place to prepare us for the Gospel. Did he destroy the law? No, but he discontinued it. I think Matthew 9:17 illustrates for us how a New Covenant and Old Covenant coexist. “Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

We don’t need to destroy or abolish the old wineskins. It has a purpose to carry the old wine. We needed a new wine skin to carry our new wine. If the old wineskin is full, it has been fulfilled and Jesus accomplished that. We should no longer use it to gather more wine since it’s used to the fullest.

Conclusion

Some of us have poured wine out of the old wineskin into the new wineskin. Because of this two things occur. First, it doesn’t look like the old wineskin has been fulfilled since there is still room to fill more in. This creates feelings like we need to work for our salvation. Second, the new wine is spoiled and bitter from the old wine that is mixed with the new wine. This results in bitterness and confusion toward the good news of Jesus Christ.

No wonder many don’t want to turn to Christ for salvation. When we say that you need to do works such as tithing in order to find acceptance in God, we are mixing old and new wine creating a void that cannot be filled and adding bitterness that cannot be sweetened with our own works.

The Old Covenant had a purpose, but it is bitter. The gospel tastes sweet and fulfilling. Stop trying to quench the world’s thirst with our own wine. Give them the pure and sweet taste of Jesus.

Tithing is for Scrooges

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Bah Humbug! Tis not true, you say. Jacob Marley tried to warn you that being a tithing scrooge is going to haunt you. If you change your ways it won’t be too late. Prepare to heed the advice ahead.

Tithing is Cheap 

I’m sure you’re surprised to hear that tithing is cheap. Christians give an average of 2-3% of their income, so why would giving 10% be cheap? There are a few reasons.

Our heart is more valuable

Our heart is more valuable but instead, we give our worthless money. Money is worth nothing to God. Please don’t scramble for excuses or bible verses. Psalms 51 states, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”

As humans, we need money to do what God has called us to, but we shouldn’t mix up our priorities. Heart first, then comes the actions. I know plenty of people willing to give money but don’t put a minute into serving. The opposite is true as well. Throwing money at God as if you are paying your taxes insults him. Give him the one thing he actually has relinquished ownership over to you; It’s not money, it’s your heart.

Some give less than they are able

Giving less than you are able robs God. Making millions of dollars only to hoard your wealth creates a poor steward. As long as the rich give their 10%, then they feel they are off the hook. Why would they give more than necessary?

J. C. Penney, John D. Rockefeller, Mr Colgate, & Mr Proctor were famously known for tithing on their wealth. Imagine being the 1% of the 1% while expecting all others to match your donation percentage. It’s a head-scratcher.

It’s mental laziness

The lack of time, effort, and thought that we place into tithing is minimal. After receiving our paycheck, we move two decimal places in the amount, sign a check or click an online donate button. This thoughtless form of giving cheapens the effort of giving. We don’t want to spend the energy it takes to understand others’ needs through communication and prayer. We want to be lazy and cheap with our time and make a convenient drop-off for God.

Tithing is Mean

I know that many have good intentions in preaching the tithe, but good intentions don’t excuse not knowing the truth about tithing.

It hurts the poor

We’re going to make the poor pay tithes. Really? In the Old Testament, the poor received tithes – they didn’t pay them. We rob widows’ houses through our enforced tithing and show we have very little concern for their welfare.

I have read countless tithing testimonies of people that have been burned and rejected by tithing; whether they were expecting returns on their giving or whether it put them into poverty.

It enslaves us

Scripture tells us that where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. Slavery is mean. Like, duh! We don’t need to be shackled by the burdens of laws that were meant for a different people under a different time. The spirit of God should be leading and guiding us to the truth, but we bind heavy burdens upon the people of God.

The world thinks God is stingy

What kind of God forces his people to give a minimum amount? Compulsive love is an oxymoron, which means that compulsive giving and love are not cousins either. I love my wife and kids so it would counterintuitive to prove my love through mandated giving requirements. Freewill love is what separates Christians from other worshippers. What kind of God makes eternal life free for you, but to live your life on earth, pay a 10% tax?

Tithing is the Ghost of Christmas Past 

Some of us are living in the past. I mean the Old Testament past. The law in the Old Covenant required Israel to give 10% of their food from within the land of Israel.

The past offers false comfort

To some of us, we find solace in the ghost of tithing past because there were rules and laws that could guide our every step. We like this safety net and the comfort of strict standards because we are human beings that find peace with tangible goals.

Abraham did tithe before the Mosaic law, but not because it was required. We know this because his son Jacob turned it into a requirement through his vow to God to tithe upon all that he would give him through the patriarchal promise. Jacob’s promise set in motion a law that his children and nation of Israel would have to obey.

The past is complicated

If you think we should tithe as the Israelites did, then be my guest. The entire tithing law was complicated and convoluted at best. It’s practically impossible to practice tithing correctly today. There were rules and stipulations to tithing that God expected Israel to follow.

Even giving 10% is complicated because we don’t know where or what we are supposed to give from. It’s not clear to us in the New Testament. Most people try to interpret how it fits into the New Testament but all it does is make the already complicated issue even more complicated.

Tithing Brings Nightmares 

Tithing sounds good and starts out looking like a good thing but quickly escalates to a full-blown nightmare.

The law brings a curse

The scripture says, “For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse.” Just like Scrooge cursing his life with the scourge of greed, many Christians have put a curse on their life through their attempts to implement monetary tithing. I do agree that God can bless both a freewill giver and a tither since God blesses people on the amount of their faith, but we cannot ignore the promise of what happens when we rely on tangible benchmarks that act like the law.

It causes unnecessary shame and guilt

If you gave 9.9% of your income I hate to break it to you but the devour is coming after you because you didn’t give that .01% extra. Now you must go through the entire week looking over your shoulder waiting to see if a piano is going to fall out of the sky onto your head.

Read the conversation between Jesus and Peter in Matthew 17. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. If Jesus said the children are free and if Jesus’ own ministry didn’t collect tithes, then the children are free from the shame and guilt of only giving 9.9%.

There is Hope

Wake up from the dream. The worst does not have to happen. The ghost of Christmas future does not need to come to fruition. God replaced the tithing law with the law of his Spirit in the New Testament. We should be listening and honing into what God wants us to give through prayer, reading, and fellowship with others.

God loves a cheerful giver so we should give freely and cheerfully. Just because the legalistic form of giving is for scrooges, this doesn’t mean that giving and generosity are for scrooges. Spirit-led generosity is for those who have awakened from their nightmare and realized the blessings they have in life. Generosity is for born-again scrooges who are looking for a second chance, so be a born-again scrooge.

God’s word is true when it says the giver is more blessed than the receiver. Get in the right spirit and be cheerful and generous this Christmas season.

See our other posts in this series:

What Motivates People to Tithe?

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Many of us give for the wrong reasons. Let’s understand more about what it is about fear, greed, duty, and peer pressure that motivates us to give and why we do it for these reasons.

Fear Motivates People to Tithe

Many fear the retribution that God will bring upon their lives if they do not meet their benchmarks. If they fall .00001% of their mark, God will rein down fire and brimstone and put a curse upon their family for the next ten\ years. To those of us with this motivation, we imagine entering the throne of God with knobbly knees and losing our continents because our fear has overcome us.

Many also use tithing as flagellant penance. They think that if they cause pain in their finances and they whip their budget then God will have pity on them for the extent they’ve gone for their devotion to him. I recall reading the book The Scarlett Letter in highschool. In the book, the clergy who had committed adultery had punished himself so badly that it changed his countenance and physical appearance.

Some of us feel that we deserve punishment and wrath. It’s a strange phenomenon because of how lowly we feel about ourselves. It’s almost as if to feel hurt is to feel loved, so we hone in on the character traits of God that could drive fear as a motivation.

Fearing God does not mean what we think it means. Our viewpoint of fear comes from our earthly experiences. This type of fear is similar to when a snake or wild, deadly animal crosses our paths. If you were to come across a bear while walking down a trail, our fear tells us to lie down and play dead to avoid confrontation or a reaction from the deadly beast.

Many respond to tithing in this way. We tithe because the reaction that God is going to have scares us, so we ignorantly start doing things to help God go away and ignore us. I remember countless times when after I tithed fearing that I missed a penny or two, so I would give 11% just to make sure that I pacified the deadly spiritual beast within God.

Greed Motivates People to Tithe

Some treat tithing as if it were some slot machine. If I give God “X” amount, then he will bless me tenfold. Most of these folks embed themselves deeply in the prosperity gospel. The televangelists on TV running around in their fancy cars and mansions, showing off their french cuffs. Which I never understood by the way. Our arms are round shaped. They aren’t tear-drop sized, so why do people pinch their cuffs together like that’s the way it’s supposed to be? It’s a status thing. It’s an appearance thing. That’s all. Hey, I did it at one point, then I realized, “This is stupid.”

The irony of it is many folks that tithe and agree to the preacher’s message about tithing is that they are lower-class income. If they are driving around in a fancy car, their bank is probably empty and that car is on a 7-year payment plan to stretch it out so they can afford the monthly payments.

God doesn’t want you to give so you can get rich. The scripture says, “seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.” Many of us seek first the benefits (or cons, depending on how you look at it) of riches. We seek to enrich our kingdom on earth and hope God will reward us also in heaven.

Duty Motivates People to Tithe

Most of these folks give mechanically. Every week they write a check at the same time and place. They drop it in the plate and don’t think twice about it. They know what they are supposed to do and do it. Maybe nowadays it’s not a check but it’s an automatic withdrawal from their online banking.

I commend this type of loyalty. They don’t even blink when they give over 10% of their earnings every week religiously into the offering plate.

There’s something missing with these folks though. They demonstrate no spontaneity or spark in their giving. They have lost the passion they once had for God. The emotional connection of giving to God is now on par with giving to the government. The automatic withdrawal of taxes from our paycheck becomes unnoticed. To deviate from their routine and allow the Spirit of God to point them in a new direction would equate to reversing the rotation of the earth.

These types of givers tend not to ask questions about their giving. God said it and that settles it for them, so quickly quench any thoughts that overwhelm their emotions by their analytical mind.

Giving to God is not a business plan. God made us children in his family and not business partner. This is not the military where communication must go through the chain of command. You can go directly to the general and make your request. As a matter of fact, God wants you to.

Peer Pressure Motivates People to Tithe

If everybody around you is doing it but you don’t want to get caught not doing it. You would feel awkward, wouldn’t you? Sometimes Christians herd themselves like cattle. Everyone is all going in the same direction, so we just go along with the crowd. We would feel embarrassed to be the odd one out.

Maybe you are worried that the pastor or the person doing the church balance sheets sees your name and knows you aren’t tithing like you should. You might slip into the pew each Sunday hoping the pastor doesn’t notice the guilt on your face. Even worse, what if you were confronted about the matter? I’ve heard many stories of pastors confronting individuals for not tithing as they should.

I am all for a little accountability, but this isn’t accountability this is governance. I knew of someone that was fairly wealthy and went to a large church. The leaders quickly befriended him. One day they talked to him about tithing and asked him why he wasn’t tithing like he should. This was the last Sunday this person attended this church.

Accountability is healthy when we do it right. Giving out of motivation from the pressure we feel from our peers is not healthy. Peer pressure should come from intimate connections that personally vest in you. Meet with your small group or talk to a friend about it to help you stay accountable to God.

Love Motivates People to Tithe

Our love for God and others should motivate us to tithe. I don’t have to go deeply into it because this entire website dedicates itself to spreading the truth about tithing. But even though tithing is not required for Christians and it is incorrect to enforce it, giving a tithe out of love can be a good thing. God sees inside our hearts. Whether it’s a tithe or some other amount, God doesn’t want 10% of our physical currency, he wants 100% of our spiritual currency.

I’ve said before that God can bless both a spirit-led giver and a tither because he’s interested in our heart. He wants our whole heart, mind, body, and soul. Our physical currency is wood, hay, and stubble which means nothing from a spiritual perspective. Love comes from a pure heart. Love cannot come from fear, guilt, peer pressure, or greed, which comes from impure thoughts. This is why it’s important that giving be of freewill. Freewill is the first step to acting upon love.

If I am forced to give, how can the world look at us and know that we love God and others? No matter how generous the gift, if it is given out of obligation and begrudgingly, it is not out of love. We must continue to act upon our love and show the world that God loves them through our freewill generosity.