IS A CHRISTIAN REALLY UNDER OBLIGATION TO TITHE?

By DR. J. FRANK NORRIS

Are Non-Tithers God-Robbers?”

IS A CHRISTIAN UNDER OBLIGATION TO TITHE?

IS HE A “GOD-ROBBER” IF HE FAILS TO TITHE?

YES! TO BOTH QUESTIONS!

I suggest the reasons for this position in the outline study of tithing given below. If time and space permitted I could enlarge upon each point almost indefinitely, but I shall try to present enough truth to establish my position in the sight of all those who will use their Bibles and their common sense.

FIRST, WHAT IS TITHING?

It is giving one-tenth of one’s income (minus only the actual expense of producing that income 9 not family and personal expenses) into the Lord’s treasury, for the support of the gospel and the on goings of the Master’s Kingdom in the world.

WHAT IS THE LORD’S TREASURY?

It is the treasury of a “local” Baptist church that is true to the faith as defined in the New Testament. (No one truly tithes when they fail to turn the money into the Lord’s treasury, but scatter it helter skelter according to their own whims and fancies). The tithing of Old Testament times furnishes us with a good pattern as to how it ought to be carried on. The tithes then went into the temple treasury for the purpose of carrying on the worship of Jehovah. The Jews didn’t scatter their tithe money promiscuously. We have no more right to do it than they had. The person that so does and calls it tithing is fooling himself.

OUGHT WE TO TITHE AS A PART OF JEWISH LEGALISM?

Certainly not! We are not under law but under grace. Let us note the difference between the Jewish way of doing under the law, and the Christian’s way under grace. Take circumcision; the Jew had to submit to the rite of circumcision or else he would be cut off from his people. (Gen. 17: 14). In contrast with this, the Christians under obligation to submit to the ordinance of baptism, but not under penalty of being cut off from the people of God. He submits out of love for the One Whom he is pleased to obey, voluntarily.

Take the SABBATH: The Jew was under obligation to keep the Sabbath as prescribed under penalty of God’s wrath if he failed to do it, and under penalty of death if he violated the rules governing the Sabbath. (cf Ex. 31:14). In contrast with this, the Christian is under obligation to observe the Lord’s Day, but not under penalty of death if he fails to do so. He observes it as a voluntary act, out of regard for the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and was alive on that day.

Likewise in the matter of TITHING. The Jew was under stern necessity to tithe. The Christian is under the holy obligation of love to tithe, as a free act of Christian consecration.

But tithing as practiced under grace is to be considered as only a part of the larger teaching of the New Testament on STEWARDSHIP. That I may make it clear as to just what I consider to be the New Testament teaching on giving, I will make this statement:

THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHES THAT WE ARE STEWARDS OF GOD AND THAT EVERY CENT WE HAVE, EVERY ABILITY WE POSSESS, INDEED EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN COMMITTED INTO OUR HANDS BELONGS TO GOD. ALL IS TO BE USED FOR HIM AND NOTHING FOR THE DEVIL. BUT AT LEAST ONE-TENTH OF OUR INCOME IS TO BE DEVOTED TO THE LORD FOR THE SPECIFIC WORK OF SPREADING THE GOSPEL AND SUPPORTING HIS WORSHIP. IN ADDITION TO THIS, FREQUENT OFFERINGS ARE TO BE MADE TO HIM FOR HIS WORK.

THE ARGUMENTS FOR TITHING

There are many arguments for tithing. I suggest just a few. FIRST, THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHES TITHING BEYOND DOUBT. See Levit. 27:30; Num. 18:21; Deut. 12:6, etc., etc. Furthermore it teaches that the persons who fail to tithe were robbers of God and that God punished them severely for their robbery. (See Malachi 3:8). And also it teaches that God richly blessed those who tithed. (See Mal. 3:10).

Again, the Old Testament shows that with the first recorded ministry of God, the practice of tithing began. (See Gen. 14: 18-20). No mention of tithing until there is mention of a ministry, but immediate mention of tithing to that ministry as soon as that ministry is referred to. Let us remember that the ministry was typical of the Christ priesthood also (See Heb. 7).

BUT WHAT AB0UT THE NEW TESTAMENT

Well, That is what the objector to tithing usually says. Well, turn over to Matt. 23:23 and you will find that Jesus commended the practice of tithing, while He condemned the failure to do other even more important things. He said, “These ought ye to have done,” (referring to the practice of tithing). REMEMBER! Jesus said Ye OUGHT!” Objectors to tithing say, “YE OUGHT NOT!” Whose word should we take?

Again, Paul in the New Testament (1 Cor. 16:2), plainly suggests the practice of tithing. He tells the Corinthians to lay by in store on the first day of the week… “AS GOD HATH PROSPERED.” There you have PROPORTIONATE GIVING. What proportion? It is highly reasonable to suppose th1t he referred to that proportion that he as a Jew had always been accustomed to give – the tenth. It is absurd to suppose that he meant for them to give in smaller proportion than did the Jews ordinarily under law.

Again, Paul plainly declared TITHING TO BE OF THE LORD’S ORDAINED PLAN FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY. Here is what he says as recorded in I Cor. 9:13, 14:

‘Do you not know that they which minister about holy things, live of the things of the temple? and they which wait on the altar, are partakers with the altar? Even so, hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel, should live of the gospel.”

Note several things about this statement: First, Paul reminds us that those who ministered in the temple, lived from the things provided through tithing. Then he goes on to show that just as the Old Testament ministry or priesthood lived of the tithes, “EVEN SO HATH THE LORD ORDAINED THAT THEY WHICH PREACH THE GOSPEL SHOULD LIVE OF THE GOSPEL.” If tithing is not taught clearly in that passage then I am at a loss to understand the meaning of words. Does not Paul show that God had ordained that gospel preachers shall be supported in the same way as were those who performed the temple ministry? What else could the words “EVEN SO” suggest? What else could the passage mean?

Again, if you will read Heb. 7: you will find a very clear argument for tithing. I believe the argument there presented to be a good one, but really there is no need to present any additional argument until some one is able to dispose of I Cor. 9:13, 14.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST TITHING CONSIDERED

It is only fair to say that the arguments that are usually advanced against tithing are very flimsy ones. In most cases they arise out of avarice and covetousness. Those who oppose tithing are those who as a rule do little or nothing to support the Lord’s Cause. I have known few persons to oppose tithing who were persons of any liberality. In fact, I do not at this time recall a single opponent of tithing who was or is a liberal giver. With the man who ACTUALLY GIVES MORE THAN THE TITHE, but who says that he doesn’t believe in tithing (if there is such a person) I HAVE NO CONTROVERSY.

Here are some of the arguments that are generally put up by those who say that they don’t believe in tithing:

1. “TITHING IS A PART OF THE LAW AND WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW BUT UNDER GRACE”

ANSWER: Tithing was practiced at least four hundred years before the Law of Moses was ever heard of. Read Gen. 14:20; 28:22 and you will see that. And besides, SHOULD A CHRISTIAN DO LESS UNDER GRACE THAN THE JEWS DID UNDER LAW? Certainly one under grace should not fall below the standard of the Jews!

2. OBJECTION: Jesus was speaking to Jews when He said what He did as recorded in Matt. 23:23.”

ANSWER: And would you throw away as having no bearing on us, all that Jesus said to the Jews? How much of Matthew was spoken to the Jews? If you are going to cast away a part of His teaching to the Jews, then you should throw away the rest. You will have little of the entire four Gospels left after that sort of procedure.

3. OBJECTION: “Every man ought to give as pleases.”

ANSWER: Most men please to give little or nothing when they follow their own whims and fancies.

4. OBJECTION: “INSTEAD OF TITHING, ONE OUGHT TO ASK THE LORD FOR GUIDANCE AND GIVE AS DIRECTED”

ANSWER: What is the use of seeking guidance in giving while at the same time ignoring God’s plain instructions to tithe? When a man rejects the revealed will of God as expressed in His Word, there is no need for him to ask for further revelation. He needs to catch up on his obedience before he asks for further instructions.

5. OBJECTION: “I don’t believe in tithing – I believe that ALL belongs to God.”

ANSWER: Yes, and men make such an argument their excuse for robbing God. They say “I belong to God, my family belongs to God, all I have belongs to God – therefore all that I spend on self or family is spent for the Lord.” I too believe that all belongs to God. That is why I seek to make definite my stewardship by rendering unto the Lord His tenth.

6. OBJECTION: “I don’t believe in tithing. I think that tithing has been ‘done away with’.”

ANSWER: Take the Bible and show me WHERE. Since tithing was practiced before the giving of the law, the fulfillment of the law did not render the practice of tithing obsolete.

SOME ADDITIONAL REASONS FOR TITHING

I have suggested a few of the Scriptures to bear out my argument that tithing should be practiced. I go further and suggest some additional reasons for practicing tithing.

1. THE NEW TESTAMENT STANDARD IS CERTAINLY NOT LOWER THAN THAT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.To fail to tithe is have a lower standard of living than the Old Testament saints. No escape from this!
2. NOTHING RUNS HAPHAZARD IN THIS UNIVERSE. GOD HAS LAWS TO GOVERN EVERYTHING. The matter of giving is no exception. The law of giving is that of the tithe coupled with free-will offerings.
3. THE WRITINGS EARLY CHURCH OF THE “FATHERS” REVEAL THAT TITHING WAS PRACTICED BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS OF CHRISTIANITY. Thus we have the argument of the actual practice of early Christians.
4. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE OBLIGATION TO TITHE HAS RESULTED IN THE PRACTICE OF CHURCHES HOLDING RUMMAGE SALES, BAZAARS, ETC., IN ORDER TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHURCH EXPENSES. Opponents of tithing can charge this monstrous evil to themselves and their kind.
5. FAILURE TO TITHE IS THE CAUSE OF SO LITTLE OF THIS WORLD BEING EVANGELIZED. The opponent of tithing can charge a large portion of the lost world to his account and to the account of others of his kind.
6. FAILURE TO TITHE HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF THOUSANDS OF CHURCH BUILDINGS BEING DESERTED, FALLING INTO RUINS, AND THE WORSHIP OF GOD CEASING.The opponent of tithing can charge this to his account, also.
7. FAILURE TO HOLD UP THE STANDARD OF TITHING HAS RESULTED IN MULTITUDES OF COVETOUS CHURCH MEMBERS WHO DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE OWNERSHIP OF GOD IN ANYTHING.
8. FAILURE TO PRACTICE TITHING HAS NO DOUBT BROUGHT CHASTENING UPON THOUSANDS OF GOD’S PEOPLE, resulting in loss of health, loss of property, sorrows and afflictions. God so chastened back in the olden times (see Malachi 3:) and He says, “I am Jehovah, I change not.”
9. FAILURE TO TITHE HAS CAUSED THE BACKSLIDING OF MANY CHRISTIANS. Because the person that is not right with God financially is not very likely to be right with Him in any other way. I have known very few backsliders who gave tithes regularly to the Lord.
10. A FEW TITHERS GIVE AS MUCH AS ALL THE REST OF A CHURCH USUALLY. They are the dependable givers.
11. TO TITHE IS TO RECOGNIZE BOTH GOD’S OWNERSHIP AND GOD’S PARTNERSHIP.
12. FAILURE TO TITHE HINDERS PEOPLE’S PRAYERS FOR FINANCIAL PROSPERITY. Because, if a man is not honest with God, how can he get his prayers for financial help answered.
13. THE PRACTICE OF TITHING IS A SAFEGUARD AGAINST COVETOUSNESS. For one to make it a practice to regularly give liberally to the Lord is for them a fine precaution against stinginess.
14. TITHING MAKES CHEERFUL GIVERS (II Cor. 9:7).
15. TITHING MAKES REGULAR GIVERS.
16. TITHING INSURES THAT CHURCH MEMBERS WHO PRACTICE IT WILL NOT LET THE REST OF THE MEMBERS BEAR ALL OF THE FINANCIAL BURDENS.
17. TITHING INSURES THE POOR MAN AS GREAT A PROPORTIONATE PART IN THE FINANCING OF THE LORD’S WORK, AS THE RICH MAN.
18. TITHING INSURES THAT THE STEWARD WILL NOT ABUSE HIS STEWARDSHIP. It furnishes a good “yard stick” to measure stewardship with.
19. TITHING IS A STIMULUS TO ENLARGED GIVING. The tither nearly always learns to go far beyond his tithe.
20. THE PRACTICE OF TITHING IS ONE THAT BRINGS REWARDS IN THIS LIFE AND IN THE NEXT. God has promised prosperity to the tither who tithes in the right spirit. (See Mal. 3:). To make our money yield any dividends for eternity, we must use it for God. The tither uses far more of his money in this way than the non-tither.
21. THE OPPONENT OF TITHING CANNOT PRESENT AS GOOD A LIST OF REASONS FOR NOT TITHING AS I HAVE PRESENTED FOR TITHING TO SAVE HIS LIFE!

PERSONAL OBSERVATION AND EXPERIENCE

I must close this article, but before I do, I am sure that I shall be pardoned for a word of personal testimony. Surely more than TWENTY YEARS OF OBSERVATION AND EXPERIENCE OUGHT TO BE WORTH SOMETHING! I testify to the fact that I have never known a consistent tither to charge that God had broken His promise to him. I have never known one to say that he had been permitted to suffer because of his being a tither. I have personally practiced tithing for years and I would not quit the practice for anything. I can testify personally to the chastening of God for not tithing and I can testify to his blessing on many many occasions and in many ways when I have been careful to obey Him in this regard.

I HAVE HAD MANY PERSONS TO TELL ME OF THE LORD’S HAND LAID VERY HEAVILY UPON THEM FOR THE WITHHOLDING OF HIS TITHE. I HAVE HAD MANY TO TESTIFY TO THE BLESSINGS OF GOD UPON THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITHFULNESS IN OBEYING THE LORD IN THIS MATTER. IN MY JUDGMENT, BASED UPON THE BIBLE AND UPON OBSERVATION AND EXPERIENCE AND THE TESTIMONY OF MANY DURING THESE TWENTY YEARS, IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING FOR A CHRISTIAN TO REFUSE TO TITHE WHEREAS THE PRACTICE 0F TITHING IS ONE FRAUGHT WITH GREAT BLESSINGS! – FAITH AND LIFE.