by Keith Sharp
Most denominations teach their members that they are obligated to tithe to the Lord. The noun “tithe” means “tenth,” thus, the requirement is that people give a tenth of their income to their church.
Moses in the Law commanded Israel to give a tithe of all the produce of the land (Leviticus 27:30-33; Deuteronomy 14:22). The tithe was to be given to the Levites, those of the tribe of Levi who ministered to the Lord as helpers to the priests (Numbers 18:21-24). The Levites then were to give the priests a tithe of the tithe (Numbers 18:25-26). The tithe was to be taken to the house of the Lord where the priests and Levites served (Deuteronomy 12:5-6; 14:22-26). Every third year Israelites were to give an additional tithe to be shared with Levites, strangers, fatherless, and widows (Deuteronomy 14:27-29; 26:12-15). The tithe, as part of the Law of Moses, was done away when Christ died (Colossians 2:14-17; Hebrews 7:5).
Nowhere does the Lord in the New Testament command Christians to tithe. Rather, Christians are to give to the local church each first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). We are to contribute of our own free will (2 Corinthians. 8:3-5), as we have been prospered (2 Corinthians 8:12), bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:5-6), as we have purposed (2 Corinthians 9:7), and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7; cf. 8:1-2). “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).
