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Tithing is not vaguely New Covenant doctrine. It is fully rooted in the Old Testament. The word tithe occurs 42 times in the Bible. Each time the author and audience are circumcised Jews.
Matthew 23
Jesus’ references to Pharisaical hypocrisy in Matthew 23 is still a rebuke for Old Testament circumcised Jews, about their obligations under Moses.
- Jesus had not been crucified and resurrected at that point and thus for the Pharisees, the Mosaic law was still in effect.
- Secondly, Jesus spoke to them retrospectively, about what they should have done, not about what they will be doing in the future.
Hebrews
In Hebrews, tithing is mentioned in passing specifically to show the “Hebrews” Jewish believer that tithing was associated with the Old Testament priesthood and that Christ had “annulled” all of it.
The only reason tithing is taught in the modern church is because the clergy system needs cash. It’s unfortunately as simple as that.
Since when does Malachi 3:10 sound like New Testament gospel?
What is the big problem though?
- Exegesis: If the pastor teaches that Mal 3:10 is applicable to Christians, then the baby Christians learn HAVOC theology. (HAVOC Half a Verse Out of Context). You just yank any verse out of context and quote it willy-nilly if it feels good. No respect for the basic rules of exegesis.
- Mixing the Old and New Covenant and thereby blinding the Christian to the Spirit.
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
” (2 Corinthians 3:12–18, NKJV)
- Priesthood of all believers: Tithing is intimately associated with priesthood. The fact than the Christian tithes to pastor (or into the pastors administration) instantly denies equality of priesthood. You can teach and preach priesthood of all believers all you like after that, it doesn’t ring true.
- Clergy System: Closely related to the previous point, the fact that some Christians pay other Christians, who are clearly, professional, to do the work of the ministry has a permanent subordinating effect. Nobody likes admitting this but a little bit of honest contemplation makes it crystal clear. PS: The unbelievers are not confused at all by the dynamic of a professional priesthood in the Christian church. They can see it from a mile. As the Germans say: “if it doesn’t look right, then is not right”.
- Integrity: Seeing as all tithers in the bible were circumcised why doesn’t the pastor teach circumcision also?
- Paying for a service automatically moves responsibility to the party getting paid. Christians go to church on Sunday much less prepared to give and minister than the pastor. Why? Obviously all do not have equality of priesthood.
I fully understand why people want to tithe and then leave spiritual responsibility with pastors. It’s scary, it’s difficult and dangerous to deal with God. That however is unacceptable.
The abdication of the believers of so many and such integral aspects of their spiritual calling to the pastors is prostitution. I’m sorry to call it such a strong term but if your task is love and intimacy but you then pay someone else for it, it is called “spiritual prostitution”. Quite a bit like a wife who doesn’t enjoy sex and now allows her husband to “make love” with professionals.
In spiritual terms it is adultery.
The abdication of spiritual responsibility of intimacy and ministry, the abdication of exegesis, and all the tasks and works of the church to professionals, and on top that, the outsourcing of intimacy and love has a devastating effect on baby Christians. They very quickly become spectators and begin to disengage.
Unmarried young people and students are often deployed by the pastors as gophers and they run around attending meetings and do practical things. Seldom prophesying, casting out demons, or real ministry, mostly just logistics. They defer permanently to the pastor and are not discipled in a way that will cause them to be “just like the pastor”.
When these young people get married and have kids or start working they are not able to attend so many meetings and events and inevitably their passion for the “church” and the “church’s” passion for them wanes.
Seeing as they were not discipled for maturity and complete spiritual autonomy, but for a subordinate logistics type role, they are now left stranded spiritually.
Churches often are frustrated and start calling them “backslidden”.
This is a categorical disaster and fully the fruit of tithing and the clergy system
The Alternative:
If there was no money involved in church, and the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist Pastor-Teacher were not getting paid, then the discipleship model would automatically look very differently.
The leaders and older Christians would teach autonomy, responsibility, productivity, maturity. They would also pursue a real community where tasks and roles were shared and not outsourced on a payment basis.
Such young people would not take a dip when the kiddies come or work pressure mounts because their spirituality and their relationship with the Spirit would never have been based on running after “church” logistics.
Context & Qualifier
Some of what I say maybe a little exaggerated for certain people and for some churches but the overall problem is still very real, as many older believers will testify to.
If you pay someone to do something, you inevitably, stop doing it yourself.
If the professional then goes astray or something, you are isolated, you are powerless and unskilled i.t.o the Spirit, the scriptures and the Kingdom.
There are obvious reasons for the clergy and outsourcing model but the spiritual damage is irreparable. Few have the guts to face up to it.
