Do Christians Truly Need to Tithe to the Church?
In the New Testament, there is no place for a disregardful attitude towards the local church. It demands purposeful assembling and outreach. Our finances (which ultimately belong to God) should be utilized for the advancement of the church’s work.
Does the Bible Truly Mandate Tithing?
A few years back, Suzanne Staline of the Wall Street Journal penned an article titled “The Backlash Against Tithing.” She informed the readers that Christian pastors have long noticed a decline in church giving. As pastors strive to reverse this trend and promote tithing to the local church, many members object. Some oppose their funds being used for “coffee bars and widescreen TVs.” Others take issue with the implication (or direct teaching by some) that giving prompts God to bless them materially – the so-called prosperity gospel. Still others simply aren’t convinced that tithing is biblically required.
A question I frequently encounter about giving is somewhat different: “Must all our tithe go to our church, or can I donate part of it to a Christian ministry?” I appreciate the sentiment behind this question. Those who ask it desire to be good stewards of their wealth, care about the local church, and have a genuine eagerness to support external ministries. These are all noble intentions.
My response is this: There is a Christian duty to give generously to the local church, yet there is also the freedom to give generously outside it. To clarify this answer, I need to discuss the tithe and the local church.
A Word about the Tithe
From various parts of the Old Testament, we know that the tithe was a crucial element of Israelite worship. In Malachi 3:8-10, God’s people were reprimanded for withholding their “tithes and contributions.” When all the giving commands faced by the Israelites are tallied, it amounts to approximately 25% of their annual income. The first tithe (or tenth) was given to the Levites. This priestly tribe didn’t receive land and thus relied on the people for support (Lev 27; Num 18; Neh 10). Additionally, every Israelite contributed a second tithe for the yearly religious festivals (Deut 14). Another tithe was given to the needy every three years (Deut 14). Hence, about a quarter of their income each year was to be brought to the Temple to sustain the priests, the festivals, and the poor.
In Malachi’s time, God rebuked Israel for their stinginess. They failed to trust God to meet their needs while faithfully adhering to the command to give. Sadly, we can understand their lack of trust in the Lord, especially in financial matters. It’s easy to forget that we need God more than material things. Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” It’s unsurprising that sending 25% of their income was a significant act of faith for the Israelites.
When we turn to the New Testament, we don’t find similar commands to tithe. In Christianity, there is no Temple to support. Although we are to provide for those who teach us God’s Word (1 Tim 5:17-18), as well as for widows (1 Tim 5:3) and the poor in the body (James 2:14-17), no specific amounts are stipulated.
Instead, the New Testament presents gospel-inspired, grace-filled exhortations for willing, sacrificial giving:
- Early believers’ sacrificial giving due to grace and joy: “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.” (2 Cor 8:1-4)
- Jesus’ encouragement for giving as a sign of faith: “Fear not, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:32-34)
- Giving to be done cheerfully with personal conviction: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully must also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:6-8)
- Jesus’ rebuke for less-than-sacrificial giving: “Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'” (Luke 21:1-4)
Clearly, the call for financial giving in a Christian’s life is not ultimately a call to tithe once, twice, or three times. It is a summons to give materially because the Lord has given so much spiritually. Faithful and sacrificial giving to God is evidence of true love for God. For some budgets, a tithe may be a generous offering. For others, a tithe is meager and mocks God’s grace.
A Word about the Local Church
As Christians, we are no longer tasked with supporting the construction and upkeep of the Jerusalem Temple. Instead, we are called to support the work of Jesus, which is building His church. When you financially contribute to a gospel-centered church, you are making an investment with a glorious return. Wall Street can bring down any company, but not even hell can demolish the church.
Christians are obliged to financially back the ministry of the local church. We see in 1 Timothy 5:18 the responsibility of congregations to support elders whose main duty is preaching and teaching. From 1 Corinthians 16, we know that local churches in the first century held weekly collections. Again, there is no command to tithe in the New Testament, only a call to faithfully and sacrificially support the work of Jesus and the building of the church.
Ultimately, it is God alone who builds the church. And by “build,” I don’t mean physical structures! The work of Jesus is the assembling and outreach of the saints. As saints, we are commanded to gather (Heb 10:25). We gather to listen to the preached Word so that we can be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and walk in holiness (Col 1:9-10). But we don’t just fund the gathering; we also fund the outreach. We give so that Christians have the resources to take the gospel to their neighborhoods and the nations. This is Jesus’ command and the central task of the church:
- “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20)
- “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18)
- “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
- “For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.” (1 Thess 1:8)
There is no room in the New Testament for a dismissive view of the local church. The church is God’s plan for global evangelism. A healthy church requires intentional gathering and outreach. Our funds should be given to promote these two goals within the local church context.
Where Does This Leave Us?
As Christians, we truly have a responsibility to fund the ministry of a local church. The amount of giving ultimately depends on each Christian’s conscience. For most of us in an industrialized economy, a tithe is a reasonable starting point. However, we should be part of a church where we would be content if 90% of our income (should the Lord bless us so) were given to the gathering and outreach of that particular group of saints.
Finally, as Christians, we also have the freedom to support ministries outside the local church. Praise God if you can directly assist gospel-centered Christian work in addition to financing a local church.