Friday, November 16, 2012

Tithing


While the Old Testament concept of tithing was clearly commanded, its not so in the New Testament. Due to lack of clarity in this matter many people have contested whether tithing applies in the New Testament. Some scholars take tithing as an oppressive ecclesiastical order that lacks clear biblical backing. They question whether this practice is to be continued in the New Testament or not.
As Wright says the payment of tithe was a kind of comprehensive welfare program for those in the service of the Lords Temple and those who were truly destitute like the landless and familyless. It was expected that Israel would be excited about this divine program but this was not the case as we see it early in Israel’s history (Judges17:7-13, 18:19-20) and later in Mal 3:8-10). Besides tithing other measures that had been instituted to take care of the poor included the annual gleanings (Exo. 23:10-11, Deut. 24:18-22), the sabbatical year arrangements which included all that grew by itself on the fallow land (exod23:10-11),  the cancelation of debts (Deut 15:1-11) and the freeing of Hebrew slaves (Deut 15:12-18).
The triennial tithe also ensured that the Israelites would bring 10% of all their produce to create a store where the social fund would help support the needy thus making sure they are all covered and cushioned from abject poverty. In this case the law had built a broad moral and emotional ethos. The Old Testament emphasis on gratitude to and imitation of  God as a motivation and compassion and generosity as key virtues[1] the care for the poor and Levites then could be considered a legitimate test of obedience  to the rest of the law and in extension to God. And thus when Jesus said that justice, mercy and faith are weightier matters (Matt23:23) that deserve prominence in our quest to do His will he was referring to this expected outcome of Israel’s obedience.
Just as there was a temptation for the religious leaders at Jesus’ time to substitute one for the other, so it is for Christians to emphasis grace without paying attention to the tangible indicators of our obedience to God. God expected an alignment between the Israelites outward works and their inner spiritual disposition. This was lacking then and still lacking today. There’s indeed need for congruence between our outward actions and our inner spiritual disposition. As Jesus indicated justice, mercy and faith are weighty matters of the law[2] because they cannot be done casually or routinely. To reflect justice, mercy and faith requires our emotional entanglement, a crisis on our personal opinion and what is Gods will for us in relation to others, the poor and the Levitical priesthood then and the church’s mission, its workers and the poor, windows and orphans. If the believers who are the body of Christ fail to reflect justice, mercy and faith then their faith is empty, filled only with rituals and  showmanship, a botched kind of religion which lacks depth of character, the qualities’ that fan the flames of our practice of the principle of tithing and giving (Jas 1:27).
For an Israelite to give an offering to the Lord with gratitude  was to declare that he had indeed met his obligation  by giving the sacred portion to the Lord  and the poor as required by the tithing law(Deut 14:28-29). “Only on that basis could he claim to have not forgotten any of Gods commands.”[3] The giving to the needy was not only a sacred duty but the only way to define their obedience to the law. [4]
It is my firm believe that by practicing tithing the church  levels the playing field to all believers who as the body of Christ equally contribute to its well being (Eph 4:16) and purpose. All gave ten percent. In other words obedience to God is not grievous for either category. When it comes to other offerings there the spirit of gratitude now set the boundaries for each believer.


[1]Christopher J H Wright, Old Testament Ethics for the People of God, (Leicester: InterVarsity Press, 2004), 173-174.
[2] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 109.
[3] (Wright, 2004), 174
[4] Wright Deuteronomy, 271-272

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