The statistics around tithing indicate that fewer than one-quarter of any congregation tithes. We can give 3 percent, 5 percent, or 8 percent of our income to the church, but we can’t tithe it. So it’s essential that we’re clear in our terminology. Christians who have grown accustomed to thinking of all giving as tithing can struggle with this biblical concept. The conversation gets a little messy when many Christians use the word “tithing” to denote any sort of giving. In fact, some of these people would say that given the model of the early Christians, a tithe asks far too little of us. This doesn’t mean that they don’t believe that generous giving isn’t necessary it means that they don’t believe that Christians are required to give a specific percentage. Today, many Christians would say that tithing was part of the law that Christians are no longer required to participate in. And that’s already a little misleading, because when you factor in all of their required giving, Israelites actually gave around 23 percent of their income. That tithe or “tenth part” was a requirement of the law. Throughout the Old Testament, Israelites were expected to give 10 percent of their resources to God. DO MOST CHRISTIANS TITHE?Ī lot of the confusion around the topic of whether Christians tithe comes from the terminology. It also provided for the Levitical priesthood, festivals, and the needy. It was a show of thankfulness for His provision. It was a reminder to Israel that all things we have are His. Because God provided the harvest, this first part was returned to Him. The tithe was an obligatory offering from the law of Moses requiring 10 percent of an Israelite’s firstfruits. What is Tithing?ĭespite the fact that many people use the word “tithe” synonymously with any church-related giving, the word tithe literally means “tenth.” Tithes and offerings have been the chief way financial stewardship has been practiced by God’s people throughout Scripture. Our ability to acquire wealth is a gift given to us by God, and we need to be mindful of how we use these resources to fulfill God’s work to further His kingdom and take care of others. Our finances are one of the key areas where Christians practice stewardship. Humans exist as the managers of these resources. It challenges us to recognize that everything was created by God and is ultimately owned by God. What can we learn about tithing in the Bible? Stewardship is one of Scripture’s key principles.
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