This is an excerpt from Dollars and Doctrine provided by author, Rob Kuban. Rob is an Everyday Money Hero.
Many Christians wonder if the tithe, along with many other Old Testament practices like animal sacrifices, is fulfilled in Christ and no longer necessary. This question is not directly answered in the New Testament. Both Jesus and the apostles did not directly refute or confirm the tithe. Before we excuse ourselves from this “out-dated” concept, we must remember Jesus’ summation of the Old Testament Law in the Sermon on the Mount.
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Matt 5:17-18)
Immediately following these words, Jesus begins to discuss the Law and raise the standard of its accomplishment from external obedience to internal perfection.
“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’…But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court…You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery…But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart…Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:21-28, 48)
Jesus took these commands of the Law and shifted the act of obedience from external to internal. While the tithing commandments are not directly addressed in the Sermon on the Mount, it does call Christians to be generous, give secretively, serve God with their money, and be free from anxiety for basic necessities. This carries the Bible’s commands for giving from external formalities to internal convictions. Think of the Christian described earlier, who emotionlessly, thoughtlessly, and lifelessly gives ten percent of everything. Technically, he is fulfilling the Law, but Christ calls us to more than external obedience. If the believer assumes that the lack of direct confirmation of the tithe’s continuance is an excuse to not give, he is completely missing the point.
The tithe was a purposeful command of the Lord to His people. Under the freedom and grace of the new covenant, the Christian should find himself giving more than the tithe not less. As previously outlined, Jews of the Old Testament gave more than ten percent: “You shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution of your hand, and all your choice votive offerings which you will vow to the LORD.” (Deu. 12:11) If ten percent is less than the Lord required of Israel, why is it all we require of ourselves? If a ten percent tithe is consistently the ceiling of our contributions, we are not even following the Old Testament commands for giving, let alone those of the New Testament. However, the tithe is an excellent starting point for a believer beginning to honor God with his giving. Christians should tithe with a plan moving forward to increase their contributions. God requires more from His people than a lifeless ten percent tax to alleviate religious guilt.
The most telling sign of Christians’ misunderstanding of the tithe is the frequency with which this question is asked: “Am I supposed to tithe on my net or gross income?” This type of question implies something to the effect of, “How little can I give and still be meeting the commands of scripture?” Let us not act as the Pharisees who sought to accomplish the external acts of the Law while ignoring their internal motivation. Rather, let us joyfully, faithfully, sacrificially, responsibly, and freely begin giving based on the net, then the gross, then beyond.
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