Should the Church Teach Tithing?
A Theologian’s Conclusions about a Taboo Doctrine
Russell Earl Kelly, PHD
www.tithing-russkelly.com
russkellyphd@yahoo.com
A Tithe of What?, brochure NST3-4, SBC Stewardship Commission circa 2000.
“More than once the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians about planning to give and deciding how much to give.” [Then quotes 1 Cor. 16:2 and 2 Cor. 9:7 which say absolutely nothing about tithing.] “Begin with the biblical teaching on tithing and mature in your faith and grow in generous giving.” {Quotes Malachi 3:7, 10.]
Conclusion: This is pure manipulation of God’s Word and is wrong.
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“Trust the Lord … Tithe,” brochure FB-22, 676155, SBC Stewardship Commission.
‘Tithing is built on a relationship of trust. It may be seen as *Trust the Lord by giving to him first and believing he will provide our needs. *Giving 10 per cent of our income to God through our church as an act of worship.” *Practicing one of God’s time-honored plans to help us grow spiritually.”
Comments: This is wrong. The Bible does not equate tithing with first-fruit. The SBC wants the first 10% whether or not the giver can afford to buy medicine and other essentials.
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“Tithing is not a modern day inventdion to raise funds. The tithe is rooted in biblical teaching and historical practice. Genesis 14 is the earliest biblical reference to tithing. Abram gave the priesst of God Most High ‘a tenth of everything.’ It was a way for Abram to worship and express gratitude to God. Jacob’s devotion and gratitude were evident when he oromised to God, “Of all lthat you give me I will give you a tenth” (Gen 28:22).
Comments: There are 4 liles here. (1) Tithing textgs were not included in the SBC Faith and Message until 1963. (2) Abrah really only gave a tenth of spoils of war and nothing of his own property. (3) The Bible does not say Abram gave to “express gratitude.” He may have been following pagan tradition. This is manipulation of God’s Word. (4) Jacob’s tithe was a bargain with God. The context was omitted.
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“Tithing, while beginning and continuing as an act of worship became a part of the Law from the times of Moses. “A tithe of everything from the land whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees belongs to the Lord, ‘It is holy tothe Lord'” (Lev 27:30).
Comments: There are 3 lies here. (1) There is actually no connection from Abram and Jacob to Moses. One was pagan custom and the other Old Covenant Law. Genesis 14:21 is ignored. (2) The text defines the tithe as food and that definition never changed to include money. Lev 27:34 limits it tot he Old Covenant. (3) The phrase “It is holy to the Lord” applied to almost everything in Leviticus and most have been discarded as not applying to the churfch.
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“Tithing was established and unquestioned in Jesus’ day. Jesus commended the practice of tithing (Matt 23:23) and challenged people to give with proper motives adn attitudes. ”
Comments: Matt 23:23 is a woe to scribes and Pharisees who had added garden spices to “the law” as the text mentions. Jesus commended tithing becasue He lived and died under the jurisdiction of the Law. Jesus urged his disciples under the law to obey the scribes and Phariseese becaue they were the current interpreterrs of the Law. Matt 23:23 is not addressed to New Covenant Christians.
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“Today we too bring our gifts. *to worship. *to demonstrate faith. *to express our stewardship and *to acknowledge God’s ownership over all things.”
Comments: Proof-texting is in full force. Context is out. Exegesis is out. Hermeneutics is out. Discussioon is gone. And, since Bible belt Christianity is fading and deep Bible study is almost gone, the average church member is falling prey to manipulation and the a false doctrine called tithing.
