Is Tithing Scriptural?
“The impression is becoming quite
common that the sacred disposition of the tithe no longer exists. Many have
lost their sense of the Lord's requirements.” E.G. White, {7MR 136.5} The Bible principle is very plain: "... they
which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:14). "As long as the truth is progressive, the
claims of God rest upon men to give of that which He has entrusted to them
for this very purpose." Testimonies,
Vol. 4, p. 469. Click to go to our Home Page
|
The
notion is being taught by some apostate Seventh-day Adventists, and some of
other denominations that tithing is not Scriptural. That is a “strange fire”
teaching. Some teach that only food was given as a tithe. Food would not keep
for long as a “collection” item:
1Cr
16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the
churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1Cr 16:2
Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store,
as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
1Cr 16:3
And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by [your] letters, them
will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy
those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. John 13:29.
Judas
was known to have been the treasurer of the group of disciples. If you will
click on the word bag in the above verse you will get the meaning. Here is the
“especial” meaning of bag:
“esp. a casket, a purse to keep money in”
Also,
the Temple collected tithe. Jesus commended the women who gave her all. If
tithing was wrong, surely Jesus would have not commended the woman, but would
rather have corrected her:
41 And
Jesus
sat
over
against the
treasury, and
beheld how
the
people cast
money
into
the
treasury: and
many
that were
rich cast in
much.
42 And
there
came a certain
poor
widow,
and she
threw in two
mites,
which
make a
farthing.
43 And
he called
unto him his
disciples,
and saith
unto them,
Verily
I say
unto you,
That
this
poor
widow
hath cast
more
in,
than all
they
which have cast into
the
treasury:
44 For
all
they did cast
in of
their
abundance;
but
she
of
her
want
did cast
in all
that
she had,
even all
her
living.
Mark 12:41-44.
Those
who believe that tithing is not encumbent upon the believer today, might just
as well indict Jesus (above) and call Ellen White a false prophet, and thereby
speak against the Holy Spirit gift to the church which, according to Scripture,
is unpardonable sin.
The
Lord has shown me that what the detractors to tithing are really striving
against is a selfish, covetous, non-sacrificing spirit. They would not work for
nothing, but they expect the gospel worker to do so. God says that the laborer
is worthy of his/her hire and that those who preach the gospel should live of
the gospel (receive their livelihood from the giving of the gospel).
"Not
a particle of covetousness or selfishness can God approbate. He hates it, and
he despises the prayers and exhortations of those who possess it. As Satan sees his time is short, he leads them on to be
more and more selfish, more and more covetous, and then exults as he sees them
wrapt up in themselves, close, penurious and selfish. If the eyes of such could
be opened, they would see Satan in hellish triumph, exulting over them, and
laughing at the folly of those who accept his suggestions, and enter his
snares." 1 Spiritual Gifts, pp.
181, 182.
https://omega77.tripod.com/tithesandofferings.htm
https://omega77.tripod.com/swift1.htm
"Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which
is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? for ye are bought
with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are
God's." [1 COR. 6:19, 20.] He whose body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
will not be enslaved by a pernicious habit. His powers belong to Christ, who
has bought him with the price of blood. His property is the Lord's. How could
he be guiltless in squandering this intrusted capital? Professed Christians
yearly expend an immense sum upon useless and pernicious indulgences, while
souls are perishing for the word of life. God is robbed in tithes and offerings, while they
consume upon the altar of destroying lust more than they give to relieve the
poor or for the support of the gospel. If all who profess to be followers of Christ were truly sanctified,
their means, instead of being spent for needless and even hurtful indulgences,
would be turned into the Lord's treasury, and Christians would set an example
of temperance, self-denial, and self-sacrifice. Then they would be the light of
the world. {GC88 475.1}
MR No. 451 - The Tithe
The Use of the Tithe
[A basic source of Ellen White's 9T 248-251 statement]
"Thou shalt command the children of
Israel that they bring thee pure olive oil, beaten, for the light, to cause the
lamp to burn always." This was to be a continual offering, that the house
of God might be properly supplied with that which was necessary for His
service. His people today are to remember that the house of worship is the
Lord's property, and that it is to be scrupulously cared for. But the funds for
this work are not to come from the tithe. The
tithe is to be used for one purpose,--to sustain the ministers whom the Lord
has appointed to do His work. It is to be used to support those who speak the
words of life to the people, and carry the burden of the flock of God. {7MR 135.1}
But there are ministers who have been
robbed of their wages. God's provision for them has not been respected. Those
who have charge of our church buildings are to be supplied with the means that
is necessary to keep these buildings in good repair. But this money is not to
come from the tithe. {7MR 135.2}
A very plain, definite message has been
given to me to give to our people. I am bidden to tell them that they are
making a mistake in applying the tithe to various objects which, though good in
themselves, are not the object to which the Lord has said that the tithe is to
be applied. Those who make this use of the tithe are departing from the Lord's
arrangement.
-136- {7MR
135.3}
God will judge for these things. One
reasons that the tithe may be appropriated to school purposes. Still others
would reason that canvassers and colporteurs should be supported from the
tithe. But a great mistake is made when the tithe is drawn from the object for
which it is to be used,-- the support of the ministers. There should today be
in the field one hundred well qualified laborers where now there is but one.
{7MR 136.1}
God cannot look upon the present condition
of things with approval, but with condemnation. His treasury is deprived of the
means that should be used for the support of the gospel ministry in fields nigh
and afar off. Those who proclaim the message of truth before great
congregations, and who do house-to-house work as well are doing double missionary
work, and in no case are their salaries to be cut down. {7MR 136.2}
The use of the tithe must be looked upon
as a sacred matter by our people. We must guard strictly against all that is
contrary to the message now given. {7MR 136.3}
There is a lack of ministers because
ministers have not been encouraged. Some ministers who have been sent to
foreign lands, to enter fields never worked before, have been given the
instruction, "You must sustain yourselves. We have not the means with which
to support you." This ought not to be, and it would not be if the tithe,
with gifts and offerings, were brought into the treasury. When a man enters the
ministry, he is to be paid from the tithe enough to sustain his family. He is
not to feel that he is a beggar. {7MR 136.4}
The impression is becoming quite common
that the sacred disposition of the tithe no longer exists. Many have lost their
sense of the Lord's requirements.
-137- {7MR
136.5}
The tithe is sacred, reserved by God for
Himself. It is to be brought into His treasury to be used to sustain the gospel
laborers in their work. For a long time the Lord has been robbed, because there
are those who do not realize that the tithe is God's reserved portion. {7MR
137.1}
Many ministers are lying in their graves,
brought there by sorrow and disappointment, and by the hardship brought upon
them because they did not receive sufficient for their labors. {7MR 137.2}
Let us remember that God is a God of
justice and equity. There would today be many more ministers in the field, but
they are not encouraged to labor. Many workers have gone into the grave
heartbroken, because they had grown old, and could see that they were looked
upon as a burden. But had they been retained in the work, and given an easy
place, with a whole or part of their wages, they might have accomplished much
good. During their term of labor, these men have done double labor. They felt
so heavy a burden for souls that they had no desire to be relieved of overwork.
The heavy burdens borne shortened their lives. The widows of these ministers
are never to be forgotten, but should if necessary be paid from the tithe. {7MR
137.3}
Read carefully the third chapter of
Malachi, and see what God says about the tithe. If our churches will take their
stand upon the Lord's word, and be faithful in paying their tithe into His
treasury, His laborers will be encouraged to take up ministerial work. More men
would give themselves to the ministry were they not told of the depleted
treasury. There should be an abundant supply in the Lord's treasury, and there
would be if selfish hearts and hands had not made use of the tithe to support
other lines of work.
-138- {7MR 137.4}
God's reserved resources are to be used in
no such haphazard way. The tithe is the Lord's and those who meddle with it
will be punished with the loss of their heavenly treasure, unless they repent.
Let the work no longer be hedged up because the tithe has been diverted into
various channels other than the one to which the Lord has said it should go.
Provision is to be made for these other lines of work. They are to be
sustained; but not from the tithe. God has not changed; the tithe is to be used
for the support of the ministry. The opening of new fields requires more
ministerial efficiency than we now have, and there must be means in the
treasury.--Ms 82, 1904. ("The Use of the Tithe," 1904.) {7MR 138.1}
The Second Tithe
The Lord desires the churches in every
place to take hold more diligently of the church school work, giving liberally
to sustain the teachers. The question has been asked, "Could not the
second tithe be used for the support of the church school work?' It could be
used for no better purpose.--Ms 67, 1901, p. 5. ("The Church School,"
July 29, 1901.) {7MR 138.2}
I do not see the wisdom of the school
depending on the second tithe to meet so much of its expenses. I fear that if
the brethren rely so much upon this, difficulties will arise. You should labor
patiently to develop those industries by which students may partly work their
way through school. Let each family try to pay the expenses of the students
that it sends to school.--Letter 167, 1904, p. 1. (To Brethren Santee and Owen,
April 27, 1904.)
-139- {7MR
138.3}
In regard to the school work, I have been
instructed that the plan of charging students nothing for tuition, depending on
the second tithe to support the school, will always leave the school in the
condition of financial embarrassment. When I first heard of this movement I
thought I would let it be worked out, but I tell you now that the light given
me is that other plans will have to be made than the plan of supporting schools
from the second tithe. Students should be charged a reasonable price for their
tuition. There will be an abundance of places to use the second tithe in doing
earnest missionary work in new places.--Letter 103, 1905, p. 5. (To E. S.
Ballenger, April 7, 1905.) {7MR 139.1}
We are now wrestling with the debt on the
Fernando college. If our people will take hold earnestly of the sale of
Christ's Object Lessons a great deal may be accomplished. The plans for
supporting this school in the past were not wisely laid. I hope that no one
will endeavor to go over the same ground again and make similar
mistakes.--Letter 279, 1905, p. 1. (To Clarence Santee, October 4, 1905.)
Released
November 10, 1975. {7MR 139.2}