What does the Bible say about Christian tithing? (Part Two)

From the heart of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Teacher & Expositor. Does the teaching on tithing in Malachi apply to the church? This passage is often used to teach the need for Christians to tithe to local churches today. It says, (8) “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. (9) You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! (10) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows” (Malachi 3:8-10). This is one of the more popular Scriptures cited by the so-called “Prosperity Gospel,” despite it having no bearing on a Christian. Please notice that this entire discussion is directed at Israel, and within the context of the covenant between God and that nation. First, the context of this passage concerns the Israelites not bringing their offerings to the temple. How were they robbing God? They are robbing God by not fulfilling their covenant obligations. Specifically, they are not bringing the tithes (10% of their possessions) to the temple as they were commanded. It’s important to remember that this accusation is in the context of the Old Testament law. It’s a part of the covenant between the nation of Israel and God. Tithing is not a universal, eternal law applied to all people at all times. The requirement, the blessings, and the curses of this rule are exclusively between Israel and God. For that reason, “robbing God” can never apply to Christians! We’re not under Israel’s covenant obligation to provide for Levite priests! As a matter of fact, you’ll never find a Levite priest as part of the church! Because of their disobedience, God had judged them with a small harvest. The Lord challenged them to bring the “whole tithe” of grain sacrifices (Leviticus 6:14-23) and see that He would bless them with an abundance of future crops. Second, this passage teaches that the Jews were to give a tithe as part of the temple worship, but it does not teach that Christians are to give to churches. Malachi was written more than 400 years before the start of the first church in Jerusalem. Applying its command of temple giving to the local church takes these verses out of their original context. Are New Testament Christians commanded to tithe or not? Absolutely not!! The Old Testament Law was fulfilled in Jesus  (Matthew 5:17). When the church began to grow beyond the Jewish people and reach Gentiles, leaders wrestled with whether or not to command these new believers to follow the Mosaic Law. In the end, only a few instructions were given for the sake of peace, but tithing was not among them (Acts 15:19-21). Be encouraged!