Tithing

Few churches would disagree with the fact that contributions are needed for the work of the Lord. Critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would have you believe that paying a tithing of 10% is wrong. The critics of tithing claim that this method of contributing to the Lord was strictly for the Old Testament saints, and is now an obsolete practice. Yet, no scriptures are found that do away with the Lords’ law of tithing.  

According to Easton’s bible dictionary,“A tenth of the produce of the earth consecrated and set apart for special purposes. The dedication of a tenth to God was recognized as a duty before the time of Moses.  Abraham pad tithes to Melchizedek (Gen 14:30; Heb 7:4); and Jacob vowed unto the Lord and said, “Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee (http://eastonsbibledictionary.com/tithe.htm).”

The LDS Church encourages a tithe from its members, by allowing them to donate “10 percent of their income to the Church” (http://newsroom.lds.org/article/tithing). Tithing money is used for the buildings and materials needed to progress the work of the Lord. The critics of tithing still collect contributions, but justify it by calling it something else (like freewill offering) or by not requiring a percentage. Tithing should not be surprising to any one who reads the scriptures, since it is found throughout its pages!

Is the principle of Tithing found in the Scriptures?

Way back in Genesis, Abram (who later was called Abraham) met with the Priest of Salem and was the first recorded example of a tithe payer, "And Melchizedek, king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all"(Gen 14:16-20).

We also find Abraham's grandson continuing the practice of paying tithing by covenant in Gen 28:21-22 " So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."

Was tithing ever commanded?

The Lord did command the children of Israel to practice the Law of Tithing, "But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks"(Deut 12:5-6). Notice that the Lord not only established tithing but also instructed other offerings in addition. So, tithing is not the end of giving to the cause of the Lord but it is a portion of that giving.

The Lord gave the Children of Israel further instruction on how to give tithing; “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee....Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose"(Deut 14:22-25). Not only did the Lord show that offering up our money as a payment for tithing here, but he also shows how we ought to personally go before the Lords servant to give a reckoning of our tithe.

How does God view those who do not obey His law of tithing?

The most telling scripture dealing with tithing is Mal 3:8-11 where the Lord tells us how he views those who do not tithe. "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of host, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts." Those who do not tithe and give offerings the Lord said are robbing him, and they are cursed. Once again we see that tithing is just the beginning of the offerings we could give to the Lord.

Isn't tithing an Old Testament Law that doesn't apply today?

Some believe that the Law of Tithing was an Old Testament Law and that it was done away during the time of Christ. If this is true where are the Scriptures that say that Christ did away with the Law of Tithing? Instead we find Christ confirming tithing! Matt 23:23 Christ says, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weighter matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith: these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone." Christ in teaching that the Jewish leaders out to exercise judgment, mercy and faith also confirms that they were correct to pay tithes (these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone).

Modern revelation informs us of a need to continue to tithe. "And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people. And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one tenth of all their interest annually and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord"(D&C 119:3-4). The Lord also informs us that if we are willing to obey his law of tithing, we will be found keeping the other commandments and thus be saved at his coming. "Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man and verily it is a day of sacrifice and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming"(D&C 64:23).

We are not limited to only giving tithes.

In 2 Cor 9:6-7 Paul teaches "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give not grudgingly or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." So the followers of Christ could add to their tithes other offerings to add to the work of the Lord and to tend to the poor and needy. 

For those who think that the LDS church is ripping them off by asking for 10% of their income, look at what Christ asked for. In Mark 10:19-22 Jesus had a man that came to him pretending to be his follower, so the Lord tried him to see if he would follow at all costs! "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions." 

The scriptures are full of examples of church members who gave more than 10% of their income to the early church (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-37; Acts 5:1-11). Yet some still criticize the LDS church for teaching their members to pay a 10% tithe. Those critics of tithing are speaking against what has been established by the Lord, as a doctrine of the scriptures. Surely these critics can see that the Lord could require more of his followers than just their 10%, and if he did, then what would they say?

Don't Pray About the Book of Mormon...That's How They Get You!

Recently my brother-in-law posted a picture on Facebook of a sign at a church that read "don't pray about the Book of Mormon that's how they get you!" Though I have seen and laughed at this sign many times before, this time I felt a need to address this topic. Even if the sign had been photo-shopped, the sentiment has been expressed in my conversations with critics and pastors of other churches in the past.

The reason this topic even comes up, is because the Book of Mormon gives this promise in it, "I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things,...and ponder it in your hearts...I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost"(Moroni 10:3-4). What problem could the critic possibly have with this statement? If something claims to come from God and you don't know if it does or not, praying to God would be the right choice to find your answer.

The problem for the critics of the LDS church, is that this promise has been fulfilled so many times by the Lord. These critics try to discourage people from joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by teaching them not to pray to know the truth!

Should we Read, Study, and Pray to know Gods truth?

James 1:5-6 states "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." That seems very straight forward, if you are seeking to know what God’s word is, then ask him! Paul also taught "Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good"(1 Thes 5:17-19, 21). Prove all things? Like the Book of Mormon? How would one quench the spirit? If you didn't pray and seek God for an answer then the spirit would surely be quenched.

Why do we need to Pray to know God’s truths?

Paul informs us why it would be important to pray to God to know his truth, "but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God"(1 Cor 2:7, 9-10). According to Paul, God’s wisdom is hidden in mystery and since they are given by the Spirit, the Spirit is needed to search out these truths. Paul continued to teach in this chapter, "We speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned"(1 Cor 2:13-14). The critics seems to be fulfilling Paul's warning by convincing others that it is foolishness to pray for the Spirit to reveal Gods truth.

In 2 Chr 15:3-4 the Prophet Azariah warns the house of Israel. "The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them." Here we can see how important seeking the Lord was in Israel search for the truth. When they were without the true God, without a teaching priest, and even without the law, how could they seek the Lord??? They would find him in prayer!  In Jeremiah the Lord explains the important role prayer would play in their search for truth, "Then shall ye call upon me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart"(Jer 29:12-13).

If Christ promises to answer our prayers, would that include knowing if the Book of Mormon is truth?

During Christ’s ministry, he repeatedly told his disciples he would answer all their prayer requests! A few examples are listed below:

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive"(Matt 22:21).

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it"(John 14:13-14).

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you"(John 15:7).

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them"(Mark 11:24).

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 Jn 3:22).

"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily,verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full"(John 16:23-24).

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him”(1 John 5: 14-15)

For what kinds of things could we ask?  The Lord informs us,” Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? (or if you pray to know the Book of Mormon is true, will God say that is a dumb question ask me something else?) If ye then, being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"(Matt 7:7-11)

Paul teaches the Philippians "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"(Phil 4:6-7). 

From where does the idea that we should not pray come?

Truly the critics of the LDS church believe it is foolishness for the Spirit of God to answer our prayers to know if the Book of Mormon is true. They would rather have you believe that you could just know for yourself that the Book of Mormon is false without ever having read it for yourself or praying! Really!!!

The Book of Mormon prophets foresaw the hearts of the critics and wrote to them, "feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock"(2 Ne 32:3-4). Then Nephi informs the critic which spirit leads men not to pray to the Lord, "it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray"(2 Ne 32:8).

Despite the Scriptures given above, what scriptural argument does the critic have for not praying to know the truth? None!

The choice seems very clear: We could listen to the Lord and pray to know his truth and hearken to the Spirit of the Lord….or we could trust the critic and refuse to pray and be led by that spirit which teacheth a man not to pray! The choice is yours!