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?