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Tithes and Offering
What does the Bible say about tithes and offering? Where can they go? You may hear in church:
Malachi 3:8-11
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 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 hosts, 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.
The verses above are quite common to hear within churches that are larger 50+ and with a commanding leadership ( insert url ). You will hear how you must pay tithes to the church and if you don’t you are cursed (or something along those lines). This is however taken to the extreme and out of context. If you look into the history of the Bible, we find that tithes originally came from the land (crops, fruit, etc.) and was used not only for the living of the high priest and the Levites (people chosen by God to do priestly services), but was given to the poor and needy. Different things were done to tithes and offerings because, at that time, tithes and taxes were blurred.
We understand the New Testament churches provided for each other, their pastors, their missionaries, and the poor/hungry. (I do not hear about many churches that keep this practice today). We also know that tithes and offerings were not talked much about in the New Testament. This is because we know that the early Christians did not do it, instead, they sold their belongs and distributed them out to every man’s need. Since we should support our church, we should be willing to give at least some money for the church and its staff. You should also be willing to give to other groups that are trying to do the Lord’s work also. It’s almost exactly like tithes and offerings except, you do it in free will and how you can afford it. Let’s call it “free will tithes and offerings”.
Mark 12:17
17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
Of course, we now have to ask where do we send our tithes and offerings? When we read that the tithes were paid to the high priest and then given to the Levites for distribution, we also read in Hebrews:
Hebrews 6:20
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
We also know that Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec and that we are no longer bound to the priesthood of the Levites and the Mosiac law. We are in Jesus Christ who:
Hebrews 7:15-22
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Also remember that:
1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Since we are born into the family of Christ, we as believers take the roles of the Levites. We have a duty to witness, teach, preach, and more. Each of us, male and female, have a role in His kingdom and some of us may have multiple roles (be careful in what role you think you ought to have).
As a chosen generation and a royal priesthood, shouldn’t we all get tithes? The Levites had to show God what they had been given and as Jesus said, help the poor and homeless. In actuality, we should all be giving our tithes straight to Jesus Christ. The best way we can give to God is by doing it yourself (not recommended) or by giving it to groups (churches or Project Corinthians 9). Since tithes and offerings normally go to the same person in church (who may not tell you where it all goes), we better way to give to God is by giving to a group that will tell you where your tithes or/and offerings go (PCOR9). We recommend choosing one option to help support your local church, your local church’s leaders (pastor and staff), and your local church family (maybe also your community). Then you can use the other option for Project Corinthians 9 (which will tell you where we use the offering/tithe) and help churches, young people, homeless, poor, abandoned children, communities, and more.