Biblical Principles of Tithing

Christians believe that giving to the church should be done out of gratitude.

Passing around an offering plate is a common aspect of Christian church services. While some may give a few dollars or whatever change is in their pocket, the biblical principle has taken on varying forms in the Old and New Testaments. The western view of tithing calls for Christians to give 10 percent of their yearly earnings as an offering to the church.

Old Testament

In the Bible, tithing first appears in the Old Testament. In the book of Genesis, this first description of how Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe from the spoil obtained after defeating the enemies of Sodom demonstrates how this type of giving should be done from a place of gratitude. A second instance of tithing is recorded in the book of Nehemiah, when the Levites were instructed to bring tithes to the house of God as a constituted act of worship.

New Testament

In the New Testament, there are only two recorded instances which discuss the concept of tithing. The first is the description of Jesus chastising the Scribes and Pharisees for publicly placing large offerings of cash into the church treasury. The second documented instance of tithing takes place when Jesus praises a poverty-stricken widow for giving the church all that she had--even though the donation was minimal.

Western Culture

In western culture, the Biblical concept of tithing took on another meaning. According to Christian Ministry Articles, the westernized view of tithing includes a stigma that people can simply make an appearance at church, place a few dollars in the offering plate and be in good standing with the Lord. For devout Christians, this mindset does not agree with the Biblical principles of tithing, or Christianity itself. Another aspect of the western view of tithing includes the assumed amount of giving 10 percent of one's yearly income to the church.

Attitude

An essential component of the Biblical principles on tithing is attitude. According to Christian Ministry Articles, true Christianity calls for giving monetary donations out of gratitude, not from a sense of duty or obligation. For example, with the previous example of the poverty-stricken widow, Jesus discusses how the attitude of the woman's heart is what God truly cares about in regards to tithing.

References

• Church Communication Matters: Tithing