To Tithe Or Not To Tithe? Not Really The Question. Spiritual Authority? The Root Answer.

            After having written my very first novel last night, albeit some minor changes may need to be made, I had sworn silently to take a break from writing. Moments after making a rash oath, I stumbled across an online article on the biblical tithe and what it “states.” While this rebuttal is not an exhaustive, in-depth look at a stance that essentially denies any mandate to currently do so, I do wish to address what I believe the link sorely lacks: Understanding spiritual authority.

            This is by no means a post filled with red herrings, but as a student of history, it is noteworthy to point out that said link of which I wish to refute, http://tithingtoday.com, is taking what the writer believes to be a very thorough biblical approach. But historical context, when discussing Scripture is not the only context in which one must approach the text. If I say the Lord revealed to me one thing, and another says the Lord revealed to them something contrary to what I just said, then one or both of us is lying or deceived. They cannot be both biblically supported. Is not the apostasy of the Church the most biblically discussed end-times topic? In the prerequisite category of the link above, three definitions of the 20^th century are referred to concerning the definition of the tithe. Historically and ideologically, this is fascinating in and of itself. As the nation secularized, the 1938 definition still understood Christianity as a primary force in U.S. religion. No other faith had a stronghold by said date other than the unofficial religious encroachment of secular humanism. So the writer did rightly refer to the original Hebrew meaning of the tithe, “tenth.” From a more accurate definition comes, not the 1994 American heritage explanation in said link, but my copy of the original 1828 version, which referred to Deuteronomy 26 when explaining the tithe as, “To levy a tenth part on; to tax to the amount of the tenth.” Keep in mind that the tithe is essentially a lawful tax the Lord demands of the people, the Levite being another discussion of which I’m not addressing here.

            Deuteronomy 25 discusses a matter of law, but then why does the former Pharisaical scholar -turned apostle Paul refer to Deut. 25:4, quoting said law, in 1 Timothy 5:17-20 and also quote the Lord Jesus in Luke 10:7 when referring to the church elders?

“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’ Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”

And this, my friends, is where the heart of the topic truly lies: Spiritual authority. It is extremely interesting how often authorities are mentioned in Scripture when a tithe has been given. Old and New Testament giving always deals with authority. If you have no one over yourself but you, don't assume you're operating in what God has called you to do & be. If we all freely gave what we “felt” like we should give, the majority rule would most expressly be to give little rather than more. Any naysayers who state they would give more are they themselves not the standard. Think about it for a second. You know this to be true. Also from a biblical perspective, they need to ask themselves if their heart(s) is/are right in making such a claim. One can wax eloquent, (a favorite phrase of mine), until they’re blue in the face, constantly arguing with people of opposing views until everyone involved believes their own nonsensical rhetoric is beautifully written prose (<<< Like this here). But ultimately what starts out as an argument against the tithe begins to bear fruit that has nothing to do with biblical increase. And by, that I mean dead works.  Let me show you what I mean specifically: A prophet much more intelligent and spiritually fine-tuned than myself once told me, “It is always the responsibility of the one offended to forgive.” We choose to be offended. Mom once told me the only perfect church is a church with no people in it. Truer words were never spoken. Why? Because attend any assembling of the brethren for a lengthy period of time and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Suddenly someone, somewhere received a “fresh” revelation that trumps the pastors, the priest, the elders, the senior pastor, etc, etc… per your denominational interpretation of leadership. This is not to say that church leadership is never, ever wrong biblically. What I am saying is that it is not our place in the body of Christ to usurp God’s anointed. When we do that, we not only risk God’s judgment, but our dead fruit begins to affect relationships, our personal lives, our jobs, and yes…, even our finances because we cannot possibly ascertain what financial expectations God had for us before we thought to buck his anointed from our lives. As Watchman Nee writes, “Submitting to the authority of other members is to possess their riches. Insubordination brings poverty.” This doesn’t exclusively mean financial woe. To assume the authority God anoints over us is there to restrict of from living the life we choose is ironic. We’re already living that life by casting them aside. When we buck the leadership, we buck those around us. We are untamed horses. The kind, unless tamed, no one wants to be around. Suddenly, an invisible wall separates us from those we thought to be loved ones. This is not finger-pointing. When you run into one another, think about the fact that you cannot seriously talk about what the Lord is doing in your lives or the spiritual progress either of you might have made in your lives. Why? Because neither one of you is taking the other serious. You now have a pre-conceived notion about what God is doing on the earth and that you are right. Because the elephant in the room is so large, it pushes you both in opposite directions and out separate doors. So when you say your goodbyes, you’ve said goodbye to a mere acquaintance, not a loved one or dear friend. If we cannot rightly determine that God has appointed governing authorities over us in the church, then we cannot assume we understand, in any more detail, what he is doing in our lives personally. We’ve made up our own minds about what God is doing. Thus the deception, which haunts us, often appears rationalistic, while silently floundering in a pit of spiritual despair. Or as the old maxim states, “A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.”

So in an urban environment, where I don’t have a goat to offer a priest or pastor, one is completely missing the point of the spiritual ramifications of the above biblical text in Timothy. As 2 Corinithians 9:7 states, “… for God loves a cheerful giver…,” refers back to my earlier point. I choose to be under the God-appointed authorities. If said authorities wish to model the tithe off of the Levitical model, so that they may not be muzzled while treading out their grain, can I not freely give a tithe, then an offering, then the alms? What is stopping my cheerful giving? If they mandated such a tithe, can I not freely give it? Refer back to what I said about no mandate at all. Who would freely give? The norm would not suffice and the same backbiters who gnash about church leadership demanding a tithe would then be demanding said leaders, who’ve no financial support, start taking more time to tend the flock.  The layman usurps authority either way. Self demands to be appointed to the leadership position while feigning the notion that they’re really just there to “be a blessing to the body of Christ.” When we debate such foolish notions assuming we can buck a cheerful tithe or offering; we combat with vain notions that alienate us from God, the brethren, and the meatier matters to which we never could hope to obtain. Show me a Christian who wishes to be fed by strictly televangelism or a home study group, (and I’ve met plenty growing up), and one can easily see the dead fruit in their lives is no different from an unbeliever. Show me a church hopper and we’ll place bets on what day they’ll hop to the next one, if any. Is this gossip? No. It’s addressing the selfish need to go against God’s anointed. And that need is the lust of the flesh fulfilling self. It has no need for the tithe, because self had no need for God’s authority. Why? Because self wishes to be that authority. I immediately thought of a Ving Rhames line from Pulp Fiction on pride, but we’ll let that one go. Instead, I’ll go with Ravi Zacharias, who in his book, The Real Face of Atheism, writes, “The platonic deduction that all politics is law, and all law is ethics, is no longer believed. Living under the tremendous illusion that personal freedoms and freedom of speech are devoid of moral assumptions and responsibilities, we have bankrupted ourselves, so that honor, truth, and morality have been sacrificed at the altar of autonomy and self-worship.” While this topic isn’t atheism per se, the word, “secular,” in the same 1828 dictionary means, “Pertaining to this present world, or to things not spiritual or holy.” In essence… outside the temple. And if we’re to be the temple of God, him dwelling in us, is the tithe really such an issue that one will allow division & alienation amongst family and friends because they chose to use their own historical interpretation of Scripture and pass it off as revelation?

            As Watchman Nee also writes, “A person who has known authority will naturally try to find authority wherever he goes.” The problem is that when we make ourselves the governing authority, it is because of what we wish to believe on a certain issue. The first link, that hopefully doesn’t start anyone down a primrose path, only attempts to explain the tithe from an historical context. And yet…, I did see the word, “believe,” mentioned in their own wording. Here in lies the problem: While referring to my above New Testament scriptures on authority and giving, one may still debate whether a strict literal tithe is inferred. Yet, they believe so in faith. Deception can allow anyone of us to choose how we read anything in or out a context. It’s how historians choose their sources. It’s how an atheist chooses with what to attack the validity of the Bible. But consider the Book of Revelation and the host of Christians of all walks of life who believe certain events will unfold in a certain way, according to an historical text on end-times prophecy. Whether or not one believes the tithe is necessary must also believe God’s governing authorities in the church are or are not necessary and that the Holy Spirit operates or not through said anointed ones. Lastly, ending with Nee again, “Brothers & sisters must learn to obey authority; otherwise the church will not have any testimony on the earth.” And why? Because when we alienate one another over doctrinal differences, it proves one or more are not operating under the authorities God has appointed over them. There is no church testimony and therefore we're not adding souls to the kingdom. This is a dangerous concept because it shows that people today within the church do not fear the Lord and are not ready to be the end-times bride of Christ. The Church at large may never fully agree on how the concept of giving is supposed to biblically operate. When I read of Chinese Christians, imprisoned for their faith, giving a tithe of their meager rations, it proves to me one thing: Americans do not understand persecution anymore than they understand the tithe. But one must caution that erring on the side of being under God’s anointed leadership is always fairer than erring alone, outside the temple, never truly fulfilling the call of God on one’s life. This is judgment on no one. This is addressing a key concept to ever fulfilling Paul’s wishes for the Church to operate in the meatier matters.

            There will be no defense given for this post. Authority, of which I do not have, and self-defense are incompatible. But what I do have is the peace in knowing I’m personally where I’m supposed to be physically and spiritually. And that is the first testament to witnessing God’s love to anyone. Tithes, offerings, and alms are a portion of that love, in which through him, I wish to freely give. But I only understand this because of the authoritative discipleship of which I’m under. The delegated authorities over us, who may mandate giving in different fashions, depending on denomination & the like, have a mantle most of us would never want to carry. It is important that we take caution in rebuking that which we were not called to and therefore cannot personally understand. Pray for those in authority over you and pray that God reveals to your heart what may hinder your desire to tithe to support your eldership/leadership, offerings to support the church’s mission, and alms of love to serve the poor. May our first fruits be ready & ripe for the spiritual harvest. God bless you.