NEWS FLASH: Many evangelical churches regularly encourage their members to tithe, or give the church at least 10 percent of their income. Yet, according to the February Evangelical Leaders Survey, most evangelical leaders do not believe the Bible requires Christians to tithe. The survey showed that 58 percent do not believe the Bible requires a tithe, while 42 percent do.
“The Old Testament called for multiple tithes, sort of combining government taxes with religious stewardship. Many churches later adopted 10 percent as the standard,” said Leith Anderson, NAE President. “Since there is such a strong evangelical tradition of tithing I was a little surprised that a majority of our evangelical leaders say the tithe system of the Old Testament does not carry over to the New Testament or to us.”
NAE leaders are adamant that this doesn’t release Christians from giving. Alan Robinson of the Brethren in Christ Church said, “Tithing was an Old Testament legal model that ought to lead New Testament Christians to lives of sacrificial generosity. While tithing is not ‘required’ today, it is my view that Christian generosity will, at a minimum, reflect the Old Testament requirements of the law and should, in fact, greatly exceed it.”
David Neff, Editor-in-Chief of Christianity Today, added, “Anything less [than 10 percent] seems like an ungenerous response to God.”
Although most leaders do not believe the Bible requires Christians to tithe, the overwhelming majority, 95 percent, indicated that they give at least 10 percent. This contrasts with an Empty Tomb, Inc., report that found that evangelicals give churches about 4 percent of their income (and all Christians only 2.43 percent).
One respondent who does not tithe said that he gives more or less depending on the needs and his situation. Another leader, Jerry Dykstra of the Christian Reformed Church in North America who believes tithing is required and indicated that he tithes said, “If folks actually tithed, churches would not know what to do with the money.”
“For many American Christians, sacrificial giving encouraged throughout the Bible would mean giving over 10 percent. Personally I believe that the New Testament teaches ‘proportionate giving’ that may be more or less than 10 percent depending on income. In my home we’ve always given more than 10 percent,” Anderson said. “Increasingly churches offer financial courses and teach on stewardship. My hope is that in coming years, we will see more generous, proportionate, cheerful and sacrificial giving among American evangelicals.”
The Evangelical Leaders Survey is a monthly poll of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Evangelicals. They include the CEOs of denominations and representatives of a broad array of evangelical organizations including missions, universities, publishers and churches.
Okay then, now that you have the perspective of “evangelical leaders”... let’s consider the Biblical perspective of giving. First and foremost... God doesn’t require that we give anything to Him... not our money, not our time. So what’s the deal with tithing and giving?
The best guideline for our giving to God and His work is found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."
The only passage in the New Testament that explicitly authorizes the tithe does so in a rather backhanded way: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices.... But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former” (Matt. 23:23, NIV).
So if tithing, specifically, isn’t a New Testament command or even an emphasis, how should a Christian think about giving? Should Christians tithe? The New Testament’s perspective may surprise you.
The most illuminating New Testament discourse on giving is discussed in 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9. Giving was an important aspect of the early Christian's living experience even while living under severe hardships... the Corinthians’ “overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in a rich generosity” (8:2). True giving is always sacrificial and the Corinthians understood the power of giving and the bond created with the God of blessings.
Giving to God’s work, and for the needs of those less fortunate, says volumes about the sort of people we are as Christians. How we give... how much we give and the conditions we place on our giving echo the love we have for God and His mission to evangelize the world.
After a Mother's Day tribute, we’ll explore more about genuine heart-motivated giving and how it shapes our lives and relationship with God, the great provider.
Until then, please be in prayer about what motivates “you” to give to God.
