The argument on whether to tithe or not, and
who to pay tithes to have been on for decades. Uninformed critics call it “a decoy by
some denominations to extort helpless parishioners". They turn Biblical teaching and Truth downside-up, as a result many are
misinformed.
Abraham, in the twentieth
verse of Genesis chapter fourteen, paid tithe to Melchizedek. "Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything". (Genesis 14:20).
Abraham, after defeating the King of
Elam, offered a tithe to Melchizedek, in what was believed
to be 'a voluntary act of worship'.
Prior to the ‘tithe’ occurrence, there was no record that 'tithing' was
the culture of the ancient people of Canaan
and Mesopotamia. Abram’s tithing was a kind of homage from 'a lesser' to 'a
greater', acknowledging that 'the greater' had given him (the
lesser) victory. “Just think how great he was: Even the
patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.” (Hebrews 7:4)
Who
is Melchizedek, and why did Abram give him a tenth of the spoils?
The name Melchizadek means “King of Righteousness” in the Hebrew
language. "For this Melchizedek,
king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the
slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part
of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that
also King of Salem, which is, King of peace". (Hebrew 7:2).
Melchizedek
was first introduced as the “King of Salem and Priest of El Elyon meaning (God Most High). Melchizedek King of Salem, in other
words, King of Jerusalem. Salem is a Hebrew word for ‘Peace’.
This transcends to ‘Melchizadek King of
Peace’. Melchizedek appeared the on the road, as Abram
returned victoriously from battle and ministered to Him (Abram).
Melchizedek was again brought up in the book of Psalm, David prophesied about Christ saying: “The Eternal hath sworn, and will not repent; Thou art a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4). This scripture echoed in Hebrews 5: “And he says in another place, “You are a
priest forever, in the order of Melchizadek.” (Hebrews 5: 6).
“Wherefore in all things it
behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for
the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17).
King of Peace: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace". (Isaiah 9:6).
"Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God: abideth a priest continually". (Hebrews 7:3).
These passages describe Jesus Christ as a High Priest, “after the order (equal rank) of Melchizedek”, and brings clarity to the identity of Melchizadek.
The writer of the book of Hebrew, acknowledged the significance of
Abraham’s and the ‘Levitical tithe when he wrote: “One
might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through
Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was
still in the body of his ancestor.
(Hebrews 7:9-10). Under the Old Testament
Law, God mandated the Levites to receive the tithes of the Israelites. “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their
inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of
meeting.” (Numbers 18:21). Abraham’s
and the Levitical tithes are
the same exact institution, performed in different settings. Nonetheless, the passage buttressed
the supremacy of the Melchizedek
priesthood over that of Levi, and
indicate that the present day ‘Levites’
are Priests, Clergies who serve in the House (service) of the Lord.
Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek, may have
been 'a voluntary act of worship', even during the Levitical era, as there was no
indication of 'tithe officials' that monitored and ensured the Israelite paid tithes. Howbeit, there is a law of tithing. Abram made a choice to obey God consequently; his offspring
are forever blessed for it. “And I will make thy seed to
multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these
countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my
statutes, and my laws.” (Genesis 26:4 - 5). We can therefore base our tithing on Abraham’s tithe and Jacob’s vow.
Through
Abraham and the Levitical dispensation, tithes were paid on the spoils of war, herds
and fruits of the field because those were the major sources of wealth. In modern
times, those have been replaced by ‘Jobs
and business exploits’. It
is God, who gives dexterities to create wealth.“But remember the Lord your
God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so
confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” Deuteronomy 8:18).
Christians
are children of Abraham, "Understand, then, that those
who have faith are children of Abraham". (Galatians 3:7). Therefore
should do the works of Abraham. "Abraham is our
father," they answered. "If you were Abraham's children," said
Jesus, "then you would do what Abraham did". (John 8:39). Not paying our tithes (when
we have been leveraged to do so) is equivalent to denying God as
the source of our wealth, increase, income …"for, The earth is the
Lord's, and everything in it.” (1
Corinthians 10:26, Exodus 9:29). And taking what belongs to God without
acknowledging Him. "Will a
mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How are we robbing
you?' "In tithes and offerings. (Malachi chapter 3: 8.)
Malachi 3:10 states: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that
there may be food in my house”. God, through His Word
commands us to tithe, so that there may be food (wealth) in His House (the
Church). Christians must be willing to tithe so that the Church can have in
abundance to provide for some of the pressing needs in our communities.
Such needs as:
- Aid to the financially disadvantaged in the Churches, and Communities irrespective of Religious affiliation.
- Some sort of remuneration for full time Ministers to enable them take care of their families and responsibilities.
- Facilitate Missions (Platforms/avenues to share the good-news of God's Love, and man's redemption through Jesus Christ) in every town, city hinter lands, places not easily accessible.
- Provide Good (mission) Schools especially in slums and hinter lands.
- Well equipped (mission) Hospitals and Clinics especially in slums and hinterlands.
- Good drinking water especially in slums and hinterlands.
- Scholarship Schemes for exceptional pupils and students from financially disadvantaged homes etc, all according to the needs of these communities.
- And of-course for the maintenance of the Church and its work-force.
Parallel to sharing the good-news of the redemption of man since the fall of the first man, Adam through (the sinless life of) Jesus Christ while on earth, which made him a worthy once-for-all sacrifice (blameless/blemish-free Lamb)...as detailed below:
- The switch (Jesus took our sinful nature, and gave us his sinless nature),
- The Judgement upon Jesus on the cross,
- His death (wage of sin and judgement),
- Resurrection (Power over sin, judgement and death)
- Abundant Life (Living the Promise)
- Eternal Life.
This is 'good-news' because all that is required to become beneficiaries of man's redemption, is simply...believe that Jesus is the Christ, The Son of God, He died in our place, so that we might be free from sin, discharged and acquitted of sins's consequences, and receive Him as Lord in our lives.
It is likewise the duty of the Church to care and provide for the
less privileged in the society. In this way people get to experience God's Love through the Church. This might be the only and greatest gospel some might ever hear.
All these (spreading the good-news, showing love and care to all people, in every nation) can only be achieved when there is readily
available fund to do such….which of-course comes majorly from tithes and other free-willed giving. “Test me in this,"
says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates
of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to
store it".
Preaching the gospel of the "Kingdom of God" is embedded in the above mentioned obligation of the Church in the society. Not surprising, it reiterates the duties of a responsible government, executed from allocation and tax proceeds. It is then arbitrary to demand taxes from Churches and other Bodies that engage in Humanitarian acts because they are supposed to complement the efforts of responsible governments.
Moreover it is the people in our communities, the society, that makes up the Church, practically the same well-meaning citizens who pay taxes in their various fields of endeavour, gets 'indirectly taxed' a second time, when the Church is mandated to pay tax.
Notwithstanding, it is vital to note that 'wolves' abound 'in sheep clothing' in the Church. These are the ones who know deep in their hearts that they have no business in the esteemed office of Priesthood/ Clergy. In-order to swindle unsuspecting folks, they get into the Church, commit various types of mention-able and unmentionable atrocities, including misappropriation of funds (tithes, givings, donations) placed in their care....while the less privileged, necessary projects and missions for which the funds is meant for suffers. To these ones....God's Judgement is inevitable.
In summary, tithes are not given to parents. We should not be reminded to honour and take care of our parents or other responsibilities, it should be a habit. Taking care of one's parents is not only about giving or sending money across, giving time and attention is pivotal.
Neither is tithes given to the orphanage, prisons or as benevolence to any charity organisation. As stated earlier, it is the duty of Christians, governments, and individuals to show love, and to cultivate a lifestyle of giving, according to our capacity....from our resources. One can decide to give just about any percentage of their income towards any thoughtful act. But that is not tithing.
Tithing is 10% of your income, giving to your local-church (not compulsory though). In recognition of God's supremacy, and God, being our source. We can not see God, nor give anything to Him directly, because He owns everything visible and invincible; all Power and Authority belongs to Him. Paying tithes to the Church never-the-less facilitates God's Kingdom on earth. "Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven". (Mathew 6:10). Bringing about God's Kingdom on earth, spreading the goodnews to all people...everywhere" has always been the heartbeat of God.
It is the key duty of the Church to ensure that the gospel is propagated to all corners of the earth and that the vessels and offices used in this great work are catered for. Every Christian might not be engaged in full-time evangelism, as a missionary, pastor e.t.c, as we have all been called into divers spheres of life. But we all are involved when we support with our prayers, givings and tithes.
Needless to state that 'tithing critics' are "deliberately" or "innocently" like Saul of Tarsus, fighting the spread of the "goodnews of God's Kingdom". In other-words...anti-Christs. It is better to engage in other benevolent acts silently or otherwise...(if you don't think you should tithe), than outright try to stop those who choose to do so.
What more is there to say...Will a man rob God?.
Obianuju Mbanusi's thought.
