Why do we tithe to the church?
supporting the church and its members
Is it still essential for Christians to tithe to church or is it just an old tradition that no longer matters? Tithing raises arguments on both sides and the topic can often lead to heated discussion. Some churches are fairly relaxed about whether members tithe or not. Other churches teach often on the benefits of tithing.
Here at Worship Beats, we believe in tithing as a ministry and a church. To become a full and active member of the church there is a requisite for tithing. We are unashamed of this fact. To be a part of a missions team or be a voting member of the church requires tithing.
For us, tithing is just one more outward sign of obedience to God. It does not matter whether you are in the top 20% of earners and a higher taxpayer or on universal credit, tithing 10% of income demonstrates a desire to be obedient.
Tithing has a long biblical history
Tithing is certainly not an Old Testament command that was abolished when Jesus came. It is as relevant today as it has always been. We see this in Mark 12:41-44 where Jesus taught on the Widows Offering.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
The first mention of giving a tithe to God was by Jacob. While resting and sleeping Jacob had a dream that the place he rested at belonged to God. Not only that but God would give that land to His people. On waking, Jacob gave the commitment to give a tenth of everything God blessed him with back to God, Genesis 28:20-22.
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, and I come again to my father’s house in peace, then shall Jehovah be my God. And this stone which I have set for a pillar shall be God’s house. And of all that You shall give me, I will surely give the tenth to You.
We can see from this first tithe to God that tithing is not a command from God. It is a willing and loving way of saying thank you to God for the blessings that He has given us in our lives.
How do we spend the church tithe?
We find that when people know what the tithe is being spent on then they have no issue with paying their tithe. We try and take guidance from the Bible on how we should spend the tithe. We pray that our actions provide good stewardship of God’s blessings on us
40% of tithe income is spent on glorifying and celebrating God
You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.
Deuteronomy 14:22-23
In this passage, we see that God wants the tithe to be spent on those who tithe. It is a way of setting aside a portion of your income in order to celebrate and give glory to God.
The largest part of our tithe income is set aside to give glory to God and celebrate His gift to us of His only son Jesus Christ. We do this through our building, events and regular corporate celebrations. Our building running costs come out of the 40%. We also use it to pay for the food at our regular Sunday lunches and all-day services. These are free to tithing members of the church and fits with God’s aim of the tithe.
We also aim to offer events and concerts which will be free for full church members as a way to glorify and celebrate God. Many of these events and meals are open to non-tithing church fellowships and guests at an entry cost.
Many of our children’s and youth events are covered by this 40% and that is why the cost is either free or heavily subsidised for children of tithing members.
30% of tithe income is spent on staff and missions expenses
Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you. “At the end of every third year, you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
Deuteronomy 14:27-29
When explaining the operation of the tithe system God instructs that every third year the tithe is left for the Levites and the poor. The Levites were the equivalent of today’s church workers. As such, our budget for staff and office expenses for the church is covered by 30% of our tithe income.
20% of our tithe is spent on supporting our church members in times of difficulty
“If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. Beware that there is no base thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you.
Deuteronomy 15: 7-9
God commands that His people look out for the poor within their midst and lend with a willing heart. Then every 7th year – the Sabbath Year – any outstanding debt should be written off.
As a church, we set aside 20% of the tithe to help tithing members to overcome difficult times. Rather than give loans that we write off every 7 years we just make grants and help with payments of bills and other items.
This 20% as a church is a way of those who are better off helping out and supporting those who are not so well off and are struggling to pay for essentials.
10% of our tithe income is tithed
As a church that believes in tithing, we also tithe our income. Currently, our church tithe of 10% is helping to support the mission of a Greek Orthodox Church in Greece to feed and meet the needs of refugees. The Greek Islands still have substantial numbers of refugees arriving and with a small and undeveloped economy, the church is making a difference. We pray that our tithe to this issue will be effective at bringing people to Christ.
Transparency of church funding and tithe
Open and transparent reporting is at the core of our church. If any full member of the church needs or wants to see the latest set of accounts then they can ask. A copy of the last full year accounts and a draft copy of current years accounts can be provided with 7 days notice.
There’s more to do than the tithe can fund
The tithe can meet the essential running costs of the church but there are lots of other projects that need funding. Additional offerings for set projects are always welcome from church members and the wider fellowship.