5 Objections to Tithing & 5 Biblical Responses

Even though the Old Testament gives us the pattern and example of tithing and even though Jesus affirms the practice of tithing in the New Testament, The average American Christian gives away only 2.5% of their income. 30-50% give nothing at all, but for those who do the average is 2.5%. Why do so few tithe? Here’s four common objections and four biblical responses. 

Objection #1: Tithing is legalistic!
Biblical response: Legalism is trying to earn your salvation by keeping the law. Legalism is NOT following the clear example set in the Old Testament that 1 Corinthians 10:11 says we should follow. Therefore, tithing is obedience, not legalism.

Objection #2: We don't have to give exactly 10%!
Biblical response: When the Bible talks about a tithe, in every single case it means “a tenth part” or 10%. And in regards to that tenth part God says in Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe...” The fact that the average American Christian gives away only 2.5% of their income shows the problem is not that we're being too rigid about the tithe, rather too flexible.

Note: While we aren’t free to give less than 10%, we are free to give more. You see, when Jesus taught on the Old Testament law he always took the baseline standard the law set and raised it. He never lowered it. Here’s just two quick examples. In Matthew 5:21-22 Jesus said: Never mind murder! Don’t even be angry with someone! And in Matthew 5:27-28 Jesus said: Forget adultery! I’m telling you don’t even lust! In both these instances Jesus took the base line standard set by the law and raised the bar. So According to Jesus, God set the foundation of the law for us to build on, not shrink back from. We’re to move forward in our giving, not backwards. We’re to look at the example set in the law of the tithe and raise the bar, not lower it. That’s why Kristin and I give 15% of our income to the Lord’s work. We give our tithe, which is 10%, then we give another 5% as an offering to missions. Like Jesus taught, we’ve taken the baseline standard of the law (the tithe) and built on it (by giving offerings above and beyond the tithe). 

Objection #3: I will start tithing when I make more!
Biblical response: According to Jesus in Luke 16:10 only those who have been faithful with little will be faithful with much. As John D. Rockefeller, one of the richest men in history once said "I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week.”

Objection #4: The Old Testament teaches to sacrifice animals and not to eat shrimp. Why should we follow the Old Testament teaching on tithing but not the ceremonial laws on sacrifice or the dietary laws about not eating shrimp?!
Biblical response: There are certain laws in the Old Testament that are repealed in the New Testament. They still have teaching value, but we don't have to practice them because they've been repealed. Other laws in the Old Testament have been repeated. The laws that have been specifically repealed are no longer binding, but the ones repeated are. The system of animal sacrifice was repealed according to Hebrews chapter 8, as were the dietary laws according to Acts chapter 15. The tithe on the other hand wasn't repealed, it was repeated (Matthew 23:23) and therefore is still binding.

Objection #5: We live in the era of grace, not law! 

Biblical response: Living in the era of grace isn’t an excuse to ignore or drop below the standard of the tithe set in the Old Testament. You see, when Jesus taught on the Old Testament law he always took the baseline standard the law set and raised it. He never lowered it. Here’s just two quick examples. In Matthew 5:21-22 Jesus said: Never mind murder! Don’t even be angry with someone! And in Matthew 5:27-28 Jesus said: Forget adultery! I’m telling you don’t even lust! In both these instances Jesus took the base line standard set by the law and raised the bar. So According to Jesus, God set the foundation of the law for us to build on, not shrink back from. We’re to move forward in our giving, not backwards. We’re to look at the example set in the law of the tithe and raise the bar, not lower it.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - Do we have to give exactly 10%. NO!!! We are free to give MORE! You can give 12%, 15%, 20% or more if you want. I know some pastors who give 90% and live off only 10%. Living in the era of grace is an invitation to live at an even higher standard than the law, not a lower one. That’s why Kristin and I give 15% of our income to the Lord’s work. We give our tithe, which is 10%, then we give another 5% as an offering to missions. Like Jesus taught, we’ve taken the baseline standard of the law (the tithe) and built on it.

I'd like to encourage you today to stop objecting to the tithe and starting observing it. God promises to bless us when we do! (Malachi 3:10)