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QUESTION 18:
Should a person give a tenth of their income to the Lord?

ANSWER:
If the person in mind is not a Christian, they should not give anything to the Lord. "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD:" Proverbs 15:8. The tithe is an Old Testament teaching and is not to be imposed on a Christian. 1 Corinthians 10:32, mentions three distinct classes of people: the Jews, the Gentiles, and the Church of God. To take what it says to the Jew, then apply it to the Christian, is a misapplication and has caused all sorts of division amongst God's people. The "tithe" was asked of the children of Israel. It was to support the priestly tribe of the Levi's who did no manual labor at all. Their work was in the service of the tabernacle. The only mention of the tithe in the New Testament was associated with the Jewish people. There is no such class in the New Testament. Clerical systems, as we see it, is not taught in the Bible. Giving in the New Testament was to help the poor and to support God's missionaries. Galatians 2:10, Romans 15:26, 3 John 1:5-8, and Philippians 4:15-16,.

The principles of giving to the above are clearly set forth in this verse. '...as God hath prospered a man so let him give." 1 Corinthians 16:2, "...every man as he purposeth in his heart..." 2 Corinthians 9:7. If a Christian purposes to "tithe," that is between them and the Lord. They must not impose this upon others. Many church systems teach "tithing" because they have a big budget to meet. This is totally foreign to the New Testament. God wants to give you the gift of eternal life. Have you received it yet?

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen