Round Table Discussion – Does God Require a Tithe?

Part of financial reformation is returning to biblical understanding of giving, tithing, offerings, investment for believers under the new covenant.

I’ll share some background to the topic, give my understanding and testimony, then we will open up the discussion to hear everyone’s questions, testimonies and perspectives.

Recently, Creflo Dollar apologized for all his previous teachings on tithing. He literally said “you can throw them out”. He now understands giving by grace, quoting Romans 6:14 “…you are not under the law, but under grace”.. He also said the Lord encountered him one morning and said “giving demonstrates your belief that God will provide for you.” (paraphrase). However, this apparently also included a statement that God doesn’t require a tithe under the new covenant.

You can view Creflo’s apology and understanding here: Creflo Dollar – The Great Misunderstanding

So, here’s the question: Does Creflo’s new perspective proverbially “throw the baby out with the bathwater”? In other words, some do indeed teach that God does not require us to give a tithe or really any particular amount under the new covenant of grace. But does that mean the principle of tithing is no longer valid? Or, alternatively, is it rightfully understood that tithing is really a baseline concept of giving under grace?

Ready? Read.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.It is by grace we are saved” Ephesians 2:8

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”

Romans 6:1-2

So it is very true we are no longer under the law but grace. But that does not eliminate a heart posture of loving God and loving his law righteousness.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them.”Matthew 5:17

“For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:18-19

In fact, Jesus went on to teach in the “sermon on the mount” that righteousness in Him goes beyond the law, with the law as a baseline level or standard.

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:20

What does that mean? If we are no longer under the law, but grace, but do we throw out the 10 commandments? Of course not, for Jesus said:

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”

Matthew 5:21

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Matthew 5:48

Wait. I thought we were under grace, not the law? How can we be perfect? That would mean we wouldn’t sin.

“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”
Hebrews 10:16
It is only by the Holy Spirit within us acting together with us that we can “be perfect”. Not through our flesh. Our flesh will continue to be open to temptation to sin. Which is why we pray “lead me not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”.

Back to Tithing…

So, Is tithing a good thing or not? Does tithing bring a blessing according to Malachi 3 today or not? Does not following it bring a curse?

We will break it down, and take a look at how the “Storehouse Vision” relates to tithing, giving, and investing.

“Bring the whole tithe into the Storehouse, so that there may be food in my house” – Malachi 3:10

Tithing is good for:

  • demonstrating we trust in God as provider
  • bringing food into “God’s House”, which is the body of Christ, the living stones temple
  • helping the poor, widow and the orphan
  • tithing on the tithe (to the regional/state/national/global body – liken to the Levites tithing to the house of Aaron)
  • the only recorded place in the bible where God says to “test Me” with a promise attached of abundant blessings, is in regard to the tithe. Mal 3:10.

Tithing is not good for:

  • perpetuating an old-wine skin, at the expense of the laity (Nicolaitans)
  • operating in a spirit of this World
  • leading in a spirit of Saul
  • manipulating people to give, when ministry leaders fear running out of money
  • attempting to mollify our own financial fears (Pagan notion: “god” won’t provide for me financially unless I offer a sacrifice of money)
  • meeting building projects or budgets that are the vain imaginations of man (good but God)

Tithing is:

  • “on the increase”
  • a tenth
  • separate from offerings
  • to be given to where you receive your covering / are shepherded
  • should not be unto yourself, but “someone greater” (Hebrews 7)

God said in Malachi the people were “robbing him” of tithes and offerings. This implies falling short of a target greater than 10%…

Deep dive reading on reformation in giving: Non-Profit Ministry Bulletin