TITHING

There is confusion in the contemporary Church about Christian tithing, mainly due to the paucity of evidence in the early church teaching and practice. The chequered history of tithing has divided today’s Church into tithers and non-tithers, with each camp justifying its theological position. Some Christians express serious doubt on the applicability today of a tithing practice that is based on Mosaic laws that are strongly more relevant to the historical, religious, and cultural contexts of the Hebrew and Ancient Near East people. Based on the same Biblical text, others generalise that there is God’s claim on the tithe, which is applicable to all God’s children at all times and dispensations. Even among tithers, opinions vary on the extent to which bible-based tithing principles are practicable in the postmodern context of the 21st century Church. With more denominations taking on tithing practice in recent years, it appears there is a growing conviction among Churches that tithing is biblical and therefore Christian. What are the literal facts of tithing in the Bible? This book reports the findings of a narrative review of all texts on tithing in both Old and New Testaments.