Should the Church Teach Tithing? A Theologian's Conclusions about a Taboo Doctrine

This is the most definitive and exhaustive book on the controversial subject of tithing that I'm aware of and I cannot recommend it enough! If I could I'd give it 1000 stars!Personally I came across tithing through the literature of Herbert W. Armstrong and his Worldwide Church of God (e.g. "Ending Your Financial Worries") over two decades ago now. Even now offshoots of WCG continue to advocate it (e.g. Living Church of God, United Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God, etc) in spite of the fact that Armstrong changed his mind over it, initially advocating three tithes, but later doing an about-face and asserting that third tithe was no longer necessary since most people were paying it in the form of taxes. When I learned of this reversal in doctrine a while ago I decided to research the issue for myself. What can I say, but am I glad I came across Russell Earl Kelly's book as it has complemented so much of my own study! He analyzes every passage in the Bible on the matter and looks at each in context unlike so many church ministers and laypeople alike who ignorantly teach tithing as God's way to bless you with wealth and success as if it were a "magic ritual"!In summary, the ancient Israelites tithed agricultural produce and reared livestock to the landless Levites, who then gave a "tithe of the tithe" to the Aaronic priesthood. For instance, OT references make it clear they didn't tithe money: Cain and Abel bring offerings of "the fruit of the ground" and "the firstlings of his flock" (Gen. 4:3-4); the "spoils of war" Abraham tithes to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:11) is referred to as "goods" (H7399 "rekush") and "victuals" (H400 "okel"). The former meaning "livestock" and the latter "food supply." Even in the Septuagint Version the verse is translated: "And they took all the cavalry of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their foods, and they went forth"; When the Israelites demanded a human king the prophet Samuel prophesied he would appropriate "...the tenth of your seed...your vineyards...your sheep" (1 Sam. 8:15, 17); After the Babylonian Captivity the Jews make a pledge about what to tithe and to whom: "And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage" (Neh. 10:37). In the NT Christ condemns the Pharisees rigid compulsion for tithing minutiae like "mint and rue and all manner of herbs (G3001 "lachanon") (Lk 11:42; cf. Mt. 23:32) and the word translated as "herbs" means "vegetables." Even secular historical records, including Tobit (1:6-8) and Josephus ("Antiquities of the Jews" Bk 4, Chp 8, Par 3-4, 8 & 22) are consistent in what consisted of the tithe and it wasn't money!Even Kelly's appraisal of Paul's ministry was brilliant! The NT principles embedded in the apostle Paul's epistles and his own example reveals that an all-volunteer ministry is really the Biblically correct model. Kelly argues from key texts (e.g Acts 18:3; 20:33-35; 1 Cor. 9:18; 2 Thes. 3:6-14 and Jas 1:27 etc) that as a Jewish Christian, Paul never accepted full-time support for preaching the gospel from the OT Scriptures concerning Christ. Having been brought up as a Pharisee, it was customary for Jewish rabbis, lawyers and teachers of the law, not to receive payment for their teaching, but to earn their living by manual labor. Thus, we see Paul joining Aquila and Priscilla working at his trade of tent-making to support himself and the poor brethren while preaching the gospel pretty much every day--at first on Sabbaths in the synagogues (until he was forbidden by the Jews) and then in the lecture halls or marketplaces on weekdays or in fellow Christian's homes. At the time the "churches" met in homes, not fancy buildings (e.g. Acts 2:46; 5:42; 20:20; Rom. 16:5; 2 Tim. 3:6; Tit. 1:11) whereas today the vast majority of money given by believers goes to pay for rented buildings, building funds and minister salaries, rather than to the poor. And, at least to Paul, every penny given for salaries is one penny not given to the poor. According to Paul's ideal and own example, therefore, the gospel worker should earn his own living and give to the poor. Even the historical record supports that the introduction of tithing emerged over 500 years after Christ under the auspice of the Catholic Church with the Councils of Tours (567) and Macon (585). This was in direct proportion to the disintegration of the doctrine of the priesthood of believers (e.g. Heb. 7:19, 25; 10:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:9-10) and the emergence of the ruling class of the bishop-priests.Hence, under the New Covenant we are encouraged to give freewill offerings towards the preaching of the gospel and alms to the poor and needy whether it's 5%, 10%, 50% or even 100% (2 Cor. 9:7)--it's up to you! Even Zacchaeus promised to donate 50% of his goods to the poor and restore 400% to those he cheated, which Christ commended (Lk 19:9) while Christ tells the rich man to sell his possessions and to donate to the poor (Mk 10:21). He never told any of his followers to tithe!This book will liberate all of God's people everywhere from this false and unscriptural doctrine taught by "blind leaders of the blind" who have an "entitlement" agenda and think "gain is godliness" (1 Tim. 6:5)!

This is a very interesting book Dr. Kelly did his research. My first Church was in a low income area. People out of a job on unemployment and Welfare were still expected to tithe, including single or divorced mothers with young children. At no time was help given to them, yet the Pastor lived in the lap of luxury with expensive cars & two homes in upscale neighborhoods (not in the low-income area of his church members). This was grossly unfair to have the church leadership pronounce out dated curses from the Old Covenant in Malachi chapter 3 on already financially depressed members. It left a bitter taste in my heart to mistreat the poor this way. With what little resources I had I tried to help out the poor in our church,esp at Xmas & Holidays.Our Salvation and favor is due to the work Jesus accomplished on the Cross. He gives us Grace for every area of our lives just by asking God in faith in Jesus name.Jews had required ordinances around the clock beginning with circumcising all males on the eight day (of their lives by a Priest in the Temple) and ceasing all activity on the Sabbath (Friday not till Saturday night). All 613 Old Covenant laws had to be kept to obtain favor from God, not just the tithe law. James 2:10 "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it".Galatians 3:10 "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."Galatians 3:13 "Christ has rescued us from the curse of the law by dying on the Cross"Galatians 3:14 "In order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith".Hebrew 8:7 "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second".Romans 8:32"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"Some day the Lord's sheep are all going to wake up and believe 2nd Corinthian 9:7 that each person can give as he has purposed in their own heart, not out of compulsion or pressure. All praises should go to Jesus and the payment he paid in full on his cross. Too bad tithe testimonies encourage boasting in ones own tithe payments.

Tithing is great! when taught based to true biblical exegesis. I found it revealing to find out how much Pastors either choose not to teach or simply follow other leaders in their teaching of tithing without properly searching the scripture. I guess if I were a Pastor wanting to ensure income for me dreams, I would never go as far as what the Bible truly say because I will soon realize, tithing is in fact an unsustainable doctrine

Thank you Russell Earl KellyThe answer to your book title is a big YES!!!Russel has presented all of the scriptural facts concerning Tithing.The evidence he clearly lays before us is a road block to the established bible believing Christian Church who teach Tithing.This road block of evidence, is there to change the direction of the bible believing Christian from one of Law, to the truth of Grace, and freedom in Christ.

As new believers in the church, over 14 years ago, we were told and taught tithing, our thought was, if its in the Bible, then we do it... but, since we were new believers, we hadn't read through the bible and were at the mercy of fellow believers and the Pastor.A number of years later, I felt led to "study the doctrine" of tithing... I came out of that study with my head shaken and looking for confirmation of all that the Holy Spirit had taught/revealed to me... and I found it... I prayed and asked God to give me someone else who had this truth, this understanding... I don't recall exactly how this book fell into my lap but, it did and I was grateful.Our church excommunicated us, we lost all of our friends, on the voice of one person, the Pastor... it hurt but, we understood why.We have been in a new church for over 9 years and earlier this year, we heard this very message preached from our pulpit... I was in the office doing paperwork and my husband ran to get me... "They are preaching on tithing!" I said so... "NO! they are tearing it down, its not for the church of grace!"... I cried through most of the teaching... joyful tears that the truth was coming out to the masses... Russell Earl Kelly, had the grace and the courage to put it all out there in print... I consider him to be of the calibre of many of our past "rebels" for the truth and justice that God so clearly outlines in his word...If you have doubts on tithing, if you are a new believer, or if you just want to hear a perspective that wants you to be free and full of Grace... then this is that book.Also know... it doesn't mean you DON'T give... we are to be Cheerful givers... in all we are and do... Kelly did an excellent job of presenting the whole package of truth in so few pages. I would give it 10 Stars if it were available.