Becoming a Giver
Overcoming Ten Objections to Tithing to the Church from Scripture, Theology and History
I recently finished a 3-part Giving series at my church. You can watch the series on Youtube if you would like. The series was inspired by this book: The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn.
Alcorn has an incredible and almost unbelievable life story about injustice turning into an opportunity for him to give away most of his income, which has allowed him to give over $8,000,000 throughout his lifetime to the church, missions and Christian causes. This is one of the best books I’ve read on giving and I had very few points of disagreement with it theologically.
In my final sermon, I decided to frame my sermon with 10 objections I’ve heard to tithing over the years to the local church. I wanted to make my notes available because it was a lot of content in a short amount of time. Here are a few great quotes from The Treasure Principle and some stats before I share my 10 points below.
From The Treasure Principle:
"You can't take it with you, but you can send it on ahead."
"Giving breaks us out of the orbit around our possessions. We escape their gravity, entering a new orbit around Heaven, the residence of our King Jesus, where we've invested our treasures."
"My heart always goes where I put God's money."
"Giving is the only antidote to materialism."
"The act of giving is a vivid reminder that it's all about God, not about us.”
"God prospers me not to raise my standard of living but my standard of giving” (both can be true).
2025 Tithing Statistics (from vancopayments.com)
5% of churchgoers tithe (Church Development).
Out of the 247 million U.S. citizens identifying as Christians, 1.5 million people tithe (Sharefaith).
77% of tithers give more than 10 percent (Health Research Funding).
If every Christian tithed 10 percent, faith organizations would have an extra $139 billion each year (Health Research Funding).
The giving preferences of those who tithe are almost evenly split between online giving (27 percent) and traditional giving (28 percent) (Vanco Churchgoer Giving Study).
Average Giving Per Person in Church
The average giving amount per churchgoer is $17 per week (Health Research Funding).
That’s $73.67 a month per giver.
That’s $884 a year per giver.
U.S. Christians collectively make $5.2 trillion annually — nearly half the world’s total Christian income (Health Research Funding).
The majority of church givers have zero credit debt.
10 Reasons You Might believe Tithing is not for Today or For the Church and the Counter Arguments from Scripture, Theology and History.
Tithe means one tenth. Tithing as I am defining it for this Bible study means to give one tenth of your income the Lord by giving to the church. Offerings of over ten percent are also something God calls Christians to do. Not all Christians agree on the same interpretation of Scripture and the tithe. I believe there is a strong case to make for tithing being the best Biblical interpretive key for Christians and also from the testimony and witness of tithers experiencing God’s blessing. Remember these points start with an objection and then the response.
The examples of Abraham and Jacob are pre-law and both of those examples and the Mosaic law don't apply to me today. vs. If Abraham is the father of faith, He is an example of faith to me.
“After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Genesis 14:17-20 NIV
“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”” Genesis 28:20-22 NIV
God commands tithing in the Old Testament (OT) and he has discontinued the practice by NOT clearly mentioning it enough in the New Testament (NT) - it is mentioned but not explicit vs. Tithing continues because Jesus commended tithing while correcting Pharisees and He is still receiving tithes (present tense) in Hebrews.
Jesus - ““Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” Matthew 23:23 NIV
“Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.” Hebrews 7:7-10 NKJV
Where most of the NT speaks to a higher standard of living than the OT, in giving the standard has been lowered in the NT vs. If the NT speaks to a higher standard of living than the OT, it would reason that the standard of giving is at least the same if not higher.
““You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:38-42 NIV
God blessed the OT saints for giving tithes in the OT but since Christ came we don't need to give tithes to be blessed. vs. Just as other calls to obedience in the OT and NT are blessed with continuity, we can see that giving is both commanded and blessed in both OT and NT.
“Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 3:7-12 NIV
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV
There is no Standard, but each person chooses as they desire what they should give - vs. There is a Biblical Standard of equal sacrifice, not an equal amount.
Do we look to Scripture or what we think or feel subjectively?
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
The OT priesthoood is more important to provide for than NT church leadership, it's the priesthood of all believers after all. vs. There is a continuity of commands to provide for ministers in both the OT and NT.
“For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?” 1 Corinthians 9:9-11 NIV
“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”” 1 Timothy 5:17-18 NIV
Giving is more exciting to give to causes and spontaneous needs. vs. Giving to a church, the family of God who helps you with marriage, children, family, discipleship, weddings and funerals.
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10 NIV
“They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.” Romans 15:27 NIV - The principle is seen here of giving to those who provide spiritual blessings.
You have a value for the kingdom being bigger than the church vs. The church has the keys to the kingdom and is God's eternal plan for advancing His kingdom purposes.
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”” Matthew 16:18-19 NIV
“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:10-11 NIV
This point may seem strange but I’ve heard many people say they are “kingdom” Christians and give into “the kingdom” in a way that they mean they don’t give to the church, but only outside of the church. The kingdom and the church are inseparable Biblically. And it is certainly good and important to give to kingdom endeavors but not while ignoring the church.
You believe that you should supersede the tithe because the standard is higher (but most who argue against the tithe seldomly give more than ten percent) vs. Why argue against the tithe when you believe you should give over it? That is tithe +.
We are talking about you opting for the premium package here, if you want to overflow, by all means have at it.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”” Luke 6:38 NIV
You don't follow the pattern of early Christians who tithed or gave "first fruits" but believe they had it wrong - vs We can see by the pattern of early Christians through the didache and early church fathers, an example of what the church DID.
Didache (A.D. 70-150) - But every true prophet that wills to abide among you is worthy of his support. So also a true teacher is himself worthy, as the workman, of his support. Every first-fruit, therefore, of the products of wine-press and threshing-floor, of oxen and of sheep, you shall take and give to the prophets, for they are your high priests. But if you have not a prophet, give it to the poor. If you make a batch of dough, take the first-fruit and give according to the commandment. So also when you open a jar of wine or of oil, take the first-fruit and give it to the prophets; and of money (silver) and clothing and every possession, take the first-fruit, as it may seem good to you, and give according to the commandment.
Ireanaus (A.D. 120-202), studied in Asia Minor within a hundred years of the days of the Apostles. He became Bishop of Lyons in A.D. 177. His writings stressed the extension of the Law by Christ, as follows: And for this reason; whilst they (the Jews) used to consider the tithes of their property as consecrated, they, on the contrary, who have apprehended freedom, decree to the uses of the Lord all things which they have, joyfully and freely giving, not what is less, inasmuch as they have a greater hope.
Origen (A. D. 185-253), was a disciple of Clement. Origen commented on Jesus' words to the Pharisees when he commended their tithing but rebuked them for neglecting the weightier mat- ters of the law, by saying: Notice more diligently, therefore, how the word of the Lord would by all means have the greater things of the law done, but not so that these things which are intended to stand according to the letter be omitted. Origen knew that some would say that these words were addressed to the Pharisees and not to the disciples, so he reminded them of Jesus' words when he said, But if you say, This he said to the Pharisees, not to his disciples, hear Him- self again saying to His disciples, 'Ex- cept your righteousness shall exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven'. What therefore He would have done by the Phar- isees, much more, and with greater abun- dance, would he have fulfilled by his disciples.
Cyprian (A. D. 200-258), was a Bishop of Carthage. On one occasion Cyprian wrote to dissuade a presbyter from accepting the position of a guardian, saying: Cyprian in his treatise "On the Unity of the Church" described the Church's weakened condition due in part to a failure to tithe. In this work he wrote, But in us the unanimity is diminished in proportion as liberality of working is decayed. Then they used to give for sale houses and estates; and that they might lay up for themselves ~reasures in heaven but now we do not even give the tenths from our patrimony; and while our Lord bids us sell, we rather buy and in- crease our store. Thus has the vigor of faith dwindled away from among us; thus has the strength of believers grown weak.
Jerome (A. D. 345-420), was an early Bible translator. In his commentary on Malachi, chapter three, he wrote: What we have said of tithes and firstfruits given by the people of old to the priests and Levites, understand let us imitate the examples of the Jews, so that we may give a part of the whole to the poor, and pay due honour to the priests, and Levites If any one shall not do this, he is convicted of defraud- ing and supplanting God.
Ambrose (A. D. 340-397), was elected Bishop of Milan about 374 A. D. In no less than three of his sermons he pressed the duty of tithing. Lansdell quoted him as saying, Of all the substance which God gives a man, He has reserved the tenth part to himself, and therefore it is not law- ful for a man to withhold that which God reserved to Himself He who w ill not render to God the tithes which he kept back, and is not zealous to render what he has unjustly taken from Him, does not yet fear God.
Augustine (A. D. 354-430), was a Bishop of Hippo. Augustine gave an entire discourse on tithing in which he began by saying these words: Our forefathers abounded in plenty because they gave to God tithes and to Caesar tribute: but now, because our devotion towards God has receded, the imposition of taxes has advanced. We were unwilling to share with God, giving Him the tenth, and now, behold, the whole is taken from us. The tax- gatherer takes from us that which Christ receives not.
Chrysostom (A. D. 347-407), represents the eastern branch of the early Church. In A. D. 398 he was made patriarch of Constantinople. In a sermon on Genesis, chapter twenty-eight, concerning the fact that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, Chrysostom said, In this respect he became a teacher to all men that by way of declaring their gratitude they should offer the first fruits of those things which God has granted them.
I hope this is helpful to you as a Christian examining whether the tithe is Biblical for Christians to follow today. May God bless you as you seek to honor Him and be a part of what He is doing through His church. There have been many examples of greed and manipulation when it comes to giving. May God keep us far from unhealthy teachings and practices concerning money by correcting our Scriptural misuses with proper use.