[On-screen text graphics]
Question: I know that Iglesia Ni Cristo members don’t give tithes to the Church or 10% of their income. However, many Protestant churches today are upholding that type of doctrine. Is tithing really still applicable in the Christian Era? Why or why not?
Ralph Joel Bayot
Bacolod City, Philippines
Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you so much, Ralph, for your question, and the opportunity to read to you the answer that’s here in the Holy Bible. Now, dear friends, as Ralph stated in his email—and it’s really true because many Protestant churches do, today, practice a Biblical doctrine called tithing, which by the way, is referring to the offerings to God—but his question specifically is whether or not that’s still applicable today. So before we get into the Bible’s answer to Ralph’s question, let’s just make sure that we properly define and understand the terms for everyone watching who might not yet fully understand what tithing is all about and who were really commanded by God to give tithes. Is that us? Is tithing still to be done by Christians today?
[On-screen text graphics]
Question:
What are tithes?
Who were commanded by God to give tithes?
Is tithing still to be done by Christians today?
The truth about tithing in the Old Testament
Brother Bob: So let’s get right to it, as I said, and what are tithes then as defined here in the Holy Bible? Well, we can read the answer recorded in the Scriptures here in Leviticus 20, chapter 27. We’re going to read verses 30, 32, as well as 34:
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord…And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord…These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.
[Leviticus 27: 30, 32, 34 New International Version]
Brother Bob: So dear friends, here, the Bible clearly explains that a tithe is the one-tenth, or the 10% of the harvest, the 10% of the livestock, or whatever source of livelihood that the children of Israel had during that time that was commanded to be offered to God.
[On-screen text graphics]
Tithe
1/10 or 10% of the harvest, the livestock, whatever source of livelihood the children of Israel would offer to God.
Brother Bob: This was God’s command to them, and, as we just read, through Moses. Because this is a command regarding the offering, God is very specific on how it should be performed. Is there proof of this that He even makes very clear where, when, and how these tithes were to be done and performed? Yes. Let’s take a look at it. The first is where. Where was the nation of Israel instructed by God to bring their offerings or tithes? We can also read that answer in Deuteronomy chapter 12, verse 11, and it says that here like this:
The Lord will choose a single place where he is to be worshiped, and there you must bring to him everything that I have commanded: your sacrifices that are to be burned and your other sacrifices, your tithes and your offerings, and those special gifts that you have promised to the Lord.
[Deuteronomy 12:11 Today’s English Version]
Brother Bob: So as we have just read here, dear friends, when it comes to the giving of offerings to God, like the tithes as was instructed to the nation of Israel, He instructed that it should be done in a single place that He chooses. He chose those to be brought to Him in the worship service offered to Him. This is what we have learned thus far. Let’s have a brief recap. First, who was commanded to offer? The Bible’s answer? God’s nation of Israel.
[On-screen text graphics]
Who was commanded to offer?
God’s nation of Israel
Brother Bob: Number two, what was to be offered? The answer of the Bible? The result of their harvest or their herds.
[On-screen text graphics]
What to offer?
Result of harvest of herds
Brother Bob: Number three, how much was to be offered? What was the answer of the Bible? The 10%, which the Bible called tithing.
[On-screen text graphics]
How much to offer?
10% or tithes
Brother Bob: How about when we asked where to offer? The answer of the Bible? In the place chosen to hold worship service.
[On-screen text graphics]
Where to offer?
In the place chosen to hold worship service
Brother Bob: And how about the ‘’when’’ question? The answer of the Bible? During the worship service.
[On-screen text graphics]
When to offer?
During worship service
Are Christians commanded to tithe today?
Brother Bob: So now that we can better understand, first of all, what tithes are or the offerings that were commanded by God in the Old Testament to the nation of Israel, in order to answer Ralph’s question, however, he asks if tithes like that are still applicable in the Christian Era.
[On-screen text graphics]
Is tithing still to be done by Christians today?
Brother Bob: We need to learn, we need to understand what are God’s commands regarding these things in the New Testament all that God has instructed regarding offering now.
Well, let’s go ahead and open up the Bible once again. To begin responding, we turn to the writings of Apostle Paul, II Corinthians 9:7, which reads this way:
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
[2 Corinthians 9:7 New International Version]
Brother Bob: Here we can see, dear friends, what God commands the Christians. He was specific. He specifies, first of all, who should give. What did He say? Each one should give. What else was the instruction? How much should each one give? What was the Bible’s answer? We just read it together. He said, “What he purposes in his heart.” So not 10% anymore. Now it’s what the person purposes in his heart. It’s from their heart.
What does the Bible say about offering?
Brother Bob: And what else was answered in this verse? How one should feel when he does offer. What’s the expectation of God that we just read through the writings of Apostle Paul here? He’s looking for a cheerful giver.
What other instructions are given to Christians regarding their offerings? We can also read in I Corinthians. This time we read in I Corinthians, chapter 16, verse 2. This commandment of the Lord concerning offerings is given:
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
[I Corinthians 16:2 New International Version]
Brother Bob: In this verse, what is to be offered? What is it? Is it still the fruit of the land as we read in the early verse concerning tithing? Is it still a one-tenth of the herd of livestock? Is that what it is? What did we read in the Christian Era? Money was set aside in accordance with their income. How about the question [of] how it should be prepared? Apostle Paul also answered that. It should be set aside or budgeted weekly.
How about God’s command on the place where one should give their share, give [the] offerings they have set aside for Him? That is answered in Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 13, verses 15 and 16, wherein this is instructed:
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
[Hebrews 13:15-16 Revised Standard Version]
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, it’s quite obvious that these verses are referring to worship service offered to God. Why are we sure? Well, it speaks of praising God. It speaks of acknowledging His name to the fruit of our lips, for example, praying and hymn singing of praises to the Lord. And we can see that God gave a commandment concerning offering. What did He say? Don’t neglect. Don’t forget to bring your share or sacrifice offering.
And that’s what we do when we come before Him in worship as members of the Church Of Christ, as one purposes in their heart, they cheerfully bring their sacrifice offering, not a tithe that was commanded specifically 10% in the ancient times as God dealt with the nation of Israel. Unfortunately, if there are Protestant groups, be it Seventh Day Adventist or other groups that set aside a commandment to their people on how much they will offer, that’s wrong based on what the Bible teaches. So just as in the Old Testament, the command given to us today is to bring our offerings. Bring it in the place of worship. Bring it during the worship service. But the difference? It’s not a tithe. It’s a free will, voluntary, sacrifice, offering that one cheerfully brings as their offering to God.
[On-screen text graphics]
It’s NOT a tithe. It’s a free will, voluntary, sacrifice. It’s an offering that one cheerfully brings to God.
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, this is what we have learned about God’s command concerning offering in the New Testament. We’ve learned who was commanded to offer. What was the Bible’s answer? God’s nation in the Christian Era.
[On-screen text graphics]
Who was commanded to offer?
God’s nation in the Christian Era
Brother Bob: We posed the question, “Where should our offerings be brought?” And the Bible answered again. It should be brought in the place chosen by God to hold worship service.
[On-screen text graphics]
Where to offer?
In the place chosen to hold worship service
Brother Bob: We asked the question, “When should we offer?” And the Bible answered that too: during the worship service.
[On-screen text graphics]
When to offer?
During worship service
Brother Bob: We asked the question, “What should be offered?” And the Bible again gave a response: the monetary offering set aside from our income.
[On-screen text graphics]
What to offer?
Money set aside from their income
Brother Bob: We also asked the question, “Well, how much should we offer? Should it be a tithe? Should it be 10% as was commanded during the ancient nation of Israel’s time?” The Bible answered again: the amount is what is purposed in one’s own heart.
[On-screen text graphics]
How much to offer?
Amount purposed in heart
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, the command of God to the Israelites regarding the amount to offer, the amount of offering He is to receive, it’s different from His commandment that He gives in our time to the true Christians. The amount He commanded to Israel, that offering of the 10% or a tithe, that’s different than His instruction today. God’s command to the Christians is that we are to offer what is purposed in our heart.
[On-screen text graphics]
God’s command to the Christians is to offer what is purposed in our heart.
Brother Bob: Well, it could be 10% or it could be more than 10%. It is what is purposed in one’s own heart. Therefore, the answer to Ralph’s question regarding if tithing is still applicable today in the Christian Era is a resounding no. We have learned that God is very specific when it comes to offerings to Him. The tithing that others are enforcing today, where 10% is taken, some of them even take it out of a person’s bank account in order to make sure they give their tithe. That’s way outside of what God is commanding from His people today. Tithing cannot be enforced today because God did not command tithing for His people today.
[On-screen text graphics]
Tithing cannot be enforced today
Brother Bob: This is what we believe. This is what we do inside the Church Of Christ. Why? Because that’s in the Bible.
Dear friends, when you’re ready to learn more about the fundamental teachings found here inside the Church of Christ, please visit incmedia.org.
[On-screen text graphics]
Learn more at incmedia.org
Brother Bob: There, you’ll find various series of programs dedicated to answering your spiritual questions. You can also follow us on our Facebook pages: Iglesia Ni Cristo News and Updates and Iglesia Ni Cristo Media, where you can view more of our shows and see how the Church gets involved and interacts with the communities.
[On-screen text graphics]
Follow us on Facebook:
/IglesiaNiCristoNewsandUpdates
Brother Bob: You can find also a worship service and a house of prayer near to your home. Visit the iglesianicristo.net. There, you’ll find a directory of houses of worship.
[On-screen text graphic]
Find a house of worship near you: IglesiaNiCristo.net/directory
Brother Bob: Find the one that’s near to you and you can go there. Join with us. Meet the minister. Meet the brothers and sisters inside the Church Of Christ. Learn the basic fundamental teachings we embrace, here, inside the Church. Join us in worship. And if you have questions that you’d like even answered here on the show, please email them to answers@incmedia.org.
[On-screen text graphic]
Do you have any questions about the bible? answers@incmedia.org
Brother Bob: Thanks for joining us. We’ll see you again next time on That’s in the Bible!
