The article “What Pastors Won’t Tell You About Tithes” by Kola Oshobi made interesting reading not because of its academic brilliance or his inverted logic but as an expose of his unparallel ignorance and masterful attempt to swim in waters where he did not even understand the depth of. As a practising Christian his attempt at writing on an issue such as tithing has provoked me to pen a rejoinder, not in an attempt to educate him, but to prevent innocent readers from being hoodwinked by a self professed Bible-believing Christian, “lover and fearer of God”, who has aptly demonstrated nothing but his disdain for the scripture and whatever the Word of God stands for. Tithing may be an unpalatable practice for unbelievers but God in His infinite wisdom ordained it and the fact that men have abused it does not in any way remove its significance in the economy of God.
In an attempt to discourage the practice in Christian circles the writer made copious references to the Bible and if he had stayed on this course he would not have exposed his inability to embark on either direct interpretation or deductive reasoning. It is in this light that I question his attempt at mis-educating people on an issue as basic in Christianity as tithing. In simple language tithing is the giving of a tenth of a person’s income to God and His works. Apparently God will not come down to collect such benevolence but it is the men who are labouring for Him who do that on His behalf and whatever misdeeds they perpetrate is their own cross to bear. It is therefore unquestionable that Tithing is a form of worship/service to the Lord.
It is pertinent to mention that this practice was established as a means of instructing the Israelites to support the tribe of Levi who were consecrated to the service of God and were therefore prevented from owning businesses, lands, farms etc and those who were less privileged within the society. In actual fact the Bible records that the Levites’ own inheritance was distributed to others when Joshua was dividing the land of Israel after the entry into the “land flowing with milk and honey”. As the writer rightly quoted, Numbers 18:26 says “Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe”. Doesn’t it state clearly here that they were expected to pay a tenth of the tithe they had collected? Funnily the writer’s version of the Bible did not record earlier in Numbers 18:24 that, “But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance”. The import of this is that the Levites, just like other Israelites were mandated to pay tithes. Therefore, their not having a vocation was not excusing them from this sacred duty. This is why churches nowadays pay tithes of their tithes to other churches or other causes, if the leaders understand Biblical authority. If this service had been restricted to the Levites, why did the Bible record in 2Chronicles 31:5 “And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly”? It is also recorded in Nehemiah 13:12 “Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries”. The emphasis is clear otherwise God would not have said in Le 27:30, “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 unto the LORD”. Readers can also read other references in Deut. 14:28, 2Chro 31:6, Nehemiah 10:38.
It is therefore apparent that tithing was a form of “social security” for those who are jobless and disadvantaged in the society and for the advancement of the work of God as clearly stated in Deuteronomy 26:12, “When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled”. This is why I hold to the belief that those countries where there are provisions for the jobless and disabled borrowed this virtue from their Christian roots and the proliferation of such practices has led to the enormous blessings they have received.
The writer asserted that tithing was dug out of the Old Testament as a way of hoodwinking people to give more for the Pastors. Heavens will test everyman’s work on the day of judgement but another man’s disobedience must not be the foundation for disobedience in any life hence the need for unqualified obedience to the Lord. I am not a Pastor but I am sure that all Pastors and lay church members will give account of what they have done with the word of God. My own place is not to apportion unto them the reward that God Himself will rightly grant them on the last day. My own duty is obedience to my calling as a disciple. This is why a true disciple must go beyond giving a tenth just as the writer mentioned. God is looking for those who are ready to give their all, including their lives but He demonstrated this first by giving the only Son He has. Jesus on His own part willingly gave His life for us and that is why I hold to the belief that a man who has given a tenth has just begun on the journey of obedience. The Bible enjoins everyone to be like the Berean Christians who were only willing to accept a doctrine after they have truly read the scriptures and received a conviction. Let everyone go and do likewise but I will end my write-up with a quote from Daniel 12: 10 "Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand”.
