Is the Tithe for Today?

Of all the questions Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘯 broadcast and the 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘜𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 podcast, is asked to answer, this is beyond a doubt the most difficult. Not only because the subject of tithing is hotly debated, but because he says that he personally has not always been faithful in giving a tenth or more to the work of the Lord. And Hank is not alone. Research demonstrates that not only do the vast majority of Christians not tithe regularly, but many give little or nothing at all. Thus, addressing this question is not only incredibly convicting, but it also is increasingly crucial. As author Randy Alcorn has well said, tithing may well be regarded as the training wheels of giving. As such, tithing is as important today as it has ever been. We all need to learn what it is to stride free and unfettered down the path of Christian stewardship. Those who have traveled the Calvary road for any length of time surely can testify to the truth that God is ever faithful. Not only so, but as we weekly set aside our tithes and offerings, we are reminded that all we are—or ever hope to be—is a gift from God. As Moses communicated to the children of Israel, we tithe “so that [we] may learn to revere the Lord [our] God always” (Deuteronomy 14:23). Finally, it should be noted that tithing in the Old Testament not only prepared God’s people to become hilarious givers but also produced a temple of unparalleled splendor. The Bible chronicles the prayer of David as he thanked God for the very privilege of being able to give to the work of the Lord: “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. . . . And now Hank has seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you” (1 Chronicles 29:14, 17). What began as a spiritual discipline had evolved into sheer delight.