Should Christians Tithe Today? Series

Should Christians Tithe Today?

After walking through the Old Testament tithe system, the words of Jesus, the teaching of the apostles, and the history of the church, we are finally ready to answer the central question of this series: should Christians tithe today? This article brings the whole discussion together and offers a balanced, biblical conclusion aimed at helping believers think clearly, give faithfully, and invest in eternity.

Tier 2 — The Biblical Overview

Why This Question Matters

This question matters because it touches the relationship between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, the believer’s conscience, the life of the local church, and the way Christians think about money as a whole.

It also matters because people often ask the question from very different places. Some ask because they are greedy. Others ask because they want to be biblically consistent. Still others ask because they have been taught one thing all their life and are now wrestling honestly with Scripture.

The goal of this article is not to help believers give less. The goal is to help believers think biblically so that their giving is rooted in truth rather than confusion, guilt, or slogans.

1. The Three Main Views Christians Hold

Most Christians land in one of three broad positions.

View 1 — Christians Must Tithe

This view says the 10% tithe is still binding on believers today. It often appeals to Abraham before the Law, Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:23, and the principle that grace should not produce less generosity than the law.

View 2 — The Tithe Is Not Required, but It Is a Wise Starting Point

This view says Christians are not clearly commanded to tithe under the New Covenant, but 10% can still serve as a practical and helpful benchmark for disciplined giving. Many pastors and churches function here.

View 3 — Christians Should Not Speak of Tithing at All, Only New Covenant Giving

This view says the tithe belonged specifically to Israel’s covenant structure and should not be imported into the church. Instead, Christians should speak only in terms of generous, proportionate, cheerful stewardship.

2. Strengths and Weaknesses of Each View

Strengths of “Christians Must Tithe”

• It takes giving seriously.
• It provides a clear and simple benchmark.
• It helps many believers build a habit of disciplined generosity.

Weaknesses of “Christians Must Tithe”

• The New Testament never plainly commands Christians to tithe.
• The Old Testament tithe was part of a larger covenant system tied to temple, Levites, land, and national life.
• It can blur the line between Old Covenant structure and New Covenant practice.

Strengths of “The Tithe Is a Wise Starting Point”

• It recognizes the complexity of Scripture.
• It avoids turning 10% into an explicit law where the New Testament does not.
• It still gives believers a practical framework for disciplined giving.

Weaknesses of “The Tithe Is a Wise Starting Point”

• Some may hear it and assume giving is now optional or minimal.
• It can still be misunderstood as “10% is the real rule, but we do not want to say it too strongly.”

Strengths of “Only New Covenant Giving”

• It takes seriously the shift from Old Covenant to New Covenant.
• It stays closely aligned with the language of the apostles.
• It emphasizes grace, generosity, and gospel-shaped stewardship.

Weaknesses of “Only New Covenant Giving”

• Some believers may use it as an excuse to give less.
• Without pastoral clarity, it can leave immature Christians with no practical structure at all.

Tier 3 — The Deeper Study

Why Many Christians Continue to Practice the Tithe

Even after wrestling through the biblical data, many thoughtful Christians still choose to tithe. Some do so because they believe the tithe continues as a moral principle. Others do so because it has proven to be a wise pattern for ordering their finances around God’s kingdom.

In that sense, there is an important difference between saying:

• “Christians are commanded to tithe”
• and “Christians may wisely choose to tithe as a disciplined pattern of giving”

That distinction matters. One treats the tithe as binding law. The other treats it as a practical tool.

Why Many Christians No Longer Use “Tithe” as the Main Category

Others conclude that because the New Testament never clearly reissues the tithe as church law, the better language is the language the apostles themselves used:

• give regularly (1 Corinthians 16:1–2)
• give willingly and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:6–7)
• support ministry (1 Corinthians 9:13–14)
• care for the poor (Galatians 2:10)
• give in response to Christ’s grace (2 Corinthians 8:9)

This approach argues that the New Covenant does not lower generosity. It deepens it and relocates it in the gospel.

A Balanced Biblical Conclusion

After looking at the full picture, the most balanced conclusion is something like this:

That means a Christian should be very careful about saying: “The Bible clearly requires every Christian to give exactly 10%.” The New Testament does not say that plainly.

But a Christian should be equally careful about saying: “Since the tithe is not clearly commanded, giving does not really matter.” That is also far from the New Testament.

Pastoral Guidance for Believers Today

So what should a believer do practically?

• Give first, not last. Build generosity into your life intentionally.
• Give regularly. Do not leave giving to random emotion.
• Give proportionately. Let your giving reflect how God has prospered you.
• Give cheerfully. God loves a cheerful giver, not a resentful one.
• Support your local church and gospel work. Those who preach the gospel should be supported by the gospel.
• Care for the needy. Biblical giving always includes mercy.

For some Christians, 10% may be a wise and helpful starting point. For others, especially those with greater means, love for Christ may lead beyond that. The issue is not finding the smallest amount you can part with. The issue is learning to steward everything you have under the lordship of Christ.

Investing in Eternity

In the end, Christian giving is not merely about percentages. It is about treasure, worship, and mission. Jesus said:

The question is not only, “Do I tithe?” The deeper question is: Am I using what God has entrusted to me to invest in eternity?

That includes supporting the local church, helping the poor, strengthening ministry, sending the gospel, and using money in a way that says, “Christ is my treasure.”

Why This Matters So Much

This issue matters because money is never just money in Scripture. It is one of the clearest revealers of the heart. That is why Christians should not handle the tithing debate carelessly, arrogantly, or selfishly.

The goal is not to “win” an argument about percentages. The goal is to become the kind of people who trust God deeply, hold possessions loosely, and joyfully use what we have for His glory.

Next in This Series

Now that we have answered the central question of this series, the final issue becomes deeply practical:

In the final article, we will shift from the tithing debate itself to the bigger New Testament vision: how believers can use money, possessions, and resources to honor Christ and lay up treasure in heaven.

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