Post-Tithing: David Croteau

Last updated on: September 17, 2012 at 5:06 am by Scot McKnight

Post-Tithing: David Croteau 2012-09-16T06:22:33-05:00 Scot McKnight

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

From David Croteau, and his address can be found at the bottom of this post. Pastors and leaders of local churches have focused on tithing, in part because it is measurable and a good lever, but one must wonder why the NT never brings up the tithe. Is it because the NT knows that tithing was a very exclusive kind of offering? Here’s a good set of ideas and proposals and responses to issues surrounding those who propose tithing today.

The Post-Tithing View: Preventing Robbery, Not Endorsing It

In nearly every church I’ve been to, eventually they come around to collect the tithes and offerings. But have you ever thought of what it means to tithe after the cross? That is, in this “post-tithing” era. Is there such a thing? I believe that the standard of giving for Christians is not the typical “10 percent of income,” but a totally different paradigm. The concepts of giving in the New Testament are not a lowering nor a raising of the standard, but the transformation of that standard in consideration of the gift Christ has blessed us with.

What do you believe about tithing?

When I published my first book on the topic in 2010, the subtitle referred to “post-tithe giving.” I noticed that Scot McKnight used the term “post-tithing” in a blog post in January. I was pleasantly surprised for I had never heard someone else use that term. Why use this phrase you ask?

First, the typical term given for the alternative view that Christians are required to give 10 percent of their income to their local church is “grace giving,” a phrase used by Christians like Lewis Sperry Chafer, Ray Stedman, and John MacArthur. However, in recent years pro-tithing advocates have redefined that term saying that Christians should be giving 10 percent, then they would encourage the “grace giving” concept as an extra offering. Therefore, using that expression — grace giving — now could be confusing since it has been imputed with new meaning.

Second, there’s a common misconception that the Mosaic Law defined the tithe as giving 10 percent of a person’s income. They actually gave about 23 1/3 percent of their produce from the land and cattle. Now, I have no problem with someone giving 10 percent of their income. I think for some people 10 percent might be a very appropriate application of the principles for giving outline in Scripture.

Third, the prefix “post” means “after” or “subsequent to.” So does my view make someone an “anti-tithing” promoter? Sort of, if you plan to put your grain, tomatoes, sheep, and oil in the offering plate on Sunday morning. I think it could get quite messy and, to tell the truth, I don’t think that’s what our pastors need to run the church. The Levites needed it during the Old Testament times. The tithe was part of the Old Covenant which has been fulfilled by Christ. So, what is expected after the fulfillment of the Old Covenant?

I love the idea that the New Testament promotes principles that are building off of the Old Testament commands. I don’t see much discarding of the Old Testament in the New Testament, but more of a digging under and building off of.

You may say: “Well, isn’t giving 10 percent of my income a good idea?” It could be, all depending upon the specifics of your financial situation. But I have a suspicion that John Piper’s thought might apply to many of us:

“My conviction is that most middle and upper class Americans who merely tithe are robbing God.” ~ John Piper (who, in contrast to me, appears to believe in a tithing mandate)

One of my concerns is that this is true of many American Christians. The most common verse used to advocate tithing for Christians is Malachi 3. Many preachers that say that when a Christian fails to give 10 percent of their income to their local church they are robbing God, so people adhere to this 10 percent rule and give 10 percent. No more. No less.

Since the standard has been transformed, we need to reconsider giving. When well-off Christians reflect deeply on the biblical principles for giving, they find that giving 10 percent of their income is woefully short of what God desires of them. We rob ourselves of opportunities when we limit ourselves to only 10 percent. The driving forces underlying all giving should be the grace of God, our relationship with our God, and love (for God and for others). This is the “post-tithing” concept. When we dwell on specific details involved in giving (such as who, when, where, etc.) we can rightly evaluate our motivations, our attitude, and our thankfulness or lack of thereof. If we are giving grudgingly instead of cheerfully, we have missed God’s best for us. The legalistic mindset of the enchanted 10 percent rule hinders our unity with one another and intimacy with God. We are able to worship unconstrained when we are willing to sacrifice absolutely everything to bring Him glory, honor, and praise. Indeed, our treasure is where our heart is.

Charles Ryrie was a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and editor of the popular Ryrie Study Bible. His warning should be heeded: be careful of settling for 10 percent because you could easily get stuck in a 10 percent rut. It is so easy to give 10 percent, that if you think, because of previous teaching, that giving 10 percent at least gets you to the place where you are “okay with God,” then you’ll never ask the right questions.

These are questions dealing with motivations and attitudes, rather than amounts. I exhort you to practice the principles from Scripture to guide your decision making process in your giving (for more on this, look for my forthcoming volume later this year called Tithing After the Cross). You must think, use wisdom, and search your heart on the matter as you contemplate on the gospel and the God that’s done so much for us. The New Testament does not drive us to a calculator to decide our giving, but drives us to our knees and to our God Himself.

David A. Croteau

Associate Professor of Biblical Studies

Liberty University

www.slaveoftheword.blogspot.com

Grace

Previous Post

September 17, 2012

Third Way Gospel: Tim Keller's Proposal

Next Post

September 17, 2012 Homeschooled and Missional? Absolutely!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Acts of the Apostles Adam Advent Anabaptism Angels Anglican Apologetics Atonement Baptism BCP Prayers Bible Biblical Studies Birds Blogging Bloglossary Bonhoeffer Books Calvinism Christianity Church Church History Coffee Colossians Commentary Recs Conversion Creation Creeds Culture Death Ecclesiastes Economics Education Embracing Grace Emergent Emerging Movement Eschatology Essays Ethics Eucharist Evangelicalism Family Fasting Fathers Fellowship of Differents Footsteps Tour Fun and Whimsical Gospel Grace Happiness Heaven Hell Holy Spirit Irenaeus James Jesus Jesus Creed Job Justification Kingdom of God Law Lectures Lent Liberalism Love and Marriage Mabanteneni Manhood Mary Miracles Missio Alliance MissioLife Missional Missional Jesus Movies and Film New Perspective Northern Seminary OneLife Origins Project Orthodox Parables Pastor's Spouse Pastoring and Leading Pastoring and Preaching Patristics Paul Paul-John Tour Pharisees Pietism Political Theology Prayer and Formation Preaching Problems for Faith Psalm 119 Psalms Public Issues Purgatory Religions Resurrection Revelation Romans Rule of JCreed Science and Faith Sermon on the Mount Sports Ten Commandments Theology Third Way Top Ten Lists Translations Uncategorized Universalism University Ministry Way Out Weekly Meanderings Wisdom Women and Ministry Work Worship Writing & Blogging Youth Ministry

Select a Month July 2021 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian tradition uses the rosary for prayer?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Presbyterian Catholicism Baptist Anglican