The Fallacy of Piecemealing God’s Laws
The third fallacy we need to address that influences adherence to the required at least 10% tithe is the piecemealing of God’s laws. This is the process of taking specific bits and pieces of the Law, removing them from their larger context and requiring them to be applied currently. This attempts to solidify a point attempted to be made through proof-texting rather than truth.
This is the thrust of the growing popularity of what is known as the Hebrew Roots Movement that claims that the New Covenant through Jesus’ death and resurrection did not replace the Mosaic Law and we, today, are still bound by that code. They ignore the facts that Jesus became our Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9-11) and keeping the Sabbath is the only one of the Ten Commandments NOT repeated in the New Testament and they insist on current adherence to Mosaic Sabbath laws. While Floyd is NOT advocating for this movement, he does clearly piecemeal Old Testament Laws. He erroneously attempts to connect them to New Testament principles through prescribing things from descriptive and proof-texts all to gain adherence to the tithe.
Floyd begins this section focusing on faith and quotes Hebrews 11:6: “’Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.’ (CSB)” He then immediately comments:
Could it be that a lack of faith is one of the main reasons people struggle to honor God with at least ten percent of all He has entrusted to them? Yes, it is. Christ-followers struggle with trusting God and His Word in the way we are to live financially far more than they struggle with believing this same God saved them eternally.
Ronnie Floyd. TEN PERCENT: A Call to Biblical Stewardship (Nashville: Convention Press and Ronnie W. Floyd, 2020), 33.
Is there support for this connection of faith with giving God a tenth of our finances in v. 6?- No! The ultimate question here is what was the source and results of the faith of those many heroes in the faith listed in chapter 11? First, the source of faith is seen in verse 1: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Faith is both “confidence” and “assurance” in “what we do not see.” So, last I checked, both my finances and any resulting earthly “blessings” from the act of tithing can be seen and, therefore, cannot be included in the definition of faith here. Also, if our understanding of “confidence in what we hope for” is directly connected to the command to tithe, then why are none (yes, not one) of the heroes of the faith recorded in all of chapter 11 direct examples of tithing by faith? The answer is clearly stated in vv. 13-16:
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Their faith was focused on the eternal and not the temporal.
Second, we see the results or “rewards” of their faith were not immediately observed but received in the eternal. Further context includes 12:1-3:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
The context of 11:6 clearly cannot be used to insist on tithing as act act of faith. Faith is confidence and assurance in the unseen and our rewards are both intangible and eternal. But, Floyd continues to link faith to tithing by correctly stating that these verses detail faith that pleases God is belief in both “God is who He says He is” and “God can do what He says He can do.” (Floyd, 45) – YES! YES!
Sadly, Floyd immediately seems to stumble:
When you believe God is who He says He is, then you can believe God enough to honor Him with at least the first ten percent of all He gives you. Furthermore, when you believe God can do what He says He can do, it is impossible for you to not honor God with at least the first ten percent He gives you. Having faith in God and living by faith in God alone is the key to honoring God with at least the first ten percent of all God gives you in your life, in your past, in your present, and in your future. Undoubtedly, faith pleases God.
Ronnie Floyd. TEN PERCENT: A Call to Biblical Stewardship (Nashville: Convention Press and Ronnie W. Floyd, 2020), 45.
Faith is not equivalent to tithing. Tithing cannot be the outward demonstration of faith if true faith, as described in Hebrews 11:1 and exemplified throughout the chapter is focused on the eternal and rewarded in the eternal. While Floyd is clearly not directly connecting tithing to salvation, the natural and logical progression is that tithing is a requirement and our ability and willingness to tithe is a reflection of our faith. Therefore, my act of tithing is my faith- no tithing, no faith means no salvation. Last I checked, I can clearly boast on my tangible tithe, so tithing cannot be linked to my salvation. As a reminder, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
On the other hand, Floyd continues to clearly state that tithing is a requirement. He references Genesis 14:17-20 to assert that Abraham “introduces the first ten percent principle; the principle we call the tithe.”(Floyd, 45)
After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Floyd also references Abraham’s giving of tithes to the priest Melchizedek in Hebrews 7:7-10 and suggests this establishes the tithe. (Floyd, 52) Not only does this NOT prove the establishment of tithing, it completely ignores that the purpose of Hebrews more broadly is to present that Melchizedek is greater than the Levi priests and Jesus is a superior priest to Melchizedek. It uses the mention of this instance of Abraham as the focal point is this passage rather than the true intention of the writer here to use this instance to show that even the revered patriarch gave to Melchizedek.
As Croteau points out, there are distinct differences between Abram’s tithe and the system of tithing in the Mosaic Law which invalidates any equivocation of the two: 1) Abram’s tithe was connected to his pre-war vow and Leviticus 27:30-33 forbids this connection, 2) Abram’s tithe was only once and Mosaic tithing is perpetual, 3) Mosaic tithes were only given to Levite priests and Abram’s tithe was given to a non-Levite priest, Melchizedek, 4) Abram gave by choice and Mosaic tithes were mandatory, 5) Abram’s tithe was from the spoils of war and not his possessions, and 6) Abram’s tithe was only 10% and Mosaic Law required nearly 23%. (David Croteau. Tithing After the Cross: A Refutation of the Top Arguments for Tithing and New Paradigm for Giving. Edited by Allan R Bevere and David Allen Black, Critical Christian Issues, Vol. VII, Gonzalez: Energion Publications, 2013. Chap 2, Kindle) This statement is similar to Floyd’s earlier use of the choices and actions of individuals recorded in the Bible as principles. So, is there evidence that this one act of Abraham’s tithing must be a practice of Christians today? A further look at Floyd’s assertions will answer this question.
There needs to be correct identification of the tithe in regards to its definition and types to understand fully. Floyd correctly chronicles that the tithe was started before the establishment of God’s Law (Genesis) was incorporated into the Law (Leviticus) and was restored following exile (Malachi). He also correctly identifies that tithe means “ten”: “The root meaning of the tithe is ten percent. Period.” (Floyd, 46) Indeed, the definition of “mah-as-ayr” means tenth part, tithe. But what is the Old Testament tithe and how is it explained in the New Testament?
First, to define the tithe we turn to Leviticus 27:30-34:
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. Every tithe of the herd and flock— every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD. No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’ These are the commands the LORD gave Moses at Mount Sinai for the Israelites.
The tithe was to be given on everything! The requirement to tithe was clearly given by God to the Israelites here in the last verse of Leviticus. Second, we need to define the types of tithes:
- Levitical Tithe- Numbers 18:20-29
This tithe provided basic sustenance for the priests.
“The LORD said to Aaron, ‘You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites. I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites.
Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’ The LORD said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD’s offering. Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. In this way you also will present an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the LORD’s portion to Aaron the priest. You must present as the LORD’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’”
- Worship Tithe- Deuteronomy 14:22-27
This tithe was to be brought to Temple worship and eaten.
‘”Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose.
Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.’”
- Welfare Tithe- Deuteronomy 14:28-29
This tithe provided basic sustenance for poor and marginalized peoples.
‘”At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.’”
Floyd correctly attests that the average total of all required tithes for the Jews was around 23%. So, which type of tithe are modern Christians required to observe and why at only 10% and not the fuller 23%? (Floyd, 54) Are we, today, supposed to observe any of the tithes listed in the Old Testament? Floyd alleges, “Oftentimes, people say the tithe was part of the Law; therefore, it is no longer relevant because we are under grace. The tithe predated the Law and was incorporated into the Law.” (Floyd, 46) So, it appears that his argument here is that we are, today, expected to tithe because the principle of tithing was established before the Law and we are to pay 10%, but he does not adequately explain why we are only obligated to 10%.
Abraham provides an example of an instance of, not a mandate to tithe. The levitical laws, including tithing, were established under the Mosaic Covenant NOT the earlier Abrahamic Covenant. Abraham chose to tithe and was not under compulsion and we are not compelled to follow this example. There is no evidence that Abraham tithed again and there is no evidence that anyone else did so until his grandson Jacob chose to do so as recorded in Genesis 28:20-22:
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will beGod’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.’
Not only was Abram not required to give 10% before the covenant, he was not required 10% after it. The actual Abrahamic Covenant was introduced in Genesis 12:1-3, actually given in 15:18-21 and then God reaffirmed it here in 17:1-8:
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.’ Abram fell face down, and God said to him, ‘As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.’
God also renewed it with Isaac in Genesis 26:2-5 and Jacob in 28:10-17. And, again, no mention of a required tithe. There was one thing, one non-negotiable required act that was required in Genesis 17:9-14- circumcision!:
Then God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.’
So, this entire study on the requirement of the tithe is based on a “principle” of tithing that was established prior to the Abrahamic Covenant through the “example” of Abraham which was later codified into the Mosaic Covenant and the Law but this study fails to insist on following the one actual requirement, circumcision, that was both in the Abrahamic Covenant and also codified into Law. Dr. Thomas Schreiner, professor of New Testament Interpretation at Southern Seminary, in their “Honest Answers- Episode 35” concedes that the issue of tithing is an issue that Christians can disagree and remain in fellowship but makes the following assertion:
I would say, is a tithe required, 10% tithe. I would say, no, because the tithe is part of the Mosaic covenant, it’s part of the Mosaic law, the covenant made at Sinai with Moses and with Israel. And the New Testament is very clear, we’re not under that covenant any longer, Galatians 3, Romans 7, Hebrews 9 and 10. So there’s a lot of texts that indicate we’re not under the Mosaic law.
Southern Seminary. Is Tithing Biblical? Honest Answers- Episode 35. YouTube, 6 Sept. 2017, 00.42.
Sometimes people appeal to Abraham and Jacob giving tithes. They gave 10% on occasions in their life, Abraham to Melchizedek, Jacob when God met him at Bethel, promised to give 10%. But those are one time, temporary events. There’s no indication that this is something they regularly did, nor is there any command, universal command, given to believers from those passages.
Southern Seminary. Is Tithing Biblical? Honest Answers- Episode 35, 01.51.
In contrast, after bringing up that “we are under grace” (Floyd, 45) is commonly used as a basis for not tithing, Floyd contends, “The tithe was reinforced by Jesus” (Floyd, 46) and quotes Matthew 23:23: “‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.’ (CSB)” (Floyd, 46) So, does the context of this verse suggest, in any way, that Jesus was reinforcing the tithe for us today?- No! Even if He was, He would be insisting on the full nearly 23% AND NOT the currently insisted 10%!
Although Floyd does not do so here, there has been attempts to correlate the offerings of Cain and Able to God in Genesis 4 with tithing. There is no correlation and this cannot be used as further “evidence” of a pre-Law establishment of tithing. First, the Hebrew word offerings or “minchah” used here refers to a voluntary gift, donation or tribute and cannot be confused with the later required tithe under Mosaic Law. There is no evidence to support their offerings were actually tithes. Second, Hebrews 11:4 asserts that Abel’s offering was made in faith. Therefore, God’s rejection of Cain’s offering was due to his lack of faith in God rather than his unwillingness or failure to adhere to a required at least 10% tithe. Thus, any attempt to correlate tithing principles or practices with these offerings are utterly erroneous.
In the companion small group lesson here, Floyd continues to insist that Jesus’ mention of the tithe in Matthew 23 shows Jesus reinforced tithing:
Thus, under the Mosaic system, the Jewish people gave more than twenty-three percent to the Temple treasury. Though we are no longer under the Mosaic code for the second and third tithes, there is no place in Scripture where the principle of the tithe exercised by the Father of our Faith (Abraham) and reinforced by the Author of our Faith (Jesus) was removed.
Ronnie Floyd. TEN PERCENT: A Call to Biblical Stewardship (Nashville: Convention Press and Ronnie W. Floyd, 2020), 45.
While still under the Old Covenant, Jesus as well as all other Jews were obligated to tithe their possessions and the Pharisees did so- even down to the smallest detail as in 10% in their spices. They were chastised by Jesus on their failing to also focus on “big picture” issues while being prideful of their tithing to such a degree. Jesus could not tell them to not tithe because they were still under the Law. One violation of any part of the Law was considered a violation of the whole law. Matthew 5:17 says that Jesus, in His life, would observe the Law and, in His death, would fulfill the Law: “’Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.’” Jesus observed all of the Law until He established the New Covenant as recorded in Luke 22:20 and thus fulfilled those laws: “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’”
Tithe is part of the whole law and is not to be separated from it. If we obey ONLY the tithe and exclude the rest of the law, we are breaking ALL of the law as in Deuteronomy 28:1-2ff: “’If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God.’” There were also strict punishments for breaking any part of the Law as in v. 15ff: “’However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:’”
So, what was a crucial difference between the Old and New Covenants? Old-What goes in matters. New- What comes out matters. How do we know this? Through such lengthy Old Testament lists of “don’t eat this” as in Deuteronomy 14:3-21 where the foods going into the body defile it and distinguish the foreigners from “people holy to the LORD your God” (v. 21). Then, in Mark 7:17-23 Jesus makes a new distinction- what comes out matters:
After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. ‘Are you so dull?’ he asked. ‘Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.’ (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) He went on: ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.’
If Jesus declared that the condition of the heart distinguishes us from the world and he negated the need to observe restrictive dietary elements of the Law, then did Jesus actually negate the requirement to tithe?- Yes! Old- “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). New- “’But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment’” (Matthew 5:22). Old- “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). New- “’But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart’” (Matthew 5:28). Under the New Covenant, Jesus established the condition of the heart as preeminent over merely following a list of rules. So, there is NOT a valid claim that Jesus abolished the law in regards to murder, adultery or tithing but it is obvious that Jesus fulfilled those laws and many others) by elevating the condition of the heart in the observance of them. Christian radio and tv talk show host aptly summarized:
He wants you to give to Him, not an idol, but to Him, as much as you desire. Do you see once again, that God isn’t just interested in formulas and that God isn’t just interested in, okay, just live like this, act like this, talk like this and you’ll be pleasing to me. No, no, no. He wants complete heart transformation. That is what giving is about.
WretchedNetwork. “Do NOT Tithe. YouTube, 14 June 2017 www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4q6BsEkZKI&t=315s, 2:11.
In a public question and answer session as part of the “Faith Builder” series sponsored by AM radio KKMS, Dr. John MacArthur said that tithing was part of the theocracy of Israel and was used in the operation of the government of Israel, thus, “That really was taxation. That never was free will giving.” MacArthur also stated, “Freewill giving in the Old Testament was whatever you wanted to give” because giving is “based on the heart of the giver.” (Reformed Christian Teaching. “What is Biblical Tithing?- John MacArthur.” YouTube, 12 Sept. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ2Aqi7DKco, 2:36.)
Both the Old and New Covenants require giving. While the Old required specific amounts for specific reasons the New does not as in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
So, if the New Covenant does not specify giving amounts, how does the local church function financially?- Through giving! Both the Old and New Covenants established a financial system whereby the workers in the church could survive so they could focus on their service to the entire body. In both Luke 10:5-7 and 1 Timothy 5:18 we see the phrase, a “worker deserves his wages” (Ἄξιος ὁ ἐργάτης τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ). The context of Luke’s passage is that the sustenance of the worker/leader is provided through the giving to them housing and food. The context of the Timothy passage is theological integrity as well as sustenance for those who ”direct the affairs of the church” and “especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” All of the needs of those who lead the church are met by those within the church and the resulting needs of those who give are provided for by God.
– All of this without compulsion that stems from a heart of generosity!
Sadly, this obvious New Covenant focus on the heart does not derail Floyd from maintaining a posture that tithing is still a requirement and must be- no exceptions- given at at least 10%. (Floyd, 53) Again, proof-texting is used in dealing with Deuteronomy 14:23 to say you are putting God first when tithing because “’The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.’” (Floyd, 47) Sadly, Floyd strategically takes this last part of v. 23 out of its context to prove a point on tithing and switches from using the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) translation to the New Living Bible (NLB) translation for further emphasis. First, the immediate context of v. 23 is found in reading both v. 22 and all of v. 23:
Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.
Does the context of the last part of v. 23 reflect a tenth of your income given to God to learn to put God first?- No! How are we to “eat the tithe”? Thus, the tithe here clearly refers to something other than a tithe on our finances.
Second, there is further proof-texting in the switch from using the CSB in v. 23 (“so that you will always learn to fear the LORD your God”) to the NLB (“The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.” (Floyd, 47) The CSB is a “thought for thought” and “word for word” balance between taking the Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) and translating it into English by a team of translators. The NLB is a paraphrase of those thoughts and words into the preferred speech of a team of translators to explain the thoughts within a verse. Thus, the NLB is a valid source for commentary while studying a passage of Scripture but should not be used as a primary study Bible. Valid team-based translations such as NLB, Contemporary English Version (CEV) and Good News Bible (GNB) could be used rather than the single author largely inaccurate (and should be avoided) The Message (MSG), The Passion Translation (TPT) or The Mirror Bible. While this review is not intended to provide a comprehensive study on Bible translations, it remains notable for Floyd to strategically use the NLB here merely to further an agenda here.
The conclusion to sermon 3 provides an odd combination (or possibly a last- ditch effort) to both again insist on the necessity of a work(tithing)/reward dynamic and an introduction to serious manipulation by taking the reader on a “guilt trip”:
The greatest decision you can make for your financial blessing and security is to tithe. Giving the first tenth of all God has given you, which is not yours anyway, is to give it to God. It all belongs to God; not ten percent of it, but all of it— one hundred percent of all your resources.
He gave His all, 100% of Himself, for you on the cross to die for your sins. He died in your place. How can you try to debate your way out of tithing when you are talking to the One who paid for all of your sins? If you can trust Him with your soul to take you to heaven when you die, then you can trust him for your daily needs as you practice giving at least the first ten percent of all God has given to you.
1. Ronnie Floyd. TEN PERCENT: A Call to Biblical Stewardship (Nashville: Convention Press and Ronnie W. Floyd, 2020), 47.
This combination leads into the small group portion of this sermon where Floyd continues this “guilt trip” and lays on a heavy dose of telling the reader who claims they “can’t afford to tithe” that they cannot afford not to tithe. Floyd correctly states, “When we give our financial resources, we are acknowledging that God is the Giver of all and He alone will meet our daily needs of food, clothing, shelter, recreation, and protection.” He then immediately assumes this means we also say, “’God, I so trust you to be the source of my supply that I willingly give back to you the first ten percent of all You have given me, and I trust you to meet all my needs.’” (Floyd, 50) Again, we cannot erroneously insist on a specific amount when Scripture clearly supports generosity rather than a rigid percentage. Floyd even takes this a step further in addressing whether to tithe on the net or the gross income: “As you consider whether the tithe should be on your net income or gross income, the way to answer this is: It all depends on whether you want to be netly blessed or grossly blessed!” (Floyd, 53)
So, does this mean that the Scripture says that we are to tithe 10% FIRST, regardless of our other financial obligations?- No! When asked whether to pay taxes or not, Jesus said in Mark 12:17, “’Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’” Paul also reminds us in Romans 12:1-3 to obey earthly governmental authority:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.
What about other debts? Should we forgo paying other financial debts to cover our 10% tithe obligation?- No! Psalms 37:21 tells us, “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.” 1 Timothy 5:8 says, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Does the Scripture instruct us to ignore the financial taxes/debts we owe to others and overlook the needs of our own households for the sake of maintaining strict adherence to a 10% tithe?- No! So, is Scripture telling us to pay at least 10% first, always and without exception on our gross income regardless of our other financial obligations?- No! Is Scripture telling us to be obedient to our all of our earthly financial obligations AND give generously as the Lord blesses us to do so and provides for our basic needs along the way?- YES!
Noted author and financial expert, Dave Ramsey clarified this at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, on June 12, 2018. The Christian Post records that Ramsey “tells pastors to stop stressing the importance of tithing to congregants who aren’t good stewards of their money”:
‘Unless,’ he clarified, ‘you’ve done two sermons on … debt — one on getting out of debt and one on getting on a budget. That’s the ratio for me instead of just tithe, tithe, tithe,’ he said. ‘But when pastors fail to address debt and setting a budget,’ he said, ‘the reaction to a sermon about tithing is often “yeah right, I’ve got a light bill. That’s a great spiritual concept. Maybe someday I’ll get around to that.” Getting out of debt leads to giving,’ the financial expert said, “Because if you’re out of debt and on a budget and you love Jesus, I think tithing is a natural thing that occurs.”
Leah MarieAnn Klett, “Dave Ramsey Says Pastors Must Stop Telling ‘Broke’ People to
Tithe, Must First Address Debt, Budget.” The Christian Post, 15 Nov. 2018,
<www.christianpost.com/news/dave-ramsey-says-pastors-must-stop-telling-broke-people-to-tithe-must-first-address-debt-budget.html.>
The Baptist Press records that Ramsey also said, “Quit preaching tithe lessons to broke people,’” and “’Let’s teach them how to get on a budget…. The natural byproduct of a Jesus lover when they have money is giving.’” (Roach, Erin. “Dave Ramsey Urges Pastors to Lead People Out of Debt.” Baptist Press, 13 June 2018, <www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/dave-ramsey-urges-pastors-to-lead-people-out-of-debt.>) This is also confirmed by Nonprofits Source, a search engine optimization focused marketing agency, that 80% of those who give to churches have “zero credit debt.” (“2018 Online Giving Statistics, Trends & Data: The Ultimate List of Giving Stats.”)