Are Christians Required to Tithe?

I often hear other Christians talk about tithing as though it’s something the Bible mandates. But is that really true? What does the Bible actually say about tithing?

First of all, I’d like to point out that not one verse in the New Testament commands Christians to tithe. Not one. Tithing is based on Old Testament laws that required Israelites to bring 10 percent of their crops and livestock to the temple. According to gotquestions.org, the Old Testament tithe was “a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites in the sacrificial system.” 

Here’s what the New Testament does say about giving: 

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Giving is a highly personal issue with no easy answer. Yes, we are all called to give generously, but that looks different for everyone based on life circumstances. For a single parent, or someone with a lot of medical bills, 5 percent may be all they can afford to give. Are they supposed to feel guilty for not meeting the 10 percent benchmark? For really wealthy people, giving 10 percent might not even put a dent in their lifestyle. Should they say to themselves, “oh well, I don’t need to give any more money, since I already gave 10 percent”? 

But more importantly, I believe that strict rules and legalistic expectations suck the joy out of giving. We are no longer under the old covenant, which was based on the letter of the law. Instead, we follow Jesus, who fulfilled the spirit of the law. We are to give based on our individual convictions and circumstances, not out of guilt or obligation. Yes, legalism allows us to feel comfortable by giving us easy, clear-cut answers. But it also keeps us from living the wonderful, complex, messy, abundant life that God has called us to live.