Tithing?

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Elzee

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I read on ‘Ask an Apologist’ that Catholics are not required to tithe because that was something under the ‘old law’ and we are no longer bound by that. Many fundamentalists I know say they are ‘required’ to tithe 10% because that is what the Bible tells us to do. My point here isn’t to get into a debate on how much we should give to our church or charity - I think we all believe we should do that to the best of our ability -but rather why do many fundamentalists (from my experience anyway) feel they are bound by this ‘old law’, but not all the other ‘old laws’ (sacrificing pigeons for example). How did they determine this is the one to still follow?
 
They do that with the entire Bible, not just the Old Testament. Maybe someone here (former or current Protestant) can explain why they picked that particular passage as being binding.
 
I have no idea why they chose this. But, I do know of a couple of the churches around here (not Catholic)that will post the names of those who give their 10% in the weekly news letter.
 
From what I remember talking to protestant friends, they base this off of the promise in Malachi and not off of the mandate of the Levitical laws

Mal 3:8 Shall a man afflict God, for you afflict me. And you have said: Wherein do we afflict thee? in tithes and in firstfruits.
Mal 3:9 And you are cursed with want, and you afflict me, even the whole nation of you.
Mal 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and try me in this, saith the Lord: if I open not unto you the flood-gates of heaven, and pour you out a blessing even to abundance.
Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke for your sakes the devourer, and he shall not spoil the fruit of your land: neither shall the vine in the field be barren, saith the Lord of hosts.
Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightful land, saith the Lord of hosts. (DRB)
 
Why did they skip Mal 1:11 then, where Malachi prophesies that incense and a pure offering will be made in every Church in all the world? Except for a Methodist church I went to once, I don’t recall ever seeing incense…
 
But for Grace:
From what I remember talking to protestant friends, they base this off of the promise in Malachi and not off of the mandate of the Levitical laws

Mal 3:8 Shall a man afflict God, for you afflict me. And you have said: Wherein do we afflict thee? in tithes and in firstfruits.
Mal 3:9 And you are cursed with want, and you afflict me, even the whole nation of you.
Mal 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and try me in this, saith the Lord: if I open not unto you the flood-gates of heaven, and pour you out a blessing even to abundance.
Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke for your sakes the devourer, and he shall not spoil the fruit of your land: neither shall the vine in the field be barren, saith the Lord of hosts.
Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightful land, saith the Lord of hosts. (DRB)
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Where does the 10% figure come in?
 
Tithing was a part of the Old Testament law. Christians are not under the Law of Moses and so we are not bound to any tithing law per-say. The Christian is to give freely as his or her heart dictates.
 
The Catholic Encyclopedia has a interesting article on the history of tithes. newadvent.org/cathen/14741b.htm

Evidently, the word itself means “a tenth”, and “tithes” are mentioned in various places throughout the Old Testament.

(just a few examples)
**Gen. 14:18-20 **Abraham gives 10% to Melchizedek
**Gen. 28:22 **Jacob mentions giving 10%
Lev. 27:30 every tenth animal in a herd

Why 10%? Maybe its just a nice round number? Or does anyone know of some reason it was a tenth?

Also see the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
**
II. The Precepts of the Church

2041 The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. the obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the indispensable minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor:

2042 The first precept (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.") requires the faithful to participate in the Eucharistic celebration when the Christian community gathers together on the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord.

The second precept (“You shall confess your sins at least once a year.") ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.

The third precept (“You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.") guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord’s Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.

2043 The fourth precept (“You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation.") completes the Sunday observance by participation in the principal liturgical feasts which honor the mysteries of the Lord, the Virgin Mary, and the saints.

The fifth precept (“You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.") ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts; they help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.

The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities.

**
 
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Elzee:
Where does the 10% figure come in?
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The English word “tithe”, originally meant tenth (or one-tenth). In fact if you go back far enough, they are the same word. As the language evolved “tenth” became the more widely used word, and “tithe” took on the exclusive meaning of a tenth paid as a tax or obligation. So strictly speaking a statement like “I tithe five percent” is contradictory. It’s as meaningless as a 25% half.

All that is to say that when you read an English translation of the Bible and you come across the word “tithe” or “tithing” the 10% figure is implied in the choice of the word, just as fifth always means 20% and half always means 50%.

I did a cursory web search and learned that the word “tithe” is translated from the Hebrew “ma’aser” which means “a tenth part”.

–Bill
 
The true power of stewardship comes not from the Church’s need to receive, but out of the need for Christians to give.

Alan
 
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