It is possible to believe in tithing today as a New Covenant practise that is completely free from Old Covenant thinking. But to do that you need to hold two important convictions:

1) I don’t believe tithing originated under Mosaic Law but was first mentioned and demonstrated to us through Abraham. Abraham’s life is a beautiful picture to us of grace. He was never part of the Old Covenant but was actually part of the New Covenant since the Gospel was “first preached to him in advance” and he is considered the “father of our faith” (Galatians 3:7,8).  I believe the account of Abraham giving the tithe to Melchizedek in Genesis 14 and then recounted in Hebrews 7 is very significant and should not be rejected or dismissed so quickly and conveniently.

2) I reject any kind of Old Covenant principle or practice of tithing being applied in the New Covenant. Malachi 3 is an Old Covenant context of blessings and curse, based on performance of law keeping, and has nothing to do with the New Covenant. If it does then the Cross counts for nothing, for it was at the Cross that all curse was broken. If failing to tithe causes curse to come upon you then the Cross has no power. Likewise if tithing causes mysterious blessings to come upon you then it has taken the place of the Cross. The promises of Malachi 3 concerning tithing are only applicable within the context of the covenant that those promises are made. The New Covenant is an entirely different context that has different promises and different conditions. It is at the Cross that curse was broken and blessings were released to us, not on the basis of anything we do but on the basis of what Christ accomplished for us, that we access and receive through faith.

By Ryan Rufus.

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Tithing Series:

#1: Tithing shouldn’t divide us!
#2: What I don’t believe about tithing.
#3: Why we can’t dismiss Abraham’s tithe.
#4: Six pictures of New Covenant tithing from Abraham.
#5: New Covenant scriptures on tithing.

 

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