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- Is Tithing in the New Testament?
Is Tithing in the New Testament?
- By Joseph Mattera
- Published 01/31/2008
- Misconceptions
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Joseph Mattera
Joseph Mattera has been in full-time ministry since 1980 and is currently the overseeing Bishop of Resurrection Church in New York.
Known as “a leader’s leader,” Joseph is also a virtuoso on the guitar. He has received formal education in Kingsborough Community College, Elohim Bible Institute, received ministerial training from The International Christian Center, and has received an honorary diploma from Zion Bible Institute. Joseph earned a Doctor of Divinity from the Christian Leadership Seminary, participated in BILD (Biblical Institute for Leadership Development), successfully completed a one-year certificate program with the Wilberforce Forum, and has earned a Doctor of Ministry from Bakke Graduate University, with a concentration in Biblical Worldview and Urban Ministry.
He serves as a consultant and mentor to numerous political, business and church leaders and has worked extensively with the NYPD, the local community board and numerous other service agencies. In 1989 he formed a grassroots organization that successfully closed down a pornographic store and has since helped lead the charge in his community against the proliferation of pornography. In addition, he has helped formulate and facilitate a prayer movement in the New York metropolitan area and has launched numerous citywide initiatives for unity, reconciliation and reformation. Recently, he also served as a vice chair for the final Billy Graham Crusade in New York City (June 2005).
Joseph and his wife Joyce founded Resurrection Church in 1984. A multiethnic congregation of 40 nationalities, Resurrection Church has developed and sent out high-impact leadership and numerous non-profit corporations that have greatly impacted nations and the New York region, such as Children of the City (COC regularly ministers to more than 2,000 at-risk children with counseling, after school programs, tutoring, mentoring, and other holistic ministries) and The Ekklesia Leadership Institute (which held intensive monthly seminars and week-long summits with a focus of raising up the next generation of leadership with a Christian world and life view).
Resurrection Church has a goal of “advocating for the powerless and speaking to the powerful.”
Joseph’s driving passion is his jealousy to see the Lordship of Christ manifest over every realm of society so the church can fulfill the cultural mandate in Genesis 1:28. This passion has resulted in extensive ministry nationally and internationally, reaching out to many nations of the world including the former Soviet Union, Turkey, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Holland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Canada, Mexico and Cuba.
In November 1999 he started City Covenant Coalition, a network of clergy and marketplace ministries. They have come together to build the Body of Christ and work for citywide, national and global transformation (CCC has since become one of the largest and most influential clergy groups in the greater New York region). In 2004 CCC led the charge for traditional marriage in the New York region. CCC’s efforts for traditional marriage in 2004 positively influenced the social/political landscape of New York and included possibly the largest ever assembly of clergy for a press conference on the steps of New York City Hall. CCC incited another event at City Hall in which thousands of citizens renewed their vows and opposed same-sex unions and marriages. This event received extensive media coverage including network television news, radio and major local and national newspapers. These political and social events have given birth to City Action Coalition and American Action Coalition, local and national clergy led non-profit organizations that educate and activate the Body of Christ in regards to engaging the culture by applying the biblical worldview to culture and public policy.
Joseph also has hosted his own radio show “Light Your City” and a weekly cable television programs “The Ekklesia.” He is a regular contributor to Christian newspapers, and through the years has given numerous radio and television interviews and press conferences, including guest appearances on TBN. His first published book Ruling in the Gates was released in April 2003 and has already had international acclaim.
In recognition of his years of faithful service and significant influence, numerous local and national bishops and apostolic leaders consecrated Joseph to the Office of Bishop on April 29, 2006.
Joseph, his wife, Joyce and their five children live in Brooklyn, New York.
There is presently a teaching that is gaining traction among Christians which asserts that the giving of tithes is no longer a requirement in the present New Testament church.
There are a number of reasons given for this position. Two of the most commons reasons are:
1) Since tithing is not specifically taught in the New Testament, it is no longer in force; and
2) Tithing is under the law, thus it is no longer required in the New Covenant.
Although the giving of tithes is not one of the cardinal beliefs necessary for redemption (it is not as important as the deity of Christ, etc.) it is still an important issue we must grapple with. For centuries thousands of churches and most mainline denominations have depended on the tithes of the faithful to meet their budgets and provide provision to fulfill their mission.
Although these two arguments seem persuasive on the surface, the following are reasons why I believe tithing is still a requirement in this present kingdom age.
1. The principle of giving God the first portion of our income or blessings was instituted centuries before the Law of Moses. Thus the giving of tithes is not “under the Law” because it predates the law.
A. It was handed down from Adam and Eve to their children (Genesis 4:4).
B. Abraham practiced tithing (Genesis 14:20).
C. Jacob made a vow to tithe to God (Genesis 28:20-22).
2. The New Testament did not have to teach tithing because the early church was Jewish. The Old Testament was their text, and thus tithing was already assumed.
A. If tithing is no longer in force because it was not specifically taught in the New Testament then, by following this line of reasoning, we can also say that homosexuality is acceptable because Jesus never specifically mentioned it. Also bestiality and incest are acceptable since Jesus never specifically taught against these sins either (read Leviticus 18:22-23.)
3. Tithing was either taught or implied in the New Testament.
A. Jesus taught His followers to tithe (Matthew 23:23).
B. Romans 2:22 condemns the robbing of temples which Malachi 3:8-11 seems to indicate had to do with holding back the tithe. The Jews were generally never guilty of robbing the contents of the temple, so this verse in Romans can safely point to the withholding of the food from the storehouse.
C. First Corinthians 16:2 seems to imply that giving was based on a percentage of a person’s income.
4. Old Testament principles for giving have been carried over (in principle) to the New Testament.
A. Because there is no longer one central tabernacle or location for worship, the tithe is to be left with the elders at the gates (Deuteronomy 12:8-12). Because the Spirit is now poured out on all flesh and all believers can enter the Holy of Holies by the blood of Christ, one central location is no longer applicable (read Hebrews 10:19-23).
B. Deuteronomy 14:28: When it was too far to travel to give the tithe, it was to be left in decentralized locations across the nation with the elders at the gates. This fits the pattern of the New Testament, with local churches spread across the globe (read 1 Corinthians 16:2).
C. In Malachi 3:8-14 the Lord commands the tithe to be brought to the storehouse. In our particular case, in principle the storehouse seems to fit local churches best because of their need to store monies to fulfill their divine mandate to take care of God’s people and preach the Gospel.
D. The poll tax (Numbers 3:47), first fruits (Proverbs 3:9), various offerings, and the tithe, if added up, come to much more than 10%, and were used to minister to the following:
* To support the Levites (Numbers 18:24; read 1 Corinthians 9:14 and 1 Timothy 5:17 for the New Testament equivalent).
* For the aliens, fatherless, and widows (Deut. 14:29; read James 1:27, 1 Timothy 5:3-4, Acts 2:45 for the New Testament equivalent).
* To build the sanctuary (Exodus 25:1-8).
* Poll (head) tax for the upkeep of the sanctuary (Numbers 3:47).
In closing, if you do not give what God wants you to give, then God cannot give you what He wants you to have!
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