One of Those Religious Issues: Is Paying of Tithe Mandatory?

 I've carefully avoided this topic with the mistaken belief that the vast majority of Christians have got sound awareness on this matter until today, in the staff room, when it dawned on me that I'm wrong.

Most Christians, especially of the Protestant extraction vehemently maintain the strict adherence to the Mosaic law on tithe. Malachi 3:9-11 often serves as more of a weapon wielded by most pastors in driving you to proceed to the altar with your tithe than a passage in the Bible laying on why the need to pay tithe and by whom.

Well, I'm not against tithe-paying. My mother strongly believes in it and it works for her pretty well. What I'm against is the notion that "if you don't pay your tithe, you've greatly sinned" which is easily employed by most pastors to enrich themselves on your little income.

To clarify this, there are laws of God which are universal (affecting every Christian) and those which pertain to the Jews alone. You could say, that the Ten Commandments is a universal law of God binding on every Christian and such others modified and established by Christ. Tithe-paying is among the laws which pertain to the Jews (but which, if incorporated by a Christian, it's still good). Among the 12 tribes of Israel are the Levites wherewhich priests are chosen from. They're excluded from working other than the duties of offering sacrifices to God on behalf of God's people and such other ministerial and pastoral functions. They do not partake in land ownership, hence has no farms nor private businesses. To be well catered for, God mandated the Israelites to bring forth one-tenth of their proceeds as tithe. It is God the tithe is paid to but physically utilised by the priests. (This is still practised till today in Israel  under Judaism).

But today, our Pastors, Reverends, Fathers and other clergymen do work. Yes! I'm aware that there are those that are into full-time but they nevertheless receive stipends. To preach that if you don't bring forth your tithe, you've greatly sinned is wrong and near misconception of the Scriptures. Yes again! Someone in the staff room brought up the idea that we're the Israelites of today by virtue of our belief in God and in Christ, therefore, we're nevertheless bound by the law on tithe. Well, that logical conclusion is quite fallacious. Observance of a Jewish law like tithe-paying is very good but inadherence to such laws doesn't label you a transgressor. If it were to be so, then, (and like one noted that we're today's Israelites stricto senso) we're guilty of so many contravention of Jewish laws ranging from consumption of animals rated unclean by God, circumcision, performance of ablutionary rites and so on. Picking on strict observance of tithe paying is a mechanism employed by most clergymen with pecuniary and dubious intent and interest...just like the Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus' times.

Finally, I am not saying paying of tithe is wrong but I am saying that if you do not pay tithe, you're not wrong either but live up to Godly tenets especially as commanded by Christ. If you strongly believe in tithe -paying as my mother does, continue; it really works. I advise that if your faith is strong on it, don't stop paying tithe. But for those who are still confused, their beliefs about tithe still hazy and wavering, you commit no sin if you don't pay tithe, but you commit sin when you begin paying tithe and not prompt with it.