A Piece of My Mind on Tithing for the New Testament Church
I would believe that the subject of tithing is a very tricky one. Even if a sound Christian pastor doesn't believe in the prosperity gospel but he could still be teaching tithing. The verse that's frequently quoted to defend tithing is Malachi 3:8-10 which says:
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
The context of tithing is that it's in the Old Testament ceremonial law. God required the Jews to give a tenth of their earnings. The Old Testament tithe was meant to support the Levites. Israel was under an old covenant and that while the moral law is still effective for both the Old Testament and the New Testament but the ceremonial law got abolished.
One major issue that we must face is that the New Testament is silent is on tithing. Do I think tithing is wrong? I wouldn't say it's wrong to tithe for the work of God. The problem I have with tithing is when we've got bully pastors who chase after those who fail to give their tithes or when we've got tithing tied up to the prosperity gospel. This would result to pastors who get rich squeezing out the money of the pulpit together with people who tithe thinking they'll become billionaires.
The New Testament says this one about giving and there's not a single mention about tithing:
2 Corinthians 9:27
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
In short, giving of the tithes is neither forbidden nor mandated. Instead, I would be led to believe that the New Testament giving results from cheerful giving. Giving one tithes and offerings is no longer a burden but a delight. There's no specific percentage over how much is given. If you give your tithes and offerings out of grudges or necessity then God won't bless that. If you give your tithes and offerings believing God should make you a billionaire in exchange then God won't bless that. God wants cheerful giving and not those who are just legalistic about it.