Customer Reviews

Tithing

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This book (which by the way is specifically dedicated by the author to pastors) could be considered the textbook for tithers, as it so closely resembles the common teaching and preaching heard today on the subject.

Tithing: A Call To Serious Biblical Giving - involves a sincere, encouraging and loving attempt to present why tithing is important for Christians. The book is well written, easy to read and presents some interesting challenges to non-tithing Christians and attempts to provide answers to some of the opposing views concerning the tithe.

But while the author's examination of the tithe is intellectually plausible (and some good and even biblical points are made from time to time), it is unfortunately not well supported by Scripture. The majority of the teaching is presented according to the author's personal opinions, speculations and assumptions (with some testimony) rather than a clear, detailed examination and presentation of Scripture.

For example, on one occasion the author preludes his teaching by telling the reader he is going to present how even the Apostle Paul preached on the tithe (an interesting claim that invited my attention), but what follows is merely and exclusively the author's opinionated speculation concerning what he feels Paul probably might have said in a sermon (though not one of these assumed sermons by the Apostle are supported by any thread of Scripture). The author seems to have a habit of reading a lot in between the lines of Scripture to support (and henceforth enforce) his position on the tithe. Some verses are lifted from their context (although probably in sincerity and ignorance) to support a New Testament defense of tithing.

The book is an excellent presentation of how the tithe is most commonly practiced, preached and understood by Christians today. The book reads like the perfect sermon on the tithe. I would recommend it if you're researching various perspective views on the subject, but unfortunately it fails the test of being able to effectively support a position of biblical tithing based on Scripture alone.

I gave the book 2 stars because while interesting and even enjoyable to read, it was lacking my expectations for a more biblically in-depth investigation of the tithe. The book seems heavily biased by the author's traditional views.

I read this book along with a book called "Should the Church Teach Tithing?" I wanted to get a balanced view of the tithing debate from both sides of the issue. I was leaning towards believing that tithing should not be taught before reading this book, and after reading it am 100% convinced that it should not be taught.

This book rehashes the same tired principles on tithing. Malachi 3:8-10 and Matthew 23:23 are verses that pro-tithers quote often. I view Kendall's interpretation of these verses to be lacking. He basically argues that if you tithe (he believes that tithing means giving 10% not the 23% that the Old Testament teaches), you will be blessed. If you do not tithe, you will be cursed. Oh, and you should tithe on your gross, not your net pay because you want God to bless you on your gross pay (blah, blah, blah).

I think the strongest argument for teaching tithing is that Christians give only 2-3% of their incomes on average to Christian work, but the question could be asked is this because churches teach tithing and people don't buy the arguments?

The real treasure is seeing that all our money, time and talents are God's and that every spending, giving and saving decision should be made in light of knowing that the Christian's citizenship is somewhere else (heaven). Forget tithing, let's encourage believers to give it all for the kingdom. God doesn't own 10%, he owns 100%. This issue was never addressed in this book.

Ashley Hodge, CFP
Southlake, TX

It is quite evident that Kendall has never made any kind of extensive research on tithing before writing this book. His unbalanced presentation only quotes others who agree with him.

1. No effort is made in the book to define the term, "tithe." The author's definition is purely what he thought it meant from childhood.
2. The opening pages are basically a "shame on you" to those who disagree. They are labeled as "escaping from glorifying God" (p24). Several times the author appears to blame all of the shortcomings of the church on its lack of tithing. He seems unconcerned that the theological systems may be widely different.
3. The curse and material blessings of Malachi are prominent. Missing is the O.T. context of the curse (Deu 27:19, 26; Neh 10:29; Mal 3:1-7; 4:4). Missing also is the fact from Numbers 18 that tithing itself entered as a death curse when the priesthood was taken from the family head. As usual in this type of book, Malachi 3 is used as a hammer and quoted repeatedly.
4. Tithing was not specifically taught in the New Testament, he says, because it was an "assumption" (p29). Yet a valid principle of interpretation states that all vital doctrines carried over from the O.T. are repeated in the N.T. after Calvary.
5. Jesus' mention of tithing in Mt. 23:23 is clearly in the context of a discussion of the law, those under it, and those who misuse it (Mt 23:2-4).
6. Kendall asks, "Where would foreign missions be without this verse?," Mt 23:23. Strangely, his "motivation" for giving on pages 104-106 does NOT include a "compassion for lost souls" or "love response to God." O.T. Jews tithed according to the Law and had no missions at all! Tithing is not the answer. The law has no power or glory when compared to the power of the Spirit (2 Cor 3:10-18).
7. Page 34 has the statement "There is nothing more disgraceful than a church that struggles financially simply because its people will not tithe. There is nothing more melancholy than an underpaid minister." However, many very successful churches thrive without teaching tithing (such as those associated with Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary). For almost 300 years the early church thrived through persecution while its pastors (like Jewish rabbis) were self-supporting and were mostly strict ascetics who boasted of their extreme poverty.
8. While Kendall uses Genesis 14 (p43-56) as the origin of tithing by Abraham, the book, Should the Church Teach Tithing?, goes into great detail on this subject. In their discussions of the 90% of Genesis 14:21, almost every commentary concludes the existence of a pre-existing Arab plunder law which compelled Abraham to tithe. As Kendall correctly emphasizes on page 49, he ONLY gave a spoils of war tithe. Also, he gave no freewill offering, built no altar, and ignored Melchizedek on his journey to adjoining Moriah in chapter 22. Also, El Elyon, the highest god of Tyre and Sidon, possessor/creator of heaven and earth, was commonly known by the Canaanites to be either Baal or El. Abraham, not Melchizedek, knew the true God as Yahweh, the LORD.
9. On pages 57-69 Kendall makes little or no difference between the Old Covenant Law and the N.T. except that the N.T. teaches a higher standard --- meaning that ALL should give more than a tithe. The assumption that everybody under the O.T. was required tithe is wrong! --- it only applied to clean food grown or raised in Israel. The poor, merchants, and craftsmen such as carpenters never tithed. Very confusing is Kendall's remark, "Keeping the law of love would also mean keeping the very commandments of Moses, possible without even realizing it" (p68).
10. Kendall uses Hebrews 7 very selectively. The chapter actually concludes in verses 12-18 that ALL commandments supporting the Levitical priesthood, which must include the foundational tithe, MUST be abolished to make room for Christ's higher priesthood.

I would recommend to Kendall and others wanting to honestly discover the truth about tithing that they read two or three books presenting BOTH sides of the issue. I would also recommend reading at least four church historians and cover the time period before AD 325.

When Lincoln freed the Slaves I hear many Slaves voluntarily went back under the bondage of Slavery even the ones with cruel Masters. People should study their Bible in detail and read how Jesus went to the Cross and paid it all in full, including taking our sickness & poverty. The New Testament means just that, "NEW". Jesus came and made all things new. There is no command enforcing the tithe law for Gentiles anywhere in the New Testament after the Cross and his declaration of "It Is Finished". The Gentiles were never given the law or oracles of God. They were grafted in later under the New Covenant of grace, not by their works or Mosaic law-keeping.

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Colossians 2:14". Galatians 5:4 "you who are trying to be justified by keeping the law have been cut off, you have fallen from Grace. Romans 3:20 "No one shall be declared righteous by observing the law the law gave us a knowledge of sin".


Kendall promotes tithing which is only one Mosaic law this is selective to just one law while omitting the others.

James 2:10 "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it".

There six hundred and thirteen Jewish Mosaic laws that governed every aspect of their daily lives around the clock. Why enforce the one (tithe) law that is now taught as money, when the tithe was not coins but food and spices. The tithe was food from their crops but Kendall and other tithe teachers have changed it to mean mostly money, how convenient! In Deuteronomy 27 it states that all of those Mosaic Laws had to be kept, not just the tithe law. A blood sacrifice of a lamb without defect was needed on the day of atonement for breaking any one of them. Jesus has now fulfilled the Law and the Priest, animal sacrifices and Levitical Priesthood has ended as the result. Mr. Kendall is silent on keeping the Sabbath which is Friday night to Saturday night which Devout Jews still keep to date. What about keeping Jewish Feast and Jewish Festivals?

Abraham was not instructed to tithe, he voluntarily gave a tithe one time only so how can this example be used as a Gentile tithe mandate? He was also circumcised before the Mosaic law was given but Tithe demanders do not teach a thing on forcing Gentile circumcision. Among the Mosaic laws, there was stoning people & children for rebellion against parents. Let's Not stop there, Jesus called sexual lust in ones heart the same as adultery, over half the Church world would be gone if that law were in place. The truth is Gentiles were never given the Old Testament Law to keep which is why the Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles is silent on this mandate. Jesus fulfilled the law and paid in full the penalty for those who have placed their faith in Him. There is Grace and access to go to God for every blessing in Jesus name because He went to the Cross and fulfilled the law for those that are in Him. I'm not against tithing just twisting Scripture to enforce it.

Why didn't Jesus applaud the Pharisees for tithing on everything down to their spices? Jesus said the weightier matters of the law is love, mercy and honesty should be practiced alongside their tithing but he was speaking to Jews who were still under the Mosaic law because Jesus had not yet gone to the Cross to fulfill the law. Every book in the Old Testament pointed to Jesus. In Him is the sum total of everything we need and can ask for answers to prayers for free. Stop demoting the work of Christ over the work of human tithing. This takes away from the work that our Lord did.

The Apostle Peter called law keeping in Acts 15:10 "a yoke of bondage that neither he or his ancestors could bare".

Enforcing any work to obtain God's favor is anti-grace and modern day slavery. We were given the free gift which it was the payment Jesus made on the cross (called) Grace. To think we have to pay God for His free gifts and promises subtracts from the Lords work on the Cross. Any decent person knows they should financial support their Church where they have placed their membership but it is not a mandate that will bring a curse if anyone is too poor to tithe they can still go to God for any need because of Jesus we have access to God and His free favor at no charge. Before taking my word for anything or taking Mr. Kendall's word, first read the Bible and see what your NEW Testament has to say on the matter of Grace, FREE Favor & Redemption before you come to any second handed down conclusion. Read Romans 10:4 Jesus is the end of the law for everyone that believes.
He said not one jot would pass from the law UNTIL all has been fulfilled. Guess who fulfilled the whole Law for you and made a declaration of Paid in full as in It is finished? Redeemed from the curse (according to Gal.3:13-14),Christians start studying your bible and New Covenant promises. Know the vast differences in Old And New Covenant. The Old Covenant of Lawkeeping vs the New Covenant Dispensation of Grace!

Kendall's work, Tithing, suffers from a fatal foundational flaw. Rather than developing the subject of tithing systematically and analytically based on sound exegetical practices, the author opines from the platform of the generally held view, based on traditional presuppositions. His book is Example A in the age-old battle of exegesis, extracting meaning using thoughtful principles of interpretation vs. eisegesis, reading into scripture one's own ideas. In this book, Kendall lost the war before he posited pen to paper.
Theologically and intellectually, his random and muddled collective thoughts rarely arrive at a satisfying destination. His writing is akin to herding feral cats through a dog park, only far less entertaining. My suspicions were heightened by a first clue, found in his Preface, where Kendall abashedly admits (at least it was not unabashedly) he once wrote five pages in support of the tithe while expositing the book of Jonah. Jonah! God help us.
Early on Kendall offends the sensibilities by substituting tepid anecdotes for thoughtful discourse. He resorts to a version of the ungracious and unsatisfying rhetorical device of `poisoning the well' by suggesting believers opposed to an obligatory tithe are not in opposition on exegetical grounds but are simply attempting to camouflage their personal reluctance to give generously.
Kendall throws in some mind-bending distortions of the Pauline epistles in suggesting that Paul was writing in support of a tithe and fact-bending assertions such as, "The storehouse (in the context of Mosaic Law) is the nickname for the temple of God, or any local synagogue or assembly."
After almost correctly defining the Biblical tithe of Mosaic Law as 23 ½ % of the tither's income, (actually it was not income per se but ONLY food products to support the Levites) he states, "I am satisfied that the Christian obligation is a basic 10% of his income." He's satisfied, brilliant, but based on what? In effect Kendall is telling us the "Christian Law" has a "lower standard" than the Mosaic Law; which is the only way he can reconcile his theology with his presuppositions.
In his befuddled logic, Kendall can simultaneously argue that "God does not enforce tithing today" (Pg. 69) but later states, "It is a sin, a high crime, not to pay your "debt" to God-the tithe." (Pg. 95)
I would have liked to be more generous in saying that Kendall falls into the semantical trap of legalism of which all tithing proponents eventually succumb but in his case, he plunges in gleefully. His argument, like most tithing proponents, progresses thusly: the foundation of the tithe is pre-Mosaic Law, beginning with Abraham. (This supposition, even though highly problematic from a hermeneutical perspective, is a MUST since he is savvy enough to know he cannot argue a tithe based on Mosaic Law.) However, after admitting "Abraham was not keeping any prescribed command or law of God" and Abraham's giving was done "voluntarily" Kendall tells us the tithe is somehow prescriptive for the New Covenant believer today. To bolster his untidy logic he finds it necessary to revert to citations from Mosaic Law (which the cross of Christ has fulfilled) and admonishes us with Deuteronomic prescripts and threatens us with curses of Malachi Chapter 3 (written about people under the Law) in calling non-tithers "God robbers". Sadly, Kendall also displays a jaw-dropping lack of historical perspective in not understanding tithing in the ancient world.
If you have the urge to buy Tithing, I suggest you suspend the impulse. Rather than subjecting yourself to this book, I strongly encourage you to spend your money on a book about basic Biblical hermeneutics. You will be far more benefited and blessed, not to mention wiser.

Like the story "The King Has No Clothes", upon close examination we not a single verse in the New Testament instructing any church or saint to tithe. It is not there, period. Giving is, and the giving never went to fund buildings, organizations, and clergy lifestyles. Giving went to minister to brethren in need, and supplied basic needs to those ministers who were 100% dedicated to the ministry of the Word and prayer.
Please see our book The Tithe That Binds and our site [...]

This book does a GOOD job of putting for the tradition of men regarding tithing. We have heard all the justifications for a pactice that was never given to the church, even one or two not given in this book.

I heard the author speak at Christ Church in Nashville, Tennessee today. He could not even present a good enough argument to tithe according to what his view of tithing is to convince me to buy the book. Christ Church is selling it in the bookstore and featuring it this month. He stated that tithing was from gross income. He never explained how the Bible stated that is a fact. He never explained if pastors should tithe on what the Church pays for their housing, cars and electric. He did not teach anything new. He only gave his opinion that one should take how much they receive in money and give 10% of that to the Church. My expertise is not in Biblical studies. I have a Master of Science in Accounting and I can not figure out where the Bible says one should take 10% of gross income and tithe that to the Church. Also, what 10% of gross income is can be very confusing. What about my health insurance that my employer pays? Some people may not have health insurance paid for by their employer. And, by the way, I am a member of Christ Church. I wasted my time listening to the author speak this morning, although the choir was very good and Ken Abraham's Sunday school class was great too.

I have read this book on several occasions and found that my faith was stirred to give more to God. I have also read many of the reviews placed here in regard to this book and the principal of tithing.

I have a simple question to ask which no seems no one seems to have considered so I will ask it, now all I ask you give me a simple answer not with your thoughts and interpretation but with scripture:

Where in the NT does it say we should not tithe?

Many would argue that the NT does not teach tithing but I could also argue that even Paul in the epistles, for example in Galatians never once mentions or discusses the subject of not tithing. (In connection with Christians being bewitched by those trying to place them under the Law)

How strange that much of 21st century Christianity attacks something the bible teaches and God says he will bless. They attack it without one complete scripture in the NT to support their interpretation and doctrine.

As a Leader of a Church for many years I know how much more we and many other churches could do if people were simple faithful in the principal of tithing.

Tithing is a radical and uncomfortable subject because it is treated subjectively. Those who advocate for and those who are against it, present subjective views that usually leave their audience unconvinced or confused though the recipients continue to do what they have done; those who were tithing continue to tithe and those who were not tithing refuse to start tithing.

In his introduction, R. T. Kendall presents a very subjective statement base on his view on tithing. He states that "If every professing Christian would tithe, every congregation would be free of financial worries and could begin truly to be `the salt of the earth' (Matt. 5:13)." In essence, the argument goes something like this: if the church wants to truly be the salt of the earth, then it needs to tithe. The context of course of Matthew 5:13 falls under the sermon of the mount where Jesus is speaking about the blessings of being poor in spirit, of mourning, of being meek, of being hungry and thirsty for righteousness, for being merciful, pure in heart, being peacemakers, persecuted, and insulted. Nothing about giving alms, offerings, or tithes is ever mentioned in this sermon.

The Bible, as many people believe, does not say what it means or does not mean what it says. If were that easy, there would be very little confusion and misunderstanding concerning its own writings. In Nehemiah 8:8 (NLT), we see hermeneutics in action: "They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage." Here, Levites were explaining the Scriptures to the people, not just reading them to them. In same manner, we need to gather all the Scriptures passages concerning tithing, or any topic for that matter, and see what the Scriptures are "saying" and "meaning". In a topical Bible study of any kind, a good student will look for all the scripture references concerning such topic, read them in their immediate context and look at the consensus of the Bible to see what the Bible, as a whole, has to say about it.

Contrary to Mr. Kendall that "were all Christians to tithe it would solve the church's financial problems", the church's financial problems cannot be solved by tithing because, for one, the bigger the church gets, the bigger the bills to feed the new building and so a greater percentage of tithes and offerings will go to the building and little will go to the projects that the church was able to fund before. Missionary support, youth groups, compassion and evangelistic ministries, to name a few, will greatly suffer, and will go to ashes. With more people in churches, come bigger salaries, not less; more use of electricity and water, not less; and more pastoral staff, not less. The growth of people is not necessarily proportionate to the growth of the needs for the upkeep of the building.

The issue of tithing is not whether tithing is biblical, for it is, but whether it is required or mandatory for the New Testament Church. The usual scriptures used to advocate for tithing are Malachi 3:8 & 9, where God is mad as Israel for many reasons, among them was tithing, Genesis 14:20 where Abram gave the tenth of his booty to Melchizedek, Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42, and Hebrews 7. Other than these five scriptures passages, I have seen no tithes advocate even touch the other references to tithing found in the Old Testament. This practice raises eyebrows and it begs the question, why are the other references to tithing ignored? Mr. Kendall states that "There is only one reason why every Christian should be a tither: because it is biblical." Really? Leviticus 12:3 (NKJV) states, "And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised." This scripture is very biblical because it is in the Bible but New Testament Christian males do not perform this on the eighth day or for Old Testament theological reasons. Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day according to the Law of Moses, why don't we as followers follow suit? Jesus advocated giving, fasting, and praying because He did all of them. How is it that four evangelists such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John never mentioned Jesus giving the tithe? Assuming He did tithe is not a good theological ground so we have to assume He did it in order to advocate tithing.

Another issue that constantly comes up relating to tithing is whether it is valid now because it was done before the law, whether it is valid now because it was done under the law, and whether it is valid now since we are not under the law. The Bible states there was sin before the law. A simple Old Testament reading reveals sin existed under the law and that sin still exists even under the New Covenant. But we cannot use the same principle for tithing used for sin because sin is a spiritual condition and tithing is a practice or action carried out as a cultural practice, as a requirement of the law, or as a free-will giving.

What's more interesting is that we use scripture references out of context to fit our views. I have been guilty as well. The Bible states in 2nd Corinthians 9:6 (NASB) states, "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." Here the Apostle Paul is talking about collecting an offering. If Paul was making reference to tithing, why did he state in verse 7 that each one "must do just as he has purposed in his heart" and not as it was commanded by the Law?

What God is blessing when people tithe is not the tithe but the actual action of giving whether the giving involves alms, offerings, or tithes. Luke 6:38 (NKJV) states, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." It is the giving, whatever happens to be, that God blesses. God's blessing on giving is not limited to tithes.

Mr. Kendall presents tithing as a principle but tithing is not the principle but giving. Mr. Kendall uses giving and tithing simultaneously as if there are one and the same. This causes more confusion because there are people who are not able to tithe but can give. When people tithe, they are giving but a person can give without tithing. Why was Jesus very impressed with the widow who gave all her sustenance and not her tithe? He also presents a poor support concerning the fact that Paul never mentioned tithing so for Mr. Kendall it is assume that Paul did it. Mr. Kendall states that "The phrase "as God hath prospered him' (NIV: `in keeping with his income') is about as clear a reference to tithing as one could get without actually using the word." This is doing great eisegesis instead of an exegesis. Mr. Kendall is putting into the text what the text never meant. Again, the context of 1st Corinthians 16 (NIV) is a collection for the people in Jerusalem not for the storehouse in the house of the Lord, which was the temple under the Old Testament.

In Chapter 2, "The Origin of Tithing", Mr. Kendall presents some example of doctrines which went unnoticed for some centuries and were later on restored to the church. Such doctrines he mentioned are "The Deity of Christ", "The Doctrine of Original Sin", and "The Doctrines of Justification by Faith and Assurance of Salvation." What Mr. Kendall did not do was to present an advocate for tithing as he presented advocates for the doctrines mentioned above.

One thing that struck me as odd is that Mr. Kendall recognizes that the Mosaic Law "made tithing a legal obligation." If we are not under the Mosaic Law, as far as the ceremonial laws are concerned (I do believe moral laws are still binding), then, is tithing mandatory or voluntary? Mr. Kendall even states that "A straightforward reading of Abraham's giving Melchizedek tithes suggest that this was done gratefully, voluntary but also systematically." Since Abraham was not under the Mosaic Law and he tithed voluntarily and since we are not under the Mosaic Law, shouldn't tithing be voluntary as well? Mr. Kendall states again that "Abraham did what he did voluntarily. Abraham's motive was that of gratitude alone." Can I show God my gratitude any other way besides tithing? What about those who are physically unable to tithe? Are they doomed or cursed?

Jesus said in Luke 6:38 (NLT), "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." Why Jesus didn't say, "Tithe, and you will receive. Your tithe will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The tithe you give will determine the amount you get back"? Giving is the principle; how much you get back from God is in relation to how much you give to Him.

Mr. Kendall goes on by stating that "Under the law of Moses there was no such thing as freedom of self-discipline. It was a case of `Do-or else.' The gospel is not a condition, `Do-or else'". Really? Mark stated in 16:15-16 (NLT), "And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned." Acts 4:12 states, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." This in essence is saying if you don't believe in Jesus Christ you are going to hell. It may not be as a "do-or else" but as a "believe-or else" situation.

I am highly disappointed that Mr. Kendall took 1st Corinthians 16:2 out of context to state that "tithing was not abolished by the New Covenant." Paul never ever mentioned tithing. If you believe in tithing, something that should be between you and God, you may read into the text what the text never intended. This is of course called eisegesis. I am appalled that Mr. Kendall did this to this text. So far, in this book, he has not shown a strong case for tithing under the New Covenant. Except for Matthew 23:23, Mr. Kendall cannot prove that Paul taught tithing. The implication of giving in Paul's letters is translated by Mr. Kendall as tithing. The reason for that was that Paul was dealing with Gentile people who had little or no knowledge of the Law of Moses.

Mr. Kendall states that "Abraham was a tither." The Bible mentioned that Abraham tithed once. If I were to fly an airplane and do it once, does that make me a pilot? If I were to say something in Italian or French just once, does that make me a regular speaker of those languages? Did Abraham tithe because of the righteousness God imputed on Him as Mr. Kendall seems to portrait? Since God imputed His Son's righteousness on us, are we supposed to tithe because of it? Another statement I see as contradictory is that "God does not enforce tithing today." If God does not enforce tithing today, why is Mr. Kendall enforcing it? His presentation of this topic in his book is no doubt a call to do something he finds compulsory for Christians.

On page 74, the author states, "Our God is able to bless us, even make us prosper abundantly because we take Him at His word." But then, he turns around and states, "But if He doesn't, we still know that `God is able.'" I guess we can't have the cake and eat it, too. Malachi 3:10 in the NKJV states, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, `If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.'" If this verse is the foundation for tithing, then why question that God will indeed bless those who tithe instead that "God is able" to bless those who tithe?

So when God challenges people to prove Him that He will indeed bless them if they tithe, why is it that Mr. Kendall adds some sort of excuse in the event God does not send His blessings after tithing to God and after taking Him as His word? Mr. Kendall acknowledges that though "the apparent condition for such blessing is obedience" the promise "is not an absolute promise". Though "God challenges us" "He is free to bless or withhold blessing." So if God promises me that He will never leave me nor forsake me, then I am not sure if He is taking His promises seriously since He is free to fulfill them or not. Though God is sovereign (He does as He wills), such a perfect being would be no different than mere humans who make promises and are free to fulfill then or not.

The argument that the tithe is the Lord's (Leviticus 27:30) opens another can of worms because "all the fat is the LORD's" (Leviticus 3:16), but we don't do animal sacrifices. Let's notice that Malachi states "all the tithes" which included, as the author stated, "the tithe for the support of the Levites; 2) the second tithe, or the festival tithe, to provide the travel and food costs of the worshippers attending major Jewish feats; and 3) the charity tithe, given every three years and used for the care of the poor." Mr. Kendall recognizes "that these Jews gave at least 23½% of their income" but he does not endorse for Christians today to give that much even when Malachi mentions the tithes, plural. So, are Christians to be selective which tithe to give?

In summary, Mr. Kendall did a very interesting eisegesis instead of exegesis to attempt to prove his point concerning tithing. Biblical giving, as he puts it, is not just tithing. When people tithe, they give but anyone can give to God without tithing. The widow who gave everything impressed Jesus more than those who gave of their abundance which probably came from the promise in Malachi 3:10 to those who would tithe. We may never know. But the fact that Paul mentioned giving, just as Jesus did, strongly suggests that giving is part of the New Covenant much more than tithing is. If Christians choose to tithe, great, but if not then they are still obligated to give because Jesus expects His followers to pray, fast, and to give. The New Testament church gave all. The tithe was not even mentioned. It begs the question, "Why not?" Praying is a given, yet Jesus and Paul beat the horse to death on this issue. If tithing was implied, why Paul did not continue to use the word "tithing" but instead wrote about giving? Again, for me, the principle is giving, not tithing. The book did not give convincing facts to support tithing under the New Covenant.

I have just completed reading "Tithing" by Dr. R. T. Kendall. It went far beyond tithing for me. In addition to gaining what is called call lagniappe in Louisiana (something extra); I completed this book with a renewed commitment and a deeper understanding of Tithing.

I have concluded that "to enjoy the comfort and the abundance of a church atmosphere financed by tithing members, and NOT tithe, is to declare yourself a "welfare worshiper."

Every church should find an incentive to get each member to, at the very least, read the book. At the conclusion of reading the book, the congregation should be given the opportunity to engage in an open, spirited, and spiritual debate to make the case: "to tithe or not to tithe." I predict that the outcome would be revolutionary.

He makes a strong case for tithing and provides much to consider.

Ivory Dorsey