Tithing - RT Kendall
I believe in the principle of tithing. I have for a number of years. There was a particular speaker who gave a talk on it once that stuck with me enough - even though I can't remember that speaker's name! - that I have tithed ever since and witnessed God's hand on my finances ever since.
I haven't done a lot of study on it, however.
Recently, I felt a stirring to perhaps do a talk on the principle at some point, so I looked into some resources and came across this book. Haven't recently listened to my first ever book by Kendall and having enjoyed it, I decided to get this one and see what he had to say.
It wasn't a shocking revelation of a book for me, but was a good unpacking of some of the scriptural evidence for the principle, both Old Testament and New Testament.
One paragraph that gives a summation of sorts for Kendall's argument reads that: "God does not enforce tithing today. But to the person who is under Christ's Law there will be given - sooner or later - the light of tithing, God's way. When we are given the light of tithing, we show at that moment whether or not we submit to the yoke of Jesus Christ." (page 62). Basically, Kendall argues that tithing shows us to have a higher allegiance to God than to money, proving that we are willing to sacrifice for Him. This is not the full reason for tithing, but it is a good reason.
Being an issue of money, there are bound to be strong reactions to a book of this sort, and Kendall seeks to answer some of the possible criticisms in his final chapter, 'Do You Have Any Questions?' In particular, Kendall addresses the argument that it is a hardship on the poor by replying: "No, it is not...The poor man has to pay as much for food at the rich man. The poor man has to pay the same for a gallon of petrol as the rich. But if the poor man has a smaller income, he has a smaller tithe. It does the poor man no favour to encourage him to think that he is exempt from tithing. Why should he be discriminated against? Tithing is a high privilege. God dignifies us by saying that 10% of our income, whoever we are, is His. That shows I matter to God!" (page 83).
In this short review I will not be able to unpack Kendall's arguments fully, so if these quotes leave you unsatisfied, perhaps hunt down a copy of the book for yourself. It may not be the definitive work on the subject, but he does make some good points, and it is certainly one I will refer to as I figure out any potential future message on the subject.
Completed 10 March 2022.
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