Understanding Tithe and Tithing

                              Book Reviewer: Bayo Ogunmupe

         This book, written by Seyi Olawunmi was published in 2017 by the School of Success publishers, Lagos, Nigeria. From acknowledgements you will notice that the book was published by a pastor for pastors. A note from the author, Pastor Olawunmi affirms he was born in Nigeria 41 years ago and that he was born into the family of an orthodox christian. Understanding Tithe and Tithing has 148 pages, nine chapters, an introduction and an Afterword. It is replete with biblical quotations.

     We find that tithing precedes the laws of Moses, Galatians 3:26-29. The purpose of tithing is to teach the christian that he or she must always put God first in life. Tithing is the spiritual practice of giving back to God the first 10 percent of your earning. "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in. Try it. Put me to the test"- Malachi 3:10.

     The tithe is a tenth of a believer's income that is given to God in support of the church. It is a way of expressing devotion or worship of God. It started with Abraham and Jacob, continuing with the Pharisees and the Scribes whose practice warranted Jesus' statement on tithing in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42. As a reviewer, the author ought to have written out those quotations from Jesus as he said in Matthew and Luke. However, according to Olawunmi, throughout scripture, we're encouraged to give part of our resources to God as an expression of honor and gratitude.

     In the modern world, congregations have started to question the clergy on whether Jesus supports tithing? The authors answers may be found in the concluding chapters. The answers show the author believes we should support tithing if even Jesus did not expressly approve of it. Since Melchizedek was a priest before the law. he was not Levite. He collected tithe like the Levites. Christ is a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, so in today's christianity, we can collect tithe, that is the opinion of author Olawunmi.

    But the Levitical priesthood has been abolished and the order of Melchizedek remains Thus, according to the author, if the order of Melchizedek subsists intact, then Melchizedek was a type of Christ. The reasons provided include, that Melchizedek's name means: the king of righteousness; and the king of Salem made Melchizedek "the king of peace." And Hebrew 7:3 states- "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, Melchizedek remains a priest for ever."

    Thus, the author asserts, with a high priest in Christ, superior to Melchizedek, in this era of grace, it will be nothing wrong in giving our tithe in as much as we're all Abraham's seed and heirs according to God's promise of grace. Read Galatians 3:23-29 to amplify your comprehension. Aaronic- Levitical priesthoods which succeeded Melchizedek enacted tithing as an obligation to the priests  throughout Israel. Tithing is in fulfillment of the Covenant between God and Abraham, Jacob. that was why Abraham tithed from the spoils of his triumphs in war- meaning: we don't tithe to gain blessing; but that we tithe from the profit of our labour.

    Tithing was in fulfillment of a covenant made 430 years before Moses. Abraham/Jacob promised, that "of all that You give me, I will surely give a tenth to You"--Genesis 28: 20-22. Then, questions arose as to whether it is wise to tithe in the light of the controversy surrounding it. pastor Olawunmi countered those doubting Thomases by quoting 2 Timothy 3:16. The old testament established civil law, ceremonial law and moral laws. Today civil laws are not applicable. The ceremonial laws were abolished  by Christ.

    Examples of moral laws were the 10 commandments. These moral laws still persist under grace. However, without any specific quotation from the New Testament requiring humanity to tithe, pastor Olawunmi avers that the principle of tithing remains only the practice changes from one dispensation to another. For example, the shedding of blood for the remission of sin or forgiveness through blood is a constant principle. but the practice changed under the law making the blood of animals the requirement. Under grace, the blood of Jesus is the requirement,  hebrew 9:22.

The mediator between God and man changed, under law it was through Moses, but now it is through Christ. For there is one God and one mediator the man Christ Jesus-1 Timothy 2:5. So the law is our guardian and until Christ comes that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith is here, we're no longer under a guardian, Galatians 3:23-25.

    Pastor Olawunmi cites John Rockeffeller's firm belief in tithing as the reason for his immense wealth. He cites that Rockefeller tithed his first salary. Rockeffeller was a US millionaire  who lived between 1839 and 1937. At his peak net worth in 1913, he was worth $336 billion.