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A Catholic perspective about tithing

By Gabriel Osu
07 January 2018   |   4:23 am
The word tithe comes from the Anglo-Saxon word teotha meaning “a tenth.” The first mention of a tithe in the Bible occurs in Genesis when Melchizedek...

Gabriel Osu

The word tithe comes from the Anglo-Saxon word teotha meaning “a tenth.” The first mention of a tithe in the Bible occurs in Genesis when Melchizedek, a king and a “priest of God Most High,” offered a sacrifice of bread and wine in thanksgiving for Abraham’s victory over several enemy kings. As an offering to God, Abraham gave Melchizedek “a tenth of everything.” (See Genesis 14.) In the Old Testament, tenth of one’s bounty was customarily given to the priests in their service to God. The Torah laws prescribe the offering of tithes. A person offered to God, or “tithed,” one-tenth of the harvest of grain of the fields or the produce of fruit of the trees, one-tenth of new pressed wine and oil, and every tends firstborn animal of herd or flock (Leviticus 23 30-33. Deuteronomy 12:17. 14:22-29).

The Book of Numbers also records how God prescribed that the Levites, the priestly class of the Jewish people were entrusted with these tithes: (Number 18:21-24). Therefore, these tithes were contributions offered to the Lord and distributed to the Levites for their support.

Payment of tithe, like other donations made in the Catholic Church, is not obligatory. This means that members are not compelled to pay tithe. It is purely voluntary. Also, Catholic are under no obligation to pay certain percentage of their income to the Church as tithe. In the early history of our Church, the priests depended upon the generous support of congregations for their sustenance. This custom was based on the New Testament instruction: Jesus taught the apostles to depend upon charity when He sent them on mission (see Mt. 10: 10). St. Paul also instructed the early Church community to provide for the needs of their priests (I Corinthians 9:13)

As cited in the Catechism (No. 2043), the Precepts of the Church maintain that each person has the duty to support the material needs of the Church. Of course a person fulfills this obligation according to his abilities. The Christian faithful are obliged to assist with the needs of the Church so that the Church has what is necessary for divine worship, for apostolic works and works of charity, and for the decent sustenance of ministers. They are also obliged to promote social justice and, mindful of the precept of the Lord, to assist the poor from their own resources (CIC 222)

A Catholic is not forbidden from donating to other worthy courses outside of the Church where expedient. It is a matter of one’s conscience and not a matter of compulsion. The Roman Catholic Church, being the Mother Church, does not discriminate.

No one can out-do God in generosity. Can anyone buy God over? Can we truly afford to buy God’s blessings? No. God is generosity personified. There is no amount of gift we can give to Him to change His loving mind towards us. No one can bribe God. When we give to the Church, we assist them to carry-on with the works of evangelism and to assist the needy. Of course every works of charity attracts God’s blessings. But it does not mean that if you do not give you will be cursed by God. No.

• Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

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