He challenged me to offer up an alternative to tithing as a Biblical principle and it was almost as if he thought that the lack of an alternative left his position as the default.  For those of you interested in argumentation, here are a couple pointers.  First, if you are trying to establish something as truth or a command, you are offering up an affirmative (i.e. P:  God commands NT believers to tithe).  In this case, all an opposing position has to do is show that P is false (~P).  The negative doesn’t have to prove Q in order to prove ~P.  However, since offering up an alternative is a valid and effective form of argumentation, here it is.

Now, as I was going through some of my thinking and searching out a few of the passages I have referenced in my teaching on this topic, I ran across an article written by someone I don’t know, but who said exactly what I was thinking.  Its almost like he stole my notes from when I taught this.  So read the article and then if you have comments, questions, or snide remarks, come back and drop them here in the comments section.  I’m doing it this way for a couple reasons.  1)  I have a lot to do right now and this saves me some time.  2)  EnnisP acted like he had never heard an alternative to tithing.  I found this and several others quite easily with a simple Google search, so either a) EnnisP never actually looked for an alternative, or b) EnnisP doesn’t know how to use Google.  Since he has Google Adsense incorporated on his website, I’m going to guess a.

Just to summarize a little bit, here are the major points the author advances:

1)  God never in Scripture commands anyone besides certain Israelites to tithe.  Notice the word “certain”.  There are no commands on Israelites who were not ranchers or farmers to tithe.  EnnisP assumes that they did, but that’s because it supports his position, not because the text actually says so.

2)  The tithe was a form of taxation to support the theocratic system under which the levitical order effectively constituted the government as well as the religious system.  Under a theocracy they were one and the same (And yes, EnnisP, I read your post on tithing not being taxation.  If I have time, I’ll spend a little showing why you are misunderstanding a theocratic system).

3)  God, throughout Scripture, has advocated two types of giving.  1) Giving to support the government (Egypt, Israel, Rome, etc.), which was mandatory and specific.  2) Giving to God through His religious system (Moses and the tabernacle, David and the temple, freewill offerings, every NT example of giving) which was non-compulsory and not a specified amount.

4)  NT giving is to be uncompelled, proportionate, sacrificial, cheerful, and regular.  Paul clearly addresses these principles and the article shows them from Scripture.

5)  The purposes for giving are a) to meet the needs of other saints, b) to meet the needs of Christian workers, c) to meet the needs of the poor, d) I would also add that if you benefit from church facilities, you should support them financially, even though the Bible is silent in this regard.

6)  The manner of giving should be a) anonymous, b) voluntary, c) expectant, d)cheerful, e) sacrificial.

7)  The motivation for giving should be a) the example of Christ, b) the command of Christ, c) I would add, our love of God and our brother.

So there it is.  A Biblical view that is an alternative to tithing.  I’ve had some argue that it won’t work.  That if you teach NT grace giving, then people won’t give and the church will go under.  First, that’s not a Biblical argument but a materialistic argument.  Second, I’ve spoken to several pastors who preach this way and are doing just fine.  Third, its interesting to note that when the Israelites were commanded to give a certain amount (the tithe), they failed in it and fell under judgment for it, but when they were told to give as they purposed in their hearts without a set amount (Moses and the tabernacle and David with the temple) they gave so much that the leaders had to ask people to stop.