Tithing

By Eva Chuma Nnamene

Introduction
Nnagozie from Orba Road, Nsukka sent a question which reads: “should one go to confession because he or she did not pay tithe … could you examine catholic teaching and position on tithe?” After this question was received, we had a further discussion with some Catholics on this topic. Our findings revealed that Nnagozie was not alone in seeking for some kind of clarifications on the teachings of the Church on tithes or tithing.
The truth is that in recent past in the Nigerian Catholic Church, tithes were neither mentioned in the terminologies nor in the religious practices of Catholics. At that time, tithes were like religious practices of non-Catholics. It appeared strange to Catholics. It seemed protestant in spirituality and practice. It looked as if the Catholic Church did not know about tithes; and her members never practiced it. And therefore, it seemed like other Christian denominations had to teach Catholics about tithes. And when some Catholics, even, discover its spiritual benefits they feel as if they discovered something alien to the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
No, the Holy Roman Catholic Church knew about tithes. Only that, the Church in her wisdom, applied and practiced tithes differently. Catholics supported their Church and their ministers. And they did that in varied, tremendously, profound ways. Today, however, both in terminology and practice, in our Nigerian Catholic Church, Catholics have started talking about and pay their tithes. Though such practices appear more pronounced in urban than rural areas, one hears the teachings on tithing and its practices from time to time. Yet, not very many Catholics are conversant with tithing which is the source of the confusion people have about it.

Meaning of Tithe
By way of definition, tithe is “generally defined as ‘the tenth part of the increase arising from the profits of land and stock, allotted to the clergy for their support or devoted to religious or charitable uses’. A more radical definition is ‘the tenth part of all fruits and profits justly acquired, owed to God in recognition of his supreme dominion over man, and to be paid to the ministers of the Church’” (cf. “Tithe” Catholic Encyclopedia). Tithing is the payment of 10% of one’s earnings to the Church, her ministers and/or for charity. It is a religious act. It is a religious obligation that has existed from Old Testament times.

Early beginnings of tithing
When tithing began in the ancient Middle East, it was not just a religious act. It served as both royal and sacred payments made to kings or to priests as the case may be. Tithing began in Mesopotamia, Syria-Palestine, Greece and some cities in Carthage (cf. “Tithe” Encyclopedia of Religion). It is gathered that Phoenicians and Carthaginians sent their tithes which came annually or occasionally to the Tyrian Hercules. Hercules is the Tyrian god to whom Jason, the Jewish high priest sent 300 drachmae of silver as offering (2 Maccabees 4: 19). From this passage, one gets the impression that tithes may have had pagan origins prior to Mosaic Laws on it as found in Leviticus 27: 30-33.
Of course, prior to the Mosaic Laws on tithing, it would recalled that Abram offered the tithes of what he confiscated from war to the priest of Salem, Melchizedek who blessed him (Genesis 14: 17-24). There are other passages in the Bible where tithes were paid. But the often quoted passage about tithes is that of Malachy 3: 6-10 especially verse 10: “bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and let there be food in my house. And test me about this, says the Lord, as to whether I will not open to you the floodgates of heaven, and pour out to you a blessing, all the way to abundance”. The following verses of that passage expressed more blessings of God upon all those who tithe. And there continue to be experienced by people multiple blessings upon those who tithe. Our reflections on tithing continues our next edition.