Why Some Christians Don't Tithe

A 2011 study by Barna Research found only 4 percent of Americans tithe.  That means that 96% of Americans do not tithe.  The average Christian gives about 2 to 3 percent of their income to God.

Why don't Christians tithe?

1) Some do not tithe because they are uniformed.  They have not learned that God requires all Christians to bring the first ten percent of their income to the local church (Mal 3:10).  This is a big reason why pastors need to teach on it.

2) Some do not tithe because they are forgetful.  They forget the checkbook at home, and then they never make it up.  This is a matter of priorities.  We don't forget things that are important to us.

3) Some do not tithe because they are misinformed.  They have bought into the notion that the tithe is an OT law that no longer applies to Christians today.  But God's people were tithing long before the law was given (Gen 14:20; Gen 28:22).  Just because a law is in the Old Testament does not mean that it no longer applies.  The Ten Commandments are found in the OT, and they still apply!  We know that tithing has not passed away because 1) the NT does not say we don't have to tithe.  2) Jesus upheld the tithe (Mt 23:23).  3) The Christians in the first few centuries of Christianity tithed.  4) Some of the Church Fathers preached tithing (Augustine, Origen, Jerome, etc).  4) We should not give less under grace than the poorest Jews gave under the law.  Jesus never lowered the bar on God's law; He always raised it.

4) Some do not tithe because they are selfish.  The tithe funds the work of the local church to fulfill the Great Commission of making disciples all over the world.  But many Christians just do not care if the church flourishes or flounders.  They are unconcerned about evangelizing their community.  This shows how far many Christians have drifted from the heart of Christ.  The church is His body and bride.  Christ died for the church, loves the church, builds the church, and feeds and cares for the church.

5) Some do not tithe because they love money more than God.  Plain old greed.  They want to spend all of their money on themselves.  They will not tolerate anyone -- not even God -- dictating how they spend their money.  They have forgotten Jesus' command to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth (Mt 6:19-21)

6) Some do not tithe because they are faithless.  They fear that they will not be able to make ends meet if they give God ten percent of their income.  They do not believe God's promises in Malachi 3:10 and Matthew 6:33.  They doubt God's Word that living on 90% with God's blessing is infinitely better than living on 100% without it.