The Truth about Tithe -2

How soon should it be paid out?

The tithe, which has been taken out of the income, should be paid soon. It should not be stored up for months. However, there are times when decisions have to be made about its destination, which necessitates waiting a short time. However, some may be tempted to use it for their own necessities if they have it stored up.

"The tithe was set apart for the support of those who ministered in the sanctuary. .

"God requires no less of us than He required of His people anciently. . In the tithe, with gifts and offerings, God has made ample provision for this work. .

"He says, I am the owner of the world; the universe is Mine, and I require you to consecrate to My service the first fruits of all that I, through My blessing, have caused to come into your hands. God's Word declares, 'Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits.' 'Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.' This tribute He demands as a token of our loyalty to Him." -Counsels on Stewardship, 71- 72.

There are not many quotations which speak directly to this concept, that the tithe must be paid out immediately. The following two statements refer to various means which can be put into the cause rather than tithe. Yet an important principle is nonetheless indicated.

"I write to you at this time to set before you our great necessity. The Lord has entrusted to you the talent of means to use and improve to His name's glory. . A most solemn and important work is to be done in our world by God's people. This work is represented by the third angel flying in the midst of heaven. The third angel's message is preceded by the messages of the first and second angels. . These messages must go to all the inhabitants of the world. The Lord is soon to come, and He calls upon all to whom He has entrusted His capital of means to invest it in His work as it demands help. His money is not to be shut up in banks and buildings and lands when there is such a great work to be accomplished."-Letter, dated July 10, 1900 (Kress Collection, pp. 146147).

"God is not pleased with the present showing. Our means are not to be bound up for years where it is not available for missionary work. This God forbids. . I have been commissioned to instruct our people to be economical, and always ready to give of their means to the Lord's work. If you have a thousand dollars to spare, God wants it; it belongs to Him. If you have twenty dollars to spare, God wants it. His vineyard is waiting to be worked."-1903 General Conference Bulletin, 104.

. What purpose is the tithe to be used for?

It is to be used for the support of the ministry. Who are to be recognized in this true "ministry"? Consider these five points:

. Those who defend and proclaim God's true messages, as given in His Inspired Writings. They defend and promote God's truths full-time.

. Such individuals will have been called of God do to this work, and their calling will be recognized as such by the faithful.

. These are the true shepherds who seek to protect the flock from false teachings. They warn against error and apostasy, and provide solid food to the sheep. They are not hirelings who encourage sin, lowered standards, and false doctrine.

. Those who seek to preach, publish, and proclaim the special truths for these times. This paragraph summarizes it:

"The tithe is to be used for one purpose, to sustain the ministers whom the Lord has appointed to do His work. It is to be used to support those who speak the words of life to the people, and carry the burden of the flock of God. "-1 Manuscript Release, 188.

"God's ministers are His shepherds, appointed by Him to feed His flock. The tithe is His provision for their maintenance, and He designs that it shall be held sacred to this purpose."-1 Manuscript Release, 189.

What is the special message for our time which the true ministers will be promulgating by every means possible (preaching, teaching, publishing, etc.)?

It is the great truth of Revelation 14: 12: The world needs to be told, and the people of God need to be continually remindedthat they must keep the commandments of God by faith in Jesus Christ His Son. If this message is missing from their speeches, articles, and books, they are hirelings and should not be supported from the tithe.

"Most earnest work is now to be done in proclaiming the message of present truth. Every voice is now to harmonize; every believer is to unite in urging obedience to the law proclaimed from Sinai. Let us unite with the angels of heaven in presenting to our people in every place the necessity of paying a faithful tithe and of bringing to the Lord liberal gifts and offerings."-5 Review, April 20, 1905.

This is no make-believe issue; it is crucial. The ministers we are to support must be those who are living clean livesurging the flock to put away sin in the strength of Christ and are proclaiming to the world, by tongue and pen, the necessity of obedience to the Ten Commandments through the enabling grace of Jesus Christ. Darkness covers the world, and darkness has entered the church.

"The tithe you have withheld I reserve for the support of My servants in their work of opening the Scriptures to those who are in the regions of darkness, who do not understand My law." --6 Testimonies, 387.

. Is everyone required to pay tithe?

When I was in my third year at the Seventh day-Adventist Seminary, I met a man in Takoma Park who claimed to be a very religious person. He said that he did not have to pay tithe because he was such a great man of God. The poor soul was in a delusion of the devil.

"I understand that you are also proclaiming that we should not pay tithe. My brother, take 'off thy shoes from off thy feet'; for the place whereon you are standing is holy ground. The Lord has spoken in regard to paying tithes. He has said, 'Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house'..

"How dare any man even think in his heart that a suggestion to withhold tithes and offerings is from the Lord? Where, my brother, have you stepped out of the path? 0 get your feet back in the straight path again!"-Testimonies to Ministers, 60.

"To defraud God is the greatest crime of which man can be guilty; and yet this sin is deep and widespread."-Counsels on Stewardship, 86.

. Can you clarify what type of "ministers" or ministries are included as those which should receive the tithe?

Ministers These ministers would include all who are defending and teaching the Inspired Writings given to mankind by Heaven. For this reason, there are several different types of ministering workers.

"The tithe should go to those who labor in word and doctrine, be they men or women."-Evangelism 492.

The Lord will impress His people, so they will know whether the minister is a hireling or a genuine pastorproviding food which is in full agreement with the Inspired Writings.

"It is the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit of God that prepares workers. . to become pastors of the flock of God." 6 Testimonies, 322.

Bible teachers Those who teach a true understanding of the Word of God to the young people are also worthy to receive the tithe.

"Light has been plainly given that those who minister in our schools, teaching the Word of God, explaining the Scriptures, educating the students in the things of God, should be supported by the tithe money. "_ Testimonies, 215.

Bible workersIf Bible teachers may be paid from the tithe, one would think that Bible instructors who, in the homes of the people, instruct them in the truths for these times, may also be. However, I could not find a specific statement on this.

"Our conferences should see that the schools are provided with teachers who are thorough Bible teachers and who have a deep Christian experience. The best ministerial talent should be brought into the schools, and the salaries of these teachers should be paid from the tithe."-1 Manuscript Releases 189.

"I wish to create a fund for the payment of these devoted women who are the most useful workers in giving Bible readings. I am also led to say that we must educate more workers to give Bible readings."-Evangelism, 477.

I later found the statement. Although the brethren did not want them paid at all, much less from the tithe. God's Word nullified their decision:

"There are minister's wives, . . giving Bible readings and praying with families, helping along by personal efforts just as successfully as their husbands. These women give their whole time, and are told that they receive nothing for their labors because their husbands receive their wages. I tell them to go forward and all such decisions shall be reversed. The Word says, 'The laborer is worthy of his hire.' When any such decision as this is made, I will in the name of the Lord, protest. I will feel it in my duty to create a fund from my tithe money, to pay these women who are accomplishing just as essential work as the ministers are doing, and this tithe I will reserve for work in the same line as that of the ministers."-Spalding-Magan Collection (Unpublished Testimonies), 117.

 Physicians who also teach God's Word

Physicians who use simple, nonpoisonous remedies to help the people while teaching them the Scriptural truths they so much need to know are also worthy to receive the tithe.

"No line is to be drawn between the genuine medical missionary and the gospel ministry. These two must blend. They are not to stand apart as separate lines of work. These are to be joined in an inseparable union." Medical Ministry. 250.

"Some, who do not see the advantage of educating the youth to be physicians, both of the mind and of the body, say that the tithe should not be used to support medical missionaries who devote their time to treating the sick. In response to such statements as these, I am instructed to say that the mind must not become so narrowed down that it cannot take in the truth of the situation." Medical Ministry, 245.

Ministers who prepare the publications

The tithe can also go to ministers who are defending, teaching, and proclaiming the truth through their writings.

"Institutions that are God's instruments to carry forward His work on the earth must be sustained. Churches must be erected, schools established, and publishing houses furnished with facilities for doing a great work in the publication of the truth to be sent to all parts of the world. These institutions are ordained of God and should be sustained by tithes and liberal offerings. As the work enlarges, means will be needed to carry it forward in all its branches."-4 Testimonies, 464.

What does the above paragraph mean? "Sustain" is a key word. In light of other passages on the proper use of the tithe, the above paragraph would appear to say that the ongoing work of the preachers, preparing and preaching in the churches; the Bible teachers, in preparing and giving their lessons in the schools; and the ministers, in preparing written matter in the publishing houses, should be supported with the tithe.

It is obvious that ministers who write are accomplishing as much as those who give Bible studies or pastor churches. Sometimes the writers reach an even larger audience.

"The pen is a power in the hands of men who feel the truth burning upon the altar of their hearts, and who have an intelligent zeal for God, balanced with sound judgment. The pen, dipped in the fountain of pure truth, can send the beams of light to dark comers of the earth, which will reflect its rays back, adding new power, and giving increased light to be scattered everywhere." Life Sketches, 214.

"The press is a powerful means to move the minds and hearts of the people." Christian Experience, 225.

The publishing work is very important. We are repeatedly told that the truth-filled books are "silent preachers." There is a Spirit of Prophecy statement (which I cannot just now locate) which says that when the preachers are few, the faithful must rely on the distribution of books and literature to get the message to the people, both those of our faith and others.

In addition, we have statements such as this one:

"God expects His people living in this period of earth's history to proclaim with voice and with pen the last message of mercy to the world, working with the power of the Holy Spirit. There are many places in which the voice of the minister cannot be heard, places which can be reached only by our publicationsthe books, papers, and tracts filled with the Bible truths that the people need."-The Publishing Ministry, p. 281.

 Books and papers

The tithe can also be used to place these "silent preachers" in the hands of those who so much need them.

"But while some go forth to preach, He calls upon others to answer to His claims upon them for tithes and offerings with which to support the ministry and to spread the printed truth all over the land." -4 Testimonies, 472.

"The press is an instrumentality by which many are reached whom it would be impossible to reach by ministerial effort."-Review, July 10,1883.

Those who preach and the printed page, filled with vital messages for these times, are both ordained of God and should be honored with our fullest and best support.

Here is what Inspiration says about the power of these silent preachers:

"We have been asleep, as it were, regarding the work that may be accomplished by the circulation of well-prepared literature. Let us now, by the wise use of periodicals and books, preach the word with determined energy, that the world may understand the message that Christ gave to John on the Isle of Patmos. Let every human intelligence who professes the name of Christ testify, The end of all things is at hand; prepare to meet thy God."-Review, July 30, 1908 (Colporteur Ministry, 145).

"The silent preacher [missionary literature], enriched with precious matter, should go forth on the wings of prayer, mingled with faith, that it may do its appointed work in shedding the light of truth upon those who are in the darkness of error. "-Counsels to Writers and Editors, 111.

"Our publications are now sowing the gospel seed, and are instrumental in bringing as many souls to Christ as the preached word."-Review, June 10,1880 (Colporteur Ministry, 150).

"Books will reach those who can be reached in no other way, those living far from any large settlement."-Letter 155, 1903 (Colporteur Ministry, 39).

"The prayer of all in the office should be: '0 God, make these truths, which are of such vital importance, clear to the comprehension of the humblest minds! May angels accompany these silent preachers and bless their influence, that souls may be saved by this humble means!' "-1 Testimonies, 592.

Sometimes it seems that, amid the growing crisis in doctrines, standards, and morality in our churchesthe outlook for evangelism is hopeless. Yet this is not true. The silent preachers can be multiplied by the ten thousands and scattered everywhere. And we have the promise that they will do their work.

"God will soon do great things for us if we lie humble and believing at His feet. . More than one thousand will soon be converted in one day, most of whom will trace their first convictions to the reading of our publications."-Review, November 10, 1885 (Colporteur Ministry, 151).

"The world is to receive the light of truth through an evangelizing ministry of the word in our books and periodicals. "-9 Testimonies, 61.

"Publications must be multiplied, and scattered like the leaves of autumn. These silent messengers are enlightening and molding the minds of thousands in every country and in every clime. "-Review, November 21, 1878. (For more on these silent preachers and messengers of truth, see 1 T 590: 4T 389,602: 6T 316: CM 126.)

"We are fast approaching the end. The printing and circulation of the books and papers that contain the truth for this time are to be our work."-8 Testimonies, 89.

"A messenger from heaven stood in our midst, and he spoke words of warning and instruction. He made us clearly understand that the gospel of the kingdom is the message for which the world is perishing and that this message, as contained in our publications already in print and those yet to be issued, should be circulated among the people who are nigh and afar off." -9 Testimonies, 67 (read pages 66-671).

. Is the publishing work really that important? I thought that oral preaching was all that mattered in proclaiming the message?

The message of the third angel (which is a message that we must obey God's law and do it by faith in Christs strength) is now sounding. That is the message to be given to all the world. If you will read the present writer's rather complete classified collection of Spirit of Prophecy end-time statements (our 18-part End-Time Series booklets), you will find that the final climax of evangelism will occur as the fourth angel comes down to earth to unite with, and give great power to, that of the third angel.

But did you know that we are told that the work of the third angel and that of the Fourth angel will "in a large degree" be carried out through the distribution of our truth filled literature! Carefully read 7 Testimonies, 138-140.

"The publications sent forth from our publishing houses are to prepare a people to meet God. Throughout the world they are to do the same work that was done by John the Baptist for the Jewish nation. . As John prepared the way for the first advent, so we are to prepare the way for the second advent of the Saviour. Our publishing houses are to exalt the claims of God's downtrodden law. . In clear, distinct lines they are to show obedience to all His commandments . .

"Our publishing institutions are to exalt the claims of God's downtrodden law. Standing before the world as reformers, they are to show that the law of God is the foundation of all enduring reform. In clear, distinct lines they are to preach the necessity of obedience to all His commandments. .

"They are represented by the third angel that followed. . and in a large degree through our publishing houses is to be accomplished the work of that other angel [the fourth or loud cry angel] who comes down from heaven with great power and who tightens the earth with his glory.

"We are called upon to arouse the people to prepare for the great issues before them. We must give warning to those who are standing on the very brink of eternity."-7 Testimonies, 138-140: cf. Great Controversy 449-450.

The above statement was written in 1902. We are not to grow lax, but are to press forward in getting the true message books and papers off the press, so the people can have them to distribute!

"The publications that come forth from our presses today are to be of such a character as to strengthen every pin and pillar of the faith that was established by the Word of God and the revelations of His Spirit."-9 Testimonies, 69 (1909).

"We are fast approaching the end. The printing and circulation of the books and papers that contain the truth for this time are to be our work. "-8 Testimonies, 89.

Read Life Sketches, 214-215, for a prediction that will thrill your heart. It contains a glorious promise, a promise you can be a part of.

It is an intriguing fact that, when studying final event passages (from the National Sunday Law onward) as given in the Spirit of Prophecy, you will not find one statement about nearly any organizational structure, department, or activity after the Final Crisis begins. This is because, at that time, Sabbathkeeping denominations will be illegal. You will find nothing about conferences, unions, divisions, the General Conference, hospitals, or schools. But a possible exception concerns the continuation of the availability of publications all the way down to the close of probation. It is likely that they will be printed in secluded, probably rural, locations.

"Let us have faith in God. In His name let us carry forward His work without flinching. The work He has called us to do He will make a blessing to us . .

"As long as probation continues, there will be opportunity for the canvasser to work. When the religious denominations unite with the papacy to oppress God's people, places where there is religious freedom will be opened by -evangelistic canvassing. ."-6 Testimonies, 478.

One would not think that this could happen, if the book distributors did not have a source to get those books.

It is of interest that, throughout the Final Crisis, only small, individual, or group activities by God's people are mentioned; such as door-to-door Bible studies, giving of natural remedies, placing books and papers, and witnessing in the courts of the land. There appears to be no Sabbathkeeping organization, no committees, nor any such functions.

For much more on this, see our 18-part End Time Series.

Church buildingsThere are times when it has been found necessary, in impoverished areas, to use the tithe to rent, lease, or build simple worship facilities.

"There are exceptional cases, where poverty is so deep that in order to secure the humblest place of worship, it may be necessary to appropriate the tithes. "-1 Manuscript Release, 191.)

CONTINUE - PART 3