Where Shall We Pay Our Tithes? by S. J. HERSUM

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 21, 1907

Where Shall We Pay Our Tithes?

By S. J. HERSUM

S. J. HERSUM

This is a question that may seem, at first, to be unimportant, but it is a matter that should be well understood.

That it is a duty to pay tithes, no one who is familiar with the Bible will deny; but the question, Where shall we pay them? may not be so well understood.

Those who are members of churches should pay their tithes to the treasurer of the church to which they belong. But sometimes a member of a church becomes dissatisfied with the management in the conference; would it be right for that person to pay his tithes into the treasury of another conference with which he is not connected?—No, it would not be right. If it is right for one person to do that, it would be right for every member in that conference to do the same thing; but that would be the ruin of that conference, financially.

This illustration might be applied to a local conference, which is a member of a union conference. Should that local conference become disaffected with affairs in the union, and send its tithes to the General Conference, the question arises, Would it be right for the General Conference to receive those tithes that belong to the union conference of which that local conference was a member? It can readily be seen that such a thing would be disastrous. The principle is the same in both of these illustrations. Therefore if it is wrong for a church-member to send his tithe to a conference of which he is not a member, it is wrong for that conference to receive those tithes, because by receiving those tithes the conference would be encouraging that brother in that wrong course.

What if one should take the position that he would not pay his tithes unless he could send them to the union or some other conference? That is a matter which he will have to settle with his Maker. The tithe belongs to God, and when he pays it to those appointed to receive it, he has discharged his obligation. If it is misused, God will hold responsible the one who misuses it; but the man who withholds it is robbing God. If a person does not belong to any church, he has a perfect right to send his tithes to any church or conference that he may choose.