Ministers of the Church of God are required to pay tithes, and to attest that they are paying tithes each month when they report. This is required according to the Minutes and is necessary to retain and maintain a ministerial license. Therefore, if a CoG minister does not tithe, then they are forfeiting their license. The question I have, is does this violate Scripture?

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 talks about giving, and when it comes to giving, makes a few statements. First, it says that each person must give based on what they “have decided in your heart”. Does that mean the requirement to tithe for ministers by the CoG is saying “it is ok to give what is on your heart, as long as it is at least 10%?” Secondly, and this is at the heart of my questioning, is the next part of verse 7, which says “not reluctantly or under compulsion…”. Those words, “reluctantly” and especially “under compulsion” (“of necessity in the KJV) are two phrases that seem to be contrary to CoG teaching. In focusing in on the term “compulsion”, the term means imposed upon. Paul, writing under the inspiration of Holy Spirit, seems to be teaching that no one should have to give under the distress of repercussions, or not forced to do what they can’t or don’t want to do. Being forced to do something you don’t want to do does not lend itself to doing something “cheerfully”, which, according to this passage, God love’s a cheerful giver. It seems that Paul is teaching here that God is more interested in cheerfulness in our giving.

With that in mind, if a CoG minister could lose their license for failure to tithe, then isn’t that compulsion? I think the answer is yes, but I am seeking someone to help clarify where I might be wrong on this. Is there anywhere in the Scripture where tithing is a requirement for the Christian?