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The History and Use of the Tithe - Contents
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    Chapter 5—Ellen White and the Tithe

    As one of the pioneers, Ellen White encouraged organizing the Adventist Church and fully endorsed through teaching and practice the system of tithing on the storehouse plan. In the early years, before medical and sustentation plans existed, she (by the Lord’s direction) occasionally assisted ministers (both Black and White), who were in dire straits, from her personal tithe. In another situation she cautioned a conference president against making an issue of a gift of tithe from some members of his conference to the Southern Missionary Society, which supervised the struggling work in the southern United States. Eventually it became a regular practice for strong conferences to share a percentage of their tithe with weaker conferences. (For a detailed account of Ellen White’s use of the tithe, see Arthur L. White, Ellen White: The Early Elmshaven Years, pp. 389-397.)HUT 42.6

    None of these exceptions provide a basis for members to divert the Lord’s tithe from its intended use to independent ministries or self-supporting units. Ellen White addressed the questions posed at the beginning of this article, for they were raised in her day also.HUT 42.7

    “Let none feel at liberty to retain their tithe, to use according to their own judgment. They are not to use it for themselves in an emergency, nor to apply it as they see fit, evenHUT 42.8

    in what they may regard as the Lord’s work....HUT 43.1

    “Some have been dissatisfied and have said: ‘I will not longer pay my tithe, for I have no confidence in the way things are managed at the heart of the work.’ But will you rob God because you think the management of the work is not right? Make your complaint, plainly and openly, in the right spirit, to the proper ones. Send in your petitions for things to be adjusted and set in order; but do not withdraw from the work of God, and prove unfaithful, because others are not doing right.”—Testimonies for the Church 9:247-249.HUT 43.2

    “Read the book of Malachi.... Cannot you see that it is not best under any circumstances to withhold your tithes and offerings because you are not in harmony with everything your brethren do? ... Unworthy ministers may receive some of the means thus raised, but dare anyone, because of this, withhold from the treasury, and brave the curse of God? I dare not. I pay my tithes gladly and freely, saying, as did David, ‘Of thine own have we given thee’ (KJV)....HUT 43.3

    “Do not commit sin yourselves by withholding from God His own property.... Do not, by your neglect of duty, increase our financial difficulties.”—Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 1, pp. 52, 53.HUT 43.4

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