Plate Passing and Collecting Tithes on the Sabbath:

Is it Biblical?A Response Using the Holy Bible

and

the Spirit of Prophecy

Text for MeditationContrary to Established Doctrines

“But we see that the God of heaven sometimes commissions men to teach that which is regarded as contrary to the established doctrines. Because those who were once the depositaries of truth became unfaithful to their sacred trust, the Lord chose others who would receive the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and would advocate truths that were not in accordance with the ideas of the religious leaders. And then these leaders, in the blindness of their minds, give full sway to what is supposed to be righteous indignation against the ones who have set aside cherished fables. They act like men who have lost their reason. They do not consider the possibility that they themselves have not rightly understood the word. They will not open their eyes to discern the fact that they have misinterpreted and misapplied the Scriptures, and have built up false theories, calling them fundamental doctrines of the faith.” — Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 69.

How Were Tithes Gathered in the Old Testament?

“But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money [that was] brought into the house of the LORD. And it was [so], when they saw that [there was] much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.” — 2 Kings 12:9, 10

. . . continued.“And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD. And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection [that] Moses the servant of God [laid] upon Israel in the wilderness. And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end. Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that [there was] much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance. ” — 2 Chronicles 24:8-11

How Did Jesus and

the Disciples Deposit Their

Tithes?

“Jesus was in the court where were the treasure chests, and He watched those who came to deposit their gifts. Many of the rich brought large sums, which they presented with great ostentation. Jesus looked upon them sadly, but made no comment on their liberal offerings. Presently His countenance lighted as He saw a poor widow approach hesitatingly, as though fearful of being observed. As the rich and haughty swept by, to deposit their offerings, she shrank back as if hardly daring to venture farther. And yet she longed to do something, little though it might be, for the cause she loved. She looked at the gift in her hand. It was very small in comparison with the gifts of those around her, yet it was her all. Watching her opportunity, she hurriedly threw in her two mites, and turned to hasten away. But in doing this she caught the eye of Jesus, which was fastened earnestly upon her.” — Desire of Ages, p. 614

Did Jesus Approve of Plate Passing in the Temple?

“And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry [any] vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.” — Mark 11:15-17

When Did the Early Church Return Their Tithes?

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. ” — 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2

Is Paul’s Counsel Still Valid Today?

“The directions given by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul in regard to gifts present a principle that applies also to tithing. "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." Parents and children are here included.” — Adventist Home, p. 389

“And what more appropriate time could be chosen for setting aside the tithe and presenting our offerings to God? On the Sabbath we have thought upon His goodness. We have beheld His work in creation as an evidence of His power in redemption. Our hearts are filled with thankfulness for His great love. And now, before the toil of a week begins, we return to Him His own, and with it an offering to testify our gratitude. Thus our practice will be a weekly sermon, declaring that God is the possessor of all our property, and that He has made us stewards to use it to His glory. Every acknowledgment of our obligation to God will strengthen the sense of obligation. Gratitude deepens as we give it expression, and the joy it brings is life to soul and body.” — Counsels on Stewardship, p. 80

Did the Pioneers of the S.D. A. Church Follow Paul’s Counsel?

“SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE--IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE MESSAGE, MEN IMPELLED BY THE URGE OF CONVICTION WENT FORTH TO PREACH THE NEW-FOUND TRUTHS. THEY WERE DEPENDENT FOR THEIR SUPPORT UPON THEIR OWN LABORS OR THE FREEWILL OFFERINGS OF THE BELIEVERS. SUCH AN UNCERTAIN METHOD WAS MORE OR LESS SPASMODIC AND FLUCTUATING. EARLY IN 1859 THE NEED FOR A MORE CERTAIN PLAN WAS FELT, AND EARNEST STUDY WAS GIVEN TO THE MATTER. THERE GREW OUT OF THIS STUDY THE PLAN CALLED SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE. IN HARMONY WITH 1 CORINTHIANS 16:2 GIVING REGULARLY ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK WAS RECOMMENDED, AND, AS SUGGESTED BY 2 CORINTHIANS 8:12-14, AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE PLAN CALLED FOR BRETHREN TO LAY BY IN STORE WEEKLY FROM FIVE TO TWENTY-FIVE CENTS; THE SISTERS, FROM TWO TO TEN CENTS; AND FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO GIVE WEEKLY FROM ONE TO FIVE CENTS ON EACH HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH OF ASSETS.” — Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 12, par. 4 [APPENDIX]

“THE PLAN WAS GENERALLY RECEIVED WITH FAVOR, AND HERE RECEIVED THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY. THE GREATEST SIN IN THE CHURCH WAS POINTED OUT TO BE COVETOUSNESS. (PAGE 194.) SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE WAS NOT PRESENTED AS A PERFECTED PLAN, FOR IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT "GOD IS LEADING HIS PEOPLE" IN THE MATTER, AND "IS BRINGING" THEM UP. (PAGE 191.) AS PLANS FOR SUPPORT OF THE WORK AND THE MINISTRY BROADENED, THE SPIRIT OF LIBERALITY WAS ENCOURAGED MORE AND MORE UNTIL AT LENGTH LIGHT FROM THE SCRIPTURES REVEALED THE SYSTEM OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS AS THEY ARE KNOWN IN THE CHURCH TODAY.” — Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 12, par. 5 [APPENDIX]

“After the plan of paying tithe was presented to the believers, [Sister] Maud [Sisley] was usually one of the first in line when the collector came by on Sunday mornings.” — Adventist Review, March 3, 1994, p. 12 [brackets added]

What Does Inspiration Say About Money Raising on the Sabbath?

“A great mistake has been made by some who profess present truth, by introducing merchandise in the course of a series of meetings and by their traffic diverting minds from the object of the meetings. If Christ were now upon earth, He would drive out these peddlers and traffickers, whether they be ministers or people, with a scourge of small cords, as when He entered the temple anciently "and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." These traffickers might have pleaded as an excuse that the articles they held for sale were for sacrificial offerings. But their object was to get gain, to obtain means, to accumulate.” — Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 471

“ Who can truthfully say: "Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted by the world"? I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: "Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? 'How is the faithful city become an harlot!' My Father's house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and strength is lacking."” — Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 250

Conclusions1. Since there are no Biblical examples or authorization to collect

funds during services in the Sanctuary, then, as the testimony of history bears out, plate-passing must have originated outside of the Bible and made its way into Catholicism, Protestantism, and then into the Seventh-day Adventist church sometime after Ellen White’s death in 1915.

2. As there is a call for revival and reformation from our church leadership then this unbiblical pagan custom should be one of the first things reform, lest we lose the favor of God.

3. As the practice of plate passing and money raising goals in the church sanctuary on the Holy Sabbath day resulted in Christ cleansing the temple, so to, in the end of time when judgment for the living first begins with the church, will Christ cleanse His church from the abominations practiced in her midst.

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