It started a few months back when I was covering II Corinthians with my 11th and 12th Grade Bible class. Using chapter 9, verse 7 as my basis, I made the statement to the group of 24 teenagers that I do not believe that tithing (in its truest sense of giving 10%) is required of New Testament believers. I told them that, as far as I could tell, the primary requirement for NT giving is a willing heart. This was a novel idea to many of them and several were quite skeptical of this strange, new doctrine. One student in particular talked with me personally on several occasions with questions about my view. Apparently, he had mentioned our class discussion to one of his mentors who did not agree with my estimation of the Biblical teaching about giving. As I always try to do when confronted about a particular point of my belief system, I spent the next several days re-evaluating my position.
From there, it seems that giving (and the larger discussion of stewardship) has come around for discussion and meditation again and again. Our Sunday School class talked about it last week. I jumped into a Facebook thread about giving the week before. Even today, I found myself thinking about these ideas as I shoveled 14 inches of snow off of my driveway.
As you might have guessed, I have a few questions and opinions about this important topic.
Question 1 - "Why do so many Christians accept the axiom that believers are required by God to tithe?"
In the minds of many, questioning whether believers must tithe is akin to questioning whether the earth is round. "What do you mean?" they exclaim, "Of course we have to tithe! That's what committed Christians do! After all, it's in the Bible." I concur that many committed Christians do give at least 10% of their income. (We won't go into the question of whether we must figure 10% of the gross or net income.) I also agree that tithing is in the Bible. My questions relate to whether God requires those Christians to give their 10% and where in the Bible tithing is found. From what I have been able to find (thanks to my handy-dandy new Logos Bible Software), tithing is an old covenant (aka-Old Testament) stipulation. Even when tithing is mentioned in the NT books, I have been unable to find any context where it is levied as an expectation upon the church. What I find instead is wording such as the following, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." I find no mention of 10% here. Is that a reasonable amount for most Christians to give regularly? How would I know? It seems like it is, but the only financial situation I am familiar with is my own...and that's none of your business! (Insert smiley emoticon here.)
Question 2 - "How do we determine what qualifies as giving to God?"
I use a financial software program on my laptop that helps me keep track of our money. One of the line items in my checking account is called "Giving to God." (I gave it this moniker.) Sometimes, I wonder to myself, "Should the money from that fund be given exclusively to my church or another 'ministry'? Can I or should I use that money for other non-church-ifed giving? For instance, on a recent lunch excursion to Olive Garden with my family, I decided to give my server a rather substantial tip. (That is--substantial in terms of percentage.) I did this because she was extremely helpful in the service of our meal. I also did this because she mentioned that she had just graduated from college and had only recently gotten a job after an extended time of looking. I felt as though I might encourage and help her in a small way by increasing the amount of her gratuity. "Nothin' wrong with that," you say. I agree. My question is, does this "count" as giving to God? Should I pull the money for that tip from the aforementioned line in my budget? (I will let you, the reader, guess as to whether I did or not.) What about donations made to the Red Cross, Meals-on-Wheels, or other such charitable organizations? If I give my money in a spirit of gratitude and worship, does the Almighty view my donations as gifts to Him? I know what I think, but I wonder how other believers feel?
Question 3 - "Is it wise to view our giving and our stewardship as Christians in terms of investments and returns?"
Mutual funds, investments, 401(k)s, and day-trading seem to be all the rage these days. (Thanks in part to those silly E-Trade babies!) It seems that this "Charles Schwab" mentality has crept into our thinking as Christians. We want to give, but we only want to give to people or organizations that are "safe." Our churches have food pantries, but the resources therein are only available to church members or individuals who agree to come to church first. (In truth, I have been pondering much of the typical church philosophy regarding resources, and I have several questions about this area.) We may give our money to help the poor and underprivileged, but only if we can guarantee that the funds are used "wisely." A corollary of the "investment mindset" is the idea that the more we give the more we will get in return. Truthfully, the Bible does talk on several occasions about reaping bountifully when we give bountifully. Do you think this implies only physical, material reaping? I am not so sure. There's no doubt that God wants us to be wise stewards with all that He has given us. I know I still need to do some searching on this particular question, but I just can't help feeling like many Christians (including the one writing this post) and churches are sitting on their nest eggs and missing incredible opportunities to serve others through cheerful, open-hearted giving--even to those who don't necessarily deserve it.
For the record, I do believe Christians should be giving regularly. I also believe that believers bear the responsibility of meeting the needs of those who labor in the Word as the elders of the church. Beyond that, however, I wonder if maybe our giving (and the motives driving it) may need re-examination and refinement. I, for one, will continue to seek God's guidance in this important area.
Andrew, I appreciate the questions you've posed as I think it will be helpful to many beginning to compare church culture with Biblical ideas. Lots of good questions here.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate most your willingness to re-evaluate your position when someone questions it. I find this most helpful, for we get to refine our view, nuance it, see problems with it as well as strengths in it. When it has been beating around a while and still standing up, we have more confidence that what we're holding to may be right.
The part in this post, I'd push you on is re-thinking what an Old Covenant is in Scripture, who it was for, for what purpose, and whether it is has been fulfilled or abolished (two different things). If the Torah commands for giving are to Jews, then they are not done. If it was part of a national practice for the well-being of a nation and it's participation, they they relate to national practice (like our taxes do). Gentiles are not included, for the most part, in Israel's laws and practices. And that we have to come to terms with in our interpretation of requirements. In other words, instead of abolishing the law, which I don't think Scripture does, we consider who it applies to...
Anyway, I appreciate your thoughts... keep it up! It takes courage!
Giving cheerfully is important I believe. For a simple way to do that, you may want to visit the Cheerful Givers organization at www.cheerfulgivers.org where volunteers provide toy-filled birthday gift bags for kids living in poverty. A simple gesture that boosts self-esteem and strengthens bonds in less fortunate families.
ReplyDeleteHey Andrew its Bobby Kochakkan from way back. Trust your doing well. I have to say like Dale I do appreciate your posing of the questions. Its not easy to review age old traditions. I have come to an understanding that worship and the motivation for worship has been some what altered in here todays Christianity . If I am to believe that God truly owns it all then why I am concerned about a % or an amount and what is done with it but maybe I should be more concerned about the motivation behind my worship. I have also wondered about if I should be so concerned with the result or where my gift goes? For exp I have at times given to the poor and or needed on the streets. They may not always run out and buy a Bible but other things but I don't think I am responsible for their usage of my gift, but I am responsible for my heart in giving that gift. I also agree that giving to the local church alone is not the only avenue for our giving. Because if the Father owns it all then what ever I give where ever I give it is all a part of worship. What good is 10% or more at the church house if I am a cheap tipper or poor steward of the opportunities provided either at the work place or neighborhood or just in passing of daily life where we can offer gifts in money and other things as live or better said as we worship the Lord. Your point concerning looking at the expected return or investment of our gift has been something I have thought much over the recent years. Many Christians give with that in mind but I feel to give freely we must release our hold on what will happen with our gift once its gone. The whole point is to give it not to track it. I think the reason or motivation behind giving has been lost or re-evaluate into a cost and benefits understanding that folks try to measure. I agree that in giving the only requirement is from a willing or cheerful heart. Your probably aware the many times when giving was measured back then they were giving more then the 10% as well as many time there were times where they gave all holding nothing back or giving beyond for the cause. I some times frustrated when I hear the tithing message among churches today. I often feel that pastors feel that if they don't preach on giving that the body will not give and if they don't give a % then Christian today will not give enough. Church's and Pastors are many times filled with making sure we have enough or all is covered and I think they believe that they need to tell people what to do because if they don't then people wont know or wont follow the Fathers leading. I believe in messages instead of telling us to give 10% or what ever if must move to a type of teaching were we motivation and purpose. I think we need to move away from the dollar amount or the total and move more to the heart of worship and love. I believe that when I give to my church, to the server, or the bum on the street it because I have a desire to worship my Father and express back to God my love. If I never receive anything back it will not stop my future giving. Many times everything we do is evaluated against the benefits or the cost. I am not certain those are the right measurements to evaluate my worship or if any evaluation is really needed. Hope I didn't offend anyone, twas not my intention, just wanted to share.
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