“If everyone in the Church gave 10% of their income, the Church would have an additional 50 billion a year to do missions, feed the poor, provide clean water and medical supplies, etcetera . . . etcetera . . . etcetera.”
Sound Familiar?
Why is it that every time you hear a challenge to tithe, you get slapped with the guilt that your current endowment efforts aren’t enough to give some clean water or even a band-aid? You begin to feel that as soon as everyone started giving a tithe, we could solve the depravity of basic necessities in the world.
I wouldn’t dare question that we wouldn’t gain an additional 50 billion if we all tithed, but I do have to question if food, medical supplies, and clean water really would be administered with that 50 billion.
Why don’t we admit the truth – that if we gave 50 billion extra, we would spend the majority of it on ourselves for building projects, salaries, church events, and theatrics.
We don’t admit the truth because the truth doesn’t guilt people as much as the lie does. Who could deny water, food, and shelter to anyone while I sit at home in my comfy house with central air, and a supermarket down the road? Seriously, what type of human being are you if could deny someone just the basic necessities for survival?
One thing you will never hear is that if all of us gave 10% of our income, the Church would actually spend about 80% of that 50 billion on internal operations.
“If only I had a little more money then I could tithe?”
Does that sound familiar? Well, that doesn’t sound too far from saying “If only we had 50 billion more, then we could . . .”. Can we say that the apple does not fall far from the tree?
Anyways, the point here is to expose the lie that frequently proceeds the tithing challenge. The truth is if we had 50 billion extra, we wouldn’t provide water, food, or shelter. Let’s face it, our tendency has been to hoard it, so why would we change? In actuality, the Church takes in over 100 billion a year, but you won’t hear this number out of anyone’s mouth. The constant whine of what we don’t have as opposed to what we do have is what I call a ‘Spoiled Brat’. Let’s not use crying babies and starving families as a ploy to get people to tithe unless our money is actually going towards them.
P.S. I don’t believe tithing is commanded anyway.
The tithe was never cash in the entire Bible. Never. Where does anyone get authority to rewrite or write the Bible and change the tithe of God from spoils of war (Abraham) or produce of the land of Israel (Mosaic Law) to cash? Only from their own selves. God is not behind this new and strange teaching they call “the tithe.”
Jared, Jared, Jared.. sometimes you sound so much like David vs Goliath!
I’ve been listening for a while. Stop tithing for a season now too.
But “the Church” isn’t goliath’ and David is not against the church! Actually, “The Church” is arrayed in “fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. ” Rev 19:8 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ” The Lord knows those who are His,” 2 Timothy 2:19
So when you talk about what “The Church” would or wouldn’t do; you are correct!!!
Because “The Church” you speak of does NOT exist! So of course it wouldn’t do anything!
At best you are lashing out at the TARES which exist within the Church of which Christ said:
“I say to you … I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. “Matthew 16:18
The tares as you know are “planted by the enemy” and they’re completely foreign to the body of Christ:
Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25″But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. matt 13 24-25
So what’s the point of getting caught up with accusing the WHEAT of being TARES?
Why not..
30’Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”‘” Matt 13
That way you will be free to “Go therefore into all the world and make disciples..” Mt 28:19
And… Love the Lord Your GOd with all… and Love your neighbor as your self.. Mark 12:30
Hey… maybe you should come to my “church”! (ccwgmissions.org & http://www.ccwg.org)
Our general offering get’s divided up to various ministries making a difference: Promise Child, Focus on the Family, Second Harvest Food Truck, Pastoral Training of Asia, Rancho De Sus Ninos, Feeding Lost Sheep & Shining Light (local feeding/bible study ministries) Alliance Defense Fund, Christian Legal Aid, Traditional Values, Bread of Life, Camp Alandale, Compassion International, Ghana Missoins, Little Siagon Outreach, Hope Hill (KY), Sheepfold.
To name a few – but we have within our church about 20+ ministries which are either body; or outreach ministries led by the body with oversight from the board.
Yes we do have a building, lights, heating.
But as I was pondering your words last Sunday at Church; and I looked at the children; Jr High & High school; then I reflected on my upbringing, and contrasted that with my crackhead sister and her felon daughter, and my old high school druggies..
I thought is there anything more valuable on earth; than my church?
The “shield and very great reward” for my kids! (Gen 15:1)
The spout where God’s blessing comes out!
you and I just need to:
…prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” Philippians 2:15
Amen?
Vince,
The Church fellowship that i commune with does a great job with finances and ministry so in no way is my article a reflection of the own fellowship that i partake of.
I have pointed out in pasts posts of giving statistics within the Church. The exact statistic from 2007 is that 83% of resources that were given to churches were spent on “internal operations”. search for “giving statistics” on google and you will find my website on the first page with the sources to show the stats.
Don’t know what else to say or tell ya but i think it’s important to say that in my blog post that we gotta stop whining for what we don’t have and make a difference for what we do have.
Luke 12:48 For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Luke 18:17 Well [done], good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.
Jared – Great article…we agree 100%.
.-= Steven and Debra´s last blog ..The Love of Other People’s Money (Covetousness) is the Root of All Evil =-.
I generally do not pay a tithe in my church unless I feel compelled to do so in my heart, but I fund projects in large amounts for projects I feel the spirit leading me to be involved in. This past month, our preacher made comments of the sanctuary AC compressor failing.. I bought a new one for the church the next day.. Done. When God nudges you to give, do it.. biblical or not, just follow God’s direction to your heart. I really do not know if tithing is biblical, legitimate, or whatever.. The things I do, I never tell or look for praise or gratitude, and I know I am doing right and good because it is laid on my heart directly. I gave new TVs to the women’s shelter that had one for 20 rooms of desperate ladies out there. Playground equipment for my neighborhood where a child was struck down playing in the street…
The point is we need to just “listen and obey”. I just hope this web site is not for those looking to save their money instead of supporting their churches: We all need to do what we can as it is needed… Listen in your heart and you will hear the direction from God to you with you money and your time.. Trust me, he will not let you down.
Nobody knows the things I do, and I prefer it that way, because it is between me and God. I can say that he does reward my efforts… as long as I follow the directions I am given. If I hear in my heart that tithing is needed, I will do it in a heartbeat too. The bible may give you rules that you can debate or argue with, but you had better follow God’s message in your heart with zeal and all diligence. That is how I look at the matter of tithing and giving.. I hope that helps someone out there. God Bless you all!