Question:
I am confused by the idea of tithing.
The short passage in the Bible states that you give 10% of your crop.
Where does the concept of before or after taxes come into this? Also, when this passage was written, there was no concept of
insurance, mortgages, healthcare expenses, or saving for your children’s
education. I would like to tithe
but feel that the expense of 10% with all my family interest is a bit much.
It also angers me to see me giving a great amount while my pew mate
throws in a single dollar bill.
Clare
Answer: Dear Clare,
Tithing
needs to be approached from the perspective that no specific or dogmatic
guidelines are given to Christians, compared to those given under the old
covenant. The New Testament bases
principles of giving upon love, which is in fact a higher standard than the
strict percentage given under the old covenant.
You
point out some of the difficulties if we as Christians try to follow the old
covenant practice of tithing – for these scriptures were given to a nation,
and all citizens who tithed were “covered” with national health insurance,
etc. – it was part of the “package”.
We are not now a physical nation – but a spiritual body of believers.
Of
course the new covenant does not release us from giving.
Christians are told that we are bought with a price, the precious blood
of Christ, and that we are not our own. Jesus
owns all of us. We are told to give
willingly, from a cheerful heart, according to the blessings we have been given.
The amount we give is a choice we make, not a percentage mandated by the
old covenant, or attempted to be imposed by any human or group of humans.
Giving
is our decision – how much, to whom, how often, etc.
As we give we might keep in mind those sources that provide spiritual
nourishment, direction, instruction, counseling, pastoral care, missionary
outreach, etc. We should keep in mind those who provide for our worship
needs, those who help us, those who provide spiritual services to us.
In
Christ,
Greg
Albrecht