Why do some resist tithing?
Listening to the past few hours of discussion at our Reconciliation! Ministries Int'l team meeting today has raised a familiar question for me: why is it that some Christians resist tithing?
Hearing the pastor's discussion regarding this great Fellowship that CLC as recently joined just makes me shake my head as I have so many times in the past - I don't get it - why would any of us resist God's plan that will ultimately benefit us in that vital area of fianance?
Since you can reply to this blog anonymously, if you are reading and you don't tithe to your local church, would you help me (sincerely) - why don't you? I want to help you, and you can certainly help me if I understand what the issues really are. Just hit reply and speak your mind - we'll get some helpful dialogue going on this blog.
Hearing the pastor's discussion regarding this great Fellowship that CLC as recently joined just makes me shake my head as I have so many times in the past - I don't get it - why would any of us resist God's plan that will ultimately benefit us in that vital area of fianance?
Since you can reply to this blog anonymously, if you are reading and you don't tithe to your local church, would you help me (sincerely) - why don't you? I want to help you, and you can certainly help me if I understand what the issues really are. Just hit reply and speak your mind - we'll get some helpful dialogue going on this blog.
posted by Pastor Jerry McQuay at 12:11 PM
12 Comments:
For us, tithing can be hard because we have bills. When bills aren't paid our credit report is affected, things get repossessed, etc. My family and I do tithe, but just not on a regular basis. It's nothing I'm happy about, but it's the only way I know how to survive.
Pastor Jerry,
I don't tithe so maybe I can help. I'm coming from the standpoint that by 'tithing' you mean a believer giving 10% (gross or net) from their regular income. With that understanding then ... I don't 'tithe' because tithing was just one of the laws God had Moses demand of the Israelites in the OT. Many teach tithing as if it itself were a Godly principle and I don't. I believe that tithing was the method God used in support of the principles he wanted them to follow. The principles God wants us to follow hasn't changed however, the method has changed. The principles are revealed when you study the laws that actually created the four (4) different tithing requirements. The method I believe God wants us to follow now is for each individual to listen to the Holy Spirit in all matters of life including how much and who to give to.
I'll add that none of the 'tithing' that occurs now has any connection to the definition of tithing contained in the Bible. (other than to mention 10%) In a nutshell, the were four tithes. 1)The Levitical tithe required those who raised crops (not everyone and not all professions - just those who raised crops) to give 10% of that to the Levites. This tithe only occurred 6 years out of the 7 year cycle. It also required those that raised 10 or more animals to give each tenth animal that passed under the rod to the Levites. If a person raised less than 10 animals, they were NOT required to tithe.
2) From what was given to them, the Levites in turn had to give the very best to the priests.
3) The festival tithe required that those who raised crops or animals to set aside 10% for the annual festivals. It was for the people to have a party and consume the food joyfully and alcoholic beverages (strong drink) if they wanted.
4) The Poor tithe occurred only in the 3rd and 6th years of the seven year cycle. This was set aside for the poor. The poor were NOT required to tithe. All tithes were always food and NEVER money. I go into more detail on my website www.inyourbible.com, where, if you have a high speed internet connection, you can view or download my FREE series of 10 - 30 minute lessons titled "The Truth About Tithing". I take two of the lessons to explain the 'Truth About Abrams Tithe'. It clearly is NOT the precedent setting example that we have been told. For starters, Abram did not give his own money. We should be generous but the poor widow is NOT our example. She was being plundered by church leaders. There is no single formula for Christians to be able to judge for themselves whether they are generous or not. Each person needs to hear from God for themselves.
George
Tithing is such a huge leap of faith because it requires you to give money that would go to bills to the church, not knowing where the money is going to come from to pay the bills each month. Yes, the Lord will provide it, but believing that the money will just come out of nowhere takes a tremendous amount of faith. Whenever people give testimonies about their tithing experiences they always say something like that they tithed and the money "just came" to pay the bills, but they never explained how it "just came". So those testimonies almost become ineffectual because it seems like money just falls out of the sky for them, even though we know that isn't realistic.
George, I'm sorry that someone has misled you in regards to this subject. I haven't yet been to your website, but I've viewed several that take the same position that you mention here - unfortunately, all of them (and your comments here) overlook a number of indisputed facts:
1. the issue of 'food, crops, etc' isn't relevant because the average Israeli didn't ever receive currency for his labor (as we do today) but instead his 'earnings' were the crops of an agrarian society. As to Abram's tithe not coming from his money, I have no idea what you mean, since the 'spoils' of battle obviously belonged to him after defeating the kings in Genesis 14.
2. More importantly, Abram wasn't the last person to make a tithing commitment BEFORE the law of Moses incorporated it for all Israel - notice Jacob's vow in Genesis 28.
3. Still more importantly, Jesus Himself said that tithing was something we OUGHT (that's a moral imperative) to do - Matthew 23.
4. Hebrews 7 refers to tithing in such a way that makes it obvious that it was still continuing, present-tense, in the New Testament church era.
5. Finally (I don't have time for more right now), the whole idea that we are to be led by the Spirit in our giving today is right on the money - I teach the same thing. However, in light of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18, Matthew 5:21-22, Matthew 5:27-48, then I don't know how any New Testament believer can even THINK that we should/could do LESS than what the Old Testament believers did. The New Testament increased our spiritual responsibility by making it a matter of the heart, not just a matter of legalistic obedience - it never lessened our responsibility. So my wife and I give as the Spirit directs us regularly - but 10% is just the starting point for us, and has been for our entire 34+ years of marriage. Hope this helps-
i was tithing consistantly but only for a few months since i came to CLC but, then i found that i just dont have the money anymore, i know its a poor excuse and its not trusting God to provide. i would like to talk to someone more about the topic. 10% might not sound like a lot but it is to me (like i am sure it is to many others). and with the China trip coming up i am afraid that i wont have enough money. i hate to even reply because i know its all excuses. i took the tithe challenge and was doing really well at first but then i found that i had no money for food and i am still eating rice and lima beans for dinner! i just dont know how to come up with the money for the rest of the month after i tithe. Plus its been such a struggle coming up with the money for China (i am still very short funded) that i get frustrated with God. Help! -thank you, DW
I think I'll do another post with more info, but my heart really goes out to those of you who've responded. If you've noticed, there's a common thread thru at least 3 replies (and you probably represent another 300 who didn't respond) - that's the issue of FAITH.
I've said it for years: the reason many Christians don't tithe is because of FEAR - fear that God won't take care of my bills as well as I will, or, to put it another way, trust that I will do a better job managing my money than He will if I put Him first ahead of my bills.
Probably just seeing that in print is a shocker that puts things in perspective (at least I hope so), because it truly IS the issue.
Either the Bible is true and the Word works, or it doesn't. Tithing is NOT a pastor's idea to fund his church; it's God's idea to partner with you for your financial benefit!
Yes, there have been times in th epast that I personally have given my tithes to the Church rather than paying a bill - in faith that if I'd do what God asked me to do, He would see to it that things worked out ultimately.
And after 36+ years of working for a living, I truly believe that decision is the right decision for every believer. I will quickly say that tithing alone is not a 'quick fix' to financial troubles, nor is it a 'stand-alone' solution - which is why any financial series at CLC always includes more teaching on money management & other Biblical principles than it does about tithing - but I'm still convinced that if a believer tries to get their finances in order w/o tithing consistently, it will take longer and be more difficult than if you get God's supernatural assistance by being obedient in the area of trusting Him with your tithe. (That's why we offer the 90-day tithe challenge - so you'd have time for Him to prove it to you!)
How is it that we can trust God to get us to heaven when we die, but we can't trust Him to manager our money right now? (Especially when we're not doing such a great job of it ourselves anyway - else this wouldn't even be an issue).
I'm going to write a booklet to help CLCers (and others) with a fuller look at this whole issue - but until then, feel free to ask specific questions on this forum - you can remain anonymous, and I'll shoot straight with you.
Oh, just a couple of other remarks:
1) in case you didn't realize it, tithers have bills, too - sometimes more than non-tithers!
2) to the comment about how it sounds like money just comes from heaven in our testimonies and the idea that it's supernatural - you really are right about that part - there is NO earthly, logical explanation for how 90% with God's blessing can go further than 100% w/o it, but it really does work - and the whole premise of tithing is that God WILL supernaturally provide for His people!
I've tried not to go here but I have to. Since I read your blog regarding tithing I have wanted to respond but then I saw the scriptural response from someone and felt I couldn't join the "debate". I can only speak from my heart my own experience.
Some years ago, as a single mother, recently divorced, monthly bills, legal fees, car payments, setting up a new household I was continuing to incur debt. I joined a church in the community where the pastor encouraged everyone to become a tither and preached on this subject periodically. I would say to myself, "Yeah if I had your resources I could tithe." As time went on I felt tremendous guilt about not being a tither so I made a commitment to tithe for one year. Every month I wrote those checks faithfully and grudgingly. At the end of the year I was so much deeper in debt I was extremely angry with God. Needless to say I abondoned tithing and had a long ongoing pity party with God. For several months I contributed offerings on a regular basis and again worked out a program to tackle the mountain of debt. Now I'm not a credit card person or a frivilous spender when there are obligations staring me the face. ; For some time this went on. But an interesting thing happened, as I continued to pay some bills down I would periodically examine the big picture and I could actually see progress in the declining debt. As this happened I increased my giving. Within a few years I can say that I was debt free. As debt free as a working person living paycheck to paycheck can be. Now the interesting note here is that my giving reached the level of tithing as it became a priority to me. It became in a sense a monthly "obligation" just like the mortgage payment and car note.
When people say I can't afford to tithe, I do understand. I have been there. Sometimes we dig our debt hole so deep we can't seem to see the light above us. But with babysteps we can climb out.
When people say they don't want to hear the trite cliches or "God will provide", I understand. But it's true. Sometimes we overlook God blessings in our complaining about what He isn't doing. Shortly after reaching this stage in my faith which allowed to me tithe I was diagnosed with a heart blockage that required surgery. That wasn't in the budget and the little bit I had been able to save was about to be wiped out and put me back into the pit of debt again. I really saw this as a test and I was not going to fail as I began talking to doctors and the hospital about payment plans since the insurance had paid their portions of the bills. God intervened in the form of two doctors making the decision to write off their expenses. Those were the ones I couldn't see a way to pay. So I do see that God does provides. I've got other similar examples but I won't bore you.
As I share this I feel the need to add that I also understand why my tithing grudginly didn't render the results I was looking for. I wasn't tithing; I was testing God. God isn't to be tested like a magician. He provided the plan which allowed me to get out of debt without additional resources. When I look back I still cannot make sense out of how I cleared away the debt so quickly; but then it wasn't me but Him. When I start to become too self-reliant I get little wake up calls about whose is in charge. (I look at the cost of two surgeries this past year and all the added expenses but again God worked it out so that I have been able to pay off all of my portions of these bills without pity parties but praise parties.) I have no great windfall, I wonder how I will pay for a new car as the current one ages, sure the funds are a little short some months but God does provide. I continue to live in His abundance and not lack any important thing in my life. I continue to learn what stepping out on faith means--this letter is a testament of that being the private person I am. I want to be an encouragement to others who say they cannot tithe because they have too many bills to examine their hearts and see if they are putting the ways of this world or God first.
Please overlook any typos and grammatical errors because I know if I proof this too carefully I'll probably change my mind about sending it. Thank you for this therapy session. Please submit your bill. :-)
Peace and Blessings,
Maureen
Pastor Jerry,
To adress your points:
1. "issue of food, crops.." We are not free to change the word of God to fit our circumstances. The reason the OT tithing laws don't fit now as they were written is because they were never intended to cover all of Christianity.
Concerning Abram - He took a vow before he rescued Lot that he would not accept anything from the King of Sodom. He never considered the money and valuables as his own so we shouldn't consider them as his either.
2. Jocob's vow .. was just that. A vow to give God a tithe IF God would do the things jacob asked. Jacob did not have the faith to believe God for what God had just told him.
"..all of Israel.." - as I said earlier, all Israelites were not required to tithe.
3. Jesus in Matt 23:23 was in the middle of a list of woes where he was identifying a lot of the things the Pharisees were doing wrong. The short story is that jesus was not talking to Christians. The OT laws were still ineffect as demonstrated by Jesus telling the leper he healed to go the the priest as well as other incidents.
4. Hebrews 7 - Yes, tithing is referred to in the present tense. That is certianly what was happening but the whole point of Heb 7 and 8 is to illustrate to those that were holding onto the OT laws that instead Christians are free from all the OT laws (except the 2 Jesus pointed out; Love God and love your neighbor).
5. I agree that we should be led by the Spirit in our giving. The rest of what you pint out seems to again carry the incorrect assumption that all Israelites were expected to tithe. Again, not true.
I agree that God certainly wants believers to trust him. I disagree that 10% is the amount all believers need to give. Contrary to popular belief, not all Israelites were required to tithe as I have already pointed out. Therefore, to imply that somehow this 10% goal or starting point needs to be applied to all believers is inconsistent with what the Bible really teaches.
Maureen - you have a touching testimony. I'm thinking that the key is trusting God rather than getting to a any predetermined (10%) level of giving.
George
George, I'm really not interested in a verbal war when you obviously have your mind made up on this, but since CLCers read this, I just must respond one last time: you didn't address my previous comments satisfactorily, since I'm not 'changing' anything to 'fit' us; I'm reporting what is known to be true - whereas your comments are obviously based on a predisposition against tithing. So let's agree to disagree.
What we DO agree on is that all believers should be led by the Spirit in their giving today - I just don't see how the Spirit would ever lead a New Testament, born-again, Spirit-filled believer to do less than an Old Testament Jew who didn't know about God's grace...that's all.
Pastor J, let me just say that the only reason this is being sent Anonymous is because when I clicked "other" something strange happened. This is Pat E. and I thank God that someone who cared enough for me and Ken sat us down and talked to us about the importance of tithing. We make a good salary but couldn't seem to make all the bills prior to becoming full time tithers. There was no "logical" reason why the bills weren't being met. A good friend challenged us to do exactly what the word of God says, to bring that 10%. We did and still do and I can tell you that no, it's not logical how it works, but it does work. God is faithful to His word when He says to prove Him and watch Him open up the windows of heaven that you won't have room enough to receive. When Ken and I started tithing, it was as if blessings that had been stored up were released. Not just financial but spiritual and relational. No it's not easy and yes it takes discipline. I may not be able to go on those impromptu shopping sprees, but EVERY need has been met, and God has done exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think. I have seen miracles in my family's health and spiritual growth in my children, people have come up and spoke blessings into our lives like never before. It goes so beyond all that I can write here but let me end with this. A couple of weeks ago we paid our tithes, paid our bills and we were left with less than $100 to make it for the next 2 weeks. That may sound like a lot of money, but when you have 3 growing boys and two cars that need gas, that $100 is not going to go far. Ken and I prayed over that money and asked God to give us wisdom over our spending for the next two weeks. Now, let me explain that there was a time that for me to spend $100 in an hour was the norm so this $100 for 2 weeks was going to be difficult. At the end of those 2 weeks, we didn't miss a meal, the cars did not run out of gas, we still had our pizza night AND had money when payday rolled around again. Logical? Not at all -- nothing and no one but GOD!
Thanks for sharing, Pat - you made my day!
I also heard ANOTHER report last night about someone who decided to join CLC because of Sunday's message (within the message) about tithing! Now that's mind-blowing to me!!!
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