July 1, 2007

What Does it Mean to Tithe?

I was asked this question a few weeks ago, and I think the answer is pertinent for any Christian desiring to please his or her Master. There are two sources from which I will draw information to provide an answer: The Bible and the Church of the Nazarene Manual.

1. Tithing to a specific church family means belonging to that community. When we read of the birth of the New Testament church, one of the most compelling aspects was that “all the believers were together” (that’s community) and they “had everything in common” (Acts 2:44) This speaks of possessions, goods and money (Acts 2:45). In other words, they shared everything because they were one family. Even today, we take love offerings to help the needy among us, knowing that we have either been in their shoes, or we may be in the future. Beyond the occasional freewill offering, however, tithing is the biblical method which has been adopted by the Church of the Nazarene for the “fair share” support of the local church to which someone belongs. It says, “I care enough to do my fair share.” This is why the agreement to tithe to the local church is a verbal one, of public record, for anyone aspiring to the privilege of membership in a local Church of the Nazarene (Manual, 801) and takes a prominent place in the Covenant of Christian Conduct, which is the lifestyle covenant entered into by all local church members (Manual, 38-38.1).

2. The commitment to tithing is to your local church, meaning that your church leadership can count on your support  as they plan the entire program of the church. The Manual says:

Storehouse tithing is a scriptural and practical performance of faithfully and regularly placing the tithe into that church to which the member belongs. Therefore, the financing of the church shall be based on the plan of storehouse tithing, and the local Church of the Nazarene shall be regarded by all of its people as the storehouse. All who are a part of the Church of the Nazarene are urged to contribute faithfully one-tenth of all their increase as a minimum financial obligation to the Lord and freewill offerings in addition as God has prospered them for the support of the whole church, local, district, educational, and general. The tithe, provided to the local Church of the Nazarene, shall be considered a priority over all other giving opportunities which God may lay upon the hearts of His faithful stewards, in support of the whole church.

—Nazarene Manual 2005-2009, paragraph 38.1

The 10% tithe, then, is given as an undesignated sum to the local church, the “storehouse.” Period. The “financing of the church” is based on this plan of storehouse tithing. (Individual offerings are given over and above the tithe, and may be designated to specific church needs, programs or people, and to Kingdom needs outside the local church.) Tithing is the “no strings attached” form of giving that has been practiced throughout the Bible, from Abraham’s tithing a tenth to the priest Melchizedek (Gen. 14:20), to Malachi’s warning to return to God by giving a tenth (Mal. 3:6-12), to the widow who put everything she had in the temple treasury (Mark 12:41-44), to Jesus’ instruction to the religious leaders of his day to tithe and to show mercy (Luke 11:42--which would indicate that Jesus and his disciples, being Jews, also practiced  temple tithing as a matter of law and heart). Of course, we know that the 10% tithe alone does not fulfill a Christian’s stewardship obligation. Jesus is master of all. But, to follow our heroes of faith by agreeing to give a tenth of our income to the Kingdom of God through the local church is a very bold witness to God and others.

3. Tithing is consistent and sacrificial. This means, individuals tithe to their local church, not only when they are able to attend the service, but when they are on vacation as well. They tithe when things are going well for them financially, and also when tithing requires stepping out in faith. This is the sacrifice that blesses both God and the giver most richly! Bible examples of giving when one could not afford to are: the widow and her son giving the last of their bread to Elijah (1 Kings 17:7-14); Jesus’ teaching not to worry about ourselves, but to seek first God’s kingdom (Matt. 6:25-34); the story of the widow’s mite (Mark 12:41-44); and Paul’s testimony concerning the church of Macedonia’s generosity (2 Cor. 8:1-9).

4. What tithing is not. Tithing is not a tip for a good worship service. Tithing is not a vote for or against any local ministry, church leader or pastor you may or may not like. After all, there is no perfect church. God’s holy tenth should never be reduced to a bargaining chip or a control tactic. This constitutes shameful abuse of what is God’s. Giving for one’s own selfish purpose puts one in serious peril of God’s judgment. (See the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11.) Tithing is a statement of faith that God is big enough to work through our local church, though we may not know or agree with everything. But knowing and agreeing isn’t what He asks of us, is it? He just wants us to be faithful. Jesus commended the widow’s example, who gave all she had to live on to a faulty, shamefully hypocritical temple system. Was she a fool? A Victim? No. Not to Jesus. Those priests and rulers will have to answer to God, but the widow’s heart was right, and Jesus took notice. Our church leadership has a record of financial faith and integrity, and I believe God is well-pleased with their vision, strong spiritual convictions and firm understanding of biblical principles. But, it’s the condition of a giver’s heart that really counts between them and God.

5. What’s in it for me? The tithe itself, like any good work, may serve to authenticate our faith (James 2:17), but it never earns any points with God. Year upon year of tithing does not accumulate a record that impresses God or create any more ownership of the church body or building. God still owns His church, His children, His bride, His Kingdom, His program, His facility. The tithe is simply an act of faith-full obedience to Him, and no amount of it erases any sin or human shortcomings. It never makes us more worthy for anything in God’s sight, or makes us any better than anyone else. It is a statement of God’s worthiness, not ours. Tithing is an act of obedience, is always a privilege, and always somehow blesses the giver as well as the Recipient (Mal. 3:10-12; Acts 20:35; 2 Cor. 9:6; Luke 6:38). His blessing you includes the freedom to know that material things (along with the greed for more or the fear of losing what you already have) do not have you under their spell or in their dungeon of despair. This is the freedom that Jesus wanted the “rich young ruler” to know (Luke 18:22-30).

6. Finances are a most telling area of one’s spiritual progress, especially in this day in which we face the same challenges of the church of Laodicea (Rev. 3:17). Our giving practices say a lot about us: they reveal our faith and our fears, our deepest desires, dreams, victories and failures. No wonder Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matt. 6:24). God says, if we want Him to return to us, we must first return to Him in the matter of tithes (Mal. 3:7). My prayer is that we would, as individuals and as a community, experience God’s blessing through tithing.