Tithing

Go into any good, Bible-believing church and more than likely, if you are a member, you will be asked for money. And why not? Each church has programs to provide for and the Bible to teach and property to keep up. If you enjoy of the fruits, shouldn't you give to make it happen? And so many churches hold to a doctrine of tithing-- that 10% of ones income should go to the church. I want to say loud and strong that the New Testament does not teach tithing! There is nothing in the teaching of Jesus, the teaching of Paul or any of the other apostles that encourages tithing. In fact, the New Testament teaches against tithing. Frankly, 10% isn't enough.

Jesus taught that one was not just to give a tithe, but one's whole life to God. Everything you have is to be surrendered in order to be a follower of Jesus. Not just hypothetically surrendered, but surrendered in reality-- given away so that you no longer have sovereignty over your possessions. For Jesus the choice was this: either you can retain your possessions, your comfortable life and your wealth or you can give it away and God will hold your inheritance for you-- safely kept-- until the soon-coming kingdom arrives. In Acts, the primary examples to the church are those who sold their land-- which was the primary inheritance of their families--and they sold their possessions and laid the money at the apostle's feet. Each gift is not a stingy 10% but a wholehearted generousness that gives according to the need.

And even so, the money given is not to be given for the needs of the church. Not to property, not to orchestras or to music ministers-- rather the money is to go to the poor. The apostles, when they received the money, did not spend it on a new building for their 3000 new members to meet in. Rather, they gave it to the poor and needy among their church, supplying their needs-- providing food and clothing and other needs they had. Even so, should a church pour money into building projects but refuse to help a member in financial crisis-- this is not a church following Jesus. Should a church provide a lavish program to entertain their wealthy members, but fail to assist their starving brothers in Indonesia, then the Spirit of Christ lives not in their church. Jesus told us to give to the poor, not to give to ourselves. And to give only to ourselves to make ourselves spiritually fat is idolatry, not the pure sacrifice God wishes for us to live out in the likeness of his Son.

-Text of the Radical Reformer, Radio Show #55